Raising Voice and Visibility

NASVI advocates for the basic rights of vendors and street vendors to sell their commodities It gives them a platform to unite together and to raise their voice for their just demands and rights. It highlights the contribution of street vendors in city growth and commerce. It also draws attention to the services provided by street vendors by making available goods at convenient places and at reasonable price. Their sheer number and geographical spread must ensure that authorities cannot ignore street vendors. Street vendors also are self employed and are able to take care of their families without putting any burden on Government. NASVI also works towards creating better image of street vendors in wider society.

Advocacy

NASVI organizes interface with policy makers, administrators, planners, police officials and street vendors It creates awareness about the usefulness of the vendors and hawkers, brings to light their plight and facilitate short and long term interventions for the benefit of street vendors. Interface exposes Policy makers and officials to the inhuman situation of street vendors. Petition, memorandum, dharna and demonstration are organized. Different advocacy tools are used to sensitise and pressurize officials and policy makers to take steps in favour of street vendors. NASVI also uses every possible forum to advocate the rights of street vendors.

Supporting Street Vendor Organisations

NASVI supports street vendor organizations in case of any emergent crises situation they face. This could range from threat to eviction or actual eviction to organizational problems. NASVI takes up their issue and pressurizes Government at all levels. It also shares relevant documents which could be helpful to the street vendors organization in solving their problems. NASVI also advises them on the strategy they would need to follow in such situation. Visits are also undertaken either by staff of NASVI or by nearby member organization to help the organization in trouble. NASVI occasionally provide some crucial financial support to member organization for furtherance of the livelihood of street vendors. As such NASVI keeps a constant watch on the developments and provide necessary support to the organization. NASVI also helps the member organization in organization strengthening.

Visit to Cities 

NASVI supports street vendor organizations in case of any emergent crises situation they face. This could range from threat to eviction or actual eviction to organizational problems. NASVI takes up their issue and pressurizes Government at all levels. It also shares relevant documents which could be helpful to the street vendors organization in solving their problems. NASVI also advises them on the strategy they would need to follow in such situation. Visits are also undertaken either by staff of NASVI or by nearby member organization to help the organization in trouble. NASVI occasionally provide some crucial financial support to member organization for furtherance of the livelihood of street vendors. As such NASVI keeps a constant watch on the developments and provide necessary support to the organization. NASVI also helps the member organization in organization strengthening.

Highlighting Issue

NASVI organizes workshops, seminars, meetings etc at national, state and city levels to highlight the plight of street vendors. These events bring together policy makers and officials and the street vendors and lead to positive interventions. The initiation of National Policy too happened after a National Workshop. As these events are widely reported, the issue gets highlighted. These events help to create a forum at the state and city level. As such, NASVI also facilitate formation of state and city level forum which can tackle the problems at that level.

Communication

As mentioned above, continuous communication is maintained with member organizations. Any important development is circulated through letters to the partners. Some of these developments are covered in our Newsletter ‘Footpath Ki Aawaj’. The circulation of the newsletter has also increased and it is also a strong advocacy tool.
We also circulate books/periodicals etc concerning our issue. For example, Ela Bhatt has written a book ‘Lari Yudh’ which was circulated to the partners recently.
Posters, brochure and other, IEC materials are developed and distributed among partner organizations.

Footpath Ki Aawaj

NASVI publishes a quarterly newsletter in Hindi and English called Footpath Ki Aawaz (Voice from the pavement/sidewalk) that provides information about its activities. Footpath Ki Aawaj is the forum for communication among the member organizations.

Documentation Centre: A full fledged documentation centre has been established in the secretariat of NASVI. The documentation centre consists of various types of documents like articles and research documents, laws and Court judgments books and journals etc.

Documentation Centre

A full fledged documentation centre has been established in the secretariat of NASVI. The documentation centre consists of various types of documents like articles and research documents, laws and Court judgments books and journals etc.

Information Collection
NASVI also undertakes research and study together relevant information necessary for planned intervention needed to improve the situation of street vendors. It commissions these studies to experts of the concern field. For example, a study of the laws affecting the street vendors is being conducted presently in Kartanaka. Similarly a study of the condition of street vendors of 7 cities of India was done in 1999-2000. The study threw lights on many new aspects of street vending and also became an important advocacy documents for initiation of a National Policy.

Role of a Watchdog

NASVI keeps a tab on various development at national, state and city level which might affect street vendors and intervenes appropriately. Thus, if new laws are being made or new policy is being formulated NASVI makes representation to safeguard interests of the street vendors. Similarly if a city is coming up with a masterplan or a committee has been constituted to look into street vending, NASVI along with concerned member organization intervenes to tilt scale in its favour. Likewise, if there is a PIL going on which might affect street vendors directly or indirectly, then NASVI intervenes. It also helps member organization file cases to protect and promote their rights.

Activities of NASVI ( Feb 07)

Women leadership Training

On 27th and 28th  Feb a training was or oganised by NASVI in Rajiv Nagar training centre Patna.
The main issue of this training was women leadership training.
For this training 30 women has came through different states. In this training many women know the women’s right and different women related issues.

Northern Regional Workshop

A northern regional workshop was held on 24th Feb in Jaipur.
Many organisation has participated in this workshop from northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Bihar etc.

In this workshop it has been Said that in Rajsthan there will be make palocy for street vendors very Soon. 

Activities of NASVI (July 2006 to Jan 2007) Click here for Details

Chronological Order (activities):-
22/01/2007                              NASVI Representation in WSF
20/01/2007                              Vendor’s Day Celebrated in India through Country.
Dharana on 20th Jan. in Delhi on the occasion of vendor day.
15/01/2007                              Dharna on 15th Jan. in Patna
11/01/2007                              Meeting with Kumari Shailaja
October.                                  Publication of Footpath ki Awaz
                                                Insurance of Footpath’s Shopkeeper
19/11/2006                              Executive Committee Meeting
31/10/2006                              Positive approach by BMC Vending Zone
14/10/2006                              Inauguration of fruit Vegetable Mandi at Murlipura
10-14 /10/2006 Asian Regional Workshop 10-14 October 2006 Kathamandu Nepal
11/10/2006                              A Dharna was conducted by Delhi Patri Sangharch Morcha in front of Town Hall near MCD Office New Delhi.
3/09/2006                                Formation of Delhi Rehari Patri Sanghar Morcha.
28-29 July 2006 Leadership Development Training.
27 July 2006                            General Body Meeting of NASVI
26 July 2006                            NASVI organised a public hearing in Delhi with the help of associated member organisation in which near about 700 representative from 16 states has participatedand Urban Developement Minister Mr. Jaipal Reddy and housing and urban poverty alleviation minister Kumari Shailaja where the chief guest.

Chronology of activities from April 2005 to July 2006

4th April- Workshop in Cochin to implement national policy
10th May- Self immolation by Abdul Rafique in Lucknow against contract system by Lucknow Municipal Corporation
4th June- State Level Workshop in Lucknow
23-24 May- Office Bearers meeting of NASVI in New Delhi
2-3rd June- Convention  of Sara Bangla Hawkers in Medinipur, WB
8-13 June- NASVI representative visit to South Korea
14 June- A meeting called by National Commission on Small Enterprises in Unorganized Sector, GOI on the issue of National Policy on Street Vendors. NASVI representative  participated in this meeting
23-24 June- AGM of NASVI in Cuttack
30 June- Dharna by street vendors in Muzaffarpur, Bihar
2nd July- 2 PIL was filed in Patna High Court regarding implementation of National Policy and construction of market for street vendors
13th July- District Level Meeting in Mathura against extortation
20July- Meeting in Haridwar (Uttranchal)
July Publication of Footpath Ki Aawaz
25 August- Hon’ble High Patna given direction to State Govt. for  implementation of National Policy
27 Aug-State Level Meeting in A.P.
20 Aug- City Level Meeting in Gulawathi, U.P.
19 Oct- National Consultation on Street Vendors, organized by GOI
Oct-Publication of Footpath Ki Aawaz
10 Nov- Govt. of Bihar organsied a consultation on implementation of National Policy
12 Nov- State Level Meeting in Rajasthan
13 Nov- Meeting of Executive Committee in Jodhpur
24 Nov- Meeting in Ranchi, Jharkhand on the issues of street vendors
5 Dec- Training meet organized in Haridwar, Uttranchal
14th Dec- 125 street vendors allotted space by Ranchi Municipal Corporation
12-20 Dec- Contract with Administration of many district of MP
2006
20 Jan- Vendors day celebrated through the country
20-21 Jan- Demonstration and Southern Regional Workshop in Chennai
 24 Jan- Self immolation of Gopal Kishan Kashyap, Patliala-Punjab, followed by NASVI intervention
28-30 Jan- Training program
29 Jan- Self Immolation by Pappu Rathore and intervention by NASVI
Jan- Publication of Footpath Ki Aawaz
24 Feb- State Level Meeting in Chandigarh and constitute a coordination committee
23 Feb- licence distribution in Saharsa, Bihar
25 Feb- Office Bearers Meeting in Delhi
23-27 March - Participation in Policy workshop in Bangladesh
March-Publication of FKA
3rd April- Patna Municipal Corporation bans contract system beings issuing licenses
5th Apr-Victory celebration in Patna
7-8th Apr- Workshop on Social Security Bill
8th Apr- Executive Comm. Meeting of NASVI
10 May- Martyr day organized in Lucknow
30 May-Coordination committee meeting of Orissa
3rd June – State Coordination committee of Bihar Meet
27 June- campaign by fax in Bihar
4th July- MP Govt. announces for implementation of national policy, beginning survey
12th July- GOI organizes national consultation on amendment in national policy and law for street vendors.
26th July- Manushi organizes public hearing in coloration with NASVI
July-Publication of FKA