Udaipur, December 27, 2024 - Thela pavement vendors in the city are conducting their business in accordance with the Street Vendors Act of 2014. In this context, the action of removing them under the pretext of encroachment, seizing the merchandise from their handcarts and imposing fines ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 before returning their belongings are considered illegal and unlawful.

This perspective was shared by Rajesh Singhvi, a senior advocate and former Councillor, during a meeting of the Thela Vyapari Mazdoor Union held at Shirali Bhawan. He said that the Nagar Nigam, along with the administration and police, is fostering an atmosphere of fear and authoritarianism in the city by targeting only the thela pavement vendors and small business owners under the guise of encroachment. He pointed out that with the enforcement of the Street Vendors Act, the rights of the Nagar Nigam, administration and police to act against thela pavement vendors are forfeited. He emphasised that the authority to make decisions regarding these vendors rests solely with the Town Vending Committee, which has been ignored.

During the meeting, union president Mohammad Nizam said that the Nagar Nigam is also cracking down on street vendors who have been granted licenses. He added that street vendors contribute to the local community yet are treated as criminals. Thus, he stressed, the Union will persist in defending the rights and dignity of street vendors.

State convenor of the National Hawkers Federation, Yakub Mohammad, said that the city’s lack of parking facilities has led to traffic issues caused by vehicles parked on the road. However, the administration was not addressing the issue appropriately.

Union secretary Ranu Salvi said that the officials had been informed about the law multiple times and was urged not to undertake any illegal actions, but there was no change in its conduct. She noted that the Nigam has announced No Vending Zones, yet not a single Vending Zone has been established in the city, which raises the question of where evicted street vendors can continue their business.

Union vice-president Mohini Mali criticised the Nigam officials and police officers for their ill treatment of women as well. She said today, due to the oppressive actions of the administration, every street vendor faces distress, regardless of their political affiliations.

Dharmendra Kumawat, a member of the Town Vending Committee and Union Secretary, insisted that the BJP-supported members within the Town Vending Committee must advocate for the common street vendor today, as these vendors have supported them to promote and uphold their rights, and not for the BJP. He asserted that he strongly voiced concerns about handcart vendors obstructed on sidewalks during the Town Vending Committee meeting and demanded an end to the eviction actions based on encroachment, a halt to the confiscation of handcart goods and the elimination of heavy fines.

Kumawat also called for a plan to protect the businesses of 10,000 vendors instead of just 2,500 in the proposal sent to the State Government for approval, as well as the removal of the requirement that vendors must be deprived of the right to operate on roads narrower than 11 feet.

During the meeting, Union secretary Mohammad Shahid pointed out that the identity cards issued to street vendors by the Nigam display incorrect locations for their business activities. He mentioned that a vendor operating at Chetak Circle is recorded as being in Hiran Magri Sector 4, while another vendor at Delhi Gate is listed as being in Fatehpura.

A resolution was taken in the meeting to stage a protest in front of the Nagar Nigam on January 7, 2025, followed by a rally from there to the District Collectorate Udaipur.

Also present at the meeting were Mahendra Khatik, Rani Mali, Devi Singh, Ramesh Nath, Vinod Sahu, Rajesh Soni, Lokesh Gurjar, Ramlal Bairwa, Suresh Choubis and others.