Kolkata: Trinamool chairperson and former Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday extended her "sympathy" towards hawkers and street vendors even as she strongly criticised the state government over alleged eviction drives. In a social media post to mark International Hawkers Day, Banerjee accused the government of demolishing stalls, evicting hawkers and pushing them into distress without considering their livelihoods and economic conditions.
Banerjee's Strong Words
"On May 26, on the occasion of International Hawkers Day, I extend my congratulations to my hardworking hawker brothers and sisters worldwide. Along with that, I express my sympathy to them. I am astonished, angry and deeply saddened to see how the BJP government in Bengal, upon coming to office, is oppressing hawkers, evicting them, demolishing their shops and forcing them onto the streets without regard for their tears. The oppressors will surely face consequences. I have been, am, and will be by your side," she wrote.
Role of Hawkers in Economy
Banerjee stressed that street vendors, hawkers and small businesses in the informal sector "serve as the backbone of the local economy, and this day is primarily dedicated to acknowledging their contributions." She added, "Street hawkers are symbols of grassroots economy. They connect large-scale production systems with daily needs of ordinary people and deliver essential goods to their doorsteps at very affordable prices. However, maintaining this system requires a delicate balance within urban planning. Hawkers create paths to self-reliance for millions, allowing many low-income families to sustain themselves without relying on corporate or government jobs."
Legal Framework and Supreme Court Directives
Banerjee reminded that in India, the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 was passed to maintain a balance between protecting the rights of pedestrians and permanent shopkeepers and ensuring the livelihood of hawkers, avoiding congestion while safeguarding them from sudden eviction. "The goal of an ideal and well-planned city is not to evict hawkers but to integrate them into the urban system. If organised and infrastructured municipal markets are arranged for hawkers, pedestrian safety is not compromised, and the city's vibrant small economy remains active," she wrote.
"Over the past few decades, the Supreme Court has had to balance the fundamental right of hawkers to conduct business or earn a livelihood under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution with the public's right to clean and safe passageways," she posted, citing multiple Supreme Court directives right from 1985. She emphasised that the eviction of hawkers without proper rehabilitation violates the law and the spirit of the Constitution.
