Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Aug 2: Roadside vendors held protests in front of Mangaluru Corporation office on Tuesday August 1 against attacks on them.

Speaking to the gathering, Sunil Kumar Bajal honorary president of Dakshina Kannada roadside vendor's association said that roadside trade is an indivisible part of society.

“It is the responsibility of local administration to provide basic necessities to them. The roadside business was accepted by the government as a legal means of livelihood in parliament four years ago. The state government has failed to form suitable rules conducive to it and is trying to shift them. The Mangaluru City Corporation is all out to destroy the traders by repeated raids on them. This systematic conspiracy is illegal,” he said expressing anguish.

“It was decided in the TVC meeting on January 16 to issue second stage of identity cards. A core committee was formed to complete the process before January 31. The corporation which ignored it, called a second TVC meeting on July 10 and without mentioning about the earlier meeting conducted discussions. The raids on the roadside vendors subsequent to it on July 26 are condemnable.”

“The corporation office alleges as if the street side vendors are responsible for all the problems in the city. Why is the corporation not taking action against illegal buildings which have illegally occupied government land and provided parking on the road?” he questioned.

Delivering a keynote address, Mohammed Mustafa said that the vendors in the heart of the city should be provided space in the vending zone conducive to them. “Separate food zones should be made for them. The identity cards issued in the first instance should be renewed,” he said.

Santhosh R S, Harish Poojary, Asif, Muzafar, Naushad, Annayya Kulal, Mary D'Souza, Adam Bajal, Hassan, Shahabuddin, Mable D' Souza, Helen, Gajanana, Anil, Ravi Poojary and others led the protests.