HRS requests revamping of street vendor licensing system

The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has received a letter from Mr. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, asking for major modifications to the current license system for street vendors. Lall proposes four significant changes to the current system in his letter. First, he supports granting licenses to street vendors only to islanders. The plan recommends needing official documentation such a Ration Card, Islander Card, or Local Certificate to guarantee that this project only benefits locals.

Second, a user-friendly online platform that makes it simple for island vendors to apply for, monitor, and renew their licenses is to be established. The development of a database or portal that is open to the public to examine and validate licensed suppliers is the third suggested modification. Lall emphasizes that this action will increase accountability and transparency in the system, making it easier for the public and vendors to verify the legality of street vendors in the area. Finally, before granting a street vendor license, the plan stipulates that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant ward council member must be obtained.

Lall underlined that by guaranteeing that the street vending industry is run by locals rather than outside labor, these reforms would not only foster economic development and self-sufficiency but also protect the area’s cultural identity. The letter ends by requesting that the Lieutenant Governor take the suggested modifications into consideration and push for the establishment of a more sustainable and inclusive street vendor licensing system that would benefit the general public.