1 week ago
Visakhapatnam Vendors Protest GVMC Action Under Operation Lungs
Fruit sellers in Visakhapatnam protested against the city municipal corporation.
They said officials were removing their carts and taking their goods.
The vendors said they have sold fruit near Venkoji Palem hill for years.
They also said many sellers moved to the city because they could not find other jobs.
The association argued that small traders were being treated unfairly while some mall cellars were used for businesses instead of parking.
The protesters want to return to the same selling area.
They also want identification cards, drinking water and toilets.
They gave petitions to local officials and an elected representative.
The Visakhapatnam Footpath Fruits Welfare Association accused the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation of targeting street vendors.
Association members protested at Gandhi Park and marched outside the GVMC gate, demanding an end to action against small traders.
The association alleged that officials removed stalls, damaged goods and seized supplies near Venkoji Palem hill.
Vendors said businesses operate in shopping-mall cellars intended for parking while small traders face eviction and police action.
The association cited 2014 Supreme Court hawker guidelines and demanded identity cards, water, toilets and permission to resume selling.
- Who
- The Visakhapatnam Footpath Fruits Welfare Association and other worker and traders’ groups protested against the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.
- What
- They accused GVMC of removing stalls, damaging goods and seizing supplies under Operation Lungs, and demanded that vendors be allowed to resume business.
- Where
- The protest began at Gandhi Park and continued in front of the GVMC gate; the vendors operate near Venkoji Palem hill.
- When
- The protest took place on Monday; the association also alleged police action was being threatened from August 17.
- Why
- The association said street vendors were being unfairly targeted and demanded compliance with Supreme Court guidelines for hawkers.
Key facts
- Protesting group
- Visakhapatnam Footpath Fruits Welfare Association
- Municipal body named
- Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC)
- Operation cited
- Operation Lungs
- Protest locations
- Gandhi Park and the GVMC gate
- Vendor area
- The foot of Venkoji Palem hill
- Main demands
- Return of removed carts, identity cards, drinking water and toilets
- Petitions submitted to
- MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, the Police Commissioner and GVMC Additional Commissioner Ramanamurthy
Quotes
Sheikh Rahiman
President of the Visakhapatnam Footpath Fruits Welfare Association
“Regrettably, such large-scale attacks are being carried out on small traders who do business in the same cellar despite having basement parking in big shopping malls.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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