3 weeks ago
Shimla vendors protest eviction drive, demand Street Vendors Act implementation
In a city called Shimla, many people sell items on the streets to earn money for their families.
City officials, called the Municipal Corporation, have been asking these street vendors to leave their spots.
The vendors think this is unfair, so they came together to protest.
Hundreds of them stood outside the Deputy Commissioner's office for about two hours, even though it was raining heavily.
Their leader, Darshan Lal, explained that thousands of families depend on street vending to survive.
The vendors say officials are taking away their goods and charging unfair fines, which they call harassment.
There is an Indian law called the Street Vendors Act, from 2014, that is supposed to protect street vendors.
The vendors want that law to be followed before anyone is forced to move.
They also want official certificates and special zones where they can legally sell their goods.
If things do not change, they plan to hold a bigger demonstration on August 13.
Hundreds of Shimla street vendors protested outside the Deputy Commissioner's office against the Municipal Corporation's eviction drive.
The protest, staged by the Shimla Street Vendors' Union (affiliated with CITU), lasted around two hours despite heavy rain.
Union president Darshan Lal said thousands of families earn their livelihood through street vending and tehbazari in Shimla.
Vendors allege arbitrary fees and fines, seizure of goods, and harassment by civic officials, calling the evictions a violation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and Supreme Court directions.
The union announced a mass demonstration outside the Corporation's office on August 13 as the next phase of its agitation.
- Who
- The Shimla Street Vendors' Union (affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions), led by president Darshan Lal, protesting against the Municipal Corporation.
- What
- A protest demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Municipal Corporation's eviction drive and full implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014.
- Where
- Outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Shimla.
- When
- Tuesday, August 11, per the article's dateline.
- Why
- Vendors allege the Municipal Corporation is harassing and evicting them in violation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and Supreme Court directions, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families.
Street Vendors' Union
Shimla Municipal Corporation
Eviction drive
Street Vendors' Union
Vendors demand its immediate withdrawal, saying evictions disregard the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and Supreme Court directions.
Shimla Municipal Corporation
The Municipal Corporation continues carrying out the eviction drive, which the union says harms the livelihoods of thousands of families.
Vendor regulation and fees
Street Vendors' Union
Vendors want completion of the survey, registration of all eligible vendors, vending certificates, and designated vending zones before any eviction, and call current fees and fines arbitrary.
Shimla Municipal Corporation
The Corporation is enforcing fees, fines, and seizures of goods, which vendors describe as harassment by civic officials.
Key facts
- Protest organizer
- Shimla Street Vendors' Union (affiliated with CITU)
- Protest location
- Outside the Deputy Commissioner's office, Shimla
- Protester turnout
- Hundreds of street vendors
- Protest duration
- Around two hours in heavy rain
- Union president
- Darshan Lal
- Key law cited
- Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014
- Key demands
- Withdrawal of eviction drive; vendor survey and registration; vending certificates; designated vending zones
- Next action
- Mass demonstration outside the Corporation's office on August 13
Quotes
Darshan Lal
Union president of the Shimla Street Vendors’ Union affiliated to CITU
“As part of the next phase of the agitation, the union will hold a mass demonstration outside the Corporation’s office on August 13,”
theprint.in
“thousands of families had been earning their livelihood through street vending and tehbazari in Shimla for years.”
theprint.in
Sources
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