The National Association of Street Vendors of India held a demonstration at Town Hall here on Tuesday demanding street vending licences and implementation of the national policy for urban street vendors.
The demonstration marked the conclusion of the Association's gherao campaign titled “World Class Cities for All” which began in the Capital on May 10.
Similar demonstrations were held in other parts of the city as part of a campaign to protest against harassment of street vendors by the authorities and the criminal elements.
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In a press release the Association emphasised that even though urban street vendors constitute two-fifths of India's urban population, they are denied their Constitutional rights as citizens of the country.
Underlining the plight of the street vendors, Association coordinator Arbind Singh said over one lakh licence applications by street vendors had not been acted upon since 2007.
“Without a legal identity, these vendors have no voice and continue to be harassed by the civil authorities,” he added.
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The Association also demanded allotment of specific vending and non- vending zones, legalisation of weekly bazaars, stoppage of illegal evictions and fines, and not using the Commonwealth Games as an excuse to drive the vendors out of their workplaces.
The Associationhas been working to bring issues concerning street vendors to the forefront, with emphasis on proper implementation of national policies regarding street vendors.