People throng Khwairamband Keithel with downtrending COVID-19
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2021: With the rate of Covid infection and deaths due to the novel disease dropping slightly in the State, the rate of people swarming in and around the Khwairamband Keithel and the temporary market also increases sharply.

Observing the surge in people flocking Bazar areas, the shopkeepers and vendors think that allowing resumption of all businesses in the Keithel areas at this point of time would be beneficial for them in making up for the lost time.

Apart from the number of market-goers in the keithel areas increasing considerable, traffic along important roads of the Imphal areas such as Paona Keithel, Thangal Keithel, MG Avenue, BT Road, Kanglapat Road, Nagamapal Road, Wahengbam Leikai Road, Uripok Road, Khuyathong Road, Governor Road, Keishampat, CM Secretariat Road, road leading to Singjamei, Konung Mamang Road and North AOC Road are also becoming busier each passing day.

Talking to The Sangai Express, one Thounaojam Leiyonbi from Wangoi Longjam Leikai who vends vegetables in front of the Cheirap Court said that most of the vendors buy commodities (fishes, vegetables etc.) from bulk suppliers at the Khwairamband Keithel in the early hours for selling.

Continuing that lockdown period was a trying time for street vendors in running their families from the little margin they got from selling vegetables, fishes etc, she added that the vendors are still bearing the brunt of the pandemic as they are not able to resume their business freely due to fear of police and the disease.

Though the State had lifted the lockdown a few months back and several activities regaining momentum after a screeching halt for months, many of the vendors are unable to feed their families daily, she said and added that the vendors might breathe a sigh of relief if the Khwairamband Keithel is opened.

Leiyonbi further stated that sky-rocketing of winter vegetables and decline in the production of agricultural produce are other factors that trouble those in the vending business.

She then appealed to the State Government to extend the business hours of street vendors and arrange some relief measures for them.

One man who runs a shop at Thangal Keithel also appealed to the State Government to extend the business days of shops and other establishments in the keithel as Covid situation in the State is improving.

Even though shops adjacent to main roads of Thngal Keithel are given the green signal to resume business on alternate days, small shops in alleyways are still closed, he added.

He also opined that opening Khwairamband Keithel and the Temporary Market under certain guidelines would be profitable for both the vendors and the State.

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