Jaipur witnessed large number of eviction of street vendors in January before annual national eeting and conference of Indian National Congress, “Chintan” in the city. Hundreds of street vendors were evicted and their goods and carts were confiscated during the ‘Cleaning and Beautification’ of the city by the authorities.

Jeevika: Law, Liberty & Livelihood campaign of Center for Civil Society in association of street vendor unions of city organised a rally and mass demonstration on January 21, 2012. The objective of the mass demonstration was to protest the injustice of the authorities who instead of protecting livelihood of poor street vendors under the “Rajasthan Urban Street Vendor Act 2011” went on to take away their livelihood.

The rally started from Geeta Ashram, Sodala and went to Chief Minister’s house in Civil Lines where it turned into mass demonstration. Thousands of street vendor including women sat down on Dharna at CM’s residence. The demonstration ended after submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister and ensurance from authorities of returning the confiscated goods and carts and to stop eviction immediately. Banwari Lal Sharma, Nathu Singh Rathore, Sanjay Garg, Laxmi Devi and other scores of street vendor leaders along with their union members participated in the demonstration.

Earlier a press conference was also organised on January 17, 2013 in Pink City Press Club to communicate the issue to authorities giving enough time to authorities to stop the eviction before going for mass demonstration. However, the authorities didn’t pay heed to the warning.

Here are pictures of the press conference:

Jeevika Campaign Associate, Amit Kumar Gond Addressing the Press Conference

Jeevika Campaign Associate, Amit Kumar Gond Addressing the Press Conference

Snap Shot of the Press Conference

Snap Shot of the Press Conference

Press Representatives during Press Conference

Press Representatives during Press Conference

Representatives of Street Vendor Unions

Representatives of Street Vendor Unions

Here are pictures of the mass demonstration:

Snapshot of Rally

Snapshot of Rally

Snapshot of Rally

Snapshot of Rally

Mass Demonstration at Civil Lines

Mass Demonstration at Civil Lines

Jeevika Campaign Coordinator Interacting with Media

Jeevika Campaign Coordinator Interacting with Media

Here are the press cuttings of the news:

Daily News

Daily News

Rajasthan Patrika

Rajasthan Patrika

Samachar Jagat

Samachar Jagat

Dainik Navjyoti

Dainik Navjyoti

Vanijya Setu

Vanijya Setu

Daily News

Daily News

Rajasthan Patrika

Rajasthan Patrika

Samachar Jagat

Samachar Jagat

Dainik Bhashkar

Dainik Bhashkar

Samachar Jagat

Samachar Jagat