Rajasthan govt to extend identity to street vendors

The Directorate of local bodies of Rajasthan will hold a series of events over the next couple of weeks to promote livelihood development in urban areas of the state. 

The activities will be part of ‘Shehri Samridhi Utsav’ under Deendayal Antyodaya Scheme- National Livelihood Mission (DAY-NUM) to associate left behind beneficiaries. The drive will be held between February 1-15 and as part of the exercise, thousands of street vendors are expected to get a legal identity. 

“Street vendors will be surveyed and issued identity cards and it will be held during the period along with the promotion of loans for livelihood, associating students with management activities of hostels and constitution of city progress fronts,” SR Meena, project director DAY-NUM, said at the launch of an awareness rally on Friday. 

There remain thousands of street vendors in the state that are still to gain access to an official identification from the government. This often exposes them to exploitation by the authorities and as the department sets on the drive to survey, the process is likely to get streamlined. 

All the state managers of the scheme were in Jaipur for the rally that marked the launch of the fortnight-long drive. The rally held between Jawahar Circle to Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in Jaipur also witnessed participation of hundreds of women associated with various self-help groups. Secretary to Rajasthan government for local self-governance, Siddharth Mahajan to flag off the rally informed of series of events to be held across the state during the drive. 

Various events will be held to generate public awareness, this will include job fairs, food fests and loan camps. 

Thousands to gain

There remain thousands of street vendors in the state that are still dont have an official identification. This often exposes them to exploitation by authorities and as the department sets on the drive to survey, the process is likely to get streamlined.