Thousands of street vendors from different markets of Delhi protested outside the home of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday demanding implementation of provisions safeguarding their rights under Street Vendors Act, 2014.
Vendors under the aegis of the National Association of Street Vendors of India have decided to move court if their demands were not met.
“The city government should provide vending zones so that they could sell their goods without facing harassment from police or municipal officials,” said Arbind Singh, national coordinator of the street vendors’ group.
“Street vendors have been harassed by police and MCD authorities. They are evicting them on the pretext of clearing encroachments from footpaths. They are depriving livelihoods to thousands of vendors in the city. It is against Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation) Act, 2014.’’
Even Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken brought the issue to the notice of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. “Over five lakh vendors are facing harassment and difficulties due to non-implementation of the Street Vendors Act,” he added.
“They are being driven out and their goods are being confiscated daily as the AAP government has not yet taken steps to notify the scheme under the Act and provide licences to these street vendors,” he added.
Singh said municipal corporations had set up town vending committees. “Not a single vendor was given licence since the passage of the Act in 2014.” On behalf of street vendors, Singh gave a two-page memorandum to the office at the CM’s residence, demanding implementation of the Act in Delhi.
“If the state government does not act on the demand, vendors of Delhi will intensify their agitation,” Singh added. “We do not want to create hassles for pedestrians. We want the government and municpal authorities to demarcate areas so that we can carry out our business.”
