Street vendors protest at Mayor’s office, want eviction drive halted

The Street Vendors and Hawkers Union associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) on Friday staged a protest at the office of the Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC), against the ongoing eviction of street vendors and demanded that the corporation halt the drive.

The protesters also called for the formation of city vending committees in all municipal bodies to address vendors’ problems and for their meetings to be held regularly. They urged the government and the district administration to issue certificates to unregistered vendors as mandated under the Street Vendors Act.

The state president of CITU, Vijender Mehra, said that the vendors holding valid certificates were being evicted from several areas of the city and were not being allowed to operate at even alternative locations. “This is a clear violation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014. We demand strict enforcement of the Act and immediate cessation of the ongoing unlawful eviction drive. The repeated survey of old vendors should be stopped and a survey of new vendors along with their registration should be conducted immediately,” he added.

The protest ended after demonstrators were assured that their demands would be considered and their issues resolved. However, the vendors warned they would intensify their agitation if the eviction drive was not stopped.