Church Street Vendors Call for Relief from Harassment

Fast Summary

• Church Street vendors in Bengaluru held a silent protest on July 14, 2025, against alleged harassment by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru City Police.
• Protesters submitted a memorandum to the BBMP Joint Commissioner (East Zone) outlining their concerns and demands.
• vendors accused authorities of penalizing them ₹500 while allowing free parking for affluent visitors, describing it as a violation of the Street Vendors (protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014.
• The memorandum stated that for over 15-20 years, 53 authorized street vendors-mostly women from poor families-have operated on church Street. Allegations included pressure from residents’ associations influencing police actions.
• Key demands:

– Prevention of harassment toward registered vendors through formal orders.
– Inclusion of unregistered vendors in BBMP’s next survey for vending certificates.
– Regular Town Vending Committee meetings before policy decisions impacting vending activities are enacted.

• Vendors were briefly detained by the police during their march to BBMP headquarters but released after three hours.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Church street vendor protest highlights ongoing tensions between urban advancement policies and informal sector livelihoods. The accusations against local authorities reveal disparities in how public spaces are managed, with economically marginalized groups often bearing disadvantages. These disputes underline challenges in implementing the Street Vendors act, which aims to safeguard vendor rights while balancing urban planning interests.

Given Booming “Brand Bengaluru,” reconciling growth aspirations with empathetic governance is key to achieving inclusivity.Demands like conducting regular surveys and Town Vending Committee engagements reflect systemic gaps that hinder fair regulation practices; addressing these operational lapses could lead toward equitable solutions for both residents and vendors. Policymakers must ensure such conflicts do not escalate further into larger legal battles or social unrest.

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