New Delhi, November 25, 2025: In a powerful address that underscored the intrinsic link between street vendors’ rights and social democracy, Shri Shaktiman Ghosh, General Secretary of the National Hawkers Federation (NHF), represented the collective voice of India’s millions of street vendors at the prestigious 100th-anniversary ceremony of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The event was held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Speaking before an audience of dignitaries, FES representatives, activists, and comrades, Shri Ghosh extended the NHF’s warmest congratulations to FES on its century of commitment to social justice, workers’ rights, and equitable development.
In his speech, Shri Ghosh emphasized that the ideals FES was founded upon are the daily realities and aspirations of India’s hawkers. He framed the hawkers’ struggle—for space, recognition, protection from eviction and harassment, and dignity—as a fundamental component of the larger fight for a just social democracy. “When we speak of ‘Shaping Social Democracy,’ we must remember that the shape of our democracy is defined not only in the halls of parliament but also on the streets,” he stated.
Highlighting the crucial partnership between NHF and FES, Shri Ghosh noted that FES’s support has gone beyond mere funding, extending to true solidarity. He acknowledged FES’s role in amplifying hawkers’ voices in policy discussions, building organisational capacity, and reinforcing the principle that the right to livelihood is central to democratic progress. He particularly resonated with FES’s stated goal of creating a “supportive environment, free from harassment,” a condition street vendors fight for every day.
Shri Ghosh connected FES’s century-long journey of resilience with the enduring spirit of street vendors, drawing inspiration from Friedrich Ebert’s own journey from craftsman to national leader. He asserted that true progress must always include the most marginalized.
Looking ahead, the General Secretary reaffirmed NHF’s solidarity with FES, calling their partnership “a living example of how global solidarity can empower local movements.” He concluded with a vision of an inclusive India and world where every worker, from the cart vendor to the corporate executive, is valued equally.
The NHF is proud of this representation at a global forum and remains committed to strengthening this vital alliance in our shared mission to secure dignity, rights, and justice for all street vendors.
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