SVAN backs CNCCI demand for TVCs

DIMAPUR, NOV 6 (NPN): Street Vendors Association of Nagaland (SVAN) has supported the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI)’s call for the functional implementation of Town Vending Committees (TVCs) across the state.
SVAN through its media cell said street vendors and hawkers had endured years of harassment, illegal extortion, unauthorised taxation and arbitrary evictions by various groups and organisations.
The association said it was formed in 2020 by street vendors who had experienced these challenges firsthand. Since then, the association said it had repeatedly appealed to the department of urban development and local municipal authorities for the constitution and proper functioning of TVCs.
SVAN said it had worked to protect vendors’ livelihoods through awareness, education and sensitisation. It maintained that immediate constitution and activation of TVCs across all districts was the only statutory mechanism to protect small-scale vendors and bring them under a common legal framework.
Citing the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, SVAN said street vendors’ associations had a recognised role in representation and decision-making within TVCs. It said functional committees would allow associations to work alongside municipal bodies, town planners and police officials in implementing the Act.
The association stated that TVCs were responsible for implementing various state and Central welfare schemes. It said SVAN could work with the administration to safeguard vendors’ rights and livelihoods through this mechanism.
SVAN appealed to the chief secretary, urban development department and local municipal councils to act on CNCCI’s demand and notify functional TVCs across all districts without delay.
SVAN said fully operational TVCs would provide vendors with legal vending permits, official identity cards and a structured regulatory framework, adding it would help create a fair, secure and transparent commercial environment across the state.