Street vendors prepare for shutdown across Bengaluru on Wednesday

BENGALURU: Amidst the footpath encroachment clearance drive, street vendors, who have been protesting against it, have decided to shut down business across the city on Wednesday and launch a massive protest against the government and city corporations.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority’s Clean Footpath’ campaign, being carried out for the convenience of pedestrians, has now turned into a street vendors vs GBA show and they have now taken to the streets to protest against the drive. The effect of the operation has had a serious impact on the business of thousands of street vendors.

Vendors who were doing business by encroaching on footpaths in many parts of the city have already been evicted, which has angered them. Because of this, vendors who have now risen against the government have decided to shut down their business on Wednesday and mark their protest.

Organisations have called for the protest to begin from 6 am on Wednesday. From tomorrow morning onwards, items usually sold on the street, including fruits, vegetables and flowers, are likely to be unavailable in many parts of the city. Along with that, roadside fast food vendors are also likely to support the shutdown. Morning breakfast and meal hotel vendors have also decided to stop business and join the shutdown, so roadside snacks are also likely to be scarce.

Regarding this shutdown called by the Joint Action Committee, organisations on Tuesday appealed to street vendors in all major areas across the city to participate in the protest. Organisations appealed to vendors in Banashankari and Sarakki not do business and not open shops. Organisation leaders distributed pamphlets and made the appeal. The shutdown tomorrow is likely to cause some problems for people who depend on street vendors.

Vinayak, of the street vendors joint action committee said, “People should also realise our problem and those who sell street food near Nimhans hospital will also not sell on July 8. Flower and fruit vendors from KR Market are also supporting the shutdown. We are also appealing to those who are not part of the associations to join the shutdown. We expect that about 5,000-6,000 will gather at Freedom Park”.

“If the drive does not stop, we will take the protest across the state. Even the poor have dignity and if Brand Bengaluru won’t accommodate us, we will snatch our place”, he added.