Report By : Dev Kumar Pukhraj
Hyderabad : The Hawkers Joint Action Committee, a nationwide organization representing hundreds of unions and collectives of street vendors, held a press conference at Basheera Bad Press Club in Hyderabad. With a presence in 28 states and over a million members, the conference featured key leaders like Dharmendra Kumar, All India President, and regional leaders Suresh Kadashan and S. Venkat Mohan.
They highlighted the critical role of street vendors in the informal economy, stressing the persistent issues of exploitation, harassment, and insufficient recognition and protection. Despite a survey identifying over 608,000 street vendors in Telangana, only a few vending zones have been created. The Committee issued a five-month ultimatum to the Telangana government to properly implement the street vendors’ act, threatening a march if demands are not met by November 29, 2024.
They called for extending ESI and PF benefits and providing financial support akin to the Kisan Maan Dhan. Mohan criticized the flawed vendor survey and the arbitrary nomination of representatives in town vending committees, demanding elections as per the act. Kadashan pointed out the delays in issuing Certificates of Vending, leaving many vendors in limbo.
