Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27: Women vendors today forcibly entered the official residence of Bhubaneswar legislator Bijay Mohanty aka Badal to protest against the demolition of the zone dedicated exclusively to them near the Science Park.

They demanded immediate rehabilitation from the MLA.

The vendors have been on the warpath since October 8 when a joint eviction team of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) razed the vending zone, which had 67 shops, despite stiff resistance from the women. One of the vendors had fallen unconscious during the eviction drive.

"Mayor Anant Narayan Jena and legislator Mohanty had inaugurated the vending zone in April this year. Both of them had said the all-woman vending zone would be a role model for other civic bodies of the country. But on October 8 when we were taking part in the padyatra of ruling BJD they backstabbed us and razed our shops," alleged president of the vending zone Golapi Bairiganjan.

The women threatened to intensify their agitation and warned that they would also barge into the office of BMC commissioner and residence of the mayor if they were not rehabilitated quickly.

"We have lost our livelihood. I had invested all my savings in the shop," said another vendor.

President of All Odisha Street Vendors' Association, Pratap Sahu also criticised the civic body for its action.

"Representatives of 13 states had visited the first all-woman vending zone and also applauded the civic body for setting it up. At a time when the state government is determined to do its best for women empowerment, the way the civic body took way the livelihood of the women is not at all acceptable," alleged Sahu.

He said that his organisation would extend their support to the women.

Legislator Bijay Mohanty assured the women of their rehabilitation.

"As a people's representative, I will take up the issue with the BMC commissioner and the mayor," he said.