The Kochi Corporation will introduce a technological solution to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries among licensed street vendors, following Opposition claims that numerous unqualified individuals have infiltrated the list of 2,351 licensees.

The proposed solution will be deliberated in the Corporation Council and the 11-member Town Vending Committee. Among other features, it will enable verification of whether a vendor holds multiple licences or has sublet a licence, both of which are prohibited.

Acknowledging the Opposition’s allegation that ineligible individuals may have entered the beneficiary list, J. Sanilmon, Chairman of the Corporation’s Town Planning Committee, stated that the number of valid licences will certainly decrease from the current 2,351 after further scrutiny.

“Space constraints have emerged as a major obstacle to accommodating all licensed street vendors within the proposed vending zones. Although we have identified over 40 potential zones across the Corporation limits, limited space and practical challenges hinder the seamless relocation of vendors,” he said.

To date, 54 uniformly designed kiosks provided by Cochin Smart Mission Limited have been handed over to vendors in the designated zone at Fort Kochi. An additional 35 kiosks are scheduled for distribution in Mattancherry on Wednesday (September 24). Other than that, only the demarcation of vending zones has commenced in the Town North division, including Marine Drive, where traders have strongly opposed the move and have even approached the Kerala High Court.

“The street vendors operating along Marine Drive include many ineligible individuals functioning as sublessees under original license holders, which is impermissible. Despite repeated identification of such cases, the eviction squad has consistently refused to act. A more rigorous screening, especially in the central zone encompassing my division and West Kochi, will undoubtedly reduce the number of licensed vendors,” said Manu Jacob, Councillor of Ernakulam North.

M.G. Aristotle, UDF Parliamentary Party Secretary in the Corporation, alleged that the Town Vending Committee has been reduced to a political tool rather than an administrative mechanism to streamline livelihood. He claimed that nine of the committee’s vendor representatives are affiliated with Left-affiliated trade unions to cater to a targeted vote bank.

However, Mr. Sanilmon refuted the allegation, asserting that the committee includes one representative each from the LDF and UDF. “But, we have no authority over the selection of a vendor representative as it is their prerogative,” he said.