[Reader-list] Roadside traders march against eviction move

[T Peter]

Roadside traders march against eviction move

Special Correspondent
http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120160390300.htm
Corporation yet to come up with rehabilitation package for displaced vendors


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hundreds of fish and vegetable vendors, mostly women,
took out a march to the City Corporation office at Palayam here on Friday
to protest against the move to evict them from roadside markets. The
protest was organised by the Theeradesa Mahila Vedi.

Inaugurating the march, State president of the Kerala Swathantra Matsya
Thozhilali Federation T. Peter alleged that the eviction move was aimed at
paving the way for the entry of retail chains like Walmart and Reliance.
He said hundreds of vendors would lose their livelihood if they were
displaced.

Mr. Peter said the Corporation was bound to provide alternative land and
facilities for the vendors to carry on their trade. "Many vendors have
been selling fish and vegetables by the roadside for decades. Customers
are drawn to them by the reasonable rates," he added.

President of Theeradesa Mahila Vedi Elizabeth Antony, secretary Freeska
Kurishappan, Magline Peter, KSMTF district president Valierian Isack,
secretary Anto Alias and former ward councillor Bridget Franklin addressed
the protestors.

The march began from the Secretariat and proceeded to the City Corporation
office. Despite the snowballing protest, the Corporation has failed to
come up with a rehabilitation package for the displaced hawkers. The City
Development Plan outlines a proposal to rehabilitate hawkers and
legitimise street vending as an 'affordable' service for the urban
population. Scheduled to be taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the project primarily seeks to relocate
street vendors to special zones equipped with basic infrastructural
facilities.

It is estimated that the city has 3,700 street vendors operating from
commercial zones like East Fort, Chalai, Manacaud, Thampanoor, Statue,
Palayam, Karamana, Kesavadasapuram, Vazhuthacaud, Medical College, Ulloor
and Sasthamangalam.

Under the project, the Corporation would identify land to create hawking
zones where street vendors would be provided with semi permanent
structures and basic amenities like toilets, electricity, drinking water
and storage. It moots aesthetic design of mobile stalls and push carts to
improve appeal.

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