Delhi to be first to implement Street Vending Act, 2014

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, announced on September 24, that Delhi would now be the “first state” in India to implement the Street Vending Act, 2014, which provides legal safety to street vendors and hawkers conducting business in the city.

“Because they do not have a legal status, whatever they do is termed illegal. That’s why they are harassed by every department, be it the police or civic bodies. People extort money from them,” the Chief Minister said, adding as street vending is not streamlined, it leads to traffic snarls and pollution.

“Under the Act, town vending committees have been set up and a notification has been issued,” he said. As many as 28 town vending committees have been set up, each having 30 members. Among which 12 members are street vendors and hawkers while the rest are officials who have been nominated, Kejriwal said.

The state government has issued direction to the civic bodies to conduct surveys in their respective regions to identify vendors and determine vending spots through their respective town vending committees in the coming two weeks. The estimated time required for the completion of the survey within 1-2 months. “With street vending being organised, no new person can come and occupy a spot randomly by bribing officials. For new vending spots, hawkers will have to apply with town vending committees,” the Chief Minister said.