India pays a bribe of Rs.1000 crore a year with 10 million blankets

New Delhi, November 22, 2021, Monday

Although state vendors, carpet weavers or hawkers are an important link in the country's economy with the consumer, it is heavily neglected. According to a source, 10 million vendors who trade on the sidewalk for doing business on the sidewalk pay more than Rs.1000 crore in bribes to the police and local bodies every year. As per 191 census, there were 3 lakh street vendors in India which has increased to 10 million. In urban areas of the country, 0.5% of the total population are street vendors. Footpaths and ferries have been a part of India's traditional market for centuries.

According to a source, in every place including metros like Mumbai and Delhi, heavy elements are also collecting ransom by threatening to shut down the business. In the cities, millions of people are making their living by making bedding. Surprisingly, large housing industries and manufacturers get loans from banks, but those with bedding only strengthen their businesses on their own. In a poor and middle class country like India, street vending is the biggest source of employment. Clothing, hosiery, leather, plastic goods and household goods are included in the street vendors. Heavy fines are levied on those found guilty of committing murder or robbery.

However, in the last few years, more than 200 organizations have become active in the area, from local to national awareness. In Delhi, street vendors from large areas like Chandni Chowk, India Gate, Vasant Kunj, etc. have come together in large numbers to present their queries. Under the Government Department for Housing, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, the bill in favor of those with bedding was passed in the lower house Lok Sabha and upper house Rajya Sabha on February 17, 2016. Under the bill, strip vendors are expected to enjoy their basic rights and privileges, which have yet to materialize.

According to the National Association of Street Vendors of India, there are 1.5 lakh street vendors in Ahmedabad, 30,000 in Patna, 4 lakh in Delhi and Mumbai and 1.31 lakh in Kolkata. They have an annual turnover of Rs 1,008 crore in Ahmedabad, Rs 21 crore in Patna, Rs 150 crore in Delhi and Rs 1,317 crore in Kolkata. India, which has a large middle class, cannot run its own business in the country without the fear of bedding and rakes. Due to the constant fear of the police or the local administration, people are also suffering from a number of health related ailments like BP and heart disease. There have also been cases of their belongings being confiscated. On the other hand, when you do not get a loan from a bank due to lack of any financial document, you also get into debt.