The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI met with Honorable Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, to address the pressing issues faced by street vendors in Kota, Rajasthan. A delegation from Kota, including members of the Rojgar Utthan Thela Futkar Seva Samiti, also participated in the meeting to highlight the challenges faced by vendors in the city.
During the meeting, NASVI presented a letter detailing the success of the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme in Rajasthan, while also bringing attention to the issues that street vendors continue to face. One major concern is the lack of implementation of the Street Vendors Act in Kota, which has been in place for over 10 years. Despite the existence of the Act, the city still lacks a Town Vending Committee (TVC) and designated vending zones.
Honorable Shri Om Birla assured the delegation that he would direct the matter to the relevant authorities, emphasizing that the government is committed to ensuring that street vendors can earn their livelihood peacefully and with dignity. He expressed his support for the creation of a conducive environment for vendors to work.
National Coordinator of NASVI Arbind Singh expressed optimism following the meeting, stating, “We are hopeful that positive outcomes will result from this meeting. The street vendors of Kota are in distress, and we demand the immediate establishment of TVCs and vending zones to make the city a smart and inclusive place for all. NASVI is committed to supporting the local corporation in every possible way to resolve this issue.”
The association emphasized that the creation of vending zones and the establishment of a TVC would not only uplift the livelihoods of street vendors but also help Kota evolve into a more organized, inclusive, and sustainable city for all its citizens.
