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Displaced vendors launch silent protest

BERHAMPUR: Displaced vendors from Kamapalli and Lanjipalli overbridge area staged a novel protest to press for their rehabilitation.

They started indefinite silent dharna in front of the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division in the city from Monday.

As a mark of protest they tied black ribbons to their mouths. The protest was organised under the banner of ‘Kamapalli-Lanjipalli Overbridge Byabasayi Sangh'.

President of the organisation Bipin Dash said they opted for this Gandhian way of silent protest as their verbal and written requests to authorities for rehabilitation had failed.

“Our voices were ignored, so we opted for silence as a mark of protest,” he said. These displaced vendors are demanding their rehabilitation.

According to them this can be done through establishment of a new vending zone for them. Municipal authorities say these traders can start their business at the open space near the recently inaugurated Mardaraj vending zone in front of MKCG Medical College. This vending zone was established to rehabilitate the traders, who were displaced from Kamapalli market which was abolished by the authorities.

The agitating vendors are the small time traders.

They used to run their small trading points under Kamapalli-Lanjipalli overbridge. They were removed from the spot as they were causing traffic problem in the area.

Mr Dash said they were ready to be rehabilitated near the Mardaraj vending zone but they wanted separate demarcated area for them. In May these displaced vendors had also resorted to dharna and had called off their stir after promise from MLA R.C.C. Patnaik. T

hey alleged that despite promises nothing had been done yet for their rehabilitation although they have lost their only source of livelihood.

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