Hawker relocation in Mumbai: No word on revamp of decision-making body

The process of regulating hawkers in Mumbai is likely to be delayed further, as the proposal to revamp the decision-making town vending committee (TVC) is pending with the Maharashtra government.

The process of regulating hawkers in Mumbai is likely to be delayed further, as the proposal to revamp the decision-making town vending committee (TVC) is pending with the Maharashtra government.

After prolonged arguments over the composition and the power to be given to the 35 members of the committee, formed last year following a Supreme Court (SC) order, the civic body has sent a fresh proposal to the government to resolve the issue.

The long-winding contention and the pending proposal with the state government have only escalated the problem of hawkers in Mumbai, with pedestrians and hawkers often at loggerheads with each other.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which prepared a list of hawking zones in the city, has asked for suggestions and objections from citizens that will be tabled for the TVC to make a final decision. However, the ambiguity over the composition of the TVC and the pending proposal, have delayed the process.

In addition, the last decision that the existing TVC made of surveying hawkers and the approving the registration forms was in July 2014.

After the Street Vendors Act, 2014, came into effect in May last year, some members raised an argument that the new committee will be set up as per the Act and the one formed after the SC order should be dissolved.

After the order, the 35-member committee was set up as a single point authority for all hawker-related issues, with representation from NGOs, civic officials and street vendors.

After the act came into effect, the members demanded three TVCs. “After the continuous demands from some members, we have forwarded the proposal to the state government. Once we get clarity on the composition and the number of TVCs in the city, the committee meeting will be conducted,” said a senior civic official, on condition of anonymity.

As per the section 22 of the Street Vendors Act, if the government considers necessary, it can provide for more than one town vending committee one for each ward or zones.