Mobile eateries are back across Mysuru. Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake has given directions to Commissioner of Mysuru City Corporation C.G. Betsurmath that mobile eateries should be allowed to function after evicted vendors met the Minister and apprised him of their plight.
The Minister, who reportedly raised serious objection to evicting poor people, told the Commissioner of MCC over telephone that eviction of street vendors would give rise to many social problems and that they should be allowed to continue with their businesses.
It may be recalled here that the MCC on May 13 had cracked down on fast food vendors at many places in the city, evicting them from the streets saying food sold on streets was a health hazard. Defending its swift action on street food vendors, the MCC said that it had launched the eviction drive as street food vendors were creating problems for smooth pedestrian movement and polluting the environment. However, the drive had evoked condemnation from the hawkers’ union and the vendors themselves.
Street food vendors, led by Bhaskar Srinivas Raje Urs, secretary of the Mysuru district street vendors association, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when he was here a couple of days ago and appealed to him to intervene in the matter and direct the Commissioner not to evict them. Mr. Siddaramaiah assured the delegation that he would give the necessary instructions to the Commissioner, and he added that they should keep their surroundings clean and ensure that while they are engaged in their business it in no way affects the beauty of the city.
Later, the street vendors went to Bengaluru and met the Urban Development Minister. They told the Minister that over 5,000 poor families were dependent on hawking for sustenance. The Minister immediately directed the Commissioner not to evict street vendors. He also directed the delegation to continue its business maintaining cleanliness and providing hygienic food to people.
Mr. Bhaskar said that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation under the National Urban Livelihood Mission had instructed all the civic bodies, including municipalities and corporations, to provide basic amenities to street vendors to carry out their businesses. Besides that the Ministry also said that street vendors should be imparted training on maintaining cleanliness and supplying hygienic food to customers. He added that the corporation had kept aside Rs. 2 crore in 2013 to provide basic amenities to street food vendors and to give them training on various aspects. Instead of providing facilities to the vendors, the MCC had resorted to eviction all of a sudden without giving them notice, he said and termed the action of the MCC as “arbitrary”.
There are over 6,000 registered vendors in Mysore city and the MCC had listed the number of street food vendors’ area wise some time ago. Street food vendors sell food that is cheaper than that in hotels. They also give hygienic food on banana leaf and provide packaged drinking water besides ensuring that their surroundings are clean and tidy, he said, adding that the MCC should not to target poor families whose sole source of livelihood is selling food on streets. The street vendors also threatened to stage a demonstration in front of the CM’s residence if the MCC resorts to such an action in future.
