Scheme for Support of Urban Street Vendors
SUSV - Scheme for Support of Urban Street Vendors
Street vendors constitute an important segment at the bottom of the pyramid of the informal economy in cities. Street vending provides a source of self-employment and acts as a measure of urban poverty alleviation. Street vending also has a prominent place in the urban supply chain and provides inexpensive and convenient access to goods and services to all segments of the population including the poor.
Low levels of education and skills, limited access to formal credit and micro enterprise support constrain street vendors’ ability to access emerging market opportunities. This makes street vendors and their families vulnerable in difficult times or when they may require assistance for unforeseen expenses. TNULM seeks to address the concerns of urban street vendors by facilitating access to suitable spaces for vending, institutional credit, improved skills and social security linkages.
The objective of the component is to address the vulnerabilities of the urban street vendors through a multi-pronged approach. This includes:
- Survey of street vendors and issue of Identity Cards
- Development of city street vending plans
- Infrastructure development of vending zones in the city
- Training and Skill Development
- Financial Inclusion
- Access to credit
- Linkages to social security schemes
Development of Town Vending Plan
Need for Development of Town Vending Plan is to address the requirements of space for street vending as an important urban activity. Norms for reservation of space for street vendors is included in the development of vending plan based on current population of vendors, projected growth of street vendors, rate of growth in the previous five years and average number of customers that generally visit informal markets in vending zones.
Zones for Free Vending, Restricted Vending and No-Vending are classified by the Municipal authority of the Urban Local Body which is town specific. This process is done involving the town planning department and the police department in accordance to the guidelines, Act, Rules and schemes framed by the government as part of the regulatory measure of street vending process.
Municipal Authorities provide basic civic facilities in Vending Zones/ Vendors’ Markets which include; solid waste disposal, public toilet, electricity, drinking water, storage facilities etc.
Infrastructure development of vending zones in the city
- Under this sub-component, financial support is provided to the ULBs for improvement of infrastructure and provision of basic services in the existing markets of street vendors. ULBs prepare a Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for such infrastructure improvement projects which includes improved civic facilities such as paving, water supply, toilets, waste disposal facility, lighting, common storage space, specialized carts for specific types of trades, temporary sheds and/or parking facilities.
Infrastructure requirements for vendors markets are assessed based on consultations with street vendors and their associations, local agencies and other stakeholders and are facilitated by the ULB. - Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for infrastructure improvement is prepared only after the street vendor survey for the area where the project is located, has been completed. ULB ensures that prior to commencing work on the project, the street vendors who need to benefit, have been issued the Identity Card as well as the Street Vending Certificate as per the prevailing policy, Act or guidelines of the state.
- While preparing the DIP, provision for providing specialized carts to the street vendors for specific types of trades such as food vending etc. are included with a view to improve the hygiene and optimal utilization of space. These carts are funded through individual loans covered under the SEP component of DAY-NULM.
Common Interest Group (CIG):
The SHG- Group loan and Bank linkage, has proved to be successful in providing access to financial services from the formal banking sector for asset-less or very poor. In order to develop effective livelihood for small/ marginal/and enterprising entrepreneurs, engaged in various activities, the financial institutions like ICICI, IOB etc. has launched special schemes for promotion of Common Interest Group (CIG)
Objectives of the scheme:
- To augment flow of credit to small, marginal, and enterprising individuals in then livelihood sector who are doing vending in streets.
- To serve as collateral substitute for loans to be provided to the target group.
- To build mutual trust and confidence between bank and the target group.
- To minimize the risks in the loan portfolio for the banks through group approach, cluster, approach, peer education and credit discipline.
- To provide food security to vulnerable sections by enhanced productivity and livelihood promotion through CIG mechanism.
General Features of CIG:
- A Common Interest Group (CIG) is an informal group comprising of 5-10 individuals coming together for the purpose of availing bank loan on individual basis or through group mechanism against mutual guarantee.
- Generally, the members of a CIG are engaged in a similar type of economic activity in the livelihood sector.
- The members offer a joint undertaking to the bank that enables them to avail loans.
- CIG members are expected to provide support to each other in carrying out occupational and social activities.
Criteria for membership:
- Members belong to similar socio-economic status, background and environment carrying out livelihoods activities and who agree to function as a Common Interest group.
- This way the groups are homogeneous and organized by likeminded street vendors and develop mutual trust and respect.
- The members residing in the same neighbourhood know and trust each other well enough to take up common interest group/ individual Loans.
- Members who have defaulted to any other formal financial Institution, in the past, are barred from the Group Membership.
- More than one person from the same family are not included the same CIG.
Group approach:
- All members of all the CIG are active enough to assume leadership of the group to ensure the activities of the CIG.
- The selection of an effective, able and active leader for the CIG is the essential as this will ultimately benefit all the CIG members.
- The leader fosters a sense of unity, oversees and maintains discipline, shares information and facilitates repayments. For the bank, he is the focal point for group activities.
- The CIG holds regular meetings which must be attended by all the members regularly to discuss issues mutual interests.
- The principles of self-help and group strength need to be emphasised.
- Group cohesion has to be ensured.
- Adequate emphasis are placed on the roles, expectations and functions of the group/ members & the benefits of group dynamics.
- The CIG can easily serve as a conduit for technology transfer, facilitating common access to market information, for training and technology dissemination in activities.
- The CIGs for specific activity, e.g. vegetables, fruits or cloths are given focus for the formation of CIG.
- The street vendors in clusters who come together in the form of groups with a view to contribute the entire value chain and thereby achieving economics of scale in Guidelines for SHG.
- The CIGs can evolve a structure that can build up empathy and understanding and create responsive lending mechanisms leading to greater introduction and interdependence between the members of CIGs.
Savings:
- CIG members are encouraged to save regularly.
- Bank opens savings account for CIG/ individual street vendor to ensure regular savings and thrift habit amongst them.
- However, the quantum of loan to be given to the groups is related to the credit needs of the enterprise and not to the quantum of savings.
Group Formation: –
- The CIG –group formation for Street vendors are purely male or female or a mixed group at the discretion of the members.
- Common interest group generally consists of 5 to 10 members of unique trade or trades of different nature to make their livelihoods effective and at their discretion.
- These groups are formed within the area of urban local body viz., Corporations/Municipalities/Town Panchayats utilizing the services of the community organiser and with the assistance of banks.
- The declared vending zone by the town vending committee is considered as the location specific and the vending certificate issued by the Town vending committee along with the Bar code ID card for the vendors issued by the urban local body may be treated as the proof of identity and vending location for the individual/Group (CIG) for extending loan through financial Institutions (Nationalised Banks)
- Generally, vendors are those who come to the mainstream of public moment to make their livelihoods through sale of products related to daily domestic consumption by the consumers and these vendors in variably seldom possess permanent address at the place of vending. They normally come from the neighbourhood villages or town for their livelihoods.
- It is for this reason; the street vendor does not require address proof at the place of vending. Also their location, timing nature of trade and representative will keep varying.
- The town planners have therefore applied a scientific method of survey through geographical information system to locate the street vendor at the time of survey with concrete statistical socio economic data of the individual with locations specific (latitude/longitude) of each vendor.
- It is mandated that every CIG meets once in a fortnight to exchange their views and ideas with the intention to promote growth of livelihoods.
- In the case where the spouses are involved doing trade or business in the street, the ID card will be issued either in the name of husband or wife in which the name of either husband or wife will be included as additional member provided they carry out unique business.
- In case where husband and wife is owning same or different trade in separate, unique ID card is issued by the town vending committee and both are considered for membership under CIG. However, it is ensured that each belong to different groups.
- Any member (he/she) is included in the CIG even if the individual belongs to SHG.
- The objective of CIG is to assist the vendors to avail loan through centrally sponsored scheme and to improve their livelihoods either as individual or as a group. The age limit for the members of CIG is 18 to 60.
- The member of CIG is known to everyone and he/she is being vending in that area at least for the past one year.
- Conditions specified by the financial institution are strictly adhered to while extending loan to the street vendors either to the individual or to the groups.
Survey and Issue of Identity Cards
- The survey covers all street vendors in the area being surveyed. ULB develops methodology for conducting the survey encompassing Name, location and other identity preferably using the latest global technology of locating the vendor, as he is liable for moving from one place to the other depending upon his trade and business. Moreover, there is no repetition of issue of id cards to an individual. The survey is therefore suggested using geo spatial survey incorporating bar code for unique identity.
- In addition, the street vendors are provided with certificate of vending for the purpose of availing benefits, as and when the government comes up with specific schemes to regulate the vending according to the ACT for street vendors passed by the Ministry, GOI in the year 2014, followed by street vendor’s rules and schemes.
- Following the street vendors Act 2014, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued notification for “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) schemes & Rules”, on 02 November 2015 and extends to the whole of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Training and Skill Development:
- The ULB conducts one to two days training programmes for all street vendors taking one area at a time. The aim of this program is to orient the street vendors on aspects such as their rights and responsibilities, specific policies or laws related to street vendors, food safety, maintenance of hygiene, waste disposal, etc.
- Modules for training, IEC material and workshops are developed/organized by the SULM/ULB in partnership with any resource agency identified by them. Delivery of training is outsourced to a training institute, a specialized agency such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or a reputed NGO.
- Street vendors who undergo a training programme/workshop are paid a daily amount as stipend for number of days attended, and calculated based upon opportunity cost of livelihood. This daily stipend is not less than the minimum wage applicable in the State for urban areas. The training cost also includes trainer fee, food, and travel cost, subject to a maximum of Rs.750 per person per day. Cost of conducting such specialized training programmes for the street vendors is met from the Employment through Skill Training and Placement (EST&P) component of DAY-NULM.
- Reports of training conducted and feedback from participants of the training programme are submitted by the ULB on a monthly basis.
Financial Inclusion
- Street vendors are often unable to access organized banking services as they lack identity documents, proof of address, tenure or legal rights over their place or business and evidence of their trades and professions. It is envisaged that the Identity Cards issued to street vendors under this scheme will help promote access to banking services. SULM and ULBs liaise with banks and other financial institutions to facilitate access to banking and financial services based on documents issued to street vendors by the ULBs.
- The SULM at state level include financial inclusion of urban street vendors as a separate agenda in State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and District Consultative Committee (DCC) meetings. The aim of inclusion is to ensure that all street vendors have bank accounts and are included in financial literacy programmes organized by the banks.
- The ULB organize sessions on financial literacy for identified street vendors with support of resource organisation and field staff. In these sessions the street vendors are made aware about the savings, credit, insurance etc., along with the modalities and operational requirements for accessing the same.
- The banks and Financial Institutions are encouraged to communicate with the street vendors through City Livelihoods Centre (CLC), camps etc. The ULB do the necessary coordination with the Lead District Manager (LDM) of the Lead Bank and Financial Literacy & Credit Counselling Centres (FLCCs) of the banks to organize financial literacy sessions and camps.
Survey and Issue of Identity Cards
Financial support is being provided to the ULBs for conduct of survey for identification and enlisting of street vendors. The survey is conducted on a whole city basis covering one area (ward/zone) at a time. In this case, the area identified is sufficiently large to accommodate mobility of vendors within the area.
The survey covers all street vendors in the area being surveyed. ULB develops methodology for conducting the survey encompassing Name, location and other identity preferably using the latest global technology of locating the vendor, as s/he is liable for moving from one place to the other depending upon his/her trade and business. Moreover, there is no repetition of issue of identity cards to an individual. The survey is therefore suggested using geo spatial survey incorporating bar code for unique identity.
In addition, the street vendors are provided with certificate of vending for the purpose of availing benefits, as and when the government comes up with specific schemes to regulate the vending according to the ACT for street vendors passed by the Ministry, GOI in the year 2014, followed by street vendor’s rules and schemes.
The Street Vendors (Protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) ACT, 2014, to protect the rights of urban street vendors to carry out livelihoods and to regulate street vending activities with the aim to reduce traffic menace and facilitate free movement of vehicles on busy roads.
Rules: This rule is called “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) Rules 2015” framed to plan and support the vendors to locate and authenticate them through issue of identity card. This gives them hold against booking them for illegal street activities by the police, local body and district administration.
Scheme: This Scheme is called “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) Schemes 2015” framed to carry out vending legitimately in the location earmarked for their livelihoods through Certificate of Vending(CoV) issued by the Town Vending Committee (TVC) formed in all Urban Local Bodies. The scheme also have provision for the ULB to charge subsidised fees from vendors based on the type, category, time & space allotted for the purpose of vending.
Bye-Law for Street Vendors
- Bye-law was prepared with structural frame based on the act, Rule and scheme as a template (Annexure-I) and communicated to all the ULB for framing exclusive bye-law to suit individual ULB without disturbing the structural frame of the Vendor Act enacted by the Central Government. The Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA) being the State Level Nodal Agency for implementation of the Scheme for Urban Street Vendor has communicated the draft Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bye-Laws, 2018 for notification is done at the respective ULB level.
Scientific methodology to locate street vendors
Geo-Spatial survey of street vendors
The ULBs prepared comprehensive format consisting of relevant details with regard to the socio economic and livelihood aspects of Street Vendors.
The survey was conducted in all 664 Urban Local Bodies including Corporations, Municipalities and Town Panchayats using scientific method.
Survey Methodology
- The method of survey is scientific and survey is adopted to exorcize the traditional practice of time consuming, laborious and less reliable survey method.
- The template for street vendor survey format designed by the Ministry is digitised using Tailor made software application.
- The software is designed to suit the use of application in android mobile to avoid purchase of separate hand held terminal for each surveyor.
- Drop down options are given to minimise time to capture data for 117 fields in the survey questionnaire.
- Cost of hand held terminal of Rs. 20,000 per tool is saved.
- Minimum error is ensured by the enumerator while doing survey of street vendors using software application.
- This survey method is Reliable and accurate.
- The data is captured in the digitised mode and transferred online using internet connectivity directly to the server (Paperless technology and cost minimised).
- Fool proof method to ensure the veracity of survey being carried out in the field for verification at any point of time and by all stake holders.
Issue of ID cards
- As soon as the vendor identification is complete, the individual vendor is given acknowledgement at the time of enumeration. The vendor brings the acknowledgement along with original document for verification by the officials and get the bar coded ID for unique identification. So far 1,05,853 Id cards have been issued to the street vendors.
- The process of identifying the street vendors is scientifically done in the field in order to avoid duplication by giving unified bar code made available as an auto generated sequential 16 digits alpha numeral. These numbers are brought on a common database created for the State which will take care of de-duplication.
- The pattern for ID card is designed in such a way that all the 117 fields captured for a particular individual Street Vendor can be accessed using bar code reader.
- Vending certificate is provided to all registered street vendors as a mark of recognition of the individual doing regular business in a defined location for over a long period and whose livelihoods are totally dependent on the activity of vending.
- The certificate of vending is issued to Vendors once the bio-metric identification and GIS location of individual vendor is complete using QR Code. Before issue of certificate, the ULB organize orientation and awareness program focusing on health, hygiene, road safety, waste disposal and safe handling of sale products for the street vendors.
- Certificate of vending comprises of QR code which facilitates the inspecting authority to access the details of the individual, his family details and the benefits availed in the past through several Government sponsored program and private loans availed by him from the financial institutions in order to assess the repayment capacity of the individual before availing fresh loan if any.
Training for street vendors:
- The process of awareness creation and training to street vendors was organised in all ULBs with the expertise of the consultants before distribution of vending certificate.
- The awareness on cleanliness, disposal of waste, food safety, hygiene, road safety, social responsibility, Biometric identification & Issue of ID cards form part of the training.
- This training is done under the expertise of the consultant in ULBs and utilising the resources available in ULBs like City Health Officer for Health, Hygiene & cleanliness, Community organiser for social responsibility & waste management, Revenue Officer to explain the levy of fees to the vendors and insurance officer to explain the benefit of government insurance scheme for the vendors.
- The sequence of awareness creation to vendors done in ULBs is detailed below. In addition to the above, the vendors are given details on the regulatory part being focused by the government towards improving their livelihoods hazel free.
- In addition to the above, the bankers are invited to give training on digital transaction for small traders. The scheme also provides incentive to those who does regular digital transaction in the trade.
- The banks also arrange penny drop transaction training to the street vendors to make the vendors familiar in digital transaction.
SUSV - Scheme for Support of Urban Street Vendors
Street vendors constitute an important segment at the bottom of the pyramid of the informal economy in cities. Street vending provides a source of self-employment and acts as a measure of urban poverty alleviation. Street vending also has a prominent place in the urban supply chain and provides inexpensive and convenient access to goods and services to all segments of the population including the poor.
Low levels of education and skills, limited access to formal credit and micro enterprise support constrain street vendors’ ability to access emerging market opportunities. This makes street vendors and their families vulnerable in difficult times or when they may require assistance for unforeseen expenses. TNULM seeks to address the concerns of urban street vendors by facilitating access to suitable spaces for vending, institutional credit, improved skills and social security linkages.
The objective of the component is to address the vulnerabilities of the urban street vendors through a multi-pronged approach. This includes:
- Survey of street vendors and issue of Identity Cards
- Development of city street vending plans
- Infrastructure development of vending zones in the city
- Training and Skill Development
- Financial Inclusion
- Access to credit
- Linkages to social security schemes
Development of Town Vending Plan
Need for Development of Town Vending Plan is to address the requirements of space for street vending as an important urban activity. Norms for reservation of space for street vendors is included in the development of vending plan based on current population of vendors, projected growth of street vendors, rate of growth in the previous five years and average number of customers that generally visit informal markets in vending zones.
Zones for Free Vending, Restricted Vending and No-Vending are classified by the Municipal authority of the Urban Local Body which is town specific. This process is done involving the town planning department and the police department in accordance to the guidelines, Act, Rules and schemes framed by the government as part of the regulatory measure of street vending process.
Municipal Authorities provide basic civic facilities in Vending Zones/ Vendors’ Markets which include; solid waste disposal, public toilet, electricity, drinking water, storage facilities etc.
Infrastructure development of vending zones in the city
- Under this sub-component, financial support is provided to the ULBs for improvement of infrastructure and provision of basic services in the existing markets of street vendors. ULBs prepare a Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for such infrastructure improvement projects which includes improved civic facilities such as paving, water supply, toilets, waste disposal facility, lighting, common storage space, specialized carts for specific types of trades, temporary sheds and/or parking facilities.
Infrastructure requirements for vendors markets are assessed based on consultations with street vendors and their associations, local agencies and other stakeholders and are facilitated by the ULB. - Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for infrastructure improvement is prepared only after the street vendor survey for the area where the project is located, has been completed. ULB ensures that prior to commencing work on the project, the street vendors who need to benefit, have been issued the Identity Card as well as the Street Vending Certificate as per the prevailing policy, Act or guidelines of the state.
- While preparing the DIP, provision for providing specialized carts to the street vendors for specific types of trades such as food vending etc. are included with a view to improve the hygiene and optimal utilization of space. These carts are funded through individual loans covered under the SEP component of DAY-NULM.
Common Interest Group (CIG):
The SHG- Group loan and Bank linkage, has proved to be successful in providing access to financial services from the formal banking sector for asset-less or very poor. In order to develop effective livelihood for small/ marginal/and enterprising entrepreneurs, engaged in various activities, the financial institutions like ICICI, IOB etc. has launched special schemes for promotion of Common Interest Group (CIG)
Objectives of the scheme:
- To augment flow of credit to small, marginal, and enterprising individuals in then livelihood sector who are doing vending in streets.
- To serve as collateral substitute for loans to be provided to the target group.
- To build mutual trust and confidence between bank and the target group.
- To minimize the risks in the loan portfolio for the banks through group approach, cluster, approach, peer education and credit discipline.
- To provide food security to vulnerable sections by enhanced productivity and livelihood promotion through CIG mechanism.
General Features of CIG:
- A Common Interest Group (CIG) is an informal group comprising of 5-10 individuals coming together for the purpose of availing bank loan on individual basis or through group mechanism against mutual guarantee.
- Generally, the members of a CIG are engaged in a similar type of economic activity in the livelihood sector.
- The members offer a joint undertaking to the bank that enables them to avail loans.
- CIG members are expected to provide support to each other in carrying out occupational and social activities.
Criteria for membership:
- Members belong to similar socio-economic status, background and environment carrying out livelihoods activities and who agree to function as a Common Interest group.
- This way the groups are homogeneous and organized by likeminded street vendors and develop mutual trust and respect.
- The members residing in the same neighbourhood know and trust each other well enough to take up common interest group/ individual Loans.
- Members who have defaulted to any other formal financial Institution, in the past, are barred from the Group Membership.
- More than one person from the same family are not included the same CIG.
Group approach:
- All members of all the CIG are active enough to assume leadership of the group to ensure the activities of the CIG.
- The selection of an effective, able and active leader for the CIG is the essential as this will ultimately benefit all the CIG members.
- The leader fosters a sense of unity, oversees and maintains discipline, shares information and facilitates repayments. For the bank, he is the focal point for group activities.
- The CIG holds regular meetings which must be attended by all the members regularly to discuss issues mutual interests.
- The principles of self-help and group strength need to be emphasised.
- Group cohesion has to be ensured.
- Adequate emphasis are placed on the roles, expectations and functions of the group/ members & the benefits of group dynamics.
- The CIG can easily serve as a conduit for technology transfer, facilitating common access to market information, for training and technology dissemination in activities.
- The CIGs for specific activity, e.g. vegetables, fruits or cloths are given focus for the formation of CIG.
- The street vendors in clusters who come together in the form of groups with a view to contribute the entire value chain and thereby achieving economics of scale in Guidelines for SHG.
- The CIGs can evolve a structure that can build up empathy and understanding and create responsive lending mechanisms leading to greater introduction and interdependence between the members of CIGs.
Savings:
- CIG members are encouraged to save regularly.
- Bank opens savings account for CIG/ individual street vendor to ensure regular savings and thrift habit amongst them.
- However, the quantum of loan to be given to the groups is related to the credit needs of the enterprise and not to the quantum of savings.
Group Formation: –
- The CIG –group formation for Street vendors are purely male or female or a mixed group at the discretion of the members.
- Common interest group generally consists of 5 to 10 members of unique trade or trades of different nature to make their livelihoods effective and at their discretion.
- These groups are formed within the area of urban local body viz., Corporations/Municipalities/Town Panchayats utilizing the services of the community organiser and with the assistance of banks.
- The declared vending zone by the town vending committee is considered as the location specific and the vending certificate issued by the Town vending committee along with the Bar code ID card for the vendors issued by the urban local body may be treated as the proof of identity and vending location for the individual/Group (CIG) for extending loan through financial Institutions (Nationalised Banks)
- Generally, vendors are those who come to the mainstream of public moment to make their livelihoods through sale of products related to daily domestic consumption by the consumers and these vendors in variably seldom possess permanent address at the place of vending. They normally come from the neighbourhood villages or town for their livelihoods.
- It is for this reason; the street vendor does not require address proof at the place of vending. Also their location, timing nature of trade and representative will keep varying.
- The town planners have therefore applied a scientific method of survey through geographical information system to locate the street vendor at the time of survey with concrete statistical socio economic data of the individual with locations specific (latitude/longitude) of each vendor.
- It is mandated that every CIG meets once in a fortnight to exchange their views and ideas with the intention to promote growth of livelihoods.
- In the case where the spouses are involved doing trade or business in the street, the ID card will be issued either in the name of husband or wife in which the name of either husband or wife will be included as additional member provided they carry out unique business.
- In case where husband and wife is owning same or different trade in separate, unique ID card is issued by the town vending committee and both are considered for membership under CIG. However, it is ensured that each belong to different groups.
- Any member (he/she) is included in the CIG even if the individual belongs to SHG.
- The objective of CIG is to assist the vendors to avail loan through centrally sponsored scheme and to improve their livelihoods either as individual or as a group. The age limit for the members of CIG is 18 to 60.
- The member of CIG is known to everyone and he/she is being vending in that area at least for the past one year.
- Conditions specified by the financial institution are strictly adhered to while extending loan to the street vendors either to the individual or to the groups.
Survey and Issue of Identity Cards
- The survey covers all street vendors in the area being surveyed. ULB develops methodology for conducting the survey encompassing Name, location and other identity preferably using the latest global technology of locating the vendor, as he is liable for moving from one place to the other depending upon his trade and business. Moreover, there is no repetition of issue of id cards to an individual. The survey is therefore suggested using geo spatial survey incorporating bar code for unique identity.
- In addition, the street vendors are provided with certificate of vending for the purpose of availing benefits, as and when the government comes up with specific schemes to regulate the vending according to the ACT for street vendors passed by the Ministry, GOI in the year 2014, followed by street vendor’s rules and schemes.
- Following the street vendors Act 2014, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued notification for “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) schemes & Rules”, on 02 November 2015 and extends to the whole of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Training and Skill Development:
- The ULB conducts one to two days training programmes for all street vendors taking one area at a time. The aim of this program is to orient the street vendors on aspects such as their rights and responsibilities, specific policies or laws related to street vendors, food safety, maintenance of hygiene, waste disposal, etc.
- Modules for training, IEC material and workshops are developed/organized by the SULM/ULB in partnership with any resource agency identified by them. Delivery of training is outsourced to a training institute, a specialized agency such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or a reputed NGO.
- Street vendors who undergo a training programme/workshop are paid a daily amount as stipend for number of days attended, and calculated based upon opportunity cost of livelihood. This daily stipend is not less than the minimum wage applicable in the State for urban areas. The training cost also includes trainer fee, food, and travel cost, subject to a maximum of Rs.750 per person per day. Cost of conducting such specialized training programmes for the street vendors is met from the Employment through Skill Training and Placement (EST&P) component of DAY-NULM.
- Reports of training conducted and feedback from participants of the training programme are submitted by the ULB on a monthly basis.
Financial Inclusion
- Street vendors are often unable to access organized banking services as they lack identity documents, proof of address, tenure or legal rights over their place or business and evidence of their trades and professions. It is envisaged that the Identity Cards issued to street vendors under this scheme will help promote access to banking services. SULM and ULBs liaise with banks and other financial institutions to facilitate access to banking and financial services based on documents issued to street vendors by the ULBs.
- The SULM at state level include financial inclusion of urban street vendors as a separate agenda in State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and District Consultative Committee (DCC) meetings. The aim of inclusion is to ensure that all street vendors have bank accounts and are included in financial literacy programmes organized by the banks.
- The ULB organize sessions on financial literacy for identified street vendors with support of resource organisation and field staff. In these sessions the street vendors are made aware about the savings, credit, insurance etc., along with the modalities and operational requirements for accessing the same.
- The banks and Financial Institutions are encouraged to communicate with the street vendors through City Livelihoods Centre (CLC), camps etc. The ULB do the necessary coordination with the Lead District Manager (LDM) of the Lead Bank and Financial Literacy & Credit Counselling Centres (FLCCs) of the banks to organize financial literacy sessions and camps.
Survey and Issue of Identity Cards
Financial support is being provided to the ULBs for conduct of survey for identification and enlisting of street vendors. The survey is conducted on a whole city basis covering one area (ward/zone) at a time. In this case, the area identified is sufficiently large to accommodate mobility of vendors within the area.
The survey covers all street vendors in the area being surveyed. ULB develops methodology for conducting the survey encompassing Name, location and other identity preferably using the latest global technology of locating the vendor, as s/he is liable for moving from one place to the other depending upon his/her trade and business. Moreover, there is no repetition of issue of identity cards to an individual. The survey is therefore suggested using geo spatial survey incorporating bar code for unique identity.
In addition, the street vendors are provided with certificate of vending for the purpose of availing benefits, as and when the government comes up with specific schemes to regulate the vending according to the ACT for street vendors passed by the Ministry, GOI in the year 2014, followed by street vendor’s rules and schemes.
The Street Vendors (Protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) ACT, 2014, to protect the rights of urban street vendors to carry out livelihoods and to regulate street vending activities with the aim to reduce traffic menace and facilitate free movement of vehicles on busy roads.
Rules: This rule is called “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) Rules 2015” framed to plan and support the vendors to locate and authenticate them through issue of identity card. This gives them hold against booking them for illegal street activities by the police, local body and district administration.
Scheme: This Scheme is called “The Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and regulation of street vending) Schemes 2015” framed to carry out vending legitimately in the location earmarked for their livelihoods through Certificate of Vending(CoV) issued by the Town Vending Committee (TVC) formed in all Urban Local Bodies. The scheme also have provision for the ULB to charge subsidised fees from vendors based on the type, category, time & space allotted for the purpose of vending.
Bye-Law for Street Vendors
- Bye-law was prepared with structural frame based on the act, Rule and scheme as a template (Annexure-I) and communicated to all the ULB for framing exclusive bye-law to suit individual ULB without disturbing the structural frame of the Vendor Act enacted by the Central Government. The Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA) being the State Level Nodal Agency for implementation of the Scheme for Urban Street Vendor has communicated the draft Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bye-Laws, 2018 for notification is done at the respective ULB level.
Scientific methodology to locate street vendors
Geo-Spatial survey of street vendors
The ULBs prepared comprehensive format consisting of relevant details with regard to the socio economic and livelihood aspects of Street Vendors.
The survey was conducted in all 664 Urban Local Bodies including Corporations, Municipalities and Town Panchayats using scientific method.
Survey Methodology
- The method of survey is scientific and survey is adopted to exorcize the traditional practice of time consuming, laborious and less reliable survey method.
- The template for street vendor survey format designed by the Ministry is digitised using Tailor made software application.
- The software is designed to suit the use of application in android mobile to avoid purchase of separate hand held terminal for each surveyor.
- Drop down options are given to minimise time to capture data for 117 fields in the survey questionnaire.
- Cost of hand held terminal of Rs. 20,000 per tool is saved.
- Minimum error is ensured by the enumerator while doing survey of street vendors using software application.
- This survey method is Reliable and accurate.
- The data is captured in the digitised mode and transferred online using internet connectivity directly to the server (Paperless technology and cost minimised).
- Fool proof method to ensure the veracity of survey being carried out in the field for verification at any point of time and by all stake holders.
Issue of ID cards
- As soon as the vendor identification is complete, the individual vendor is given acknowledgement at the time of enumeration. The vendor brings the acknowledgement along with original document for verification by the officials and get the bar coded ID for unique identification. So far 1,05,853 Id cards have been issued to the street vendors.
- The process of identifying the street vendors is scientifically done in the field in order to avoid duplication by giving unified bar code made available as an auto generated sequential 16 digits alpha numeral. These numbers are brought on a common database created for the State which will take care of de-duplication.
- The pattern for ID card is designed in such a way that all the 117 fields captured for a particular individual Street Vendor can be accessed using bar code reader.
- Vending certificate is provided to all registered street vendors as a mark of recognition of the individual doing regular business in a defined location for over a long period and whose livelihoods are totally dependent on the activity of vending.
- The certificate of vending is issued to Vendors once the bio-metric identification and GIS location of individual vendor is complete using QR Code. Before issue of certificate, the ULB organize orientation and awareness program focusing on health, hygiene, road safety, waste disposal and safe handling of sale products for the street vendors.
- Certificate of vending comprises of QR code which facilitates the inspecting authority to access the details of the individual, his family details and the benefits availed in the past through several Government sponsored program and private loans availed by him from the financial institutions in order to assess the repayment capacity of the individual before availing fresh loan if any.
Training for street vendors:
- The process of awareness creation and training to street vendors was organised in all ULBs with the expertise of the consultants before distribution of vending certificate.
- The awareness on cleanliness, disposal of waste, food safety, hygiene, road safety, social responsibility, Biometric identification & Issue of ID cards form part of the training.
- This training is done under the expertise of the consultant in ULBs and utilising the resources available in ULBs like City Health Officer for Health, Hygiene & cleanliness, Community organiser for social responsibility & waste management, Revenue Officer to explain the levy of fees to the vendors and insurance officer to explain the benefit of government insurance scheme for the vendors.
- The sequence of awareness creation to vendors done in ULBs is detailed below. In addition to the above, the vendors are given details on the regulatory part being focused by the government towards improving their livelihoods hazel free.
- In addition to the above, the bankers are invited to give training on digital transaction for small traders. The scheme also provides incentive to those who does regular digital transaction in the trade.
- The banks also arrange penny drop transaction training to the street vendors to make the vendors familiar in digital transaction.