Hundreds of street vendors marched on the streets Monday to protest an ongoing eviction campaign, saying the drive has put their livelihoods at risk.
Holding banners and slogans, the protesters asked for the Mayor and Council to stop removing vendors until proper rehabilitation measures are put in place.
The clearance is part of the administration’s plan to free roads and footpaths from encroachments and improve traffic flow and make public spaces more accessible.
Unlawful stalls drive traffic and cause inconvenience to pedestrians, officials say. But the vendors feel the action has been carried out without consultation or alternative arrangements.
Vendor associations said a lot of the affected people make a living by street vending for years.
They say the sudden removal of stalls has left families struggling to pay for their daily expenses in the marketplace, and some of them are struggling to pay for daily living on handouts and lose both their goods and income.
Vendors at the protest called on the government to implement the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
They called for designated vending zones, transparent licensing processes, and rehabilitation for those displaced by clearance drive-related activities.
But the protesters said they did not want to oppose better city planning but wanted authorities to play a more equal role in the planning process.
Development projects should not come at the expense of people who depend on small roadside businesses to survive, they said.
On the other hand, officials said the campaign is meant to remove illegal encroachments and not to target vendors who are legally allowed to work.
They said the campaign is needed for public safety, to reduce traffic bottlenecks, and to restore pedestrian footpaths. Vendor representatives can also meet with officials, they said.
Urban experts say that the problem is one of the longstanding challenges for growing urban cities.
But although infrastructure should be built up and public spaces improved, informal workers also need protection, as they are essential to the local economy by bringing cheap goods and services.
They believe that long-term solutions are better plans, not another eviction drive.
The establishment of clear vending areas, regular surveys, and involvement of vendors in decision-making could help solve conflicts and ensure orderly use of public spaces while protecting public spaces from human intrusion.
Vendor representatives said they would keep pressing for a dialogue with the authorities as they continued to express that they would not accept such a product as it would not only break the city development goals but also the livelihood of thousands of families who depend on street vending.
The protest is only one example of the much bigger issue of reconciling urban development with social welfare.
With cities becoming more and more modern and inclusive, ensuring that economic progress includes opportunities for vulnerable workers will be a priority for policymakers.
