Dakshina Kannada vendors stage protest, seek new vending zones

MANGALURU: The Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors Association, affiliated with the CITU, staged a demonstration in Mangaluru on Tuesday.
The protesters demanded that the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) carry out a comprehensive survey to identify all street vendors operating within the city limits. Additionally, they called for the formation of a new Town Vending Committee for the urban local body.
During the protest, BK Imthiyaz, the honorary president of the association, emphasised the need for the city corporation to designate vending zones based on scientific principles, ensuring that the locations are easily accessible and convenient for customers.
"All street vendors identified till July 2023 should be issued identity cards. The city corporation should stop harassing street vendors through raids and thereby protect their rights," he said.
Street vendors should be allowed to continue operations in their original spots on Maidan Road, Lady Goschen Road, Central Market, and Hampankatta, he said.
“The city corporation should return the goods seized from street vendors during the operation tiger conducted recently. Further, those street vendors should also be given compensation for the loss,” Imthiyaz said.
Association president Muzafar Ahmed said that identity cards should be distributed to vendors who carry out business in weekly markets, near highways, and during annual festivals in religious shrines.
“Legal action should be taken against those who deny stalls to vendors citing religious reasons during festivals. All poor vendors should be given the opportunity to carry out business in festival grounds,” he added.
Association working president Sunil Kumar Bajal and others were present.