Kochi Corporation is all set to bring in a novelty in street vending. Now people can think of more hygienically prepared food off the streets in a modern vendor cart.

The makeshift shack is to undergo a change with the local body’s intervention with an aim to upgrade street vending of food, by standardising the quality. This is the first in its kind of scheme in the State that is being implemented in the city with Rs. 25 lakh from the Poverty Social Fund of the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project.

The first such cart would be handed over this week to a vendor at Vyttila. The stainless steel hand cart has been designed by city-based C-Earth with many facilities such as to stocking of potable drinking water as well as a waste management system, with a waste collecting bin attached to the cart.

The quality of water would be checked by the Corporation authorities and they would also check whether the waste management is properly done. The placement of carts is also important as the surrounding needs to be hygienic. The aim is to provide safe food for the people.

The cart would have a strong body frame and wheels with a stainless steel work top, a stainless steel sink with necessary plumbing, a washbasin with necessary plumbing. The vendor would have to invest Rs. 2 lakh to start the business in which Rs. 30,000 would be the working capital fund and Rs. 50,000 would be the cost of the cart.

The cart would be powered by solar photovoltaic lighting system and a backup of gas lights would also have to be arranged.

An attractive display board, tarpaulin sheet to protect from rain and stackable plastic chairs are some of the items that the vendor would have to arrange. The vendor cart comes with two sets of uniforms complete with shoes, caps and gloves.

The Corporation had taken up this project with an aim of improving hawking of street food. The street vendors cater mainly to the student community and the workers.

To launch the project the Corporation has identified about 12 vendors for which the Social Project wing of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers of India is providing the support.

The funds provided by KSUDP would be utilised to support 25 vendors in the city.

Source: The Hindu