Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors‘ Association, linked to CITU, has appealed to the Kotekar town panchayat to arrange an alternative marketplace for vendors who are struggling due to newly imposed limitations.

A group of association members met panchayat chief officer Malini Salian on Wednesday, presenting a petition that voiced concerns over the livelihoods of numerous small traders, especially those near Kotekar Beeri Junction. Many have been conducting their businesses for years but are now facing hurdles despite possessing official ID cards and certificates under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

The association highlighted that a new commercial complex was recently built in the panchayat, resulting in restrictions that have displaced several vendors. Association secretary Vinayak Shenoy (Talapady Zone Committee) stated that securing rental space in the newly constructed facility is unaffordable for most vendors, putting their survival at stake.

To resolve the crisis, the association has urged authorities to:

  • Provide an alternative trading zone for affected vendors.

  • Conduct a reassessment of street vendors operating under the panchayat’s jurisdiction.

  • Ensure registered vendors receive ID cards, financial aid, and basic amenities to sustain their trade.

    • Association president Sunil Kumar Bajal, along with leaders from Talapady, led the delegation, stressing the urgency of intervention.