Congress leader objects to eviction of street vendors without alternative arrangements

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Congress leader M. Lakshmana submitting a memorandum against eviction of street vendors to Regional Commissioner Nitesh Patil, in Mysuru on Friday. | Photo Credit: M. A. Sriram

Congress leader M. Lakshmana on Friday led a delegation of street vendors to Regional Commissioner Nitesh Patil in Mysuru and submitted a representation opposing the ongoing eviction drive against street vendors in the city without providing them alternative spaces to carry on their livelihood.

In the memorandum submitted to Mr. Patil, who is also the Administrator of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Mr. Lakshmana took serious exception to the civic body’s eviction drives against “poor street vendors who have been earning their livelihood for several years by selling fruits, vegetables and clothes” on footpaths along major roads, including Sayyaji Rao Road, near Dufferin Clock Tower, Old Olympia Talkies Road and other parts of the city.

The vendors had been conducting their business in a manner that did not cause inconvenience to the general public, he said.

Strongly opposing what he termed the “high-handed” action by the MCC, Mr. Lakshmana said the Congress-led State government was a “government of the poor” and was committed to ensuring that everyone, irrespective of their community, had an opportunity to earn a livelihood through honest work.

Referring to media reports that the eviction drive was being undertaken pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court, Mr. Lakshmana said there should be no objection to removing buildings or other permanent structures that had completely encroached upon footpaths.

However, the MCC was taking disproportionate action against poor vendors who sold fruits and vegetables from baskets at a particular spot for only two or three hours a day, even when their activities did not obstruct pedestrians, he alleged.

“At the same time, in several parts of Mysuru, buildings and other structures that have completely encroached upon footpaths have not been removed. We oppose this selective approach, in which one rule appears to be applied to the powerful and another to the poor,” he said.

“We have no objection to ensuring that pedestrians have adequate space to walk on footpaths. However, where a footpath is 10 feet wide, vendors may be permitted to use about four feet for their business while leaving sufficient space for pedestrians. Similar arrangements have been made for street vendors in other cities,” Mr. Lakshmana said.

He also pointed out that several footpaths across the city had been occupied by transformers, milk booths and other structures, forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.

“Therefore, through this representation, we request that the eviction drive against street vendors be taken up only after providing them with suitable alternative spaces and arrangements to carry on their livelihood,” said Mr. Lakshmana, who unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Mysuru.

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