Licensed footpath hawkers demand immediate rehabilitation, warn of massive stir

Amid the first-ever massive eviction drive launched by the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) across the city on Wednesday, hundreds of licensed footpath hawkers staged a protest, questioning why they were evicted despite possessing valid vending licenses issued by the AMC.

Carrying copies of their licenses, the agitating hawkers gathered at the office of the Tripura Footpath Hawkers Sangram Samiti, demanding immediate rehabilitation to safeguard their livelihoods. Many of the hawkers were seen in tears as they expressed fear over the loss of their only source of income.

Speaking to the media, several hawkers said they had been officially registered by the AMC and were operating their stalls legally to support their families. “The AMC authorities bulldozed our stalls late at night when we had already returned home after a full day’s work,” said an affected hawker, who claimed he had been running a fast-food stall at the Battala Hawkers’ Market for the past three years with a valid AMC license.

The hawkers alleged that the eviction drive had abruptly snatched away their means of livelihood, putting their families and their children’s education at risk. They also recalled that AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder had earlier assured that licensed vendors would not be evicted. “Despite this assurance, our stalls were suddenly demolished,” another hawker alleged.

Addressing a press conference, state president of the Tripura Footpath Hawkers Sangram Samiti Biplab Kar strongly condemned what he termed the “inhuman” action of the AMC. He questioned how hundreds of licensed hawkers were rendered jobless overnight without prior notice.

“Are we terrorists? Why were our stalls bulldozed without any proper notice?” Kar asked, alleging that along with the demolition of stalls, the AMC task force also seized food items, groceries, and fruits worth several lakh rupees.

Kar further stated that the AMC had issued licenses to hundreds of footpath hawkers in accordance with the directives of the Tripura High Court and on the recommendations of the Town Vending Committee. He demanded to know what circumstances had suddenly prompted the authorities to destroy the livelihoods of licensed vendors.

Warning of intensifying agitation, Kar said that if the AMC failed to immediately rehabilitate all affected hawkers, the organization would be forced to launch a massive movement to protect their right to livelihood.

It may be recalled that the AMC launched its first-ever large-scale eviction drive from the early hours of Wednesday to clear footpaths and public spaces of encroachments. Hundreds of illegally set-up footpath shops were removed from major roads and market areas of the city.