Street vendors allege BBMP, police officials hampering their business

BENGALURU: The Street Vendors Association has written a letter to the government alleging harassment by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials of vendors in the city.

The BBMP officials and policemen are disrupting the business of street vendors in violation of rules, the association president said in the letter to the government. Under BBMP jurisdiction, there are more than one-and-a-half lakh street vendors and they claimed that it was the duty of BBMP officials to protect their interests.

BBMP officials and policemen evacuating the street vendors in the city

The BBMP officials send policemen and harass street vendors in different places like Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and the South and East zones. The policemen collect money from the street vendors on the pretext of traffic issues. If they do not pay, then the policemen will disrupt the street vendor’s business, the association has alleged in the letter.

Rangaswamy, state president of the Street Vendors Association

“Many street vendors started their businesses after availing the benefits of the PM Svanidhi scheme. The police and BBMP have vacated many street vendors in Whitefield and Banashanakri. Under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, the BBMP has to provide protection to the vendors and also issue ID cards, but they are violating laws. These corrupt officials ask for money. I request the BBMP chief commissioner to look into this issue”, said Rangaswamy, state president of the Street Vendors Association.