“If I don’t earn then my family will suffer since I am the bread earner of the family”, says a vendor in JP Nagar.
Several street vendors in the city lack identity proof. This comes in the backdrop of the Karnataka High Court order stating every vendor on the road should possess legal documents to carry out their business. The court had said vendors have the fundamental right to carry on any business or profession, but they are also equally subject to reasonable restrictions in the form of laws, regulations and bylaws. “I am aware of the fact that I have to produce a license and I have already applied for it but till now I
have not got one. Taking this as an advantage, the police comes for inspection and removes me. Every time, I have to find a new place to set up the business again.” says Mina Amma who has a small shop of stationery in JP Nagar.
Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014says that no person can be removed from a place unless the survey is completed and the vendors obtain vending certificates.
Small-business owners who sell a handful of fruits and vegetables will lose their daily income if they go through this costly legal procedure. “I have come from Bagalkot, to earn for my family. I am the only bread-earner for my family. If I have to go through this process of vendor license then it is very difficult. I lost my husband a few days back and no one is there to earn in my family.” says
Nagbani, who sells fruits in front of Majestic Bus Stand.
A Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), official said, said , “We are trying to remove the vendors and create a place for them to stay so that they do not face problem. But it is not guaranteed when this will be done.”
On the other hand, pedestrians have expressed their grievances.
Srikant, a pedestrian at Koramangla 6 th Block, said, “These vendors sit on the road and it becomes difficult to walk. Sometimes we have to walk on the road as there is no place on the pavement.”
