Kashmir Pen News Desk
Jammu, January 29: In a heartening development, Shahnaz, a struggling street vendor whose emotional appeal recently went viral on social media, has received assurance of relief from the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). On Wednesday, the JMC Commissioner personally visited her, listened to her grievances, and assured her of institutional support.
Earlier this week, Shahnaz broke down on camera while narrating her ordeal, questioning how she was expected to survive amid repeated eviction drives and alleged harassment. “Should I sell drugs or sell myself? Where do I set up my cart?” she had asked tearfully, highlighting the absence of a secure place to run her small business — her sole means of livelihood.
The video triggered widespread outrage and empathy online, with citizens, activists, and rights groups terming her plight emblematic of the larger struggles faced by street vendors across the city. Many pointed out that despite legal safeguards under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, implementation on the ground remains weak.
Responding to the public outcry, the JMC Commissioner met Shahnaz in person and reportedly assured her that she would be allotted a suitable and stable location to continue her work with dignity. The intervention has been widely welcomed as a positive and humane step by the civic administration.
Observers hope the episode will prompt more sensitive and consistent enforcement of street vendor protection laws, ensuring that informal workers are not pushed to desperation but supported as vital contributors to the urban economy.
