Poor response from citizens for suggestions, objections to hawking pitches draft

There has been a poor response to the suggestions and objections asked by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on draft hawking pitches. There are 85,000 pitches across Mumbai and BMC has received only a handful of suggestions and objections till now.

According to a senior civic official from BMC’s Removal and Encroachment department, who didn’t wish to be named, there’s only eight days left for the deadline and the publi has yet to respond. “This time, BMC launched an awareness campaign to take suggestions and objections from people for the proposed hawking pitches across different media. It does seem the people have complaints with this proposal,” the civic officer said, adding that no more extensions will be given, as public was given two months.

On the contrary, the councillors raised strong objection to the draft hawking pitches and claimed that the proposed draft was against the Bombay High Court (HC) set guidelines, as many proposed pitches have been marked near temple, hospital, and public transport places.

Meanwhile, the civic body along with seeking suggestions and objections from citizens, resident associations, corporators and others, is also putting the information of all 99,435 hawkers in a separately developed software. This software will have Adhaar details of all hawkers, in return BMC will provide only eligible hawkers with the street vending certificate and hawkers licence. The civic official added, "With the help of software transparency can be maintained.. In addition, even after the deadline ends people can appeal to Town Vending Committee (TVC).”