Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: Street vendors operating in prominent locations of Lutyens’ Delhi — including Connaught Place, India Gate, Regal, and Palika — fear being barred from setting up stalls, a move they say threatens their livelihoods and violates the National Capital Territory of Delhi Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2019.
Arbind Singh of the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) alleged that vendors in these areas were overlooked during the official survey process by vending committees. “NDMC can designate vending and non-vending zones later, but under the Act, all vendors must first be surveyed and included. Skipping areas amounts to denying vendors their right to exist,” he said.
As per Section 8.4 of the scheme, a thorough survey and GPS-based demarcation are mandatory before declaring any area a vending or non-vending zone. Singh noted that NDMC has so far surveyed only 1,400 vendors, while a previous MCD invitation drew responses from 5,600 applicants. “Declaring any area non-vending before completing the survey is arbitrary, illegal, and unjust, and denies vendors their right to livelihood and representation,” he added.
Responding to the concerns, NDMC stated that the survey is still underway and the Delhi High Court has been apprised of its status. “It is being conducted as per the relevant Act, rules, and scheme,” said an NDMC official, though no details were provided regarding potential area exclusions.
The street vendor community is demanding full transparency in survey completion and GPS mapping. “If authorities continue to ignore the 2019 Scheme and violate vendors’ rights, we will resist and defend their livelihoods and dignity,” NASVI asserted in a statement.
Meanwhile, Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association, maintained that Connaught Place is a no-vending zone per Supreme Court orders and said the matter is being pursued in the HC.
Mayank Rawat
