Mon Jun 23 14:32:40 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Street vendors in Bengaluru are planning a large protest at Freedom Park on Tuesday in response to recent statements by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and eviction drives by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Shivakumar stated that only vendors identified in a survey (numbering 27,000) will be permitted to operate in the city, and only with push carts. Vendor unions claim the survey deliberately undercounted vendors, highlighting that the PM SVAnidhi scheme has provided loans to over 70,000 street vendors. They allege that the government’s actions violate the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014. Eviction drives are already underway, with vendors’ goods being seized and vendors forced to sign agreements not to return to their selling locations. The protest aims to demand ID cards, basic facilities, and an end to unlawful evictions.
**News Article:**
**Bengaluru Street Vendors to Protest Government Restrictions, Evictions**
**Bengaluru, June 23, 2025** – Thousands of street vendors are expected to converge at Freedom Park this Tuesday to protest new restrictions proposed by the government and ongoing eviction drives, according to the Karnataka Progressive Street Vendors’ Association. The demonstration is a direct response to a recent statement by Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who declared that only the 27,000 vendors identified in a recent survey will be permitted to hawk in the city, and only while using push carts.
Street vendor unions are criticizing this move, arguing the survey deliberately underestimated the number of vendors operating in Bengaluru. “The survey has registered only 27,000 street vendors, while the civic body has given loans under the PM SVAnidhi scheme to over 70,000 street vendors in the city,” said S. Babu, president of the Karnataka Progressive Street Vendors’ Association. “The survey has deliberately kept out vendors to show lesser numbers. Now the government cannot turn around and say only these 27,000 vendors will be allowed to hawk.”
The unions also allege that the proposed restrictions violate the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014, which is supposed to protect the rights of street vendors.
In addition to the proposed restrictions, vendors are protesting recent eviction drives conducted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in areas like Church Street, Jayanagar, and Vijaynagar. Vendors claim that BBMP officials are seizing their goods and demanding that they sign agreements not to return to their selling locations.
Advocate Vinay Sreenivasa stated, “BBMP officials are seizing vendor’s material and demanding an undertaking that they will not sell at that place, to even return the goods. These are illegal pressure tactics.”
Protest organizers are demanding the issuance of ID cards for all vendors, basic facilities in market areas, and an immediate halt to unlawful evictions. The demonstration raises concerns about the future of street vending in Bengaluru and the government’s approach to supporting the livelihoods of the city’s most vulnerable populations amidst its “Brand Bengaluru” campaign.
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