Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 12: Bhartiya Janta Mazdoor Sangh Hawkers Association National President Shant Parkash Jatav highlighted various issues confronting hawkers in J&K.
Addressing a press conference, here today, Jatav alleged harassment of vendors who are victimised, marginalized and pushed from one area to another. “Pushed to the city in search of employment, they take to vending as self employment for it is an easier option, perhaps the most promising avenue for the poor. Many vendors were erstwhile workers, who after the closure of mills and factories took to vending. Some are victims of displacement caused by developmental projects. Sometimes they are survivors of natural disasters. Often they are simply looking for work,” he explained.
Jatav claimed that vendors are regularly subjected to mental and physical pressures by city officials. “A major problem is that master plans prepared for our cities do not allocate space to vendors/hawkers, as planners blindly imitate the western concept of marketing, ignoring Indian traditions. No wonder, weekly markets struggle to survive and natural markets are ignored. The policy statements of the regional development authorities talk of making provision for trading and commercial activities, which unfortunately is interpreted as making provision for rich traders and big business,” he added.
“The vendors have to deal with multiple authorities , Municipal Corporation, Police , regional development authorities, district administration, local panchayats and so on. This leads to exploitation and extortion,” he said and added that in many cases the positive steps taken by one authority are nullified by the actions of others.
Jatav lamented that instead of regulating vendors, municipal corporations treat them as a nuisance and an irritant; their policies and actions are aimed more at removing and harassing them rather than at regulation.
Jatav said that many citizens groups too have joined the campaign against vendors, believing falsely that cities without vendors would be clean. As a result, he added, a large portion of vendors’ income is drained away and he/she is not able to carry on the business with dignity and peace.
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