1. The Descent and Defiling of the Broom Wielding Goddess of Good Governance Need to Affirm the Sacredness of Human Rights Madhu Purnima Kishwar

2. Story of the Descent of Manushi Swachhanarayani The Broom Wielding Goddess of Good Governance and Social Justice who took avatar to lend support to our battle on behalf of street vendors.

7. Different forms and manifestations of this Universal Creative Energy are personified in a vast array of goddesses. She is worshipped under different names in different places and in different appearances as the symbol of life giving powers as well as the power to destroy creation itself. Lakhsmi, the Godess of wealth, Saraswati personifies wisdom and learning and is presiding deity of the arts and literature. Durga is the vanquisher of evil

10. It is common to people of different religions to worship at each other’s sacred sites. India has a long tradition of spiritual leaders whose followings cut across religious, caste, and other divides. Example, Lal Ded of Kashmir. In the early censuses many recorded themselves as Hindu-Muslim. Indic culture and faith traditions unite people while modern “democratic” politics divides them. Sant Kabir-both Hindus and Muslims claim him as their own Characteristic Features…

11. The Story of the Avatar of Manushi Swachhanarayani The Broom Wielding Goddess of Good Governance and Social Justice who took avatar to lend support to our battle for policy reform work to free the livelihoods street vendors from extortionist mafias.

13. A legitimate occupation declared illegal. As per India’s municipal laws it is unlawful to vend or hawk in the streets without a license. This is based on British municipal laws of 1820’s For decades municipal corporations all over India stopped issuing vending licenses. No. of vendors in Delhi: more than 300,000. Licenses issued: less than 3000. This situation prevails all over India.

14. The illegal status of vendors and unrealistic quotas on their numbers makes street vendors vulnerable to bribes, beatings and extortion. In Delhi alone the terror unleashed by the License-Quota-Raid-Raj for vendors leads to loss of income through bribes and confiscation of goods worth Rs 500 Crores per annum plus long periods of enforced idleness. Mumbai: Rs 400 crores

15. Supreme Court pronouncement in Sodan Singh and others Vs NDMC But the licensing procedures sanctified by the Supreme Court though well meaning are inherently flawed. They facilitate extortion rackets. “… the fundamental right of livelihood under Art 19(1)(g) of the Constitution cannot be denied to street /pavement hawkers,…”

17. Routine Clearance Operation amount to Economic War on Poor Citizens

18. Anil Kumar and his brother sell two pathuras and a plate of chanas with pickle for Rs. 10. They start cooking at 4 a.m. By 7 a.m. they are ready to provide food to working poor living in nearby bastis. On an average, the brothers works nearly 16 hours a day. The bribes they have to pay are as follows: Police .…Rs. 1000 per month MCD health Inspector … . Rs. 400 per month MCD general Inspector .…Rs. 200 per month Another unnamed govt. official .…Rs. 100 per month MCD sweeper .…Rs. 60 per month or Rs. 2 a day. Total … .Rs. 1760 per month ( Figures collected in 2001) A Typical Example of Payoffs

20. Vendors on the run with their goods hastily packed in spread sheets as soon as they see police and municipal inspectors come to clear them. Those who can’t pack up and run fast end up having their goods confiscated to the accompaniment of beatings and abuses. Made to Feel Like Criminals

21. August 2001 , Prime Minister Vajpayee announces New Policy Framework for Street Vendors and Rickshaw Pullers in response to Manushi’s campaign

28. Supreme Court Sanction for Model Market Project In order to protect this work from likely sabotage, the Municipal Commissioner approached the Supreme Court to allow the M.C.D. to undertake two pilot projects, one at Sewa Nagar and the second near CGO complex Extracts from the Order issued by the Supreme Court giving the go-ahead for two Pilot Projects – in Sewa Nagar and opposite CGO Complex April 2003 “… The implementation of any policy or project, howsoever well-motivated it may be, depends on the bona fides and whole-hearted faithful implementation by the agencies involved in the execution. We only hope and trust that such projects and policies shall not be shadowed by corruption and red-tapism which, unfortunately, has become the order of the day…”

30. The State of Sewa Nagar Market before Manushi Took Charge Vendors occupied and wasted huge amounts of space in all the lanes and roads surrounding Sewa Nagar residential blocks. As this scene shows, the vendors are right on the road leaving nearly 12 feet space behind their stalls.

31. …… Before Manushi Took Charge Vendors who were able to pay bigger bribes, were allowed to occupy huge spaces bang on the road- often measuring 20 ft. by 12-15 ft. thus causing road congestion.

32. We Draw up a Sanyam Rekha—Line of Self Discipline First Step Towards Self Governance

33. Enforcing Civic Discipline A penalty of Rs. 100 for each violation of the Sanyam Rekha. Membership of habitual violators is suspended till they make amends and sign a new pact.

34. Taking Charge of Maintaining Cleanliness The salaries of Manushi Safai Brigade come from contributions by vendors with each vendor paying Rs. 30 or 50 per month depending on the amount of garbage they generate.

35. The Start of Broom Worship Worship of the Broom as a deity introduced on December 19, 2001 as a standard ritual in all Manushi Sangathan meetings to inculcate a sense of respect for cleanliness, so lacking in India's civic life. The Broom Deity slowly acquired the form of a full fledged Goddess – Manushi Swacchnarayani.

37. A group of fish vendors taking oath that they will solve their internal conflicts peacefully through dialogue rather than involve the police or local touts to settle scores. Vendors celebrating the festival of the Goddess by ritual worship of girls.

38. After making 6’x6’ ft. stalls there is a 5 ft. wide pavement for pedestrians Park fronts cleared of encroachments and made available as beautiful public spaces Road space wider by 10 ft. than before so vehicular traffic can move without needless obstructions. Legitimate needs of all road users kept in mind

39. New Stalls at Sewa Nagar Balancing aesthetics and functionality Readymade garment sellers are now limited to 6ft x 6 ft space with 5 ft wide pavement. Vendors are not allowed to encroach on pavements.

40. Then … Vendors occupied and wasted huge amounts of space in all the lanes and roads surrounding Sewa Nagar residential blocks. As this scene shows, the vendors are right on the road leaving nearly 12 feet space behind their stalls. New fruit stalls designed by Manushi. Each vendor paid for his/her own stall. and Now…

41. State of Park Fronts before Manushi Took Charge The clutter, squalor and encroachments outside a Sewa Nagar park. A tempo stand and two roomed office of tempo owners who used to put a board outside their office of whichever party came to power in front of the west side park in the project area.

42. Manushi Developed Park Plazas Two encroached park fronts were cleared by Manushi without the use of police force to create spaces for rest and recreation.

43. A view of Swachhnarayani Mandir built with contributions from vendors to reinforce the message that maintaining cleanliness and civic discipline are SACRED DUTIES of all citizens. Swachhnarayani Mandir in the west side park plaza For an account of the “Emergency Avatar of Manushi Swachhnarayani.” Click here

44. The Extortionist Mafia Strikes Back The High Court did not grant a stay order. But the mafia has kept filing additional complaints on bogus grounds to drag on the case. The case is pending adjudication. Even while the case was going on, their terror tactics did not stop. Their main grouse: Manushi did not yield to the demand that we allot number of stalls to them. In this Operation Sabotage, they received full support from influential national as well as local level politicians of both national parties. From the day the pilot project was sanctioned, local politicians who are part of the bribe collecting mafia unleashed a reign of terror. They beat up our members, destroyed the project property repeatedly, threatened us with dire consequences. In addition to goonda tactics, they petitioned the High Court in January 2005 for a stay order against the pilot project

46. A New Goddess Takes Avatar! On 12th March 2005 Manushi Swacchanarayani chose Sewa Nagar hawker market as her abode because we were unable to cope with the violence and threats of the local mafia which attacked our members and threatened them with physical harm if they continued their participation in the self governance project.

49. Manushi Swachhanarayani

50. Emergency Avatar of Manushi Swachhanarayani

51. Our next battle: combating the demon of “untouchability” and caste prejudice

52. The Battle gets Life Threatening The Mafia Takes Over Stalls through Violence and Fraud As the Sewa Nagar market neared completion, the mafia found yet another way of taking over the stalls. Some of them act as local moneylenders who give loans to local vendors at an extortionist rate of interest ranging from 60% to 120 % per annum. They illegally took over the stalls of indebted vendors. One of the gang leaders One of the sealed stalls In January 2007 Manushi and MCD sealed stalls taken over illegally by the mafia. The mafia responded with violent attacks and beat out several project members out of the market. Manushi staff were also beaten up, robbed and prevented from working in the area. Since these criminal elements have police and political support and belong to a powerful community in the neighboring village. Therefore, vendors are terrified of standing up to them.

53. Attempts to Take Over Temple of Swachhnarayani The criminal mafia has also hatched a dangerous plan to take over the Swachhnarayani temple built with contributions of vendors as well as donations from Manushi friends. To achieve this end they are doing their best to foment communal and caste conflict. Local mafia creating a ruckus in front of Swachhnarayani Mandir. through Divisive Politics We Rename Her Mother India who is a symbol of composite, inclusive nationalism. For a Mother all children are equal, Hindu Muslim, Christian, Bahaii, Buddhist or whatever. She will carry a copy of the Indian Constitution in one of her hands once the temple is formally inaugurated after things settle down,