The recent BMC action against them apart from coming after a span of 7 years has been taken despite the former’s assurance of no-action.
The professional photographers, who earn their livelihood clicking tourists at the Gateway of India, are an enraged lot. For, they claim that the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) action against them apart from coming after a span of 7 years has been taken despite the former’s assurance of no-action.
BMC officials from Establishment Department on Saturday accosted a handicapped photographer Raju Mishra, 40, and snatched away his lens camera. “The camera is completely damaged, as during the skirmish the officials pulled at it causing the lens to come apart. Also, the cameras of my other colleagues were seized by the officials,” said a jobless Mishra, who has a 10-member family.
“Mishra has been asked to produce ration card and receipts of the camera along with a fine of Rs5,000 to get back the camera. It’s very difficult for him to pay such a huge amount,” said R K Chaudhary, one of his colleagues.
Stating that it was unusual for BMC officials to seize cameras, an Establishment Department official said, “The photographers need to maintain discipline and keep the area clean. We will have to check if any BMC official has gone out of his way while taking action against the photographers.”
S P Singh, president of the Gateway Photographers Union said it was for the first time in seven years that BMC has raided any photographer from the area. “Then additional BMC Commissioner G R Khairnar had assured us with no-action after our hunger strike in 2000. The BMC since did not take any action against us as we are not hawkers,” Singh said.
The association has fought months-long battle against the local police action in the year 2005-06 and has got some respite after regular pursuance on various levels. “Now, police don’t take action against us, but this is a new thing come up. We will meet BMC officials on Monday,” said Singh.
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