In Solidarity with street vendors.

The Bihar government, following the formation of the new NDA administration after the November 2025 assembly elections, launched statewide anti-encroachment drives targeting illegal structures, including those occupied by street vendors.

These operations, often involving bulldozers, aimed to clear public spaces such as roads, footpaths, and markets to improve traffic flow and comply with court directives.

The drives began immediately post-election and intensified through December, extending into January 2026 with focused campaigns in Patna and other districts.

While officials described the actions as necessary for urban regulation, vendors and opposition groups criticized them as "Bulldozer Raj," alleging they disproportionately affected the poor without adequate rehabilitation.

Aashray Abhiyan observed January 20 as 'Vendors' day' with a public meeting for the focus community held at Tata Parking Space near the Patna junction. Several street vendors attended the event. The meeting was addressed by member of the Legislative Council, Mrs Sashi Yadav, Advocate Prashant Kumar, and Aashray Abhiyan Director Dorothy Fernandes.

Sister Dorothy, in her address, urged the vendors to remain united in their struggle to protect their rights guaranteed by the law, in the face of what appears to be official disregard of the provisions of the Street Vendors Act 2014, as well as the Bihar Government rules 2017.

Sister Dorothy greets MLC Shashi Yadav

Advocate Prashant Kumar, simplified the provisions of the law in the common man's language, emphasizing that the Town Vending committee has virtually no role and was never consulted before the demolitions.

Mr Dilip Patel, Sr Dorothy, Ms Sashi Yadav, Adv. Prashant Kumar (speaking)

MLC, Mrs Sashi Yadav, promised to continue raising the issues of the affected poor and the vendors in the legislative council sessions, and said that it was the duty of the government to provide viable alternatives for the vendors before demolishing their means of livelihood in the name of beautification of the city.

The members of the Aashray Abhiyan team: Rajesh Kumar, Dilip Patel, Sudarshan Kumar, and Ranjeet Kumar organised the event.