Street vendors demand special drive after 'flawed' BBMP survey

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Pragathipara Beedi Vyaparigala Sangha (KPBVS) has alleged that many street vendors in Bengaluru have been left out of the survey conducted by the civic body.

In a letter to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Special Commissioner (Welfare), the association stated that, according to its estimates, at least 50 vendors in Ward 91 and over 110 vendors in Ward 110 were left out of the survey. The situation is similar in many other wards, it added.

"An independent survey conducted by our federation in just two wards in the East Zone showed that over 100 vendors have been left out. Some roads have not been visited at all,” the federation said.

It also pointed out that the BBMP had underestimated the number of vendors in the city.

"According to BBMP data, nearly 70,000 vendors have been sanctioned loans under the PM-SVANIDHI scheme. However, the present survey has covered only close to 30,000 vendors. This clearly shows that many vendors have been left out of the survey,” the letter said.

The vendors have requested that the BBMP conduct a special drive in May to include all vendors, irrespective of their time of business.

"Many vendors start business early in the morning and wind up by afternoon, while many others start late in the evening. All of them should be considered. That apart, many mobile vendors have been left out of the survey. They should also be included,” the federation demanded.