Come be a part of the ‘Jeevika Street Play Troupe’ directed by ARVIND GAUR of Asmita. This group would tour across DU colleges during August highlighting livelihood issues of street vendors and perform during the Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, 27-29 August 2010 at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Those interested please attend the meeting at 4pm, 26th July (Monday) at Asmita rehearsal venue in Nav Shakti School, ITO. Opposite: Hindi Bhawan

For more information contact:
Shiv Chauhan #09958793683
Shilpi Marwaha # 09540656537

There is a pressing need to sustain the pace of growth and to achieve even higher rate of development so that the fruits of liberalisation and economic progress percolate down to the poorest sections of the society. The CII has come up with a 10-point plan to achieve this goal by 2014.

We are going to focus on working towards creating an environment which is conducive enough for the government to implement policy/bill on urban street vendors. For this we have planned to run a mass mobilization activity in different parts of Jaipur. The activity would start with a street play and followed by talks by local vendor leaders and other influencing people of the community. We plan to conduct 20 such activities touching all the corners of Jaipur. The activity would last for around 40 mins to 60 mins depending on the response of the people.

Here is the schedule of first four activities in Jaipur:

17 No. Market: Wednesday, 21 July, 6 PM

Chandani Chowk: Sunday, 25 July, 6 PM

Choti Chopar: Thursday, 29 July, 6 PM

Ramganj: Sunday, 01 August, 6 PM

We will decide the dates, place and time of rest of the activities as we move on. You all are invited to join us in this mass mobilization activity.

You can also help us in letting more and more people know about this event by simply passing a word to the people in your contact. Your presence would be highly encouraging for all of us.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh wants to reduce Tourist vehicles to Corbett, may cause a blow to livelihoods of the locals dependent on Tourism. Source: Hindustan Times

Centre for Civil Society under it’s ‘Jeevika: Law, Liberty & Livelihood Campaign’ formed a Human Chain urging the government to protect the honest livelihood of poor working in informal sector in partnership with Great India Dream Foundation, Pravah Jaipur Initiative, AIESEC, Rajasthan Abhyudaya Sanstha, National Association of Street Vendors of India and Jaipur Mahanagar Thdai Thela Footpath Vyawasayi Union, at Jal Mahal at 6 PM. Active Citizens of Jaipur and Youth Students of Different colleges also joined the Human Chain.

Mr. Amit Chandra, the Campaign Coordinator of Centre for Civil Society said, “The participation of citizen and youth is very crucial for bringing any kind of social change. We wanted to bring the common citizen out to stand for the livelihood and create a positive environment to enable government to reform the informal sector. Policy reform would ensure protection of livelihood and financial as well as welfare services to the poor working in informal sector such as street vendors, food dhabas, barbars, cycle rickshaw pullers to name a few. The message that we want to pass on to government, media and people is that the street vendors have traditionally been part of social and cultural India and we need to protect this tradition similarly as we have preserved our heritages such as Jal Mahal”.

Mr. Ghanshyam Kotwani, Executive Member of National Alliance of Street Vendors of India said, “Street Vendors have to face natural hardships such as rain, sun and cold but they brave it because they have no other alternatives but what really creates problem is the continuous threat and torture of authorities. The stigma attached to us as traffic hazard is also not right. We should be seen as service providers and the one who brings colour, convenience and taste to the life of festival city, Jaipur.”

Mr. Babulal Ramchandani, representative of Jaipur Mahanagar Thadi Thela Footpath Vyawasayi Union at the gathering said, “The Rajasthan Government had introduced a policy for welfare and rehabilitation of street vendors named Pheriwalon Ka Sansar in 2007 which is in effect till date but the Jaipur Municipal Corporation hasn’t implemented this policy. Once the policy is implemented there wouldn’t be a problem of vending and hawking in the city.”

A street play was also done at the beginning of the program showing the hardships of the life of a street vendor. It brought lot of tourists also to come forward and share their view about the issue after which the gathering of around 500 people formed human chain in different shapes and sizes in a very creative and attractive way.

The event was coordinated by Ms. Meenu Nagpal and thank you note was given by Mr. Nitin Dixit at the end.

Read the complete concept note. Download the press release.

All the documentary makers, please note that our address has changed to A-69, Ground Floor, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016. If you have sent a documentary for Jeevika 2010 and it has returned, please re-send it to our new address. Apologies for inconvenience caused.

One of the biggest chunks of Unorganised Sector is Street Vendors who are under constant exploitation by the authorities and compelled to live under forced poverty. Street vendors are often those who are unable to get regular jobs in the remunerative formal sector on account of their low level of education and skills. However, they contribute significantly in the budget of every household specifically middle class family by providing ‘affordable’ as well as ‘convenient’ services by their self generated means of employment by vending or hawking. It has been seen that public authorities often regard street vendors as a nuisance and as encroachers of sidewalks and pavements and do not appreciate the valuable services that street vendors render to the common man. Street Vendors have also existed since ancient time and are part of social and cultural fabric of India. They are the one who are keeping the local art, culture and tradition alive for a long time and create the mood of festivity to make India, Incredible India.

As a part of the campaign we plan to work with active responsible citizens of Jaipur for sensitizing the common masses. In this regard we are plan to organize a Human Chain on June 29, 2010 at Jal Mahal at 6 PM with the participation of active civilians of Jaipur to raise a voice for the poor section of the society to provide them a legal status and to make them an advantaged group of the services that the other formal sector receives as the part of the society. Your active participation will highly encourage and motivate people to work for this noble cause with more enthusiasm and would also bring attention of other civil society organizations to come out for this noble cause of protecting livelihood of urban poor. Read the complete concept note.