Vizag night food court vendors go ‘begging’ in protest

Night food court vendors in Visakhapatnam protest their financial crisis after removal, seeking urgent support from authorities.

The indefinite strike by night food court vendors against their displacement has entered its 17th day, in Visakhapatnam on Friday. In their attempt to draw attention to their plight, the vendors staged a ‘Bhikshatana’ protest on Old Jail Road, symbolically begging to highlight their worsening financial condition.

The vendors alleged that it has been nearly seven months since the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) removed the night food court under ‘Operation Life to Urban Green Spaces (LUNGS)’, citing irregularities, and promised alternative shops to eligible beneficiaries with a few days. They expressed dissent over the continued delay alleging apathy from the corporation. They also alleged that despite launching an indefinite strike over two weeks ago, no leaders from the ruling party have visited them or provided any assurance of action.

According to the vendors, the prolonged loss of business has pushed many into severe financial distress, as the food court was their primary source of livelihood. They said they are now struggling to manage household expenses, which has forced them to intensify their protest.

During the demonstration, several vendors shared that they have been surviving by mortgaging gold and taking loans from private sources. They also expressed serious concern over their inability to pay house rents and meet their children’s educational expenses for the upcoming academic year.

Night Food Court Association president, K. Srikanth, stated that nearly 1,000 people are directly and indirectly dependent on the night food court for their livelihood. He pointed out that while there were originally 158 stalls, the GVMC has identified 110 as genuine beneficiaries, as approved by the Urban Community Development (UCD) wing.

He further said that the authorities had proposed to provide container-based stalls under the ‘Smart Street Vending Zones’ initiative, for which vendors were asked to contribute ₹2.5 lakh each through bank loans supported by the corporation. However, the project has yet to materialise.