Mumbai: ‘We’ve been hawking here for 40 years’

Hawkers want to remain on the roads in overcrowded Dadar. After facing regular action at the hands of the cops, vendors have requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police to allow those who have been doing business in the area for the past four decades to ply their trade. "The BMC recognised us via a survey and recommended us for the PM loan scheme but refuses to allow us to work," a hawker said.

Dadar, a central location, is highly congested. The BMC and police have been cracking down on hawkers in the area for the past six months. Though commuters are happy about this, there is another side to the story. Vendors who have been here for more than 40 years and whose names are in the published list of authorised hawkers are taking a stand.

"The BMC has recommended our names for a Rs 10,000 loan under the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Yojana. This means they recognise us as regular hawkers. Besides 846 hawkers' names appeared in the new list published by the BMC after the survey was conducted. Then why are the BMC and police taking action," asked Sanjay Khande, president of Dadar Hawkers Sangharsh Samiti.

The association has over 600 members who have been doing business for over 50 years on roads near Dadar railway station. The association has written to the ward office of G North, which comprises Dadar, Dharavi and Mahim, as well as the local police station and police commissioner multiple times.

"We had gone to the high court when the BMC took action against us in 2016. The court had given a stay, saying eligible hawkers, as per the survey, have the right to do their business. We went to the BMC as well as the police but they told us that they are getting orders from above. We even ask via the RTI who was giving them orders, but they haven't given us the name or designation of officers concerned," added Khande.

A hawker on a Dadar street said, "If the BMC thinks that roads need to be cleared, they should assign us patches on particular spots. We are ready to do business there. Their actions are just harassment and we are not able to earn for our family. How can we repay the loan taken under the PM SVANidhi scheme?"

600
No of Dadar Hawkers Sangharsh Samiti members