Vendors’ bodies demand halt to eviction, call for bandh tomorrow

Bengaluru

Representatives of several street vendors’ associations in the city spoke out against the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Safe Footpath Campaign and stated they will observe a city-wide trading bandh on Wednesday along with a large protest. In a joint press conference, multiple associations including Karnataka Progressive Street Traders Union (AICCTU), Karunadu Street Traders' Association, New Karnataka State Street Traders' Association and Street Traders' Association called the drive a violation of their rights and questioned the GBA's methods.

“An unlawful drive is going on so we, the street vendors associations of Bengaluru have called for a peaceful protest and are calling all street vendors to raise their voice in the protest,” said S. Babu of the street vendors’ coalition named Bengaluru District Street Vendors’ Association. A statement from the association stated that the authorities are being heavy-handed in their approach and taking away the livelihood of the vendors. “There are about 1.5 lakh street vendors in Bengaluru.

Of these, 80,000 were given loans by the authorities under the PM SVANIDHI scheme. But in the survey conducted by the authorities from October 2024 to February 2025, only 34,000 traders were identified, and people were excluded from the survey. Moreover, not everyone was given identity cards! They are not doing their job properly and are now making us cry!” the statement said. While the drive has been ongoing throughout the city, street vendors in KR Market have faced a crackdown unlike others, members of the KR Market Vendors demanded that they be allowed to do business again at the same place, and goods be returned.

Street Vendors Association said. “The traders of the market come around 5 AM in the morning but they have cleared everything within the market. 34,000 traders were identified, and people were excluded from the survey. Moreover, not everyone was given identity cards! They are not doing their job properly and are now making us cry!” the statement said. The main gate has been blocked, causing trouble to the traders and the public. First they should remove that. They’re evicting street vendors from everywhere in the city.

First they should be allowed to come back to their spots, if not, we will stage a big protest. Give footpaths to the public, give space to the vendors, the government should understand and take action. They have made a mistake and they should correct it,” said Suresh from the Karnataka Street Vendors Association. The coalition questioned the government on why the street vendor survey was not completed and why no notice was given 30-days prior to evictions in places like Jayanagar, Vijayanagar, Marathahalli and Malleshwaram.

The street vendors demanded that evicted vendors should be allowed to do business again at the same place, all confiscated goods should be returned, the street vendors act should be fully implemented, footpaths across the city should be widened and action should be taken against illegal parking, private gardens, transformers and illegal use of footpaths by shop owners. They also demanded that authorities meet with representatives of street vendors' associations and ensure the process is legal, humane and fair.