The constant fear of eviction or harassment at the hands of the authorities is on the minds of Delhi’s street vendors this election season.
For the lakhs of hawkers in the Capital, protection from this uncertainty tops the agenda. The delayed implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and social security schemes are also a cause of concern, according to vendors.
A young snack-seller in Mayur Vihar said hawkers like him are not really bothered by changes in the government. “We have to deal with the police and the municipality. None of the political parties address our problems,” said the Uttar Pradesh native, who refused to be named for fear of retribution from authorities.
“The only difference we noticed was that those demanding bribes were a bit careful during the Aam Aadmi Party’s regime. Otherwise, our lives don’t change if the government changes,” said the street vendor.
Another vendor in Mayur Vihar, Himanshu, added that hawkers faced uncertain working conditions every day. “The police have been telling us to move in the name of cleanliness or road widening,” said the chaat vendor from U.P.’s Badaun district.
A group of vendors near Pragati Maidan added that they were not concerned with the upcoming Assembly elections. A chaat seller outside Bhairon Mandir who wanted to remain anonymous said: “We are only bothered by our work. The elections don’t make any difference.”
The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) has been campaigning for better working conditions and protections, which it wants the new government to implement.
NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh said: “The issue of identity and recognition of all unorganised sector workers has been neglected.”
Mr. Singh alleged that the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, had not been implemented in Delhi and the Street Vendors Act, 2014, was still pending a year after it was passed.
“The Labour Department needs to be revamped. It must be made more sensitive to unorganised workers,” said Mr. Singh.
The Capital’s municipal corporations are yet to issue vendors’ licences, the absence of which leaves them vulnerable to harassment.
