Mumbai Hawkers Protest Against BMC’s Eviction Drive

HAWKERS PROTEST

As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) intensifies its crackdown on unauthorised hawkers, a large number of aggrieved vendors gathered at Azad Maidan on Thursday to protest against the civic eviction drive. With their livelihoods severely impacted, the hawkers demanded the immediate implementation of the Street Vendors Act of 2014 and the establishment of a town vending committee.

Following a High Court reprimand in June, which criticised the BMC and police for only clearing roads during visits by the Prime Minister and other VVIPs, BMC Municipal Commissioner and state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani directed ward officials to take stringent action against unauthorised hawkers, encroachments, and abandoned vehicles from city footpaths. The drive includes video recording and the removal of encroachments in the presence of police officials.

Since then, the civic body has escalated its anti-encroachment efforts, which are now carried out with police oversight. Officials report that the BMC has taken action against 5,000 hawkers to improve air quality and traffic flow.

However, the drive has drawn criticism from hawkers, who allege that their livelihoods have been significantly affected and that they have faced harassment from police. Hundreds of hawkers from across the city, as well as from nearby areas like Mira-Bhayandar and Nashik, participated in the protest.

During the demonstration, the hawkers called for the effective implementation of the Street Vendors Act of 2014, which was introduced to protect the rights of urban street vendors and regulate street vending activities. They also demanded the establishment of a Town Vending Committee in all municipal divisions of the state.

Rajesh Gupta, a street vendor since 1992 who runs a pani-puri stall in Mulund, said that he has been unable to set up his stall since the drive began, fearing that police officers will seize his belongings during evictions.

“On one hand, they consider us illegal, yet we receive loans under the Prime Minister’s scheme for street vendors. I took a loan of Rs. 10,000 under the scheme and have repaid almost all of it. If the central government is providing us loans, why does the state government treat us as illegal?” he lamented.

Suresh Yadav, a Malad-based hawker who runs an idli stall, said, “Even though I have obtained documents under the Street Vendors Act of 2014, the act is not being implemented. We are left to deal with police actions, who confiscate our carts and goods. I used to run my stall from morning until 1 pm, but now, due to police actions, I only manage to operate for two hours in the morning. This not only affects my business but also leads to significant losses, as idlis are perishable and spoil if not sold.”