Bengaluru: The distribution of ID cards among street vendors in the city may be further delayed. Earlier the process was to be over by February 21 but with the month set to get over, the process hasn’t been completed.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) respondent, H Devendrappa has submitted a status report to the high court seeking more time for the issue of ID cards. The status report by the Palike said, “Tender notice in accordance with the guidelines of the state government was issued on January 31, 2018 and bidders were invited to participate in the tender process. However, as on February 19, only one bidder has given the bid.” The report also states that shortly, the BBMP will undertake the process of issuing ID cards to 3,970 identified street vendors.
The court has now given a time period of four weeks to complete the process of issuing ID cards to the identified street vendors. City mayor Sampath Raj said, “There was an objection by some parties to the tender process. Now, we have cancelled it and the task will be given to a government agency. Within four weeks, we will complete the entire process of distributing ID cards.”
On January 17, the court had made it clear to BBMP to issue ID cards before February 21 to street vendors failing which the officer in charge would have to pay Rs 1,000 for each day of delay. The court passed the order on a petition filed by S. Babu, president of Bengaluru Jilla Beedhi Vyapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta.
There are more than one and a half lakh street vendors across the city but only 24,000 were identified and will be getting the ID cards. “Firstly, the survey was not done properly. Only a few street vendors in the city are getting the ID cards. I hope they complete this process soon-at least before the poll code of conduct comes into place,” said Vinay Sreenivasa of Bengaluru Jilla Beedhi Vyapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta.
While most of the vendors in the city are still not aware of the project, some are worried if this will affect their means of livelihood. Mr S. Babu, president of Bengaluru Jilla Beedhi Vyapari Sanghatanegala Okkuta said, “The harassment of street vendors is still on. I was in Vijayanagar ward No. 123 and they kicked me out saying some work will happen there. Now, I am back at my old place and I won’t vacating it but will continue to fight for our right to do business.”
