Vendors fear 'aam aadmi' canteens will affect them

Geeta runs a food cart in east Delhi’s Kalyanpuri. One can have a lunch or dinner dishing out just Rs 10. A plate of four puris with sabzi costs Rs 10, chole-rice is for Rs 10 and mouth-watering chole-bhature are available here for Rs 20.

Her eatery is well liked in the area for its tasty and cheap meals. “I like to have lunch here almost every day as it serves fresh food,” said Rajeev Kumar, savouring a plate of chhole-bhature.

Another vendor, Vasudeo Sahni, is known for his non-vegetarian dishes at Acharya Niketan market in Mayur Vihar Phase I. People can be seen queuing up for their turns during lunch time. You have to pay just Rs 30 for five chapatis and chicken curry, and a plate of rice with fish costs Rs 30 as well.

But these vendors are fearful that the Delhi government’s plan to provide subsidised meals through “aam aadmi” canteens will ruin their livelihoods.

An umbrella organisation for the vendors across the country, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), also condemned the city government’s scheme.
“It will prove to be a major setback for these vendors who provide a hearty meal to the working class that includes labourers, students and care-givers of patients in government hospitals at reasonable rates,” said Arbind Singh, NASVI national coordinator.

Singh said these vendors keep the rates so low despite paying ‘hafta’ to police and municipal officials and periodic confiscation of goods and their carts, leading to payment of challans.

According to an estimate, there are 10 to 15 lakh construction workers and labourers in the city. Also there are 4.2 lakh people who live in slums and five lakh street vendors.
“The livelihood of street food vendors depends on catering to this population. After the implementation of this ill-thought scheme, these street food vendors will be robbed of their only source of income which will ultimately result in their families being starved to death,” Singh added.

The NGO said that instead of introducing such a scheme, if these street food vendors are provided proper infrastructure and training by the government they can provide better and cheaper meals to public.

“This will be a major step that will serve two purposes at a time – the poor will get good quality food at cheaper rates and the livelihood of these street food vendors will not be ruined. They need recognition and encouragement from this pro-poor government but are instead getting such a harsh treatment in the form of ‘aam aadmi’ canteen,” he added.

On Thursday, the city government cleared the decks for rolling out ‘aam aadmi’ canteens based on Tamil Nadu’s ‘Amma’s Kitchen’ to serve hygienic and nutritious food for just Rs 5 and Rs 10.