New Delhi, Aug 17: A bill which seeks to protect street vendors against harassment and regulate their activities in public areas  today received the nod of the government.
 A meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill.
 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is likely to introduce the bill in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament. Under the bill, anyone over 18 years can register as a street vendor by making a one-time fee.
 The bill will also help the authorities to regulate hawking activities in public areas such as pavements and roads. The measure also provides for setting up of vending zones for hawkers to sell their products with minimal restrictions and without fear of being fined by municipal authorities for vending in unauthorised areas.
 The bill approved today includes the recommendations of the NAC."A central law will prevail over all state municipal laws to the extent that they are inconsistent with the law for street vendors. Hence the states will not be required to amend municipal and police laws," the Council had said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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