Madhya Pradesh empowers vendors
In 2005, when Shivraj Singh Chauhan assumed power as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, he focused on regulating street vendors. He introduced "Feriwalon ki duniya", a scheme that adopts the National Policy of Street Vendors, 2004.
The government conducted surveys in all the 50 districts of the state, identified about 67,500 vendors and gave them identity cards. By 2012, it had identified and registered 5,887 urban street vendors in Bhopal district, 5,347 in Gwalior, 3,683 in Indore, 3,169 in Sagar, 2,262 in Burhanpur and 2,036 in Chhatarpur district. In 2012, the Madhya Pradesh government announced the Chief Minister's Welfare Scheme. It was formulated by combining various state governments' schemes. It gives the following provisions to registered street vendors: PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY ASSISTANCE: In the first two pregnancies and deliveries, street vendors' wives get wages for six months; street vendors get wages for 15 days. They also get ` 1,000 for delivery in government hospital. SCHOLARSHIP: Two children get scholarship as prescribed by the department of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. CASH FOR DAUGHTERS' WEDDING: Financial aid of ` 9,000 each to two daughters if they are married during mass weddings. HEALTH ASSISTANCE: Street vendors are covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. Special help is provided in case of a deadly disease. ON DEATH OF A STREET VENDOR: ` 30,000 to family of
the aggrieved; licence to be transferred to a family member.
To ensure smooth implementation of the schemes, the state government provides 50 per cent financial aid to the municipal body to create infrastructure like concrete pavements, boundary walls and toilets. The municipal body bears the other 50 per cent of the financial burden.
S K Shukla, state commissioner-cum-secretary, says, "We are now planning to launch a city-wise website for street vendors working in specific vending zones. Consumers can place their orders online. The order will be forwarded to the vendor who can get the order home delivered. This will also generate employment".
"There is no dearth of resources. One only needs to have the vision," he adds.