Right to
Food Campaign, Odisha
Plot No-
393/2035, 2nd Floor, Padmavati Vihar, Post- Sailashree Vihar,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
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Ref. No- RTF/ 71/15 Date: 11.10.15
To
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
Block- “C”
GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi-110023
Sub-
Complaint on “loss of livelihood of woman vendors due to
forcibly destruction of Vending Zone
located at Science Park of Bhubaneswar by the officials of Bhubaneswar
Municipal Corporation and Police .
Sir
I
Sri Pradip Pradhan, State Convener,
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha bring to the kind notice of the commission
the following matter seeking for immediate intervention and necessary
action.
That,
in May, 2015, a Woman Vending Zone, first of its kind in Odisha was set up by
the State Government at Science Park, Acharya Vihar and 67 woman vendors were allotted shop in
the said Zone. The objective of this
programme was to empower the woman to manage themselves independently being
self-employed and ensure their livelihood. It was inaugurated with much fanfare
by the Mayor, BMC in presence of Local MLA and Corporators. The Woman Vendors
had borrowed money from their relatives and money lenders and invested in the
shop.
While
the woman vendors had been to
attend a
rally organized by Biju
Janata Dal, party in power addressed
by Chief Minister, Odisha,
the officials of BMC and
Police undertook eviction
drive and destroyed all the shops
without any prior notice to
them. However, getting the information
from reliable sources, the woman vendors reached in the spot and opposed the
drive and appealed the police with folded hand and tears not to destroy their
shops. The police did not respond them
rather continued to destroy it. Now
their source of livelihood has been lost. They have been improvised ad
hopeless.
Violation
Right
to life and livelihood is the fundamental right of the citizen under Indian constitution. The State
Govt. is duty-bound to provide employment and ensure livelihood to the people. While hearing a petition of Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union vs Greater
Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the Supreme Court had given direction on
dated 9.9.13 to all State Government and Central Government not to
evict Street Vendors without ensuring alternate livelihood to them. Keeping it in view, the Central Government
enacted the Street Vendors’ Protection of Livelihood & Regulation of Street
Vending Act, 2014 to protect the interest of the vendors. As per section 3 of the said Act, the State
Government is required to arrange alternate livelihood prior to evict the
vendors or destroying vending zone. But here the State Government has destroyed
the vending zone by violating the
direction of Supreme Court and the Central Act.
Prayer
In this Context, I request the Commission to
make an inquiry into the matter and issue the following direction to the State
Govt. in order to ensure livelihood of vendors and their effective
rehabilitation.
A.
Issue direction to State Government to make an enquiry into arbitrary
and illegal act of the police and officials of BMC to destroy vending Zone and
take action against the officials responsible for it.
B.
Issue direction to the State Govt. to immediately provide them
alternate vending zone or source of livelihood or rehabilitate them in same place.
C.
Issue direction to the State Govt.
not to evict the vendors further
without ensuring alternate livelihood as per direction of the Supreme
Court.
D.
Direct the State Government to provide compensation of Rs. 2 lakh
each to all 67 woman vendors for the loss
due to destruction of their
vending zone which was only source of livelihood.
E.
Issue direction, as the commission deems fit to ensure complete livelihood to all the woman vendors.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Pradip Pradhan, M-99378-43482
(Original post to NHRC contains all news clippings)
(Original post to NHRC contains all news clippings)
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