Business Standard

Already in debt, Delhi street vendors say they want relief, not more loans

Because of lockdown, most street vendors were not able to earn anything and had to borrow money for survival. Not many will be able to repay the loans offered by the govt, vendors say

Consumer Life, Mahesh Vyas, Consumer Sentiment, Unemployment
Premium

Last week, the government announced Rs 5,000 crore special credit facility for street vendors and promised to simplify the process of obtaining loans of up to Rs 10,000 as working capital.

Geetanjali Krishna New Delhi
Kanchan Devi sells samosas and jalebis from a tiny stand in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar market. She’s been going there every day in the hope that she, and other street vendors like her, will be allowed to resume business, now that markets have partially opened.

But its pavements, normally buzzing with thrifty shoppers, are deserted.

“Although the government has allowed markets to partially reopen, there is no clarity on the rules for pavement sellers,” says Devi, adding, “Consequently, the 800-odd street vendors in Sarojini Nagar who’ve been out of work for the last two months are uncertain about the future.”

Mohammad

What you get on BS Premium?

  • Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app.
  • Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them.
  • Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006.
  • Preferential invites to Business Standard events.
  • Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more.
VIEW ALL FAQs

Need More Information - write to us at assist@bsmail.in