Latest news with #Livelihood
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM announces rollout of digital ID cards and review of welfare schemes
New Delhi: In an effort to improve welfare delivery and transparency, chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities. Gupta said her govt was fully committed to helping the poor, the elderly, and those who receive financial support. She also ordered a review of all existing welfare schemes to ensure aid reached only the truly deserving beneficiaries and those who are not eligible are removed. "Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly," she said. Noting that some schemes had been misused earlier, Gupta pointed to "serious irregularities" in the disbursement of widow pensions during the previous administration's tenure. "Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our govt will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded from these schemes," she said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Gupta gave the instructions after chairing a meeting at Delhi Secretariat, attended by senior officials from the department of social welfare and the department for the welfare of SC/STs. The meeting focused on reviewing several key welfare schemes aimed at supporting economically and socially marginalised communities. CM said Delhi govt is not only providing financial assistance, but also extending support in the form of rehabilitation, skill development, education and other essential welfare services. For instance, the scheme for senior citizens provides monthly financial aid to individuals aged 60 and above, especially those from SC/ST communities or economically weaker backgrounds. Depending on their age, eligible beneficiaries receive between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per month. Over four lakh senior citizens have already benefited from the initiative, which is designed to help them live with dignity, she added. Another key initiative, Gupta pointed out, was to provide assistance to persons with disabilities who are unable to support themselves. These individuals are granted Rs 2,500 per month. So far, over 1.3 lakh people have received aid under the scheme, which is aimed to promote their social and economic empowerment, CM said. Moreover, to help families who have lost their primary breadwinner cope with sudden financial hardship, the Delhi Family Benefit Scheme offers a one-time assistance of Rs 20,000, stated the CMO. About 1,100 dependents have been provided aid through this scheme. Additionally, the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme focuses on rehabilitating those involved in begging by providing essential services like shelter, medical care, counselling, skill training and livelihood opportunities and reintegrate them into mainstream society with dignity and purpose. The meeting also addressed key issues, such as delays in disability certification and digitisation of beneficiary data. CM directed various departments to resolve these challenges swiftly and present a clear action plan for better coordination and service delivery.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- The Hindu
Church Street vendors demand an end to harassment
The street vendors of Church Street on Monday held a silent protest on the street against the alleged harassment they are facing from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru City Police. The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the BBMP Joint Commissioner, East Zone with their demands. 'The rich are allowed to park their car for free on Church Street, but poor street vendors are being levied with a penalty of ₹500. This is a violation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014,' the protesters said. They added, 'BBMP has only given us ID cards and they also gave loans to street vendors. Now why is the same BBMP harassing street vendors? Is there no space for poor street vendors in Brand Bengaluru?' The memorandum submitted by the Karnataka Pragathipara Beedi Vyaparigala Sangha said that from 15 to 20 years, 53 authorised street vendors, many of whom are women from poor families, have been selling items like clothes, fruits, plastic items, earrings etc. It also alleged that residents' associations from the locality have pressured the police to harass the vendors. The vendors also demanded that a formal order should be issued to prevent harassment of all registered Church Street vendors and all the unregistered vendors should also be included in BBMP's next survey and provided with vending certificates. They also said that Town Vending Committee (TVC) meetings should be held before making decisions affecting them. The protesters were taken into preventive custody by the police as they were walking to the BBMP and were released after three hours.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bengaluru's street vendors protest their eviction, demand dignity and rights
1 2 Bengaluru: More than 500 street vendors gathered at Freedom Park Tuesday, staging a protest against what they called indiscriminate evictions by BBMP. Triggered by a recent statement from deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, the protest was organised by Karnataka Pragatipara Beedhi Vyaparigala Sangha, affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICTU), and drew political leaders and civil society groups. Chanting slogans and raising placards with messages such as "Street vendors demand a zero eviction policy" and "Footpath is meant for pedestrians and street vendors," the demonstrators accused BBMP of flouting procedures and ignoring their rights under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "We also have the right to live. Don't we vote? Don't we pay taxes? Aren't we citizens? My shop is also on the list for removal," said G Nagaraj, 41, a clothing vendor from Jayanagar. The protest was also marked by emotionally charged testimonies from long-time vendors. "I've been with my pushcart in the streets for 30 years; they can't suddenly come and tell me to go away," said Aarai Krishnamoorthy, a vegetable seller from Vijayanagar. While BBMP maintains that it is only acting within the purview of the 2014 Act — which mandates vending only in designated zones — vendors allege the implementation is flawed and unjust. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "Those identified in the BBMP survey must be given identity cards, and those left out must also be included," said S Babu, president of the union. According to the civic body, a citywide survey in 2025 identified 27,000 vendors, but unions claim the actual number exceeds 70,000. BBMP officials insist the current evictions are confined to the no- vending zones, particularly areas where footpaths are less than 12ft wide. "Though we've identified vending zones and spots, right after the ID cards are ready, we will have Town Vending Committee elections to finalise them. Even with ID cards, vending is not permitted in no-vending zones," BBMP special commissioner (welfare) Suralkar Vikas Kishor said. Vendor unions remain unconvinced, pointing out that ID card distribution is yet to begin and no alternative vending zones have been declared operational. "If you're removing them, what are the alternatives? Because these are very poor people, 90% come from depressed, suppressed, and oppressed classes," said Mavalli Shankar of Dalit Sangarsha Samiti. Some vendors were allegedly excluded from the survey for having multiple carts in the same family — a violation of BBMP's one-vendor-one-licence policy. "Though there's no such clause in the Act about local identity, we used Karnataka ration cards to verify families," said Kishor. Amid mounting tensions, BBMP has promised subsidised vending carts, including electric and manual options, to promote mobile vending. However, only one cart type — for ice cream vending — has passed technical checks so far. During Tuesday's protest, BBMP officials visited the site and invited leaders to meet with the special commissioner in the evening. Following the meeting, protesters said many of their demands were not addressed, and they were merely told that a meeting with the chief commissioner would be scheduled. Protesters have warned they will escalate their agitation if the authorities fail to respond meaningfully in the coming days. "We aren't against development — we want to be part of it," said Sasikala Nagaraj, 51, who has been selling clothes for over three decades. "But for that, we need basic infrastructure: Toilets, clean water, shelter, and dignity. Include us in the city's progress."
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
After Dy CM DK Shivakumar's no free-vending plan, hawkers to protest in Bengaluru today
BENGALURU: Thousands of street vendors from across Bengaluru will stage a major protest at Freedom Park on Tuesday, opposing what they describe as increasing threats to their livelihoods, rising harassment by civic officials, and years of government neglect. Organised by the Karnataka Pragathipara Beedi Vyaparigala Sangha, the protest will include vendors from major market areas such as KR Market, Shivajinagar, Jayanagar, Vijayanagar, Yeshwanthpur, and Gandhi Bazaar. The protest comes in response to recent statements by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who said that street vending in the city would soon be allowed only in designated vending zones or through mobile vending, and that vendors would be required to carry identity cards. Vendors argue that this proposal violates the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which protects their right to trade without such restrictions. Since the announcement, vendors say civic officials have intensified crackdowns, including frequent seizure of goods and eviction drives.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
D.K. Shivakumar's statement on street vendors triggers protest
Recent statement by Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar that henceforth only those street vendors identified by the survey will be allowed to hawk in the city, that too only in push carts, has mobilised street vendors and thousands of them are expected to congregate at Freedom Park on Tuesday, to protest against the government's alleged moves to take them off the streets. Street vendor unions have taken serious objections to Mr. Shivakumar's recent statements. 'The survey has registered only 27,000 street vendors, while the civic body has given loans under the PM SVAnidhi scheme to over 70,000 street vendors in the city. The survey has deliberately kept out vendors to show lesser numbers. Now the government cannot turn around and say only these 27,000 vendors will be allowed to hawk. Moreover, Mr. Shivakumar wants to evict these registered vendors as well, giving them electric push carts, asking them not to occupy any permanent spots. This is in clear violation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014,' said S. Babu, president, Karnataka Progressive Street Vendors' Association. 'Where is the space for the poor in Brand Bengaluru?' he asked, referring to the campaign initiated by Mr. Shivakumar. Street vendors are also upset over recent eviction drives by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials targeting street vendors. Recently eviction drives were held at Church Street, Jayanagar, Vijaynagar and St. John's Hospital Road. 'BBMP officials are seizing vendor's material and demanding an undertaking that they will not sell at that place, to even return the goods. These are illegal pressure tactics,' said advocate Vinay Sreenivasa. 'There is no social security or legal protection for unlisted vendors. Tuesday's protest aims to demand issuance of ID cards, basic facilities in markets, and a halt to unlawful evictions,' Mr. Babu added.
