Mumbai: A Congress Member of Parliament on Wednesday organised a hygiene awareness camp for pani puri and bhel puri fast food vendors after their businesses were adversely affected by a college student who exposed a filthy, shocking act by one seller.
Though every Mumbaikar is aware of the unhygienic conditions related to these fast foods, they are often sold on the streets.
However, the shock only registered after a student, 19-year-old Ankita Rane, video-recorded a pani puri vendor urinating into a utensil which he used to serve his customers.
The vendor was caught on camera by Rane from her building who wanted to prove to her friends and family that this was happening in their own locality.
The vendor, Rajdev Lakhan Chauhan, was later beaten by local Thane residents, detained by the police, produced before a lower court that fined him Rs1,200 (Dh98) and let him off with a warning some weeks back.
However, the news report of that nauseating incident that appeared in a local tabloid has kept customers away from most of the pani puri vendors across the city.
Assaults
Not only have their businesses suffered, many vendors, most of who hail from North India, have also been forced to face the wrath of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, who recently beat them up.
Furthermore, the anti-North Indian Raj Thackeray-led party has asked municipal authorities to take action against the vendors who pose a threat to the health of society.
However, coming to the rescue of vendors in Mumbai and Thane is Nirupam, a Bihari, representing the Mumbai North parliamentary constituency.
Nirupam on Wednesday laid down a set of guidelines "to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene [were adhered to by vendors]" at an awareness camp which was held at a hotel in suburban Borivili.
He distributed gloves free of charge to vendors attending the camp that seeks to help the them get back on their feet while adhering to high hygiene standards.
Though every Mumbaikar is aware of the unhygienic conditions related to these fast foods, they are often sold on the streets.
However, the shock only registered after a student, 19-year-old Ankita Rane, video-recorded a pani puri vendor urinating into a utensil which he used to serve his customers.
The vendor was caught on camera by Rane from her building who wanted to prove to her friends and family that this was happening in their own locality.
The vendor, Rajdev Lakhan Chauhan, was later beaten by local Thane residents, detained by the police, produced before a lower court that fined him Rs1,200 (Dh98) and let him off with a warning some weeks back.
However, the news report of that nauseating incident that appeared in a local tabloid has kept customers away from most of the pani puri vendors across the city.
Assaults
Not only have their businesses suffered, many vendors, most of who hail from North India, have also been forced to face the wrath of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, who recently beat them up.
Furthermore, the anti-North Indian Raj Thackeray-led party has asked municipal authorities to take action against the vendors who pose a threat to the health of society.
However, coming to the rescue of vendors in Mumbai and Thane is Nirupam, a Bihari, representing the Mumbai North parliamentary constituency.
Nirupam on Wednesday laid down a set of guidelines "to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene [were adhered to by vendors]" at an awareness camp which was held at a hotel in suburban Borivili.
He distributed gloves free of charge to vendors attending the camp that seeks to help the them get back on their feet while adhering to high hygiene standards.
