Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal continues with his pro-poor policy, AAP issues order against eviction of hawkers

NEW DELHI: Continuing with its ‘pro-poor decisions’, the Aam Aadmi Party government has issued an order that no street vendor or hawker would be evicted . The order came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had an interaction with delegations of street vendors on Wednesday.

Some vendors had pointed out to Kejriwal they were being forced to relocate without any valid reasons despite a Supreme Court judgment of September 2013. Following the interaction, the Delhi government has come out with an order directing that no existing street vendor would be relocated or evicted before creation of hawking zones in Delhi.

This is the second order where Kejriwal government has continued with its pro-poor policy. Earlier this week, the government had directed there would be no demolition drives in Delhi unless those ordered by the government.

The decision had come under fire from BJP, which said that there was nothing new in the order as the Centre had already introduced Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014, to protect unauthorised colonies.

A bill for protection and regularising of street vendors was passed last year. It came into effect on May 1. But, till date, street vendors say it hasn’t been properly implemented. There are 3-5 lakh street vendors across the city. The Arvind Kejriwal government has also made it clear that no new vendors would be allowed in designated hawking zones.

The government had received many complaints from street vendors during their campaigning that civic bodies were not allowing them, even in designated hawking zones.