AGARTALA, Jan 17 (TIWN): Tripura Footpath Hawkers Sangram Samiti on Sunday organized a press conference at Agartala.

Speaking at the press conference, organizer Shyamal Saha on Sunday said that though the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014 has been implemented in all across the nation yet the Tripura Government has nit implemented it.

It is to be mentioned here that the Provisions of the Bill are aimed at creating a favourable atmosphere where street vendors, are able to carry out their business in a fair and transparent manner, without the fear of harassment and eviction.

The Bill provides for constitution of a Town Vending Authority in each Local Authority, which is the fulcrum of the Bill, for implementing the provisions of the Bill.

It has been mentioned that the since last two year AMC has been evicting the hawkers from the area and also carrying away their incomes.

Whereas in the act it has been strictly mentioned that if any hawker are evicted than the authority have to return their income and within 48 hours they have the return the decomposable items.

 To avoid arbitrariness of authorities, the Bill provides for a survey of all existing street vendors, and subsequent survey at-least once in every five years, and issue of certificate of vending to all the street vendors identified in the survey, with preference to SC, ST, OBC, women, persons with disabilities, minorities etc.

 All existing street vendors, identified in the survey, will be accommodated in the vending zones subject to a norm conforming to 2.5% of the population of the ward or zone or town or city.

However, observing the situation Tripura Footpath Hawkers Sangram Samiti urges the AMC to follow the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014.

Besides, also urges to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014 as soon as possible.