Games windfall: special markets and training for vendors

Come Commonwealth Games and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) hopes to change the face of tehbazari (licensed vending) in Delhi.

After its decision to provide state-of-the-art markets for licensed vendors — bids have already been invited for a model market at INA — the MCD will now provide them with skill-based training in association with the Tourism ministry.

The proposal — a part of the civic body’s plan to develop model markets — will be implemented in phases across all 12 municipal zones. The cost of the training will be borne by the Tourism ministry.

The project will ensure that vendors maintain the highest standards of nutrition and hygiene of their products and services at tehbazari sites. As per the agreement, the authorities have roped in the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, (IHMCN), to provide the in-house training. The institute is also trying to rope in restaurants, cafes and beauty parlours — including the likes of McDonalds and Habib’s — to provide the in-house training.

“The purpose of the project is to help upgrade technical and business skills to increase their income and maintain the highest standards of tehbazari services,” said Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra.

For now, the training will take place at INA and Paharganj and it will be in place before the Games. Thereafter, the project will be taken up across the Capital.

The MCD will further ensure “repeated intervention” to guarantee that the standards do not drop.

As per the civic body’s records, there are around 80,000 tehbazari-holders across its 12 zones.

As part of the ‘model market’ project, the licensed vendors will be provided “state-of-the-art markets” that will include vending sites/carts equipped with modern facilities.

The markets, besides being aesthetically pleasing, will have auxiliary facilities like eco-toilets, CCTV cameras, solar panels, locker rooms, street furniture, godown and ample parking space.

The vendors will be given specific identification numbers and will have specific slots in the market. The allotment of space will be done on a self-finance basis. While the kiosks will be “reasonably priced”, the idea behind the self-finance mechanism is to “generate a sense of ownership” among the vendors which will help them maintain standards, feel the civic authorities.