Mixed response to shutdown call by street vendors across Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Street vendors have erupted in protest against the government and had called for a shutdown on Wednesday, demanding that eviction work be stopped. They halted business activities in some places and are moving forward with their agitation. In some other places, vendors carried on with their business as usual.

Angered by the footpath encroachment clearance drive, street vendors had called for a massive protest on Wednesday, demanding that the government immediately withdraw its order and stop the eviction work. They had called for a shutdown of businesses to join the protest.

For the past week, the GBA’s ‘Clean Footpath’ operation in Bengaluru has disrupted the livelihoods of street vendors. Citing that the drive is affecting their means of earning a living, the vendors have risen against GBA and are preparing to put pressure on the government through today’s protest. They had decided to shut down their businesses from 6 am and have called for a protest at Freedom Park.

Vendors in major markets across the city including KR Market, Saraki Market, Jayanagar Market, Gandhibazaar, Banashankari, Malleswaram, Mahadevapura, and RR Nagar had decided to stop trading from early morning. Six of the 12 organisations had jointly called for today’s protest. Organisers had been meeting street vendors across the city since Tuesday and urging them to participate.

On Wednesday, flower, fruit and vegetable vendors carried out business as usual at KR Market with street vendors continuing to sell on roadside. Business was suspended near Vijayanagar Palike Bazaar with most vendors observing the bandh. Vendors shut shops from early morning and more than 150 street-side shops closed. Vendors said they didn’t even purchase stock because of the bandh decision.

There was mixed response in Yeshwantpur, Mattikere, Chowdeshwari Bus Stand areas as some vendors had no information about the protest. About half the shops closed in Chowdeshwari Market. Vegetable and fruit trade shut. Most vegetable shops were closed with vendors covering their shops with tarpaulins.

In Jayanagar, vendors shut shops early in the morning and collectively stopped business. About 60 per cent of business suspended in Gandhi Bazaar. Meanwhile, some vendors opened shops and carried on business as usual.

Street vendors demands

Allow evicted street vendors to resume business at the same locations.

Permit temporary vending on roadside.

Final decision should be taken by the Town Vending Committee.

Return all seized goods.

Implement the Street Vendors Act in full.

Conduct a comprehensive survey and issue ID cards to all vendors.

Form Town Vending Committees in newly formed city corporations.

Ensure genuine representation of vendors.

Widen footpaths across the city and provide space for pedestrians and also allocate space for vendors.

Take action against genuine encroachers.

Stop illegal vehicle parking, private gardens, transformers, and shop owners’ illegal use of footpaths.

Meet representatives of street vendor associations immediately.

Meanwhile, while six organisations have jointly declared war against GBA, some associations have not extended support to this protest. Organisers who have publicly announced “we do not support today’s protest” said they will continue their business as usual. Overall, since there is no unanimity among the organisations that were supposed to fight together for the welfare of street vendors against BBMP, it remains to be seen how successful the protest will be.