JNIMS vendors' stalls dismantled, sit-in staged
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2018:
Denouncing 'forced' evacuation/dismantling of 31 stalls/shops at JNIMS, Porompat yesterday, women vendors today staged a sit in protest inside the hospital campus demanding a proper place/area for their businesses.
Speaking to media persons, Toijam Ibecha, a vendor, said that stalls, shops including rice hotels have been there inside the JNIMS campus since many years catering the need of the patients and families.
According to the women at the sit-in, on November 14, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Director, Prof Th Bhimo Singh issued an order to evacuate and dismantle all the shops, stalls and rice hotels inside JNIMS campus within two weeks.
The shops were evacuated and dismantled 'forcibly', said the angry women.
A team of police arrived at around 11 am yesterday and announced about dismantling the shops/premises.
The police began dismantling the business establishments even before they could pack up their goods, alleged the women lamenting that they were not given ample time to evacuate.
Altogether 31 establishments were dismantled by the police.
Saying that they have been serving the hospital and people in the best way they know for many years, the women maintained that the Chief Minister and the Director (JNIMS) should understand and acknowledge their contributions towards the hospital.
"We have been serving the patients and their families food and other daily essential vital items since many years," said Ibecha condemning the sudden step of the authorities concerned which has left the vendors hapless.
The women further cautioned that they will launch stringent agitations until they are provided with a proper place to run their businesses.