The Hindu Business Line : Centre finalising Act to regulate street hawking, says Minister

THE UNION MINISTER of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Ms Kumari Selja, with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the State Home Minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, at a meeting on urban housing in Hyderabad on Friday. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , Nov. 17

Street hawking activities, a common phenomenon in urban India, will soon be regulated, presumably to the advantage of hawkers and consumers.

The Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Ms Kumari Selja, told a national conference on `Housing and human settlement' here today that her Ministry was finalising a Model Act on Urban Street Vending for the purpose.

To make the policy on urban street vendors effective, consultations are on with all the stakeholders, including representatives of State Governments, vendor associations and experts, she said.

ROLE FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Municipalities should play a proactive role in formulating and implementing schemes that meet the requirements of street vendors. The Ministry has initiated steps to provide and promote a supportive environment to street vendors to enable them earn their livelihood, the Minster said.

On the National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy 2006, Ms Selja said, "The policy is in the final stages of clearance by the Cabinet". As for FDI in integrated townships and housing, she said the response has been good.

On the zooming land prices in urban areas and the role of the Centre in bringing them down, she said, "Market forces determine the land prices and it is a State subject, therefore the Andhra Pradesh Government should look into it here."

Housing for urban poor

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in his address said the State was creating a separate nodal agency for housing for urban poor.

The Government had taken up a massive Rs 7,000-crore initiative to provide about 25 lakh houses. The State subsidy was Rs 1,400 crore, while the loan component was Rs 5,600 crore with Hudco being the major lender.

The State was also putting in place an online monitoring system for the massive housing initiative. Social audit through community based organisations and non-government organisation has been taken up. Cement and building materials companies have been very cooperative, the Chief Minister said.

Housing Ministers from 12 States and senior officials from the Central and State Ministries concerned with housing are participating in the two-day meet, which began today.

More Stories on : Urban Development | Policy | Andhra Pradesh | Trading

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page