Varanasi: The Sajha Sanskriti Manch (SSM), a joint forum of social and political groups, has opposed the Varanasi Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) decision to relocate meat and fish shops from main city areas to the outskirts. The forum termed the move a bid to benefit supply chains, corporate groups, and mega stores, and said it would hit the livelihood of hundreds of petty traders involved in the trade.
Memorandum Submitted to District Magistrate
Against the VMC’s decision to relocate meat, fish, and poultry shops outside city limits, SSM representatives submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate through SDM Shivani Singh. They termed the decision “dictatorial, one-sided, and undemocratic.”
Livelihood and Constitutional Rights
In its memorandum, SSM stated that petty traders would be deprived of their livelihood in the name of cleanliness and beautification. Sending vendors 10 kilometers away from the city is akin to shutting down their business, they argued. The forum added that this violates the freedom of trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and the right to choice of food under Article 21.
Representatives alleged that the VMC’s conspiracy is to benefit big hotels, malls, mega and hyper stores, and online trading platforms, which will continue selling meat and fish while petty retail traders are being uprooted. SSM said the city’s identity lies in its composite culture, where the livelihood of communities involved in fishery and meat trading, the food and worship traditions of the Bengali community, and the religious aspects connected with the Aghor tradition cannot be ignored.
Demand for Withdrawal and Regulation
Demanding an immediate withdrawal of the relocation decision, SSM suggested that instead of harassing weaker sections, a regulation should be implemented for cleanliness, including waste management, closed glass, and refrigeration in shops.
Protest participants included Sanjeev Singh, Satish Singh, Ramjanm Yadav, Anoop Shramik, Vinay Rai Munna, Nevish, Abdulla, Neeraj, Anant, Chhedi Lal Nirala, Manish Sharma, Niti, Salma, Omprakash Mishra, and Dhananjay Tripathi.
