Bama Nagar vegetable vendors protest demanding permission to set up shops

 Vegetable vendors of Bama Nagar and P and T Nagar staged a sit-in protest outside District Collector office here on Tuesday demanding permission to set up a vegetable market in their area.

In the two localities falling under Madurai East Assembly Constituency, a weekly Sunday market was functioning till a resolution was passed by the Madurai Corporation council to remove the Sunday market from the existing location and relocate it to Uchaparambumedu-Tirupalai EB Colony. 

However, claiming it as an injustice to the 300-odd roadside vendors and their families who relied on the business, the vendors staged the protest blocking the Bama Nagar on November 16. 

The protesters said that the new alternative location was unsuitable for developing their business as it did not have visibility. 

But, following talks with the Corporation officials and police, vegetable shops were set up, allowing sales to continue. However, a few days ago, the vegetable vendors who protested on the Bama Nagar were arrested. 

Condemning the arrest and demanding permission to set up shops again, the roadside vegetable vendors, along with AITUC trade union members, during the protest demanded suitable action in the matter.  

The vendors said that they had approached the court to set up vegetable shops in Bama Nagar area and demanded that they be allowed to operate in the same area until the court’s decision was announced.