Street vendors protest over denial of ID cards

James Cook sits calmly at his desk, with his typewriter as he works, a portrait of a boy takes shape

Street vendors from the south zone on Monday protested against the BBMP over not being issued ID cards.

At least 3,000 vendors had gathered near the BBMP south zone office as they do not possess ID cards, issued by the civic body.

The BBMP had conducted a survey and identified only 25,000 people as street vendors, while the actual number is 1 lakh, said Lekha Adavi, representative from the Bangalore Street Vendors Association. Only 14 people are said to have received the ID cards, she said.

They were promised ID cards during the Kempegowda award function. The function was postponed twice, but when it was held on Saturday, the authorities did not give out the ID cards, Lekha said.

S Babu, another representative, said the officials are claiming that they need orders from the BBMP commissioner.

“If this is so, then how did they give ID cards to those 14 vendors?” Babu said. He also claimed that the BBMP is evicting street vendors in Koramangala without notice.

BBMP has called for a meeting on September 5 to resolve the matter

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