In response to the recent eviction of street vendors from Church Street, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has launched a comprehensive assessment of street traders across the city. BBMP Special Commissioner for Health and Animal Husbandry, Suralkar Vikas Kishor, announced that this survey aligns with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and the Karnataka Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood, Regulation of Street Vending, and Licensing) Scheme, 2020.
The survey will cover eight zones, with over 600 enumerators using mobile applications to gather data. As of now, approximately 1,800 street vendors have been identified. Eligible vendors will receive identity cards and certificates, and town vending committees will be established at the zonal level to oversee compliance with relevant regulations.
To facilitate participation, street vendors are encouraged to provide essential documents such as Aadhaar cards, Voter IDs, bank passbooks, family ration cards, information on family members, and self-declaration certificates. To promote awareness of the survey, the BBMP has organized street plays that highlight available benefits for vendors.
Additionally, pamphlets outlining the survey process and its benefits are being distributed among vendors. BBMP is also actively identifying vending zones that can empower street vendors through various government schemes, including the PM SVANidhi scheme, which provides small loans to help vendors achieve financial independence. Other support programs include assistance for e-commerce vehicles, construction of Amrutha Mahotsava houses, and skill development training, all aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of street vendors in Bengaluru.
