Subramani S., a vegetable vendor, is a worried man these days. With the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposing to construct a shopping complex at the traditional market ( santhe ) area in K.R. Puram, the 30-year-old may lose his trade.
He is not the only one; there are over 200 vendors operating from this eight-acre sprawl of what is now prime and well-connected property, whose livelihoods are at stake.
It is not just the vendors; the civic body's proposal will affect over 2,500 people directly and indirectly dependent on the santhe , which comes alive every Tuesday.
Detrimental
“The BBMP's move is detrimental to a large section of the lower middle class citizens here. These people, most of who depend on the santhe , cannot afford to go to shopping complexes,” said Mr. Subramani, who supports his 16-member family. The santhe is a beehive of economic activity, drawing marginal and small farmers from near and far, including places such as Hoskote, Kolar, Kadugodi and Malleswaram. They trade their produce for what is a decent sum for them, eliminating middlemen.
Fresh produce
Rita Mani (62) has been a regular customer for the past 30 years.
“I have been coming here mainly because of the availability of fresh produce at affordable prices. The market attracts several residents from nearby areas. Those who have been shopping at this market will be greatly inconvenienced if it has to make way for a shopping complex,” she said.
Sharada C., a domestic help who lives in Nagavarapalya, takes time off to shop for red chillies, tamarind, garlic, limes and even slippers and bangles at the santhe . “Where else can a poor person like me get things like these at a reasonable price?” she asked.
Protests
According to the vendors, the BBMP has dismissed their claims for a rehabilitation package. Now with intensified protests from the vendors and on a damage-control mode, the civic authority has promised to allot them space in the ground floor of the proposed complex.
Roopa Ramesh, chairperson of the BBMP Standing Committee for Markets, said that the work on the proposed complex would be taken up only after the construction of Namma Metro is completed. She said the interest of the vendors would be protected.
