CM reopens Ima market, announces exemption of one year vendor license fee
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 19 2021: Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday (February 15) announced that women vendors of Ima markets would be exempted from vendor license fee for the year.

The Government took the decision considering the hardship faced by the women vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic as the markets remained closed for nearly a year, he added.

N Biren was addressing women vendors while gracing as chief guest of the reopening function of Ima markets.

The markets had remained closed since March 21 last year as precautionary measures amid the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

He further stated the Government has been successful in containing the spread of COVID-19 and saving the precious life of the people mainly due to the contribution and responsible decision of women vendors to close the markets.

CM reopens Ima market, announces exemption of one year vendor license fee

Stating that the pandemic has made humans learn a lesson about the importance of preserving nature, the Chief Minister called for a change of one's mindset and move towards a clean environment to avert such diseases in future.

He also urged the officials of MAHUD to supply garbage bags to women vendors so that garbage and spoiled vegetables could be disposed of properly.

Such conduct would be helpful in maintaining cleanliness in and around the marketplaces and prevent the women vendors from certain diseases, he added.

N Biren asked the women vendors to allot a day to the Government once in a month for maintenance and to clean the market areas.

He further said that construction work on roads along the markets would be completed soon and appealed to the women vendors to bring up their grievances to the authority concerned before resorting to any agitation.

Urging the street vendors not to sit on roads blocking the passageway while selling their products, he stated that the Government would sort out a provision to accommodate them.

Appreciating the early initiative and concern shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister stated that various schemes have been taken up under the supervision of the Prime Minister during the countrywide lockdown to ease the adversities faced by the people.

He also appreciated the Ministers, MLAs, doctors and other frontline workers for their timely efforts and contributions made to contain the spread of the virus and save people's lives.

He also informed that a cancer hospital would be constructed in the State soon and an amount of Rs 10 crore has also been allocated in the Budget as Chief Minister's Cancer Relief Fund.

Later, the Chief Minister announced new names of the three Ima Markets as Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel for Market No 1, Imoinu Ima Keithel for Market No 2 and Phouoibi Ima Keithel for Market No 3.Education Minister Sorokhaibam Rajen, CAF & PD Minister Thokchom Satyabrata, MAHUD Minister Okram Henry, Deputy Speaker Kongkham Robindro, Advisor to CM (Health) Dr Sapam Ranjan, Chairman, Loktak Development Authority L Susindro, Deputy Chairman, Manipur State Planning Board L Rameshwor, Corporators of Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC), Officials of MAHUD Department and IMC and women vendors of Ima Market attended the function.