Vendors call for end to evictions, seek formal vending arrangements
Shimla, Aug 12: Hundreds of street vendors, led by the Street Vendors’ Union affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Tuesday to oppose an eviction drive launched by the Shimla Municipal Corporation and to demand that it be stopped immediately.
Participants, many of whom continued despite rainfall, raised slogans against the corporation and pressed for what they described as long-standing but unmet demands, including provision of permanent vending space, streamlined licensing and protection of their livelihood.
Vijendra Mehra, state president of CITU, said the vendors have been earning their livelihoods in Shimla for several years and alleged the corporation was harassing them by carrying out evictions in contravention of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which was framed following Supreme Court directions.
“Instead of finding a permanent solution to the problems of these hardworking people, the Municipal Corporation is continuously harassing them and evicting them, in violation of the Street Vendors Act,” Mehra said.
Mehra demanded that the corporation provide appropriate spaces for vending, simplify licensing and vending arrangements and ensure job security for the affected workers. He also called for the full implementation of the 2014 Act and sought an immediate halt to the eviction operations.
The protesters announced plans to escalate their campaign if their demands are not addressed. A massive demonstration has been scheduled at the corporation office on Thursday to intensify pressure on the municipality, and Mehra urged all street vendors and traders in Shimla to join in large numbers.
Local implications and officials' options
The agitation highlights a recurring urban governance issue in hill towns such as Shimla, where limited public space, tourism flows and heritage regulations complicate vending. The Street Vendors Act, 2014, mandates local authorities to prepare vending plans, set up town vending committees and provide grievance redressal mechanisms — measures the union says are yet to be fully enacted in Shimla.
The municipal administration has not issued an official statement in the report on the protest. If the corporation proceeds with evictions without completing the statutory processes required under the 2014 Act, it could face legal challenges and further demonstrations by vendor organisations and trade unions.
| Issue | Demand by vendors |
|---|---|
| Eviction drive | Immediate discontinuation |
| Space allocation | Provision of permanent vending areas |
| Licensing | Streamlined licensing and vending arrangements |
| Legal protection | Full implementation of Street Vendors Act, 2014 |
- Who protested: Street Vendors’ Union (CITU-affiliated) and hundreds of street vendors.
- Location: Outside Deputy Commissioner’s office, Shimla.
- Planned follow-up: Massive demonstration at the corporation office on Thursday.
The protest comes amid ongoing tensions in hill cities between urban management aimed at decongestion, sanitation and heritage protection, and the informal economy that supports hundreds of households. For many vendors in Shimla, seasonal tourism and daily footfall constitute vital income; abrupt displacement without relocation schemes risks severe livelihood disruption.
Mehra warned that failure to take positive action would lead to an intensification of the struggle. The demonstration on Thursday will be watched closely by traders, residents and civic authorities, who may need to balance regulatory objectives with legal obligations under the 2014 law and social considerations for the vendors.
