Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Shimla street vendors protest eviction drive, demand designated vending zones
In a city called Shimla, many people sell fruits, snacks, and other things on the streets to earn money for their families.
These sellers are called street vendors.
The city's local government, called the Municipal Corporation, is telling them to leave their usual selling spots.
The vendors think this is unfair because selling on the street is how they make a living.
A group called the Street Vendors' Union organized a protest to show how they feel.
Their leader, Darshan Lal, said the city is not following a special law called the Street Vendors Act.
That law was made to protect street vendors and give them safe places to sell.
The vendors want the city to stop pushing them out and give them official permission papers.
They also want special areas where they can sell without being bothered.
The union says it will keep protesting until the city listens, and plans a bigger protest on August 17.
Hundreds of Shimla street vendors protested against the Municipal Corporation's ongoing eviction drive.
The protest was staged outside the Deputy Commissioner's Office by the CITU-affiliated Street Vendors' Union.
Union president Darshan Lal accused the corporation of continuously harassing and evicting vendors instead of finding a permanent solution.
The union said the eviction drive violates the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and demanded vendor survey and registration, vending certificates, and designated vending zones.
The union plans to intensify its agitation with a massive protest outside the Shimla Municipal Corporation office on August 17.
- Who
- Hundreds of street vendors in Shimla, represented by the Street Vendors' Union (affiliated with CITU) under president Darshan Lal, protesting against the Shimla Municipal Corporation.
- What
- A protest against the Municipal Corporation's ongoing eviction drive, demanding an immediate halt, full implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, completion of vendor survey and registration, issuance of vending certificates, and establishment of designated vending zones.
- When
- Thursday, August 13; a larger protest is planned for August 17.
- Where
- Outside the Deputy Commissioner's Office in Shimla; the next protest will be outside the Shimla Municipal Corporation office.
- Why
- Vendors say the eviction drive violates the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and threatens their livelihoods, with the corporation harassing and evicting them instead of finding a permanent solution.
- Protest date
- Thursday, August 13
- Location
- Shimla
- Protest site
- Outside the Deputy Commissioner's Office
- Organizer
- Street Vendors' Union (CITU-affiliated)
- Union president
- Darshan Lal
- Target
- Shimla Municipal Corporation
- Main grievance
- Alleged violation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014
- Next planned protest
- August 17, outside the Shimla Municipal Corporation office