Six months after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) first proposed to rope in Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to look into the rehabilitation of hawkers in Mumbai,it has been finally decided that the institute would first conduct a pilot study at Chembur and Vile Parle. The focus areas will include space occupied by hawkers,type of commodities sold,congested areas and ways to accommodate street vendors in such areas,among others. Subsequently,a detailed study will be conducted across the city. An independent study by TISS on street vendors had previously concluded that in Mumbai,which is estimated to have the highest number of street vendors,the civic body has done almost nothing to secure vendors needs. Nearly two per cent of the total population in Mumbai or 2.5 lakh obtain their living from this activity. On an average,street vendors spend at least 12 hours a day selling their goods. Yet the civic authority in Mumbai and most parts of the country have not done anything yet to secure the livelihood of vendors. The BMC policy will have to be in line with the national policy for urban street vendors, said TISS professor Sharit Bhowmik,who will conduct the study. He said while the terms of reference were finalised in February this year,the work orders are yet to be issued. TISS will be given Rs 3.5 lakh to conduct the study. It will look at both stationary and mobile hawkers,the current locations where they operate and the logistical problems,ways in which various kinds of goods are sold,and whether areas can be demarcated for day and night hawkers. Street vendors constitute a large section of the workforce and are the most victimised. A previous study conducted by us in 2010 on Mumbais street vendors showed that 10 per cent of them earned less than Rs 140 a day and 47 per cent earned between Rs 220 to Rs 350 daily. We found most street vendors had to pay bribes to earn their living on the street and the amount collected by corrupt authorities amounted to Rs 400 crore yearly during 1998 to 2000. Fortunately,instead of evicting them,the BMC is now talking of their rehabilitation, said Bhowmik. Rachana Sansad will conduct a similar study for Dadar and both organisations will have to submit a report to the BMC within three months. mihika.basu@expressindia.com
