MUMBAI: Nearly 12 years after a citywide survey was conducted to identify eligible hawkers, the BMC will finally begin distributing QR code based identity cards to them this week. This exercise is expected to be completed within 10 days, with civic officials indicating that even in case of a delay, they aim to wrap up the process by June 15.The move marks the culmination of an exercise that began with the 2014 hawker survey, but was delayed for years due to litigation and disputes over the eligibility of surveyed hawkers.The prototype of the identity cards, a copy of which was accessed by TOI , carries the hawker’s name, survey form number, and details of the exercise based on which their identity was determined.A BMC licence department official said, “We had begun distributing licence certificates to the 10,360 traditional vendors who had licences from the year 1979. When the BMC conducted a survey in 2014, 22,055 hawkers were found to be eligible, and we added them to the list. So, while 32,415 is the number of hawkers who have voting rights in the BMC, identity cards will be issued to all 99,435 identified during the 2014 survey.”The cards are aimed at providing official recognition to eligible hawkers under the Street Vendors Act. Deputy municipal commissioner (special) Vinayak Vispute said, “This is only determining the identity of the hawker and not the eligibility. The card is being issued subject to the final decision of the TVC (town vending committee) that will also decide on the hawking and non-hawking zones.”Meanwhile, the formation of the TVC is in its final stages. The panel will comprise representatives from market associations, traders bodies, resident welfare associations and NGOs. In cases where multiple applications have been received from NGOs seekingrepresentation, the BMC will decide the final nominees in consultation with the respective ward offices. Officials said there will be 1 central TVC and 7 others for each zone. “The TVC’s details will be sent to the state govt which will then notify it,” said an official.On Monday, a Shiv Sena delegation, led by deputy mayor Sanjay Ghadigaonkar and former MP Sanjay Nirupam met the civic chief to request speedy distribution of IDs. “Once only eligible hawkers are allowed, the hafta system will end,” said Nirupam.
