Street vendors ask parties to spell out agenda
24 Jan 2015 5:21 AM IST
“Parties contesting the current assembly election can persuade street vendors by having this issue in their agenda,” said Arbind Singh, coordinator of the National Association of the Street Vendors of India (NASVI).
They wish that the new government that will take power in Delhi post February 7 polls will facilitate a legitimate business and hassle free life for them.
Miffed up over extortions from police personnel and area in-charges of the civic body, the poor vendors wish a mechanism to come up where they can deposit the tax to the government and honorably earn their livelihood.
During January 2014 AAP protest and dharna, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) had extended support to then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was seeking action against “erring policemen”. But this time they are yet to come out in full support for any party.
“We shall vote for the one who assure us relief from the umpteen number of hassles we have to face from the police, civic officials, and other concerned authorities,” said Anil Kumar, a fast food street vendor at Lajpat Nagar Central Market. He further said that street vendors should be recognized by means of some identity card, for which they are ready to pay a fixed fees to the authorities. “We can take a stand against the exploitation only when we are recognized. We want this assurance from the new government,” Kumar added.
The carts or rather make-shift shops of the street vendors are confiscated by the authorities many times. “It is later recovered from the concerned office after paying a penalty which may range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 depending upon the size of the business and the location,” said Vimal Gupta, a street vendor selling fruits at Okhla. Gupta recalled that the Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal had made several promises in favour of street vendors in the previous assembly elections. However, his 49-days’ tenure as the Chief Minister was not enough to materialize his claims.
According to Arbind Singh, coordinator of the National Association of the Street Vendors of India (NASVI), unorganized workers and street vendors practically are the life line of the city providing affordable food and other things to the people but till date all governments have been insensitive towards them.
The National Policy for Street Vendors was formulated in 2004, which turned into the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act in 2014. “But the Act has remained only on papers for all state governments and exploitation of street vendors continues unabated,” said Arbind Singh.
They wish that the new government that will take power in Delhi post February 7 polls will facilitate a legitimate business and hassle free life for them.
Miffed up over extortions from police personnel and area in-charges of the civic body, the poor vendors wish a mechanism to come up where they can deposit the tax to the government and honorably earn their livelihood.
During January 2014 AAP protest and dharna, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) had extended support to then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was seeking action against “erring policemen”. But this time they are yet to come out in full support for any party.
“We shall vote for the one who assure us relief from the umpteen number of hassles we have to face from the police, civic officials, and other concerned authorities,” said Anil Kumar, a fast food street vendor at Lajpat Nagar Central Market. He further said that street vendors should be recognized by means of some identity card, for which they are ready to pay a fixed fees to the authorities. “We can take a stand against the exploitation only when we are recognized. We want this assurance from the new government,” Kumar added.
The carts or rather make-shift shops of the street vendors are confiscated by the authorities many times. “It is later recovered from the concerned office after paying a penalty which may range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 depending upon the size of the business and the location,” said Vimal Gupta, a street vendor selling fruits at Okhla. Gupta recalled that the Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal had made several promises in favour of street vendors in the previous assembly elections. However, his 49-days’ tenure as the Chief Minister was not enough to materialize his claims.
According to Arbind Singh, coordinator of the National Association of the Street Vendors of India (NASVI), unorganized workers and street vendors practically are the life line of the city providing affordable food and other things to the people but till date all governments have been insensitive towards them.
The National Policy for Street Vendors was formulated in 2004, which turned into the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act in 2014. “But the Act has remained only on papers for all state governments and exploitation of street vendors continues unabated,” said Arbind Singh.
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