Lockdown effect: Khwairamband Keithel vendors seek financial assistance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2020: With the growing need and depleting resources due to prolonged closure of Khwairamband Keithel and other major business centres, the vendors dependent at these markets and have came out to seek financial assistance from the State Government.

It may be noted that major markets in the State have been shut for almost three months as a part of the lockdown to contain the transmission of COVID-19 .

However, the State Government, as a part of the gradual relaxation of the lockdown, has allowed opening of shops at Thangal Keithel and Paona Keithel on rotational basis depending on the products the shops are selling.

Speaking to media at Laikhulembi Shanglen at Uripok, spokeswomen of Manipur Keithel Nupi Mari and Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup, Laishram Memma stated that the women vendors who used to earn minimal income and sustain livelihood are in dire straits as the lockdown continues for more than two months.

Although the State and Centre Government has announced and started phased relaxation, the Ema Keithel is still out of the relaxation area, she said while urging the State Government to consider the plight of the women vendors, with or without license, and provide financial assistance from the Chief Minister's COVID-19 Relief Fund on humanitarian grounds.

Memma also urged all concerned to waive off Municipal tax for the period under lockdown while asking the State Government to issue an order to restrain money lenders from collecting interests.

She also drew attention of the State Government to study and deliberate on the feasibility of gradual opening of the Ema Keithel so that normalcy can be returned soon and their suffering are reduced.

Expressing that the women vendors of the Ema Keithel have been supporting all developmental activities taken up by the State Government, she urged the latter to reach out to the vendor associations, assessed conditions of vendors and hold a discussion for welfare measures.

Memma also asked the women vendors to continue to strictly observe safety guidelines issued by the health authorities and support the State's fight against the dreaded disease which has claimed more than 4 lakh lives globally and more than 7,500 lives in India so far.

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