On 3rd and 4th July 2025, the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi hosted the second edition of the India Street Vendor Forum, a landmark event organised by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI). This collaborative platform brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government ministries, municipal authorities, vendor associations, civil society organisations, academia, and corporate partners. With the theme “बदलता कल, बदलते हम”, the forum focused on modernising the street vending ecosystem in India and reimagining its future within rapidly changing urban environments. The initiative stemmed from NASVI’s vision to create an inclusive space where the voices of street vendors could intersect with those of policymakers and ecosystem actors, enabling a deeper understanding of their evolving challenges and co-developing systemic solutions.

The forum underscored that India’s street vending sector is not merely an informal mode of business—it is a foundational pillar of urban livelihoods. Development Alternatives and NASVI have been working together to build supportive ecosystems for vendors and nano-entrepreneurs by improving market access, enabling inclusive policies, and promoting sustainable enterprise models rooted in local realities.

Addressing the gathering, Shrashtant Patara, CEO of Development Alternatives, stressed the importance of transitioning from survival-based self-employment to opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. He noted that entrepreneurship, when supported at scale, does not just generate individual income, it creates jobs and enables widespread impact. He spotlighted the District Entrepreneurship Coalition (DEC), a platform that brings together government departments, civil society, banks, and entrepreneurs to co-design local solutions for enterprise growth and job creation. As a scalable model, DEC reflects the potential of convergence and collaboration to drive systemic change.

The forum also took stock of progress since its inaugural edition last year. Vendors from intervention areas such as Gorakhpur, under the NASVI-DA partnership, shared how policy engagement had improved their access to credit, training, and infrastructure. Discussions framed modern vending as key to building inclusive, clean, and green cities. Sessions featured innovative approaches including solar-powered vending carts, zero-waste markets, and biodegradable packaging.

Another major theme was environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Vendors explored ways to green their enterprises through low-emission technologies and climate-conscious practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and India’s Net Zero commitments. Health and food safety were also in focus, with sessions conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to promote hygienic street food practices.

Through real stories, interactive panels, and outcome-focused discussions, the forum amplified the voices of India’s street vendors and positioned them as central to inclusive urban development. As Development Alternatives continues its partnership with NASVI under the Work4Progress initiative, this edition reaffirmed that transformation in the informal economy must centre dignity, enterprise, and local leadership. The forum demonstrated that real change begins when dialogue leads to convergence—laying the groundwork for a more just, connected, and sustainable future for India’s street vending communities.