New Delhi, June 11, 2025* — In a significant development for the street vendor community of Delhi, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued a letter directing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to urgently examine and respond to the grievances raised in a representation by Mr. Arbind Singh, National Coordinator, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI).
The representation, dated May 29, 2025, highlighted serious concerns over the ongoing eviction and harassment of street vendors in Delhi. It stated that even vendors who possess valid *Certificates of Vending (CoV)* — issued under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 — are being misclassified as “mobile vendors” and wrongfully targeted. In many cases, their stalls are being demolished under the pretext of being permanent structures, severely impacting their livelihoods.
In response to NASVI’s persistent advocacy, the Ministry has formally acknowledged the issue and forwarded the representation to the appropriate authorities in MCD, urging them to take “appropriate remedial action” in compliance with the provisions of the 2014 Street Vendors Act. The Ministry has also directed MCD to submit an *Action Taken Report (ATR)* at the earliest.
Arbind Singh, National Coordinator, NASVI. “We urge the MCD to act swiftly and justly to stop these unlawful evictions and restore dignity and protection to street vendors as guaranteed by law.”
NASVI had recently held meetings with key authorities including the Urban Development Minister of Delhi and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), pressing for urgent action. With over 65,000 vendors in Delhi holding CoVs, the call for halting unlawful evictions has now received official backing, offering a ray of hope for the city’s informal workforce.
