Speakers at the district conference of Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors Association on Tuesday said the rights of the street-vendors have been denied to them. A large number of street-vendors attended the event.
Pointing out that their rights are recognised by law, the Association members said that street vendors were forcibly sent away from the area where they sell their goods and their petty shops and push-carts were seized by authorities. This denied them their right to livelihood.
President of State Street Vendors Association K.N. Umesh said street vendors were unable to enjoy the benefits of Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojana (a health insurance scheme) and Aam Admi Bima Yojana (a scheme meant to help children of the poor to study) because they were unable to get identity cards or licences.
District Association's Honourary President Sunil Kumar Bajal said even after four meetings with the Mangaluru City Corporation, the vendors are not provided with separate places to carry out their trade. The six month old promise by the Urban Development Minister to provide identity cards for street vendors too was not kept.
The leaders threatened to launch an agitation if their demands were not met.
