The Delhi Government will soon initiate the process to make laws for protecting the livelihood and social security rights of more than three lakh street vendors and will instruct the concerned civic bodies, enforcement department and the police to put a halt on all eviction drives, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has assured a delegation of National Association of Street Vendors of India. The Chief Minister assured that the Government would fulfil its commitment to the issue in light of the Supreme Court’s verdict in October, 2010.
The apex court had stated that the vendors have the fundamental right to carry on their businesses and the Government is bound to protect this right through effective legislation. The NASVI delegation also handed over a memorandum that called for several initiatives on the part of the Government.