Street Vendors in Kerala have faced continuous attacks and eviction threats since Congress-led United Democratic Front assumed power in the state. People at the lowest strata of society are facing a deep crisis, making it difficult for them to sustain their lives. The government machinery is directly intervening in a manner that is destroying the livelihoods and occupations of nearly 5,50,000 street vendors across the state.

By magnifying a few isolated incidents, the government machinery has been attempting to create the impression that street vending is an illegal activity, with the objective of destroying the livelihoods of street vendors. Various local self-government bodies have resorted to eviction actions which make the lives of common people miserable.

UNLAWFUL EVICTIONS

Street vendors are being evicted from locations where many of them have been carrying on their trade for more than 40 years. Without any prior warning, their means of livelihood are being destroyed overnight using excavators, forcibly removing them from their workplaces. The statutory requirement of issuing a 30-day prior notice before evicting street vendors is not being followed. Although the law clearly lays down the procedures that must be observed during evictions, the authorities have shown no willingness to comply with any of them.

The police and local self-government institutions have been spearheading these mass eviction drives. Street vendors have been unlawfully evicted from areas including the BJP-governed Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, the UDF-led Kollam and Kannur Municipal Corporations, several municipalities, and town panchayats such as Munnar. Never before have workers been subjected to such brutal repression and inhumane treatment.

Kerala witnessed the distressing image of police officers pinning down the neck of a 75-year-old lottery vendor in Kollam, leaving him gasping for breath before throwing him into a police jeep.

These kinds of actions are violations of section 3(3) of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which directs that local self-government bodies can only remove or evict street vendors from their places of business after conducting a survey of street vendors determining their trading area and issuing licenses.

These attacks and massive eviction drives are being carried out in violation of the Act, and the regulations and schemes introduced by the LDF government in Kerala based on it.

WELFARE MEASURES DURING LDF RULE

In this scenario, people including the street vendors have got a chance to recall the welfare measures taken by LDF governments that ruled the state from 2016 to 2026. Based on the central law, Kerala had introduced Kerala State Street Vendors Livelihood Protection law in 2018. In 2019, a scheme was also introduced in accordance with this law. Special government orders were issued to conduct a survey of street vendors and issue identification cards and licenses. Along with this, urban trading committees were formed in all municipalities. All municipalities and municipal corporations organised surveys among workers and identity cards and licenses were issued based on this survey.
The democratic election of workers to urban trade committees from among the workers on the survey list was also part of the Left government's strong intervention. Vending Markets were also introduced in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur corporations.

In 2020, the government constituted the Grievance Redressal and Dispute Resolution Committee under Section 20 of the Act. Vendors can appeal against eviction, cancellation of licences or other disputes before this committee instead of facing arbitrary administrative action.

Unlike most other states in India, Kerala is characterised by the absence of a sharp urban-rural divide. Recognizing this unique feature, the Left government in Kerala issued a special order directing panchayats to conduct a survey of street vendors and ensure the protection of their livelihoods. Based on this directive, panchayats carried out surveys of street vendors across the state.

The Unorganised Workers' Welfare Fund Board also undertook dedicated initiatives to promote the welfare of street vendors. The Left government implemented a series of sincere and proactive measures aimed at safeguarding the welfare and livelihoods of street vendors, demonstrating a sustained commitment to their protection and well-being.

According to K S Pradeep, State President of Street Vendors Federation, street vendors have increasingly become victims of large-scale excesses committed by the police and local self-government authorities. In contrast, when the Left government was in power, strict action was taken against officials who carried out evictions in violation of the law.