Ensure security to families of migrant street vendors during Dasara, NGO tells Karnataka government

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A family selling balloons in Mysuru during Dasara festivities. The Dasara in Mysuru offers an earning opportunity for street vendors. Every year, many people and families from across Karnataka camp in Mysuru during the festival. | Photo Credit: SRIRAM MA

Odanadi Seva Samsthe, an NGO engaged in the rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked and sexually exploited women and children, has urged Karnataka’s Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to pay attention to the security of vulnerable migrant families, who visit Mysuru during Dasara for street vending.

The directors of Odanadi — Stanley and Parashuram — pointed out that several poor families from different parts of Karnataka, and also from outside the State, come to Mysuru during the Dasara festival to earn some income by selling balloons, toys, ribbons, and whistles.

“These poor families receive little or no attention during the Mysuru Dasara celebrations,” they stated before recalling the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl, who sold balloons along with her family outside the Dasara exhibition in 2025.

The body of the minor girl, who belongs to a nomadic family from Kalaburagi, was found near Doddakere Maidan.

“A festival that takes place at the cost of the safety, dignity, and lives of women and children can have neither meaning nor true celebration. Instead, it casts a shadow of pain, hunger, despair, and mourning,” according to the statement from Odanadi.

Hence, they urged Mr. Shivakumar to provide free accommodation, toilets, drinking water, and protection to the homeless and vulnerable families who come to Mysuru for street vending. “The government should provide free accommodation, toilets, drinking water, as well as security during their stay in Mysuru,” according to the Odanadi directors.

They said the government should set up learning centres with sports and cultural activities for the children from these families, who do not attend school.

Also, childcare centres should be opened for all children below the age of five belonging to these families. 

Odanadi drew the attention of the authorities to instances of women being made to beg while holding infants who are administered intoxicating tablets and put to sleep. “Such practices are not conducive to the dignity and image of Karnataka. We request that such women be identified, and that the children be rescued from this form of forced begging,” urged Odanadi.

Odanadi has taken exception to some tourism operators allegedly promoting ‘sex tourism’ in Mysuru by allegedly running prostitution networks, including in lodges, massage parlours, spas, beauty parlours, resorts, and homestays, with women being brought in from other States and countries. 

“There is a high possibility of minor girls becoming victims of these networks. Such activities are already spreading across Mysuru. There is a possibility that prostitution-related activities may increase further during Dasara,” stated Odanadi.

They urged the police department, which is responsible for curbing such activities, to treat this serious issue as a priority.

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