Traders in Kozhikode announce protest against unauthorised street vending
Traders affiliated with the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES) in Kozhikode have announced a protest against what they describe as the growing presence of unauthorised street vendors operating outside areas earmarked for vending by local self-government institutions. The district committee plans a march to the Kozhikode Corporation office at 10 a.m. on October 6, 2026, followed by a dharna demanding immediate enforcement action.
What the protest is about
According to KVVES functionaries, the spread of vending activities on public streets and directly in front of established shops has become a major challenge for small retailers who operate with the required licences and pay statutory dues. The organisation alleges that traders running legal businesses are being undercut by vendors who set up outside designated zones and are not subject to the same regulatory and financial obligations.
KVVES maintains that many of its members shoulder recurring costs such as shop rent, licence fees, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and professional tax. In contrast, it alleges, unauthorised vendors are operating in the same high-footfall areas without equivalent compliance or costs. The presence of such sellers immediately outside storefronts has already dented sales for legitimate businesses and, in some instances, left traders contemplating closure, the body argues.
Planned march and dharna on October 6
The KVVES district committee in Kozhikode will lead a procession to the Corporation office at 10 a.m. on October 6, culminating in a dharna at the venue. The protest is part of a wider call issued by the State committee of the organisation. KVVES has warned that if its demands are not addressed promptly, the agitation will be scaled up and replicated at other municipal corporations and gram panchayats across Kerala.
Demands to enforce designated vending zones
The traders’ body has called for strict enforcement of the Street Vendors Act and for vending to be confined to locations identified by local self-government institutions. It is also demanding the immediate removal of vendors operating outside these designated areas.
KVVES argues that clear implementation of vending plans and adherence to officially designated zones would ease congestion, reduce conflict between retailers and street vendors, and ensure fair competition for traders who comply with regulations.
Opposition to proposed MDR on UPI transactions
Separately, KVVES has announced its opposition to a proposal to levy a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions above ₹2,000. As part of this protest, the organisation has called on merchants to boycott UPI payments on October 15, 2026. On the same day, the body will organise a march and dharna to the Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.
Traders under the KVVES banner contend that introducing MDR on higher-value UPI payments would add to operational costs at a time when businesses are already grappling with competitive pressures and statutory outgoings. The planned boycott is intended to register their objection to any additional charges on digital transactions.
Possible escalation if demands go unmet
KVVES has cautioned that if authorities fail to act on its demands concerning unauthorised vending, the organisation will broaden its protest to cover more urban and rural local bodies. The traders’ association says it is prepared for sustained agitation to press for what it describes as equitable enforcement of laws and protection for compliant small businesses.
What to watch next
All eyes will be on the Kozhikode Corporation’s response ahead of the October 6 march and dharna. The breadth of participation by traders across the district, as well as any subsequent decisions by civic authorities regarding enforcement in non-designated vending areas, will shape the next phase of the agitation. The October 15 UPI boycott and demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram are expected to serve as a statewide show of strength for the organisation’s broader set of demands.
Conclusion
KVVES’s planned actions in Kozhikode spotlight ongoing tensions between organised retailers and unauthorised street vendors over the use of public spaces and compliance burdens. By tying its local protest to a statewide call and linking street-vending issues to opposition against a proposed MDR on UPI transactions, the traders’ body is seeking to rally broader support while pressing civic and state authorities for immediate, visible enforcement and policy clarity.
