“We want the government to make serious efforts — such as food vendors should also be included in essential service like vegetable and fruit sellers and Rs 6,000 should be provided to all surveyed dwellers per month, till their livelihood is restored,” said Arbind Singh, National Coordinator, NASVI.
New Delhi: The sudden announcement of the weeklong lockdown in the capital will lead to closing of weekly markets from Tuesday. This has increased the worries of vendors who were already struggling to earn their livelihood due to Covid-related restrictions.
“On Friday, Delhi government issued orders for allowing one market per zone. But after the recent lockdown order, the previous order stands cancelled. We are also in favour of lockdown, but worried about earning our livelihood and hope this situation won’t last long,” said Rajkumar Kataria, general secretary of weekly vendors market association in south Delhi.
The vendors also fear that their markets may be closed for a longer time as last year the government didn’t give permission for full-fledged operation of these markets till October-end. In comparison, other markets resumed operations from June, with certain restrictions.
Rajesh Gupta of north Delhi weekly market association said, “We support the government’s decision and want Covid-19 cases to come down. But this is our season when we can do good business during the upcoming Eid festival. We expect the government to allow our operation with restrictions after the lockdown, including restricting space allowed to vendors and ensuring social distancing.”
Expressing concern over the condition of street vendors in the city, the New Association of Street Vendor of India (NASVI) wrote a letter to the chief minister on Monday, asking for “protection” of their livelihood.
“We want the government to make serious efforts — such as food vendors should also be included in essential service like vegetable and fruit sellers and Rs 6,000 should be provided to all surveyed dwellers per month, till their livelihood is restored,” said Arbind Singh, national coordinator, NASVI.
[Source: TOI]
