Hawkers to protest against attacks soon

Mumbai: Reacting to the evictions of hawkers from outside railway stations and other streets in Mumbai, the hawkers’ union of the city have decided to protest against the attacks, on November 29 at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. The protest is organized by “Pheriwala Aekjut Sangharsh Samiti”, an umbrella body for all hawkers union of the city.

According to the unions, “The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood And Regulation of Street Vending)” Act 2014, to protect the rights of the urban street vendors and to regulate street vending activities.

 This Act has not been implemented uptill now in Maharashtra.  Earlier in this month, the High Court laid down laws for hawkers and permitted around 221 hawking locations in the city. As per the new law, hawking will not be allowed near schools, railway stations, hospitals  and on Foot Over Bridges (FOBs).  

Through the protest, the hawkers demand that the state government should adopt the act of 2014 on ‘National Hawkers Day’ without any delay. Further, they demand that the streets and footpaths on which hawkers are conducting their activities since many years, be declared “Hawking Zone”.