At Sarojini Nagar illegal hawkers operate with impunity

Sarojini Nagar, the one-stop destination for all Delhi shopaholics, is fast losing its colourful image with many security concerns looming large over the popular market. From eve-teasing and pick pocketing to illegal hawkers encroaching upon the pedestrian areas, the crowded market seems to be in need of some serious intervention.

Surprisingly, however, when the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) staffers try to evict these encroachers, the registered shop owners support them. "The owner of the shop in front of which we set up our goods charges money for the space. The amount depends upon the popularity of the shop. I pay Rs 3,000 to the shop owner," said Lakhan, a hawker, pointing towards a renowned shop.

When queried about the NDMC raids, a hawker said: "Whenever we notice some disturbance or see hawkers running away with their goods, we know that NDMC staffers have raided the market. We take help from shop owners, and in return, they take some money from us for helping us save our goods."

Most of these hawkers deal in clothes, footwear, cosmetics, and junk jewellery. If the hawkers fail to save their goods from the officials, they have to go to the NDMC office, from where they can get their goods back after paying a fine. Some hawkers even claimed that they had support of political parties, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which makes it even more difficult for the NDMC to end this menace.