Ahead of a crucial meeting of the Town Vending Committee (TVC), street vendor associations in Mohali have raised strong objections, demanding that the long-pending issues of 993 surveyed vendors be resolved before any new decisions are taken. They have also voiced firm opposition to the proposed issuance of mobile vending licences.
Agenda Prepared Without Consultation, Say Vendors
The vendors have taken issue with the agenda for the TVC meeting scheduled for January 9 at the Municipal Corporation. Vijay Kumar Bittu, who serves as the president of both the Rehri–Phari Association and the Town Vending Committee, stated that the agenda was formulated without consulting the committee members. He asserted that no new decisions would be allowed for implementation until the matter of the 993 vendors, who were surveyed earlier, is fully addressed.
Bittu emphasized the need for stationary vending sites for these vendors, rejecting the concept of mobile licences. He called for the cancellation of licences issued for roaming vending and insisted that vendors be accommodated in vending zones within the same sectors and phases where they were originally surveyed. He pointed out that proposing a single site in Phase 6 was an impractical solution, as it could not accommodate all the affected vendors.
Fees Collected, But Licences Pending
Providing further details, Jaswinder Sharma, a Town Vending Committee member and chairman of the Rehri–Phari union, revealed that the 993 vendors were initially surveyed in 2016. In 2023, these vendors were instructed to deposit a fee of Rs 1,000 per month. According to the corporation's records, fees from 445 vendors have already been collected, amassing nearly Rs 1 crore.
"Since such a significant amount has been collected from the vendors, the administration is obligated to provide them with proper stationary licences and fixed vending spaces," Sharma argued. He also alleged selective enforcement, claiming that action is predominantly targeted at poor street vendors while encroachments by established shopkeepers and showroom owners are often overlooked.
Warning of Social Consequences and Call for Transparency
The vendor representatives issued a stern warning that displacing them without proper rehabilitation could lead to serious social problems. They argued that snatching away people's livelihoods could push individuals toward undesirable paths, and they urged the administration to take responsibility for ensuring a fair process.
Ravi Kumar, another union member, stated that these concerns would be formally presented during the town vending committee meeting. A memorandum outlining their demands will also be submitted to the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner. Kumar clarified their stance, stating that while the 993 surveyed vendors must be allotted space and not harassed, new vendors from places like Chandigarh, whose names are not on the official survey list, should be removed. The union expressed willingness to cooperate with the Municipal Corporation in identifying and clearing such unauthorized vendors.
The vendors are demanding a fair and transparent policy to be established before any further enforcement actions are taken, seeking a permanent solution to their vending rights and locations.
