Women vendors protest stall allotment via draw of lots
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, December 19 2018: Ukhrul Women Vendors Association (Zaoranao shinshim) staged a sit in protest today against allotment of stalls at Ava Market (women market).

It may be mentioned that the protest started on December 13 when Ukhrul Autonomous District Council conducted lottery to allot stalls at the market at ADC office Phungreitang, Ukhrul.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest, Onmila Mayirnao, chairperson of the Women Vendors Association stated that the authorities concerned have disappointed the women vendors by ignoring their prolonged suffering and grievances of selling goods on the roadside for many years at Ukhrul town.

She said that the chance to acquire a stall should be given to the deserving women vendors first and later carry out lottery system.

The association warned that it will continue their protest until their demands are met by the newly constituted managing committee of Ava Market under ADC, Ukhrul dist.

The chairperson maintained that the association had appealed the authority concerned to accommodate at least 160 women at the newly constructed two-storey women market complex.

The total capacity of 228 stalls at the women market have been allotted through lottery system, she said adding that this very action has deceived the rights and the prolonged suffering of many women vendors.

Later, the womenfolk rallied to the DC office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister demanding that their grievances be heard at the earliest.

DC of Ukhrul Dr Harmit Pahuja also held a close door meeting with the women vendors association leaders in which womenfolk expressed that the DC tried to convince them inspite of hearing their grievances, the chairperson added.

Although the poor women vendors were staging protest against the unfair means, the district administrator hardly pays attention to them, claimed the women vendors.

The Women Vendors Association further warned that it will continue their protest and launch different forms of agitations even to the extent of hunger strike until their demands are met.

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