More than 2,000 street vendors gathered at Azad Maidan in a massive rally led by the Azad Hawkers Union, strongly demanding protection of their livelihood and rights.
The rally received prominent support from the National Association of Street Vendors of India, standing in solidarity with Mumbai’s hawkers and their call for justice.
Vendors raised key demands including issuance of registration certificates to eligible vendors, proper implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, recognition of hawkers as citizens and not illegal immigrants, an end to police harassment, and early declaration of Town Vending Committee election results.
A delegation later met Satya Narayan, who assured action against harassment and said notices would be issued to police stations where vendors face difficulties. Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also assured that decisions regarding licenses for eligible hawkers would be taken soon.
The protest brought together several hawker unions from across the city, reflecting the collective strength and unity of Mumbai’s street vendor community.