In a move that is unlikely to go down well with the hawkers, three out of the eight BJP-ruled municipal corporations in Gujarat decided not to allow preparation and sale of non-vegetarian food on the roadside and pavements, as it allegedly hurts religious sentiments. The rule holds good for eggs as well.
It all began in Rajkot two days ago. Vadodara followed it up on Thursday, and Junagadh municipal corporation issued a similar circular, preventing the sale and preparation of non-vegetarian food in the open. In Rajkot, the RMC wants the hawkers to operate from only hawking zones.
The civic bodies also have pointed out that these eateries create traffic nuisance.
Chairman of Vadodara municipal corporation’s standing committee, Hitendra Patel, told THE WEEK that he had received several representations saying religious sentiments were being hurt due to the preparation and sale of food. He claimed that the rule also holds true for those selling vegetarian food on the roadsides.
He said non-vegetarian food should be covered as it has the potential to create health problems.
Patel said they are undertaking a survey for a fortnight, and will seek suggestions of all those who are involved in the street food business. A decision will be implemented after the survey.
The move by Rajkot and Vadodara municipal corporations has found support in state Revenue and Law Minister Rajendra Trivedi. The minister welcomed the move and alleged that the street food sellers are grabbing land.
Trivedi, who hails from Vadodara, sought the city police commissioner’s support in removing encroachments, citing examples of mannequins kept on the roadsides outside the shops by the shopkeepers.
In Ahmedabad, Hitesh Barot, standing committee chairman of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, told THE WEEK that they are already stopping those not having license to sell non-vegetarian food.
Opposition leader in VMC, Ami Ravat, said if the Street Vendors Act 2013 is implemented then the issue will be automatically taken care of as hawking zones will be identified and the vendors will be moved there. According to her, as per the Act, the vendors have to be rehabilitated within 200 meters from the place they are operating.
Ravat said the right to earn livelihood should not be denied to hawkers and vendors.
In Vadodara, it is a verbal order and nothing has been communicated in writing till the time this report is being published.
