National Model Law for Street Vendors to be ready in a month

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Centre would circulate to the states within a month a national model law for protecting the rights of street vendors and enabling them to engage in their occupations without harassment from police and local authorities.

This was decided at a meeting Prime Minister Minister Manmohan Singh had recently with some of his Cabinet colleagues and top business executives to review the progress of the government's flagship programme for urban renewal, a PMO release said today.

Dr Singh said there was need to ensure community participation, particularly to address the problems of urban poverty. He also called for generating resources at the local level to ensure proper maintenance of the public assets and the sustainability of the programme.

He directed that all efforts be taken to implement the Mission with utmost efficiency and effectiveness while keeping equity issue foremost in view.

Among those who attended the meeting, which reviewed the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, were Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Ms Selja, Minister of State for Housing&Urban Poverty Alleviation, Mr Montek Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, the Principal Secretary to PM, the Cabinet Secretary and other officers.

Members of JNNURM's Technical Advisory Group, including Mr Nandan Nilekani, Chairman Infosys, Prof O P Mathur, NIPFP, Ms Sheela Patel and Mr Ramesh Ramanathan, representing the voluntary sector, were also present.

The Urban Development Secretary gave an account of the implementation of the Sub-Mission on Urban Infrastructure and Governance while Secretary (HUPA) explained the progress achieved in the implementation of the Sub-mission on Basic Services to the Urban Poor.

Mr Reddy said JNNURM had generated enormous enthusiasm and tremendous response from State Governments and Urban Local Bodies.

This was endorsed by all the participants.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved since the launch of the Mission on December 3, 2005. As many as 46 of the 63 cities taken up under the Mission have already prepared and submitted their City Development Plans. A total of 79 projects costing over Rs 4,400 crore have been sanctioned. These projects are mostly in the areas of water supply, sanitation and solid waste management.

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