New Delhi, 27th February 2025 – The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) convened a meeting at the Gandhi Peace Foundation with street vendor market leaders from across Delhi to address the pressing issues faced by street vendors in the city. The gathering comes at a pivotal time as the new BJP-led government takes charge in Delhi, raising hopes for much-needed reform in the street vending sector.
The demands raised in the meeting:
1. Continuous Dialogue will be conducted with the district MLA and Minister & officials of the Urban Development Department regarding the issues of street vendors.
2. Suggestions regarding the survey of street vendors will be put forward to MCD.
3. TVC & market leaders will be actively involved in the survey of street vendors.
4. Street Vendors will meet their zone-wise DCP regarding the police intervention in street vending.
5. The Street Sathi App will be promoted for the welfare of street vendors market-wise.
6. Women’s financial literacy training will empower the women vendors and more involvement from markets is necessary.
7. On the day of International Labor Day 1st May, NASVI will be organizing a street vendors program at the state level.
Street Vendor Leaders from across Delhi expressed their daily life hustle and said that not only do they have to deal with the arbitrariness of the MCD but also have to deal with the police, PWD, and numerous other factors. This infinite loop of exploitation and harassment is affecting the lives of street vendors. Pressing issues of designation and creation of vending zones, respect for COV, the constitution of the Town vending committee, and more need to be addressed by the new BJP-led government.
In his address at the meeting, Arbind Singh, National Coordinator of NASVI, remarked, “The time for promises is over. Street vendors have been waiting for years for basic dignity and respect. With the new BJP government now in power, we hope they will take immediate steps to recognize the rights of street vendors and take positive steps for their development.
NASVI and the community leaders raised these concerns in hopes of seeing real, impactful changes in the upcoming months. The resolution passed during the meeting called for immediate action from the Delhi government to resolve these issues and secure the livelihoods of millions of street vendors across the capital.
NASVI remains hopeful that with the new government, the long-standing issues of the street vendors will finally be addressed in a meaningful and fair manner.
