Home Minister Shri Patil Meets Unorganized Street Hawkers

June 16, 2008 in 2008, ASEAN, BJP, acorn, advertising, africa, agra, airtel, ambala, america, american, amul, anand, annual, asian, assocham, association, bangalore, banks, bengal, bhopal, अजमेर, इलाहाबाद, किराना, जनवाद, व्यापार, व्यापारी, सब्ज़ी
Tags: american, bharat, BJP, burgers, coffee, cola, congress, dairy, democratic, doha, drinks, european, fdi, grocery, hawkers, independent, investment, janvad, kirana, open, stree, swadeshi, swatantra, vendors, vyavsyi, WTO

Hawkers’ leaders from around the country met with the Home Minister for Livelihood Protection and Regulation of Street Vending Bill

Hawkers leaders from around the country met the Home Minister, Mr. Shivraj Patil, who has been made the Chairman of Empowered Group of Ministers to draft Livelihood Protection and Regulation of Street Vending Bill and discussed the threats to hawkers.

The hawkers leaders were lead by Medha Patkar, Working President, National Hawkers Federation and Saktiman Ghosh, General Secretary, National Hawkers Federation. The leaders were joined by Mr. Abani Roy, Prominent Parliamentarian, Raju Bhise, President, YUVA, Dharmendra Kumar, Director, India FDI Watch and Cheryl of Socialist Hawkers Union.

The leaders demanded mandatory implementation of the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors by all States and Municipalities and called for decriminalization of street vending by amendment to the Indian Penal Code, Police Act, and all relevant state and Municipal acts. They demanded a complete ban on foreign direct investment in retail and comprehensive regulation of domestic corporations who are hijacking the retail trade of hawkers.

The leaders demanded a complete ban on all corporations selling fruits, vegetables, groceries, and daily use goods. The leaders also demanded social security for hawkers, including pension, maternity, and health benefits.

The Home Minister assured the delegation to incorporate their demands in the proposed draft.

Addressing a press conference later, Medha Patkar accused Mukesh Ambani of being shameless to announce to “double” their profit from Reliance Fresh. Shaktiman Ghosh announced a march to parliament during its winter session to forward hawkers demands.

Hawkers represent one of the largest contingents of the unorganized sector, which constitutes 93% of the workforce and contributes 65% of the country’s GDP.

In Solidarity !

Dharmendra Kumar
Director
India FDI Watch
M-9871179084
Email :
dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk
dkfordignity@gmail.com