Little Indians are on the warpath

By Nicole Williams
More than 100 people protested to make their voices heard by Places Victoria (formerly VicUrban) and Planning Minister Matthew Guy and urge them to help the floundering Little India precinct.
The buildings on the popular Foster Street strip were purchased by Places in 2008 but traders who lease the properties say business has slumped since the acquisition and they don’t know when Places Victoria will ask them to vacate.
Protest organiser and owner of Raj Rani Creations Kushaliya Vaghela said traders didn’t have outrageous demands; they just wanted to be treated fairly.
“We are just asking for our entitlements and we don’t want more than that,” Ms Vaghela said.
“We are asking for rent relief, compensation and some certainty.”
“Little India traders are in desperate need of help so they can survive.”
Cindy Amankwatia, owner of African Braids and Beauty on Foster Street, said she operated the business from Thomas Street for seven years before she was told to move onto Foster Street by Places.
“Since VicUrban (now Places) took over, my business has been going down and down,” she said.
Cindy said the fall in customers coming into her shop had meant she was sometimes late on her rent.
“At the moment I am sometimes late with rent, and they lock me out,” she said.
“I’ve tried talking to them but they say I don’t have to have a business if I can’t make rent.”
Ms Amankwatia sees no future for her business if nothing changes.
“I can’t see any future for the business; I can’t keep trading like this.”
Traders handed Shadow Planning Minister Brian Tee a petition containing more than 800 signatures supporting Little India traders to present before parliament.
“Businesses are going down and life savings are being lost,” Mr Tee said.
“The Baillieu Government must act now to help the traders and save this iconic and treasured part of Melbourne before it is too late.”
In parliament on Tuesday, Planning Minister Matthew Guy said he would again meet with Places Victoria and the traders to try to resolve the issue, but there was no quick fix.