Vendors call off licensing strike

A protest against raids and the confiscation of goods by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was called off after the deputy commissioner of the Shahdara Zone promised that the licensing process will begin soon,according to the National Association of Street Vendors of India. NASVI was initiated by Nidan,a non-governmental organisation working to organise street vendors for bringing about a policy change in the government,and for the provision of licences to such vendors. On Tuesday,more than 500 vendors gathered in front of the Shahdara South Zone office to protest against raids by the MCD. The vendors were agitated as the MCD was not taking steps to provide them with licences.

The zone had previously declared that there was no “vending” site available in the area. The vendors were demanding a halt to the raids and the seizure of goods,meeting of the ward vending committees and the zonal committee,and that vendors left-out apply afresh,Arbind Singh,executive director of Nidan,said. A meeting of the presidents of all associations has been convened on January 26. The deputy director said a list of street vendors’ associations and their members will be made available to the MCD and the associations will identify vending sites and provide the list to the zonal office,Nidan members said.