.(Pondy Bazaar to be hawker-free in next eight days )
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The Road side shops had been part of the landscape and in Chennai shopper's life for a very long time.. According to Times of India "The history behind the arrival of street hawkers varies. While the Pondy Bazaar Hawkers' Association said the government allowed them to set up 37 stalls in 1954, owners of shops in buildings said only 17 hawkers got permission in 1972. Retired justice A Ramamurthi, who heads the hawker committee, said, "The shops would have been there for more than 40 years." (Pondy Bazaar empties out as street vendors leave )
I suppose shifting them makes perfect sense in terms of freeing up pedestrian space, frontage cleared for all the permanent shops in the stretch, breathing space for much harassed residents. These shops being of temporary structures made using highly flammable materials definitely posed a definite fire and safety hazard. The congestion created by the encroached shops and jam packed crowds posed a possible stampede and similar dangers.
But, this major change in the name of progress will have profound impact on majority of people. Definitely, scores of Chennai residents and much more visitors will miss the hustle and bustle of a vibrant market place,,Life won't be same again. (When all roads in city led them to Pondy Bazaar). Not That the Street Hawkers are unique to Pondy Bazaar (or India for that matter). It is there in all major cities of the world.
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| Hawkers at night on Smith Street, Chinatown, Singapore |
But, what about the hawkers themselves. Will the complex attract the same level of shoppers ? It is a mute question..Is this really a progress in their life. Will patrons find it convenient to visit the shops (after getting parking) shops? Will the complex will be maintained well in terms of sanitation and cleanliness.. Again, according to TOI " Some vendors who opened their shops for business gave shoppers a Day One 50% discount. Textile seller Raja said he had five customers on Thursday. "I sold textiles from the pavement for 12 years," he said. "I'm glad that I will not have to worry about rain or the summer heat any longer. But unfortunately my shop is right next to a public toilet. I'm not sure how long it will be before it becomes a problem for the shop." (Pondy Bazaar vendors begin old spiel again in new kiosks)
One hope that it won't be like relocating fish from a pond to land mass with the good intention of improving the fish's life and environment..actually, one would feel sorry for these hawkers..
News Update on Pondy bazzar Vendors :-
ReplyDeleteIll-planned complexes force hawkers to remain on streets Poor Ventilation, Inadequate Space Render Bldgs Unfit For Business
- Christin Mathew Philip TNN / Times of India / 14th november, 2013 , Thursday
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?
From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/11/14&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00700&ViewMode=HTML
News Update on Pondy bazzar Vendors :-
ReplyDeleteIll-planned complexes force hawkers to remain on streets Poor Ventilation, Inadequate Space Render Bldgs Unfit For Business
- Christin Mathew Philip TNN / Times of India / 14th november, 2013 , Thursday
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?
From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/11/14&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00700&ViewMode=HTML
Ill-planned complexes force hawkers to remain on streets
Poor Ventilation, Inadequate Space Render Bldgs Unfit For Business
Christin Mathew Philip TNN
Chennai: After moving hawkers off the streets in Pondy Bazaar, the city corporation is planning five multi-storeyed market complexes — two in Thiruvottiyur and one each in Saidapet, Valasaravakkam and Adyar for fruit, vegetable, fish and flower vendors.
But the fact that such complexes are eventually abandoned due to inadequate planning is an issue that may weigh on the minds of civic officials.
Poor ventilation and inadequate space render these complexes unfit for business and inconducive for shopping, say experts, adding that most of them are built without consulting vendors. “If they cannot do business inside, they will be forced to return to the pavements,” says Roshan Toshniwal of Transparent Chennai, which conducted surveys among vendors.
Many complexes meant for vendors are being misused. The four-storey Lily Pond Complex, with 857 shops in the erstwhile Moore Market, opened in 2008. It has now become a den of anti-social elements, while hawkers have moved out to do business on Ayanavaram streets.
Civic officials say lack of space in prime areas forces them to build such complexes. “It’s a challenge to provide more space to each vendor. We have to rehabilitate all of them. So average space per vendor will decrease,” said an official.
Toshniwal says, “The civic body should create facilities in the shops to attract customers. There should be more space between shops and large corridors for customers to walk freely and enjoy shopping.”
The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, recently passed by Parliament, says number of hawkers in a city should ideally be 2.5% of its population. So Chennai, with a population of 65 lakh, could have 1.62 lakh hawkers.
Activists want the corporation to provide designated hawking zones. National Association of Street Vendors of India secretary V Mageshvaran says there are nearly one lakh vendors in the city, but only 3,966 licensed hawkers in 31 designated areas.