Old City hawkers lament poor rehabilitation plans

CHARMINAR: Weeks after the near completion of the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP), hawkers in Old City still lament that nothing has been done for their welfare by the present regime in the last four years.
Hawkers’ bodies say they have been taken for a ride with hollow words and no concrete initiatives taken to rehabilitate vendors or hawkers to a permanent place so far.
One of the vendors told TOI that they have to face daily challenges, with sometimes traffic cops and shopkeepers not allowing them to do business in and around their shops. As a result their daily earnings have taken a huge hit and now rainy season is likely to add to their financial woes.
“I have to make rounds from one place to another one or will have to switch my cart frequently to different locations. Thus, most of my time, I spend in changing place and do less business. Sometimes traffic personnel force me to leave the place, sometimes shopkeepers insist me to remove my pushcart said,” Md Ghouse, one of the vendors.
The vendors say the concerned authorities turned a blind eye towards illegal occupants and haphazard parking.
Vendor Mohammed Saddam recalled how its been four years in carving the new state out of AP, but unfortunately nothing has been done in the hawkers’ interest. “While the government has done much to beautify the historical Charminar by paralysing our daily earnings, we were assured that we will be relocated to Salar Jung Museum but the project has not been cleared for years,” Saddam said.
Mohammed Qasim, another vendor, said no government has cleared their stand towards poor vendors.
“The GHMC demolition drive has deprived the vendors’ rights. Instead of providing a place, they are being rendered jobless. If the government is not able to ensure 12% reservation, then let the minorities live peacefully. Now, please don’t punish in the name of encroachment,” added Qasim.