The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a landmark step by including women in the Town Vending Committees (TVC) responsible for overseeing the implementation of the city’s hawker policy. This move, which culminates a decade-long effort to enforce the Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act of 2014, was formalised through a lottery draw held at BMC headquarters on Monday.
The lottery was conducted to select female representatives from a pool of women hawkers, with three individuals chosen to serve on the TVC. This initiative aims to integrate the perspectives and issues unique to women hawkers into the policy-making process. The TVC will operate across Mumbai’s seven administrative zones, with a goal of formally recognising and licensing 32,415 authorised hawkers by August 31. This inclusion marks a significant first, according to the deputy municipal commissioner (special), who chaired the draw. “This is the inaugural instance of such representation,” the official stated.
“Including women in the committees ensures that their specific challenges and needs are adequately addressed.” Each zonal committee, comprising 20 members, will now include three women from the hawkers’ community, reflecting a concerted effort to provide fair representation. Nikhil Desai, a TVC member from Zone III, welcomed the move, noting that female hawkers often face distinct forms of harassment. He asserted that their inclusion in the TVC would allow these issues to be addressed more effectively. The new structure aims to enhance oversight and ensure that grievances are brought directly to the municipal commissioner’s attention.
The BMC’s action is also a response to the Bombay High Court’s directive. At a June 24 hearing, the court had mandated the swift completion of TVC elections, which are now expected to be finalised within eight weeks. The BMC has committed to completing the procedure by the end of August, followed by the issuance of licences and the establishment of designated hawking and non-hawking zones. The protracted delay in implementing the Street Vendors Act had been attributed to various hurdles, including political objections, legal disputes, and the impacts of the pandemic.
