BHUBANESWAR: If the Orissa Government has its way, street vendors will soon get institutional credit support. The draft Orissa State Urban Street Vendors’ Policy pitches for extending financial linkage to the vendors who are always a target of the enforcement authorities __ both police and civic.The proposed policy recognises the significance of the street vendors, who operate in an unorganised sector, and endorses credit linkage for them. Since such vendors have a little or no credit from the formal financial institutions for their economic activities, they fall back on private moneylenders and seek finance at higher rates. Nationalised banks should be encouraged to extend support through self-help groups (SHGs), the Government said.The vendors’ association can be assisted by NGOs and under Swarna Jayanti Sahari Rojgar Yojana, they can form SHGs, the policy suggests adding, the groups can arrange financial interface between the vendors and the formal sector institutions not only for income generation but also for housing needs too.The policy, which aims to promote sustainable urban growth by giving the vendors a space in the urban areas, is also looking at introduction of a registration system for them. This would resolve what the policy document says “non-discretionary regulation of their access to public spaces in accordance with the standards of planning and nature of trade and service.’’Through a Town Vendors’ Committee, an ULB will have to undertake a comprehensive photo census survey along with GIS mapping of the existing vendors to grant them lease to vend from specific places within the holding capacity of the vending zones concerned. Such a system will not only regulate the vending but also keep tabs on the dynamics such as the growth in the sector and individual vendors through issue of identity cards and registration fees collection.The policy also looks at a standard procedure for their relocation, eviction or confiscation if they cause public nuisance through obstruction of streets.
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