Huge demonstration training of street food vendors in Delhi on 21 October
New Delhi, 11 October:
Promoting and professionalizing street foods in an era of growing costs of food and widespread debates over the issue of sustainability of formal food distribution system, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) with support from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is going to build capacity of more than 500 street food vendors in the national capital through imparting them training on issues of health and hygiene on 21 October. The street vendors’ body believes that once recognized and capacitated the street food vendors would be more able to increase their enterprise and contribute to sustainability of food economy and its distribution systems.
The capacity building demonstration training would be a part of the ten days long ‘World Food Day’ celebrations which NASVI is going to start from 16 October across cities. Every year the World Food Day falls on 16 October and it marks the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This year the World Food Day throws up a very relevant theme of “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition”.
According to NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh, the growing urbanization and the shrinking formal food distribution system has stimulated a rise in the number of street food vendors in many cities and towns across India. The migration from rural areas to urban centers has created a daily need among many working people to eat outside the home. A large number of college/university going youth is also dependent on such foods. The International Labour Organization (ILO) also has found that many regions have street food vendors as active labour force.
Mr. Singh says, “Even from the angle of poverty reduction, employment and entrepreneurship, the working poor are attracted to this profession because of the possibility of earning relatively high incomes. The working people engaged in street food vending act as entrepreneurs who generate ‘cultural capital’ while building a healthier future for themselves and their families. The flexibility entailed in street food vending creates diversity in the family’s income generating activities which is important at this time of economic globalization”.
The demonstrable capacity building exercise going to take place at the constitution club in Delhi on 21 October would witness street food vendors taking hands on training on health and hygiene as well as tips and wherewithal on how to make and serve delicious, healthy and nutritious foods to the consumers. Several culinary masters and health and nutrition experts would join the training as resource persons. The kits having apron, hand gloves, headgears and pouches of disinfectants would be given to the participating street food vendors.
NASVI has long been championing the causes of street food vendors. Organizing the food vendors, developing their capacities, advocating their issues with the government authorities and celebrating the street food festivals have been major activities of NASVI in recent years.
