Ranchi vendors protest eviction amid controversy over Street Vending Act compliance

Ranchi: High drama prevailed outside the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) as over hundreds of vegetable and fruit vendors staged a sit-in against the ongoing eviction drive by the civic body.

The massive stir forced the authorities to shut the main gate of the corporation office. Protestors alleged they were being evicted in violation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Vending) Act, 2014.They also submitted a memorandum citing four key demands — immediate reconstitution of the town vending committee (TVC), allocation of alternative spaces before any eviction, an assurance that their goods will not be destroyed during drives, and an end to arbitrary evictions without prior notice.“We are not against regulation, but without TVCs, surveys, or vending certificates, everything is happening illegally. The law guarantees protection and rehabilitation. Instead, vendors are being treated as encroachers. Jharkhand must implement the 2014 Act in letter and spirit,” said Mohit Valecha, national coordinator of the Indian Hawkers’ Alliance.Individual vendors also shared their plight. Rajesh Shah, a fruit seller near Argora Maidan, said, “Our entire stock was thrown away last week.

This is our only source of income. If RMC has to remove us, they should first give us a proper vending place.”At Dipatoli, Raghubir Paswan, who sells vegetables near Lajpat Nagar School, said, “We were evicted suddenly, without any notice. Children’s school fees and our household survive on this business. Where do we go now?”The vendors also alleged harassment and loss of goods during eviction. “All we ask is that our goods are not destroyed, and we are not removed without an alternative.

This is about survival, not luxury,” said Anita Devi from Doranda.RMC’s additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Kumar said, “Vendors are only removed when they obstruct movement or occupy parking areas. We will identify 12 town vending zones for balanced vendor regulation in the city. We will soon provide them with 5 new vendor markets, including one near Loyola ground, Surendranath School, in Chutia, Doranda, and behind Divyaayan in Morabadi, where proper markets will be developed.

No goods will be destroyed, and alternative sites will be provided.”

He further informed that a Town Vending Committee (TVC) would be reconstituted soon and a fresh survey of vendors would be conducted, as the last one was carried out in 2016. “Around 5,000 vendors were surveyed earlier. This time, more will be included, and vending certificates will be issued,” Kumar added.The protest also caused major traffic disruptions on Kutchery Road and adjoining stretches as long queues of vehicles built up in the busy zone during office hours, forcing commuters to take diversions. Police personnel were deployed to maintain order and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful. Normal work at the RMC was also disturbed for several hours, with visitors and officials struggling to enter the premises.