International Hawkers Day, Kolkata 2012

Tomorrow is International Hawkers Days. Kolkata Hawkers have been fighting evictions since October 2011, with the most recent evictions being in March 2012 along the E.M. Bypass. They have been protesting in various ways, marches, candle light vigils, human chains, taking out a 3000 (ish) rally to the Kolkata Municipal Development Authority (photos below), a bhukha michhil. Tomorrow, on the occassion of International Hawkers Day, they were supposed to go on a Jail Bharo: filling up jails as a mark of resistance and protest against evictions. However, their movement has apparently met with tentative success, with the state government recently agreeing to their demands. This is ofcourse a verbal/informal acknowledgement, however, it's a start.

Tomorrow there will be a rally from Wellington Square at 4 PM. If you are in Kolkata, or know someone in Kolkata, do come and lend your solidarity!:)