The protesters, led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Rehri-Patri Mazdoor Union, took out a procession through the city before reaching the Municipal Commissioner’s office, where they submitted a memorandum of demands to the Joint Commissioner.
Addressing the protesters, CITU State general secretary Jai Bhagwan and Rehri-Patri Mazdoor Union Gurugram president Ashok Singh, among others, said the government had no right to destroy the livelihoods of people engaged in self-employment when it had failed to provide adequate employment opportunities.
The union leaders cited the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, under which street vendors can constitute up to 2.5% of a city’s population. They said an administrative survey had identified around 40,000 street vendors in Gurugram and vending zones had been designated for them.
They alleged that although many vendors had registered themselves, thousands of families continued to face eviction. Bulldozers were being used to remove carts and goods worth lakhs of rupees, while existing vending zones were also allegedly being dismantled.
The leaders also alleged that the Town Vending Committee (TVC), constituted under the 2014 Act, had not met for nearly three years despite the law requiring it to meet at least once every three months. They said the Municipal Commissioner, who is the chairman of the TVC, should convene the committee immediately to address the vendors’ grievances.
The protesters demanded that arbitrary action against vendors be stopped, existing vending zones be protected until alternative arrangements were made, and new vending zones be developed. They also sought time-bound disposal of pending Certificates of Vending and renewals, an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the certification process, and protection of eligible vendors, including PM-SVANidhi beneficiaries.
The union further demanded that the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, Haryana Sehri Vikas Pradhikaran and other departments comply with the Street Vendors Act and decisions of the TVC.
A meeting between the union representatives and the Municipal Commissioner has been scheduled for September 16 to discuss the demands raised in the memorandum.
