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Bengaluru's street vendors protest their eviction, demand dignity and rights
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Bengaluru: More than 500 street vendors gathered at Freedom Park Tuesday, staging a protest against what they called indiscriminate evictions by BBMP.
Triggered by a recent statement from deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, the protest was organised by Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha, affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICTU), and drew political leaders and civil society groups.
Chanting slogans and raising placards with messages such as "Street vendors demand a zero eviction policy" and "Footpath is meant for pedestrians and street vendors," the demonstrators accused BBMP of flouting procedures and ignoring their rights under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
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"We also have the right to live. Don't we vote? Don't we pay taxes? Aren't we citizens? My shop is also on the list for removal," said G Nagaraj, 41, a clothing vendor from Jayanagar.
The protest was also marked by emotionally charged testimonies from long-time vendors. "I've been with my pushcart in the streets for 30 years; they can't suddenly come and tell me to go away," said Aarai Krishnamoorthy, a vegetable seller from Vijayanagar.
While BBMP maintains that it is only acting within the purview of the 2014 Act — which mandates vending only in designated zones — vendors allege the implementation is flawed and unjust.
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"Those identified in the BBMP survey must be given identity cards, and those left out must also be included," said S Babu, president of the union. According to the civic body, a citywide survey in 2025 identified 27,000 vendors, but unions claim the actual number exceeds 70,000.
BBMP officials insist the current evictions are confined to the no- vending zones, particularly areas where footpaths are less than 12ft wide.
"Though we've identified vending zones and spots, right after the ID cards are ready, we will have Town Vending Committee elections to finalise them. Even with ID cards, vending is not permitted in no-vending zones," BBMP special commissioner (welfare) Suralkar Vikas Kishor said.
Vendor unions remain unconvinced, pointing out that ID card distribution is yet to begin and no alternative vending zones have been declared operational.
"If you're removing them, what are the alternatives? Because these are very poor people, 90% come from depressed, suppressed, and oppressed classes," said Mavalli Shankar of Dalit Sangarsha Samiti.
Some vendors were allegedly excluded from the survey for having multiple carts in the same family — a violation of BBMP's one-vendor-one-licence policy. "Though there's no such clause in the Act about local identity, we used Karnataka ration cards to verify families," said Kishor.
Amid mounting tensions, BBMP has promised subsidised vending carts, including electric and manual options, to promote mobile vending. However, only one cart type — for ice cream vending — has passed technical checks so far.
During Tuesday's protest, BBMP officials visited the site and invited leaders to meet with the special commissioner in the evening. Following the meeting, protesters said many of their demands were not addressed, and they were merely told that a meeting with the chief commissioner would be scheduled.
Protesters have warned they will escalate their agitation if the authorities fail to respond meaningfully in the coming days. "We aren't against development — we want to be part of it," said Sasikala Nagaraj, 51, who has been selling clothes for over three decades. "But for that, we need basic infrastructure: Toilets, clean water, shelter, and dignity. Include us in the city's progress."
