Do not consider newspaper vendors as hawkers: Nitesh Rane

On Monday, a delegation led by Nitesh Rane, a Member of Legislative Assembly and President of Swabhiman Sanghatana, met the Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway and asked him not to take action against the newspaper vendors outside railway stations.

The delegation asked for a designated spot to be assigned to newspaper vendors.

The meeting was held at 10.30 am with the Divisional Railway Manager for Central Railways at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Nitesh Rane, in his letter to the DRM of Central Railway, asked the authorities not to consider newspaper vendors as hawkers. The letter further requests that Railways should provide a place for the vendor as they play an important role in society by providing newspapers and keeping people informed.

The Elphinstone Road stampede, which claimed 23 lives last month, led to the Railways conducting crackdowns on hawkers outside railway platforms and on Foot Over Bridges. Action was also taken on them.

"We have been requesting the Railway Protection Force (RPF) not to take action against newspaper vendors, but they did not hear our plea and kept on with the crackdown. This has led to huge financial losses.", said Ravi Shinde, a vendor from Thane.

ACTION TAKEN

• The Elphinstone Road stampede, which claimed 23 lives last month, led to the Railways conducting crackdowns on hawkers outside railway platforms and on Foot Over Bridges. Action was also taken on them.
   
• The letter further requests that Railways should provide a place for the vendor as they play an important role in society, in keeping people informed.