Street vendors hold demonstrations and meetings across several cities demanding passage of street vendors’ bill in February session of parliament, strict compliance of Supreme Court order, stop on rampant extortion by police and municipal inspectors and registration of all street vendors under RSBY
Anti- Extortion meetings in Delhi
Street vendors also join AAP dharna and demonstration at Rail Bhawan shouting “Save Street Vendors from Extortion by Police and Municipal Inspectors”
New Delhi, 20 January:
National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) on Monday intensified its nationwide campaign demanding passage of street vendors’ bill in coming February session of parliament, strict compliance of Supreme Court order mandating no eviction of vendors till their proper settlement, stop on rampant extortion by police and municipal inspectors and registration of all street vendors under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).
Responding to the call, street vendors in several cities including Delhi held demonstrations, sit in and meetings. In Delhi, anti- extortion meetings took place in many markets including Karol Bagh, Acharya Niketan in Mayur Vihar, Sarojini Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Shahdara, Patparganj, Mandawali, Okhla, Nizamuddin and Vasant Kunj.
The meetings held in east Delhi area were addressed by NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh who exhorted the street vendors to fight against the extortion of money by the beat constables and the municipal inspectors. He said, “Aapse Paisa Nahee, Khoon Liya Jaata Hai, Yah Khoon Dena Bandh Karen Aur Vending License Ke Liye Sangharsh Tej Karen”.
Meanwhile, scores of street vendors on Monday also surprised the people, especially the police officials, when they reached the Rail Bhawan where Delhi Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleagues and supporters were stopped by the police from marching to the north block for sit in against the Delhi Police. The street vendors moved around the area having placards on their chest reading “Arvind Kejriwal Sangharsh Karo, Rehri Patri Walon ko Dilli Police aur Nagar Nigam ki Awaidh Wasooli Se Mukt Karo”, “ Dilli Police Sharm Karo, Rehri Patri Walon Se Awaidh Wasooli Bandh Karo”.
A NASVI functionary was seen leading the street vendors with placard and headgear reading “Delhi Chief Minister Surge Ahead, Save Street Vendors from Extortion by Police and Municipal agencies”. While addressing the supporters, Mr. Kejriwal also did not miss to address the concerns of street vendors and said that they had really faced the onslaughts of police and municipal officials.
Last week, the street vendors had picketed and demonstrated at the Vasant Kunj police station, the Vasant Vihar ACP office and the Delhi Police headquarters demanding stop on extortion and forced eviction of theirs.
The anti- extortion meetings would continue in Delhi.
The first leg of nationwide campaign would culminate on 5 February, the day the parliament session starts in Delhi.
NASVI has also planned to organize a huge “Street Vendors Parliament” at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 31 January.
