Guwahati: On Sunday, nearly 20,000 street vendors demanded that at least 50 vending zones be established across the city, claiming that they had suffered significant losses as a result of frequent crackdowns allegedly carried out by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), which evicted them from roadside locations.
• All Assam Vendors Association say on the matter
While the GMC claims to have several vending zones throughout the city, the All Assam Vendors Association (AAVA) claims that there is just one civic-body-approved location in Panbazar.
The issue of vending zones is not new and the GMC has not interfered in the situation despite repeated complaints, as stated by AAVA president Chandan Goswami, “They come and evict the street vendors at any time. They do not think that the person runs his family by selling goods on the streets,” he said.
He also stated that maintaining cleanliness and making room for pedestrians is in the best interests of vendors and that the GMC should allocate new areas complying with the Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act 2014.
• Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s approach
Meanwhile, GMC Commissioner Devasish Sharma stated that the city intends to develop vending zones for the convenience of street vendors.
It should be noted that almost 8,500 street vendors are registered with the GMC. The majority of the sellers are from outside of town. They travel to Guwahati by train or bus or hire vehicles to market their wares and return home by dusk.
