Pune: Over 350 Street Vendors Attend Public Hearing; 250 Submit Written Complaints
Pune, 5th October 2026: More than 350 street vendors attended a public hearing in Pune on Sunday as part of a pilot social audit of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Around 250 vendors submitted written complaints highlighting issues related to vending certificates, pending applications, seizures of goods and eviction drives.
The public hearing was organised at the G. L. Apte Auditorium to mark the conclusion of the pilot social audit conducted in Ward 12 under the Ghole Road Regional Office. The audit was carried out by CRISP, SAFAR and Barefoot College and is expected to contribute to the preparation of social audit guidelines for the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
As part of the five-day audit, four teams visited different areas of the ward and interacted with 839 street vendors. Several vendors reported that they had not received vending certificates despite being surveyed. Others raised concerns over pending applications for changes in names, addresses and the nature of their businesses.
Vendors also alleged that goods were being seized and eviction action was being taken without prior notice. Other concerns included delays in the promised food zone, disputes between vendors over vending spaces and the absence of a fresh survey after surveys conducted between 2014 and 2017.
Some vendors also claimed that they had received PM SVANidhi loans without applying for them, raising questions about the implementation of the scheme.
The hearing was conducted by a panel comprising retired Justice G. D. Parekh, senior labour activist Nitin Pawar, Professor Shiva Dube, Advocate Parikrama Khot and activist Ibrahim Khan.
Justice G. D. Parekh stressed the importance of ensuring that members of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) understand the provisions of the law. He said that adequate information should be provided to TVC members so that they can take decisions with empathy.
Nitin Pawar said the Street Vendors Act is comprehensive but needs to place greater emphasis on the welfare of vendors. He also questioned the role of the Encroachment Department as the nodal department for implementing the law and said that a separate department should be responsible for it.
Professor Shiva Dube highlighted the working conditions faced by street vendors, particularly the lack of basic facilities. She pointed out that vendors often work without adequate water and drainage facilities and have to deal with extreme heat on a daily basis.
During the hearing, panel members also questioned officials regarding action taken by the Encroachment Department, particularly the seizure of vendors’ goods and the fines imposed for releasing them.
The panel questioned officials about the basis and rules under which such fines are imposed. A proposal was also placed before the Town Vending Committee to conduct similar public hearings in different wards regularly.
The cases and concerns raised during the hearing will be forwarded to the concerned departments. Organisers said the findings would also contribute to the preparation of social audit guidelines under the Street Vendors Act.
The pilot social audit was organised by CRISP, SAFAR and Barefoot College.
