Vendors suspend stir till December 26 meeting
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 24 2022: Informing that the ongoing protests against an order notified by Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) has been suspended until the meeting to be chaired by the MAHUD minister with authorities concerned on December 26, street vendors of Khwairamband Keithel have cautioned of intensifying the protests if the decision adopted during the meeting turns out to be unfavourable to the vendors.

On Saturday, representatives of Road Side Vendors' Welfare Association, Khwairamband Keithel, Imphal Panthoibi Ima Sana Keithel Nupi Lup Temporary Market, Young Women Street Vendors' Welfare Union, Ima Leisana Street Vendors' Welfare Union, Minority Muslim Vendors' Welfare Union, Schedule Tribe Women Vendors' Welfare Union and Salai Taret Apunba Nupi Samaj Lup jointly convened a press meet at the Temporary Market, Khwairamband Keithel.

Speaking to the newspersons, Road Side Vendors' Welfare Association Khwairamband Keithel general secretary Tongbam Kiranmala appreciated the government for constructing a market (or the street vendors.

However, even before the construction was completed, IMC issued various orders, which have been putting vendors in huge difficulties.

Denouncing the IMC's orders, the vendors launched a series of protests from December 22 .

Six veteran vendors also launched indefinite fast.

Amidst this, an order was issued informing that the MAHUD minister would be chairing a meeting on the matter on December 26 at 2 pm.

The vendors believe that the government will discuss and do what is favourable to the vendors during the meeting, she stated and informed that all ongoing protests have been suspended till the end of the meeting.

Kiranmala, however, cautioned of intensify the protests if the government takes any decision which would be disadvantageous to the vendors and urged the government not to continue causing disharmony among the poor women street vendors.

She then refuted the allegations of some street vendors being driven away from the market with dangerous weapons and as such, urged all concerned not to spread baseless rumours.

On Friday, Khwairamband Keithel Street Vendors' Welfare Union stormed the office of the IMC demanding implementation of an order issued by the state government for allowing the vendors to sit at the Temporary Market.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines, Union assistant secretary Leimapokpam Nan-dita recounted that taking into account of the plight of the street vendors, the government issued an order on October 16, allowing the vendors to set up shops at the Temporary Market on rotation basis.

Although the initiative was highly appreciated, those with powerful and wealthy connections grabbed all spots in the Market and the order could not be put into effect.

She continued that when the vendors try to set up shops, those who had already occupied the spots refuse to give up fire spots and drove the vendors away, thereby resulting in scuffles.

The street vendors who are registered and have identity cards given by the IMC then filed multiple complaints to the Corporation for not being allowed to set up shops in the market.

The vendors had even set up shops in IMC complex in protest, she recounted.

The government took note of the situation and issued an order to allow the vendors to set up shops on rotation basis.

Accordingly, the street vendors went to the market on Friday but were driven out again which led to another scuffle.

As such, the vendors stormed IMC office demanding effective implementation of the government's order and allowing them to set up shops in the market, Nandita said, while cautioning of intense agitations in case of failing to do so.

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