Scenes of Kathmandu city police driving away street vendors, snatching away their goods and even beating them have become common. Separately, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has also time and again tried to remove squatters through force. The City is evidently struggling to achieve its goals. The Post’s Thira Lal Bhusal sat with President of Regional and Urban Planners’ Society of Nepal, Mahendra Subba, for some insights into these perennial urban problems. Subba has a doctorate in town and regional planning from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Why has the management of street vendors in Kathmandu been so difficult?

The issue of street vendors should be seen in a broader perspective. We see a sharp decline of population in rural areas. People are moving to major towns and industrial corridors in big numbers. They are leaving their ancestral places in search of jobs or other income-generating opportunities. This is thus a national issue and not only a headache for a particular city.

Are you suggesting that many rural people who move to urban spaces become street vendors?

Many with poor educational qualifications and those who cannot use contacts in the city to land jobs may end up as street vendors. In fact, an increasing number of people in Nepal’s urban areas are involved in various forms of informal work. Street vending is one of them. Studies show around 40 percent of micro-level businesses aren’t registered with government agencies in Nepal.

What stops the inclusion of individuals and businesses in formal sectors? Is it because of bureaucratic hassles?

In the first place, the registration process isn’t easy. Then, various types of fees and taxes act as further deterrents. Third, once you enter the formal sector, it’s not easy to exit. People enjoy freedom while working informally. While people from villages are entering urban areas in huge numbers, the cities haven’t been able to create jobs in the same ratio. Those who can’t get work in the formal sector and also can’t go for foreign employment are forced to do informal work for survival.

How are other countries addressing similar problems?

They take a more liberal approach. When I used to study in Norway, I saw people selling goods in public courtyards on Saturdays, Sundays and other public holidays. People used to produce goods at their homes and sell them there. The authorities designated certain areas where people could go to sell or buy goods. We can see similar arrangements in Bangkok. One big tourist attraction in Thailand is street food. Even other products and services are sold on a massive scale in the streets there. They have maintained good hygiene and the businesses have contributed to the national economy. At first, the metropolitan and municipal officials should recognise street vendors and other informal businesses as integral parts of the urban economy. This acknowledgement and recognition is crucial.

Where have we gone wrong? Are our policies faulty or have our authorities failed in managerial aspects?

The National Urban Development Strategy-2017 issued by the Ministry of Urban Development is very clear about it. It states the informal economy should be seen as a part of the urban economy. The strategy suggests promotion of informal economy, not its neglect.

Some suggest designating certain areas and times for such businesses. How effective will that kind of arrangement be?

A serious issue is that only a handful of the total 753 local units have policies and plans on this. First, they should have a policy to address this issue in an integrated manner because of its multi-dimensionality including social, economic and environmental aspects. They should first formulate a policy involving local communities and other stakeholders. Once they are ready to treat street vending and other informal workers as respected work and sector, other things will also fall into place.

I often wonder why the metropolis treats street vendors as enemies. I don’t understand why they think the vendors should be evicted from the city. They have to do a mapping of the entire public space available in the city. Then they can come up with the details and say that these are the sensitive areas where we can’t allow such and such activities there. They can then suggest other areas where such businesses can run.

But finding space within Kathmandu Valley seems quite challenging.

We have to see things through the perspective of timing. It might be difficult to allow spaces during the time of commuting. But it can be managed in other time slots. Such is also the case with pedestrian movement. We can give time slots for vendors, avoiding peak hours. It can be managed by designating specific areas and time slots. But authorities concerned aren’t studying the issue with a motive to find alternatives as they think that street vendors are bad people. Even Delhi has recognised street vending as an important part of the overall economy. They allow such activities in designated places.

How do street vendors serve the overall economy and the society at large?

Many of us prefer buying goods from street vendors because it is cheaper to do so. They are helping those who can’t afford costly items. Notably, authorities and people are ready to allocate certain public space for vehicle parking but not for vendors. This brings up a fundamental question: why can’t we accommodate human beings while we are ready to accommodate vehicles?

But there is a complaint that once people are allowed to run a business in a certain place, they don’t leave.

Yes, we find some people have occupied public places and even historical structures. We have to classify the public spaces and make a policy on how they can be best utilised based on their specific situation.

Another big problem has been management of squatter settlements. How can they be better managed?

The issue of squatters and street vendors is related as many street vendors live in squatter settlements. We have some policies on landless people and squatters. The government has brought various amendments on land-related laws to address the issues of landless people. The laws aim at identifying the landless people and providing them land and houses as our constitution guarantees housing as a fundamental right of all citizens. So these are integrated issues and they should be addressed as per the spirit of the constitution, our laws and other relevant policies. The squatter settlements in Kathmandu need to be shifted in view of their safety as well. Many of them are located on river banks and other unsafe areas.

But those working in this field say implementing any such idea is difficult as our street vendors and squatters have been politicised. Does that complicate things?

There might be that problem but we nonetheless have to find a solution to it. Identification, registration and mapping of squatters may help tackle such issues. Such an initiative is required especially in the case of street vendors, as the National Land Commission is already working on squatters issue. The street vendors may try to avoid registration as it requires them to follow procedures and pay certain fees and taxes. But we have to have a clear policy to register, regulate and uplift their status. They should be encouraged to enter the formal sector through skills upgrade and training.

Some have floated the idea of turning certain core areas of Kathmandu into walking zones where vehicles are banned. How feasible is it?

Creating a pedestrian-friendly environment is a good idea in itself. The historical layout of Kathmandu was designed for the same. Streets, pavements and other structures have been designed to be fit for walks.

We have to identify certain areas for specific purposes. Only a few areas can be designated as walk-only, while some can be designated for street vendors and the rest for regular businesses. Therefore, I stress on comprehensive urban plans and policies based on city mapping.

The fourth Living Standard Survey showed that Nepal’s urban poverty has been on the rise. Is urban planning going to be more challenging?

Migration is obviously a key factor. People are flocking to cities from rural parts in search of better education, health services and employment. But the cities have failed to provide them jobs and other income generating opportunities. It is also contributing to increasing the size of the informal sector.

Like I said, this should be viewed as a national problem not as an issue concerning a specific city. The federal, provincial and local units need to work in a collaborative way. The metropolitan city can’t find a solution. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City works within its legal bounds, even as the problem is multi-faceted. It is related to squatters, traffic management, employment, law and order. In the case of Kathmandu Valley, all of its 18 local units should jointly work to solve issues. Therefore, we established the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority. Unfortunately, authorities still try to deal with things on a piecemeal basis. Ministries don’t coordinate with each other. Mayors consider themselves all-powerful.