24-04-2025
What's cooking on Delhi streets? Electric stoves, push for sustainability, and some myth-busting
Flames licking hot bhaturas, chowmein, and parathas may soon be replaced by the gentle hum of an electric cooker on the streets of Delhi. The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) is pushing street vendors in Delhi to switch to e-cook stoves and has tied up with Finovista, a consulting firm based in Delhi.
Arbind Singh, national coordinator of NASVI, said, 'Street vendors are not just food providers; they are innovators and entrepreneurs; through clean e-stoves, we are upgrading their tools and also dignifying their profession. We believe this initiative will set a new benchmark for preparing and serving street food in India's cities.'
He added, 'This initiative aligns with India's broader vision of promoting sustainable livelihoods, reducing carbon emissions, and improving food safety standards in urban areas. It also reinforces the critical role that street vendors play in the urban food ecosystem and recognises their potential as agents of change in the climate action space.'
Officials said the idea is to provide vendors with carts equipped with electric stoves.
Sheetal Rastogi, founder of Finovista, said, 'In Indian families, we often store induction cookers in our cupboards instead of using them. But more than 50 per cent of the population already have electricity connections, and we will look for this challenge after getting all vendors involved.'
Meanwhile, Singh said gas cylinders are already banned for street vendors in Mumbai due to safety concerns. 'E-cookstoves are safer and better for the environment, and I urge the government to support and encourage their adoption.'
'If vendors adopt these technologies, others will also follow. Myths like food not tasting good or cooking taking longer on electric stoves will break. In the pilot programme, we have trained 250 vendors, and we aim to reach many more. We have already requested the government to provide e-pushcarts. We will also demand support in terms of loans and subsidies,' Singh added.
