New Delhi, Aug 10 - There was good news for India's ubiquitous urban street vendor Monday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked all states to give them a better deal and ensure they are not harassed.

In a letter to all chief ministers, Manmohan Singh urged them to take 'personal interest to ensure that the (new) national policy on urban street vendors is vigorously and sincerely implemented by the state governments'.

The prime minister stated: 'As you are aware, the government of India has revised the national policy on urban street vendors formulated in the year 2004. The revised policy aims at ensuring that urban street vendors are given due recognition at national, state and local levels to pursue economic activity without harassment.'

And he insisted that the locations where vendors could carry their business should be properly identified in urban development plans.

Manmohan Singh drew the attention of chief ministers to the Model Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2009, and said: 'The revised policy underscores the need for a legislative framework to enable street vendors to pursue an honest living without harassment from any quarter.'

'I hope you will take steps to accord a new deal to the urban street vendors as a group who need space and facilities for their legitimate activities,' Manmohan Singh stated.