Bhubaneswar: Street vendors and roadside shop owners from across Odisha staged a rally at Lower PMG on Thursday, demanding an end to evictions and the establishment of designated vending zones. Organised by the Roadside Shops-Street Vendors Mahasangha, Odisha, the demonstration saw participants from various districts raising concerns over their recent displacement from city streets.
Led by Mahasangha president Shaikh Abdulla, the protesters submitted a memorandum to housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, urging the govt to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, in Cuttack. The act aims to protect the rights of the street vendors while regulating their activities
Hemendra Samal, secretary of the Mahasangha, highlighted the ongoing eviction drive in the Old Station Bazaar area, stressing the need for proper rehabilitation measures. “The govt must establish proper vending zones before initiating any eviction drive for urban development projects,” he said.
The vendors expressed concern over their economic stability, noting that street vending is their primary source of income. “We rely on these small businesses to feed our families. The govt must consider our plight before enforcing such measures,” a protester said.