KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 15
Angered by the forced removal of street vendors, small scale resellers staged a demonstration at KMC office today.
Recently, KMC has started a campaign to make city footpaths free of vendors claiming it obstructed the smooth movement of motorists and pedestrians. But, the vendors say that the local government's action has deprived them of their only source of income. Scores of vendors and their families came to the KMC office today morning and surrounded it. They have accused the local government of not giving them any alternative by banning their business.
The vendors demanded that the KMC either provide them job or give them chance to earn their living through self-employment.
The street vendors, who often belong to the lower-class, have slim chances of doing business from rented rooms and apartment as it would need large sums of money.
The protesters are even angrier as Dashain, the country's greatest festival is just around, when people throng city areas to buy things. In fact, many people start their business from the street during Dashain as it ensures high sales.
The vendors displayed slogans such as 'enlist self-employed people', 'give job or give opportunity for self-employment', 'don't snatch food from my family' among others.
Apart from clearing street vendors, KMC has also been running a campaign to remove unauthorised structures in business complexes.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 16, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
