Vendors are being evicted and harassed, claims forum
National Association of Street Vendors of India
on Thursday alleged that street vendors were being "systematically evicted" from various areas across the city. Since April 28, the vendors are facing harassment by the authorities concerned, it claimed at a press conference.The association further alleged that even vendors possessing valid vending certificates were being removed.
"This has been happening despite the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which establishes the legal framework and protections for street vendors against unlawful evictions and harassment," said the association's national coordinator Arbind Singh."We were hopeful that with the newly elected govt, the situation would improve, but nothing happened," Singh added.According to the association, the street vending act clearly distinguishes street vendors into three categories: stationary, mobile and weekly. However, every street vendor is being treated like a mobile vendor, it alleged. The vendors fear that these ongoing drives would deprive them of getting their names included in the ongoing survey. "These two parallel actions—doing a survey on one hand and removing vendors on the other—are contradictory to each other and can't go together," stated the association.At the conference, Suman Lata, a 55-year-old woman street vendor from Rohini, claimed that she was evicted from the area and constantly being threatened by the local officials. Ajay Poddar, a cloth vendor from Civil Lines, further alleged that his goods were not returned despite several appeals.Suresh, a tea vendor from Shahdara who claimed to be vending since 2008 and holding a valid licence, was "forcefully evicted" last week. "My goods were confiscated and have not been returned yet," he alleged.An MCD official said that action was being taken against encroachments on roads and public places to avoid inconvenience to others. "There is no specific or targeted drive being carried out by the civic body," he asserted.There was no reaction from police in this connection.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: DNA test reports on rescued child beggars expected next month
Over three weeks after DNA tests were conducted on six rescued child beggars and the adults accompanying them to ascertain parentage, the district administration is still waiting for the report. District child protection officer (DCPO) Rashmi Saini said they have been informed by the competent officials that the reports would be out by September. District child protection officer Rashmi Saini said they have been informed by the competent officials that the reports would be out by September. (HT Photo) On July 20, the district administration, under project Jeevanjyot 2.0, raided various areas of the city and rescued 18 kids. While the accompanying adults of 12 kids submitted credible claim of parentage, six were suspected to be cases of child trafficking. These six kids and their accompanying adults were DNA tested on 23 July to ascertain if they shared any biological relation with the kids. Meanwhile, five of the 12 kids for whom their accompanying adults provided a parentage claim have been handed back to their parents. The parents of the rest of the kids are still submitting the documents and once they are verified the kids will be handed over to them. 'These people hail from far away states. They are taking time to bring documents, like birth certificates, to prove parentage,' said DCPO Rashmi. Forensic sciences laboratory (Kharar) director, Dr Rajnish, when asked about the time period in which the lab is supposed to produce the DNA reports, he said, 'We don't have any such guidelines. Rules regarding it haven't been framed yet.' Meanwhile, the children continue to be lodged at the children's home in Doraha, waiting for the reports to find out what the future holds for them. The Jeevanjyot 2.0 project draft reads, 'If DNA tests match, the child shall be restored to the family. The authorities shall issue a warning to the family to not indulge the child into begging. The DCPO shall provide counselling to the family to enrol the children in schools and about the ill effects of keeping the child on streets.' If parents still put kids to begging, the draft calls for the parents to be declared 'unfit guardians' and 'the child shall be sent to children home and the child shall be declared legally free for adoption.' And if the tests turn out negative, the child welfare committee will initiate legal action by filing an FIR under the BNS, Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, or other relevant legislation against the adults found accompanying them. Additionally, the child's photos and details will be uploaded on the 'Track the Child' portal to trace their biological parents for rehabilitation. DC Himanshu Jain had on 21 July established a committee to ensure the seamless execution of DNA testing after the attempt at DNA testing failed on 21 July due to lack of clarity on guidelines. The committee comprises the district child protection officer, representatives from the police commissioner, and the civil surgeon, tasked with overseeing the DNA testing process under Project Jeevanjot 2.0 to combat child trafficking and exploitation.
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Officials, firm to face action in ₹25-lakh scam, says minister
Cracking down on the ₹25 lakh solar light scam unearthed in Khanna, Punjab panchayat minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Friday said guilty officials and contractors will face strict disciplinary action, with recovery of every rupee misappropriated. Cabinet minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond during a press conference in Khanna on Tuesday. (HT Photo) Based on an inquiry report, the minister said the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO), the assistant engineer (AE) and the junior engineer (JE) concerned would be suspended, charge-sheeted and held accountable. 'The government will not allow anyone to misuse public tax money. Whoever is guilty—be it an officer or a politician—recovery will be ensured,' he said, adding that an FIR may also be lodged. Sond alleged that the scam had political links to Congress leaders during their regime. He claimed that a former minister's close aide secured a ₹1 crore tender in his son's name and carried out solar light works in 20 villages of Khanna block. 'In this very tender, misappropriation worth ₹24.52 lakh has been proven,' Sond said, releasing photographs of the contractor's family with the former minister to underline political patronage. The alleged fraud dates back to 2021, when officials 'bypassed' proper tendering, produced a few formal quotations and awarded the contract to the chosen firm. Subsequent checks revealed poor-quality lights that frequently malfunctioned, while in many locations poles were left without lights. The scam first came to light through whistleblower Santokh Singh Benipal, who obtained records under the RTI Act and complained to chief minister Bhagwant Mann in 2023. Following this, the panchayat department initiated a probe. On June 9, 2025, the district development and panchayat officer, Ludhiana, submitted a report confirming irregularities and naming the BDPO, AE, JE and contractor as guilty.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Truck driver Harjinder Singh fails English and road sign tests after fatal Florida Turnpike crash; online backlash intensifies
Harjinder Singh, the truck driver involved in a deadly Florida highway crash that killed three people, has come under scrutiny after failing basic English language and road sign assessments. Singh, an Indian national, was tested by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) following the fatal collision and was found to have significant deficiencies in his ability to communicate in English and understand U.S. road signage. The incident has sparked renewed debate over immigration enforcement and commercial licensing standards in the United States. Harjinder Singh failed English language and traffic sign assessments According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Harjinder Singh scored just 2 out of 12 on an English proficiency test administered by FMCSA after the crash. When shown four common highway traffic signs, Singh could correctly identify only one. These results raised questions about how he was able to obtain commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) in both California and Washington, despite not meeting the required language or safety standards. Authorities also confirmed that when Singh was previously stopped in New Mexico for speeding, the English Language Proficiency (ELP) test was not administered as required. This oversight, combined with failures by multiple state licensing agencies, is being investigated. X erupts with backlash X lit up with backlash as users expressed outrage over Singh's licensing and immigration history. One user wrote, "Anyone who's ever taken a CDL written test will tell you that It's impossible to legally get a CDL without being proficient in English. Someone gave him a CDL without ever taking a test." Anyone whos ever taken a CDL written test will tell you that It's impossible to legally get a CDL without being proficient in English. Someone gave him a CDL without ever taking a test. "This is idiotic. Why the actual f**k would you give a license to someone who can't read English?" another enraged user added. This is idiotic. Why the actual fuck would you give a license to someone who can't read English? Check out more reactions below: From experience, I can attest that many of these foreign-born CDL blatantly disregard everything about our country, especially safety standards. They will do the bare minimum to get paid. They do not care about America. Lots of stories. All those people who allowed this person to get behind a wheel need to be held accountable. Those responsible for the license must be severely punished! This is the social morality of antiwhiteism at we replace it with a White positive social morality it will work for good like it does for evil now. Accident occurred on April 12 on a Florida highway The fatal crash happened on April 12 when Singh attempted an illegal U-turn across a Florida highway using a cut-through designated for 'Official Use Only.' Singh's tractor-trailer blocked all four lanes of traffic. A minivan, unable to brake or swerve in time, collided at full speed with the trailer, killing three people. Singh is now facing criminal charges related to the incident, which authorities say could have been avoided if proper safety and licensing checks were in place. Singh entered the U.S. illegally and received work permit in 2021 Singh is believed to have entered the United States illegally in 2018. He was detained at the border and released on a $5,000 bond in January 2019 after claiming fear of persecution if returned to India. While his application for a work permit was denied under the Trump administration, records show that he was granted a permit in 2021 under President Biden's administration. These facts have fueled political debate, with California Governor Gavin Newsom's office and the Department of Homeland Security publicly disagreeing over Singh's immigration status and the licensing failures. Singh remains in immigration proceedings and could face deportation Harjinder Singh has been in ongoing immigration proceedings since 2019. Following the crash and failed assessments, he now faces renewed calls for deportation. Federal authorities are investigating how Singh acquired multiple CDLs despite failing to meet federal and state qualifications. The case has added to criticism of current immigration and transportation safety oversight, particularly concerning commercial drivers operating large vehicles without sufficient training or legal status. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
