Street vendors’ union alleges continued harassment, seeks implementation of Street Vendors Act in Karnataka

The Karnataka Pragathipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha, a labour union of street vendors, on Wednesday alleged that harassment of vendors has continued across Bengaluru despite the reorganisation of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into five municipal corporations.

The union said provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, have not been implemented by any of the newly formed civic bodies.

Addressing a press conference, representatives of the sangha said that although a comprehensive survey of street vendors was conducted last year under the Act, identity cards and vending certificates are yet to be distributed. As per the scheme framed under the Act, these documents should have been issued within three months of the completion of the survey. While the cards have reportedly been printed, no steps have been taken to distribute them, forcing vendors to face continued harassment by police and municipal officials, the union claimed.

The union also alleged repeated eviction attempts in areas such as Vijayanagar, Jayanagar, Church Street, and Munireddypalya.

Another major concern raised was the absence of Town Vending Committees. The term of the committees constituted in 2020 has ended, but new panels are yet to be formed, leaving vendors without any grievance redressal mechanism, a release stated.

The sangha in its release demanded immediate distribution of identity cards through municipal offices, reconstitution of Town Vending Committees, training for officials on the Act, budgetary support for vendor shelters, free access to public toilets for women vendors, and an end to harassment. It warned of protests if the demands are not met in the coming days.