'Implement Street Vendors' Act soon'

New Delhi: Vendors from different part of Delhi had a sit in at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, requesting the state and local authorities to give pass the Street Vendors Act.

On the day of International Vendors' Day, local vendors, who mostly sell fruits and vegetables and other items on footpath came together for authorities to take notice of their ordeal. "I am a local vendor and I sell fruits and vegetables. But it is not easy as I have to face harassment from local as well as police authorities," Vinod Kumar, who also heads a vendor association at Palam's Dabri market.

Kumar said that most of the vendors come from poor background and can't afford a day's setback. "Under the UPA regime a vendor's act was initiated in 2014, it is yet to pass. In the name of making it a clean and modern cities, they have removed our thelas," added Kumar.

Under the Street Vendors Act, 2014, a photo census of vendors along with Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and other aspects are to be surveyed before issuing identification cards. In September, the Delhi government had announced that it would be the first State to implement the Act. However, no decision has been taken as of now.