Khwairamband women vendors resort to roadside vending
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 09 2016 :
After a
massive earthquake of 6.8
magnitude on Richter scale hit the
State on Jan 4 causing partial
damage to the only world's
women market, Khwairamband
Keithel, vendors of the two Ima
Keithels sold their goods on the
roadside.
Women vendors of Luxmi
Market and New Market No 3
sold their goods by the busy
streets of Imphal.
Two among
the three Ima Keithels of Imphal
sustained extensive damages in
the quake.
Following the quake which
damaged number of structures
in the State, the State Government
kept sealed the buildings
of both Ima Keithels shortly
after the quake out of fear of
collapse.
With the markets being kept
sealed for five consecutive
days, women vendors, left with
no other options, have sold
their things on the roadside.
Though construction work
of a temporary market shed for
the 2000 women vendors of
the two keithels has started
along the Thangal bazaar road,
some women vendors expressed
scepticism that the
temporary shed may not accommodate
all women vendors.
It was also learnt that the
temporary market shed will not
pose any disturbance to business
establishments situated on
both sides of the Thangal Bazar
road.
Meanwhile, a women vendor
L Manitombi told The
Sangai Express that she had
started selling her goods after
all other women took to the
streets and footpath today.
However, some vendors
who sold their goods on the
roadside have taken shelter in
the evacuated market building
when there was light rainfall
today.
"As the shower began, I had
to run inside the market shed
which are already damaged by
the quake, though there is apprehension
that it might
collapse," Manitombi added.
Later she appealed to the
State Government to find an
alternate mean at the earliest for
the women vendors.
Women vendors selling
their goods on the roadside also
resulted in traffic congestion.