Over 30 civil society groups and researchers urge Karnataka CM to immediately halt evictions of Bengaluru’s street vendors, calling for full implementation of the 2014 Act to safeguard livelihoods alongside pedestrian-friendly streets.

In a strongly worded joint letter to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, more than 30 organisations, researchers, urban experts, and citizen groups have expressed deep concern over ongoing eviction drives targeting street vendors in Bengaluru. Coordinated by the Workers Collective for Climate Justice South Asia, the letter stresses that creating safer, walkable streets must not come at the expense of the urban poor who depend on vending for survival.

“We strongly believe that creating safe, accessible, and people-friendly streets should never come at the cost of the livelihoods of the urban poor,” the letter states. It acknowledges the urgent need for better pedestrian infrastructure but firmly rejects blanket evictions and overnight demolitions as the solution.

The signatories, including Public Transport Forum, Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Fridays for Future-India, Heatwave Action Coalition India, Hawkers Joint Action Committee, Indian Hawkers Alliance, and several individual researchers and activists, urge the government to follow the due process mandated by the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

Vendors Bear the Brunt of ‘Safe Footpath’ Drive

The appeal comes amid the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s aggressive ‘Safe Footpath Campaign’ launched on July 1, 2026. Authorities have cleared encroachments, removed hundreds of vendors, seized pushcarts, goods, and equipment, and disrupted livelihoods across the city, often without prior notice or rehabilitation.

Thousands of street vendors, many supporting entire families, protested at Freedom Park and observed a citywide bandh on July 8. They described heart-wrenching scenes of confiscated weighing scales, tarpaulins, and daily stock being destroyed or taken away, leaving them without income in an already challenging economy.

“Street vendors are not the problem. Poor street design, illegal parking, and the lack of proper planning are,” the joint letter asserts. Vendors provide affordable food, essentials, and services to working people, students, senior citizens, and low-income households. At a time of economic hardship, protecting these livelihoods is critical.

Legal Violations and Calls for Due Process

The 2014 Street Vendors Act recognises vending as a legitimate occupation and prohibits evictions without surveys, functioning Town Vending Committees (TVCs), identification of vending zones, and provision of suitable alternatives. Karnataka notified rules in 2019, yet vendors and activists say the current drive blatantly ignores these safeguards.

Vendors’ organisations have repeatedly pointed out that no comprehensive surveys or participatory plans were completed before the crackdown. They demand restoration of confiscated goods, compensation for losses, and immediate halt to removals until legal procedures are followed.

Global and Indian research supports the vendors’ role in safer, vibrant streets. Active public spaces with people and local businesses often deter crime and encourage walking, contrasting with empty, underused footpaths.

Government’s Position vs Ground Realities

While the government, including CM Shivakumar and Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, maintains the drive is about relocation – not eviction – and promises alternative spaces and support for registered vendors, affected families report otherwise. Many say promised spots are inadequate, far from customer footfall, or yet to materialise, exacerbating financial distress.

Critics argue the campaign disproportionately targets small vendors while powerful illegal encroachments by buildings, vehicles, and influential entities often escape scrutiny. Pedestrian safety is essential, but solving it by displacing the vulnerable without inclusive planning raises questions of equity.

The joint letter calls for stricter enforcement against illegal parking, expansion of public transport, investment in wide, accessible footpaths, and urban design guidelines that integrate vending spaces rather than exclude them.

Towards an Inclusive Vision for Bengaluru

Signatories urge empowering TVCs, engaging vendors’ unions, disability rights groups, and civil society before major actions, and redesigning streets to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and vendors together.

“Bengaluru has the opportunity to become a city that is safer, greener, and more equitable. Achieving this requires an approach that protects both the right to walk and the right to livelihood. These are not competing rights. A well-designed city can and must uphold both,” the letter emphasises.

This solidarity from diverse groups across India underscores broad support for street vendors and a just urban model. As protests continue and the campaign unfolds, the state government’s response will determine whether Bengaluru prioritises compassionate, inclusive development or short-term clearances that deepen inequality.

Street vendors embody the resilience of India’s informal economy. Their struggle highlights the need for policies that listen to the voices of the working poor rather than displacing them in the name of progress. Civil society’s letter serves as a timely reminder that true pedestrian-friendly cities are built with people – all people – at the centre.

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Tags: Bengaluru street vendors protest, Safe Footpath Campaign criticism, Street Vendors Act 2014 violation, Karnataka CM letter, hawkers rights Bengaluru, inclusive urban planning, pedestrian safety vs livelihoods, civil society appeal Karnataka, Workers Collective for Climate Justice, equitable Bengaluru development,