Street Vendors leaders decries deteriorating situation on the ground

New Delhi – India: Calling the Municipal Bodies “shameless”, Street Vendor leaders from all the Municipal Bodies today expressed grave concern about the continued harassment and eviction of markets in Delhi. Intensity of issuing challans and confiscation of goods has increased considerably across all the Municipal Bodies despite orders issued by the new Government. The earlier circulars issued by the Municipal Bodies do not matter to their officers. Police have also been confiscating goods notably under lost and found category. Organisations of Street vendors have to resort to going courts again and again.

It must be mentioned that in just one month of New Government coming to power, four markets have been evicted and NASVI has to struggle for restoration of each of these markets – these are a) Lajpat Nagar b) 40 Futa road c) Ranjit Nagar d) Rohini e) Vasant Kunj f) Baljit Nagar

Mr. Arbind Singh, National Coordinator of NASVI lamented resistance of Municipal Bodies to the implementation of the Street Vending Act 2014. He said that though many states have begun implementation, Delhi still feels that status quo can be maintained as it serves vested interest while vendors and citizen continue to suffer. He added that as Street Vending is all about providing livelihood to thousands of people the Government of Delhi to urgently look into their grievances.

The leaders passed a resolution that will be sent to concerned authorities:

• Punish Municipal and Police officials violating Government and court orders.
• Stop Police from confiscating goods of street vendors under Lost and Found.
• Stop sanitary inspectors to issue challans to street vendors.
• No eviction till survey and regulation of street vendors and begin regulation at the earliest.
• Town Vending Committees formed in Delhi are holding meeting after meeting but without any outcome
• If schemes are drafted by the Delhi Government, where was the involvement of Town vending committee for providing the inputs for the same.

Despite repeated orders from various courts the Municipal corporations and councils are continuously issuing challans to the vendors throughout Delhi. This is making a mockery of the Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood