The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Municipal Corporations are Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) responsible for the administration of urban areas. Their functions include regulation of trade, provision of public amenities, and implementation of welfare schemes for the urban poor, often aligning with frameworks like the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Municipal Corporations are the licensing authorities for businesses operating within their jurisdiction. They issue trade licenses to permanent shops to ensure compliance with zoning, safety, and health regulations.
- Statement 2 is Correct: To ensure orderly conduct of business and provide rest for workers, Municipal Corporations or relevant local authorities have the power to decide and enforce weekly closing days for markets under the Shops and Establishments Act or municipal bylaws.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Providing shelter to the homeless is a welfare function of the Municipal Corporation. Under schemes like the Scheme of Shelters for Urban Homeless (part of NULM), corporations are mandated to build and manage night shelters with essential services for homeless workers.
- Statement 4 is Incorrect: Street vendors are self-employed individuals working in the informal sector. While the Municipal Corporation regulates them (e.g., issuing Certificates of Vending, designating vending zones), it does not employ them. They earn their own livelihood through sales, not through a salary from the corporation.
Key Takeaway:
Municipal Corporations act as regulators and facilitators of urban livelihoods (licensing, zoning, welfare) but do not serve as the direct employer for the informal sector workforce like street vendors.