Back in Business! Street Vendors give a Damn to MCC Raids?
Mangaluru: It seems like the street vendors give a damn to Mangaluru Citry Corporation raids? It seems like the street vendors are more powerful than the Mayor and MCC Officials? Seems like MCC can’t handle this street vendors menace ? Seems like the space provided by MCC behind Town Hall for the use of these street vendors will be of no use, thereby tax payers money gone down the drain? These raids by MCC now and then has become like a drama or call it a joke- because these street vendors keep coming back no matter what. While motorists are facing a hard time to find a parking spot, all these parking space is taken over by these illegal street vendors during day time, and in the evening by illegal mobile canteens. MCC should either enforce the laws on these street vendors strictly or forget evicting now and then which is useless. Seems like MCC is trying to get rid of these street vendors, but on the other hand politicians are supporting them for vote bank.Bah humbug?
It has happened few times in the past, it has happened again – where Mangaluru City Corporation does a surprise raid on illegal petty shops and evict them using earth-movers, police force and man-power. Couple of days ago, MCC evicted street vendors near State Bank area- And within a few hours, the same petty shop owners were back into their illegal trade. This makes one think, what’s the point, where MCC at one point evicts these street vendors, and few hours later they are all back into same illegal vending business. Looks like a drama. Laws should be enforced strictly, not just for a day or two?
MCC raid on Street Vendors near State Bank area couple of days ago…
Yes, we all know that the menace of illegal street vendors is getting out of control- just look at every corner in the city- there are street vendors selling fruits/vegetable/Chinese food, chaat items, dosas/coffee/tea etc etc. The rapid growth of population recently has given rise to problems and difficulties that have been alarming and threatening the sustenance of human civilization. More people mean more mouths to feed. In search of a livelihood, a large-scale migration of the rural population to the urban areas has become a common sight. Cities and towns with increased opportunities of employment coupled with industries and commerce have become increasingly congested and overpopulated. In developing economies as ours, the state finds it difficult to control as well as regulate such movement.
With limited infrastructure facilities, not all the citizens are able to avail the basic necessities of a living. Most of the migrant population has to live in slums and shanty towns which are at most times unrecognized and hence deprived of clean drinking water, electricity, proper sanitary mechanisms, health and medical facilities. The population being disproportionately high when compared to the limited employment opportunities, most of them have to carry on independent business activities and do not get any help from the state authorities in this regard. With a large poor population, the issue appears to be two sided.
………The ‘Same’ evicted Street Vendors are back in business again on the ‘Same’ spot?
On the one hand is the livelihood of these people and their families, and on the other hand is the regulation of economic activities, control on and crimes and illegal business, encroachment of land and property, illegal street shops and last but not the least the protection and conservation of the natural environment. In such a situation it becomes necessary and vital for the local municipal authorities to frame laws and thrust them to manage the behaviour of the society.
One such concern is that of street hawking in large cities. These activities disrupt the smooth functioning of the city in several ways but are difficult to regulate as they involve a large section of the society. Moreover, this population is a vote bank for political groups and a good source for harassment by the public authorities. MCC and other concerned authorities have to come up with a plan to relocate all these illegal vendors to a location which will not bother the city life, traffic and the earnings of those shop owners who run their business legally by paying taxes, rent and other utility expenses.
