Street vendors to get ID cards soon

Following the notification of the Tamil Nadu Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules 2015, the Corporation is mandated to enumerate the vendors, provide ID cards and facilitate the formation of a Town Vending Committee in each of the zones – a process that has been delayed in the city. 

A senior Corporation official said that out of the total 37,000 street vendors, biometric details of 27,000 have been collected. “We have the ID cards ready to be handed out. We are waiting for the formation of the town vending committee in the city’s 15 zones, following which town vending committee will be formed,” added the official. 

C Thiruvettai, President, Small Vendors Committee, which includes 52 such street vendors association, said that they are awaiting the ID cards from the Corporation, which will help the vendors conduct their business without any hassles. “Only those street vendors with ID cards will be allowed to peddle on the roads. They cannot be evicted by the police or any other authority, without adequate reason. In addition, there is a redressal committee, which can take appropriate action to address any problems faced by the vendors. In short, the street vendors can work in peace and pay the Corporation for the space,” he said, adding that the monthly rent ranges from Rs 100-150.