HAWKERS from across West Bengal united in a strong display of solidarity against the Mamata Banerjee government's “bulldozer” encroachment removal policies. On July 11, at the call of Hawker Joutha Mancha, a joint platform of hawker organisations including CITU, they delivered a resounding message through a massive joint rally.

Hawker organisations accused the government of favouring the wealthy at the expense of the livelihoods of the poor. They demanded no hawker be evicted without proper rehabilitation, immediate implementation of the Central Hawker Act 2014, and an end to what they described as the "tyranny and extortion" by the ruling Trinamool party. Led by a joint platform including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, among others, the hawkers commenced their march from the Lenin statue at Esplanade at noon. The march culminated in a rally at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters, where hawker leaders presented an eight-point memorandum to Mayor Firhad Hakim. With a warning of intensified protests ahead, the hawkers underscored their determination to fight for their right to livelihood.

Following the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata Banerjee's government has initiated widespread evictions under the guise of removing illegal squatters, severely impacting thousands across the state. This crackdown on hawkers has ignited significant public outcry, with protests erupting across West Bengal, including demonstrations at police stations. Leading the resistance is the Hawker Joutha Mancha, a coalition of various hawker organizations, opposing the government's assault on the livelihoods of the poor. On this occasion, the coalition's leaders issued a firm warning to the Mayor and Chief Minister of Kolkata Corporation, asserting that these evictions contradict the central Hawker Act, and emphasizing that no hawker should be denied their right to earn a living.

The Central Hawker Act, enacted during the UPA-2 government, explicitly safeguards the rights of long-standing hawkers across India, except on railway land and in Jammu and Kashmir. It mandates that hawkers cannot be abruptly evicted. Instead, if the government requires their removal for public service or road expansion, it must provide alternative rehabilitation. The Act also establishes town vending committees under government auspices, tasked with conducting surveys and facilitating social security schemes, licensing of hawkers, and ensuring opportunities for rehabilitation.

At the protest rally, Anadi Sahu, general secretary of CITU West Bengal committee, highlighted the dire state of unemployment and the scarcity of permanent jobs. He condemned the government's actions, describing the eviction of poor hawkers as both inhumane and unlawful. Sahu criticised Mamata Banerjee's administration for delaying the implementation of the Central Hawker Act since 2014, asserting that its enforcement could have prevented the current crisis faced by hawkers. He accused the government of tacitly endorsing illicit activities and suggested that the evictions are driven by calculated political motives rather than genuine concern.

According to Asitanga Ganguly, the leader of the hawker movement, Mamata Banerjee's government prioritises the interests of big businessmen over the livelihoods of poor hawkers because they contribute money to the party funds. The majority of the population, who rely on meager earnings, purchase various goods from these hawkers to meet their needs. If these thousands of hawkers are evicted, people will have no choice but to rely on big stores or shopping malls. Therefore, the government is essentially promoting the interests of big businesses at the expense of the poor.

Following chief minister Mamata Banerjee's directive during her administrative meeting at the state secretariat Navanna, a sweeping eviction drive against hawkers commenced, impacting thousands of lives and livelihoods. Despite temporary one-month relief following grassroots pressure, sporadic evictions continue across the state. At a protest gathering, hawker leaders demanded immediate financial relief and rehabilitation for displaced vendors, stressing the urgency of the situation.

In their memorandum to mayor Firhad Hakim, hawker organisations insisted that no hawker should be evicted without proper rehabilitation. They called for the formation of a town vending committee inclusive of individual hawkers or their representatives to safeguard their livelihoods and conduct a comprehensive study of hawker issues. While the mayor pledged to earnestly consider these demands, hawker movement leaders emphasised the need for concrete actions to prevent further escalation. They warned of intensified struggles ahead if hawkers' livelihoods are not swiftly addressed.

West Bengal's hawkers are bravely asserting their rights and seeking justice as their livelihoods hang in the balance. Their determination is unwavering, sending a resolute message that they will persist until their voices are acknowledged and respected.