Vegetable vendors call off strike

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 19

Residents heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday after the main vegetable and fruit market reopened in the city after three days.

Vegetable and fruit vendors ended their strike following the intervention of the district administration and Congress leaders.

On Thursday, they met SDM Balwinder Singh and Tehsildar Sukhbir Singh Brar. Congress leaders Ashok Pradhan, KK Aggarwal, Arun Wadhawan, Mohan Lal Jhumba and Rajan Garg were also present on the occasion.

Talking to The Tribune, the SDM said they had listened to the grievances of vegetable vendors and had assured them that the new tendering system would not affect their work in any manner.

On the other hand, vendors’ association president Sanju Kumar said the administration had conceded to their demands.

He said they would not pay any fee till July 31, while they would deposit it to the market committee from August 1 onwards.

The vendors were irked over the Punjab Mandi Board’s decision to give the city’s main vegetable market on contract. Vegetable vendors of the Amrik Singh road market, Rose Garden market, Sirki Bazaar and bus stand had also come out in support of vendors of the main vegetable market and joined their protest.

The vendors were apprehensive that they would face losses as the Mandi Board had given the contract for collecting user charges to a private contractor, who would now increase the charges.

There are around 350 vends of retail vendors at the main vegetable market in the city. The Punjab Mandi Board has given this land on contract to a private party at Rs 40 lakh. As of now, vendors were giving Rs 14 lakh per month to the market committee.