E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 28 - The government decided to remove street vendors from footpaths and streets. In reaction, vendors have announced protests against the decision demanding alternative places to run their businesses. Though the controversy over whether to allow them to run businesses on footpaths is not a new in the Capital, the government unwillingness to come with an appropriate alternative could invite protests on roads. Binod Ghimire and Nirjana Sharma of the Post talked with stakeholders over the long debate on footpath business management in the Kathmandu Valley to dig into this problem.

We won’t leave streets without proper alternative

The government has decided to remove shops of street vendors from the footpaths and streets. What are your future plans?

The government time and again is interfering in our business without providing any alternative place for us. This time we have been permanently displaced. Where shall we go now?  With no option left now, we have announced protest programmes on Friday and met Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi to draw his attention towards our demands. Similarly, we also submitted a memorandum to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) for the same cause.

You stay put on streets and cripple traffic movement in the Valley. Don’t you think the government decision was the outcome of your failure to follow KMC directives to run businesses only after 5 pm?

There are two kinds of people into the footpath business. One group follows the norms and the other are undisciplined ones. Some of those ill-mannered people run their businesses violating rules under the protection of some KMC officials who are bribed for it. The organisations advocating rights of street vendors do not take any responsibility.

Where were you all when the government was preparing to displace street vendors from the streets?

We sat for dialogues in several phases as we, too, don’t want to stay on streets and breathe polluted air. The government should understand the hand to mouth problem of thousands of Nepalis who are compelled to opt for street business. We want open space or any area where the government guarantees our businesses.

No place to resettle them

What are the difficulties faced by KMC to implement the government directive to evacuate street vendors from the footpaths?

The street vendors have long been running their businesses on the footpaths and evicting them from their business places is really a challenging job. However, as traffic in the city remains crippled due to their presence driving them away is a must. They are on strike now and have been obstructing our work. But they must stay on the right side of the law.

KMC had been allowing them to run businesses after 5 pm and they had been earning enough during that time. What was the reason behind the complete ban?

They always violated the rules we made. They used to start businesses before 2 pm inviting confrontation. Operating businesses on the streets can never be justified on any ground. Street vendors should have been displaced earlier, but the government made the decision though it’s too late.

Don’t you think they should be provided with an appropriate alternative?

There are no open places to shift them. So, the best option for them is to operate businesses from rented shutters or to opt for door-to-door service. There are over 10,000 vendors across the Valley and I don’t think there is any possible alternative the government can provide.

This problem was there for a long time and various options have been floated. Why the KMC didn’t take any initiative?

I think the issue was never taken seriously by the government earlier. Even though KMC is not responsible to manage them, we still have taken several steps.

Govt brushed off Recommendations

Several attempts had been made to manage street vendors from the time you were the mayor of KMC. However, insoluble problems still remain. What could be the reason for this?

The government led by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal in 2009 formed a committee to come with the best option for the management of street vendors. But no sooner the government changed it was removed from its priority list and the report was dumped. Had the former governments taken good initiatives the issue had never been so complex No sooner had I started mowing the lawn than it started raining.

What is the solution to this problem?

The provision of allocating some rooms in super markets and shopping centres for street vendors having less capital can be put in place and encourage the

practice of mobile business. Similarly, a few specific places can be allocated to operate their shops during a particular period of time.

 

Posted on: 2011-12-28 08:55

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