The Minister of State (I/C) for Union Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, has said that his ministry is committed towards providing infrastructure and skill training to street vendors, who play a significant role in the urban supply chain.
Addressing the National Convention of NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors of India) in Delhi on Tuesday, the minister said that the Central government is in regular touch with the states for the implementation of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM), which aims to reduce poverty by promoting skilled wage employment opportunity.
Puri said that the government passed the the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street vending) Act 2014 with an aim to address street vendors’ livelihood challenges like constant threats of eviction, removal, confiscation of goods and almost non-existent social security cover.
He highlighted the significance of street vendors whose prominence is reflected in the urban supply chain in terms of providing affordable goods and services to all sections of population. “The creation of infrastructure for street vendors will be implemented. With regard to this, 5 percent of allocation under the scheme will be provided by the state government,” Hardeep Singh Puri said.
Besides infrastructure, the street vendors would also be getting skill training under Skill Training programme of DAY-NULM. Also, the vendors can get funding with 7 percent interest for setting up and expanding self-employment enterprises under Self-Employment Programme of DAY-NULM.
What makes the scheme more interesting is the fact that it provides assistance to provide shelters to homeless vendors who can put up in shelter homes operated by DAY-NULM. The scheme also caters to the needs of female and handicapped street vendors by helping them form Self-Help Groups.