IMC to issue ID cards to street vendors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2014 : All street vendors of Khwairamband Keithel would be issued iden-tity cards, said Imphal Muni- cipal Council's Bazar Board chairperson S Tiken.

S Tiken was speaking at the 15th foundation day of the Road Side Vendors' Welfare Association at GM Hall here today.

All street vendors who possess identity cards issued by IMC would be given space for vending their merchandise.

Once identity cards are issued, street vendors would no longer be subjected to any form of harassment, Tiken assured.

Any attempt to exact mo-ney by Traffic police, IMC staff or VDF should not be entertained, he advised the street vendors.

He also called upon the street vendors to submit their personal details like names, addresses, trade etc to IMC if any of them have not yet sub-mitted these details.

IMC Chairperson A Ni-mai, Deputy Labour Commis- sioner E Tomba, Road Side Vendors' Welfare Association president Kshetri Tama and MKNM general secretary Laishram Mema were also seated on the dais as presidium members.

Giving key-note address of the foundation day function, Kshetri Tama said that street vendors of Khwairamband Keithel have been suffering from all kinds of difficulties and harassment since the past many years.

Street vendors now need not worry too much like in the past for the National Street Vendor Policy 2004 has been already enacted and the Revised National Street Vendor Policy is being implemented in the country.

A bill pertaining to street vendors was passed by the Lok Sabha on September 9, 2013 .

In addition, there is a 16-point directive of the Supreme Court.

Capitalising on the foundation day function, Tama put a five point charter of demands to the relevant autho- rities on behalf of their association.

The demands raised by the association were setting up of town vending committee, issuance of vendor licence to all the street vendors at the earliest possible time, establishment of a new body which can ensure social security for street vendors, acco-mmodation of street vendors in the temporary market sheds, some portions of which are being used as parking lots and upper storeys of the three Ima Keithels and putting an end to all kinds of harassments meted out to street vendors.

A Nimai said that only ge-nuine street vendors should apply for identity cards.

Those who come for vending goods once or twice should not apply for street vendor identity cards.

E Tomba called upon street vendors to take full advantage of the various schemes taken up exclusively for unorganised sectors.

In case street vendors, who belong to unorganised sector, do not take benefits guaranteed by various Government sponsored schemes, no legislation can improve the condition of street vendors.

Social scientist Dhanabir Laishram said that the town vending committee which be constituted under a directive of the Supreme Court should identify genuine street vendors and work for their welfare.

Assistant Professor Chinglen Maisnam underscored the importance of unity among street vendors.

Senior journalist Ng Liklaileima called upon street vendors to be sensitive to all kinds of crimes against women instead of shutting oneself to all other affairs except their profession.

Street vendors too should share due responsibility in combating crime against women.

The function where Md Ali of the National Hawker Federation was also present culminated with felicitation of nine street vendors who have earning their livelihood as street vendors for the last 25/30 years.

Comment