Delhi's Street Vendors Remain in Limbo Despite 18-Year Policy Framework
The Delhi government has acknowledged a troubling reality. Street vendors in the capital continue to wait for proper regulation nearly two decades after authorities first introduced a formal policy framework. The process of issuing vending certificates and identifying authorized hawking zones remains largely unimplemented. This admission came in a written reply presented in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Repeated Delays and Lapsed Committees Stall Progress
In response to a question from MLA Manoj Kumar Shokeen, the Urban Development Department confirmed persistent failures. Street vendors paid a registration fee of Rs 100 as far back as 2007. Yet the issuance of vending certificates and the identification of legal vending zones still depend on Town Vending Committees. These committees have functioned only intermittently over the years.
The government stated that street vending in Delhi operates under the Street Vendors Act of 2014 and the Delhi Street Vending Scheme of 2019. However, it admitted a critical flaw. The key implementation mechanism, the Town Vending Committee, has not been in place since September 2024. That is when the tenure of the previous committee ended.
Five-Year Committee Tenure Leaves Void
The earlier Town Vending Committee was constituted during the previous AAP-led government. It was initially formed for a one-year period but continued functioning for five years. Its term finally expired last year. Since that expiration, the process of constituting a new committee remains "underway." This delay leaves crucial decisions in complete limbo.
Surveys to identify vendors, zoning to allocate spaces, and the actual issuance of vending certificates cannot proceed without an active committee. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi holds responsibility for implementing the Act. MCD conducts surveys under the 2014 law, the Street Vendors Rules of 2017, and the 2019 scheme. These surveys should form the basis for notifying vending zones and issuing certificates.
A senior official highlighted the consequence. In the absence of an active Town Vending Committee, vendors remain without formal protection. Enforcement actions and eviction drives continue against them despite the legal framework meant to safeguard their livelihoods.
Nominal Fee Paid, But Certificates Withheld
The government reiterated that all vendors must pay a nominal Rs 100 fee for inclusion in the official vending database. Yet nearly eighteen years after this formal process started, countless vendors still await official certificates. These documents would protect them from routine harassment and sudden eviction.
Urban planners and vendor associations have repeatedly raised alarms. They argue that without functional Town Vending Committees, the entire street vending framework remains procedural rather than operational. The committees hold a mandated role. They must identify suitable vending zones while balancing vendor rights with pedestrian movement and public safety concerns.
Implementation Responsibility and Past Efforts
The Town Vending Committee implements the Street Vendors Act of 2014. Its duties include surveying, registering, and regulating existing street vendors. The committee assigns legal vending spaces, known as hawking zones, and issues vending certificates. The aim is to protect livelihoods and create a reliable database for urban planning.
MCD bears responsibility for implementing these rules across most areas of Delhi, often coordinating with other agencies. The New Delhi Municipal Council also maintains its own Town Vending Committee. NDMC publishes plans and notifications related to vendor regulation and licensing.
NDMC previously released an area-wise draft Town Vending Plan online. This plan detailed the allocation of vending sites across twenty-one major markets and public spaces. The survey identified nearly 2,500 street vendors. From this group, authorities found 1,170 vendors eligible and allotted them spaces. They declared another 1,370 vendors ineligible under the provisions of the Street Vendors Act.
The current situation underscores a significant gap between policy intent and ground reality. Delhi's street vendors continue their daily struggle for recognition and security, their legal status hanging in the balance due to administrative delays and institutional voids.
