"Street vendors have been wrongly blamed for congestion in Imphal city, marketplaces"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2025: The 27th foundation day celebration of the Roadside Vendors Welfare Association (RSVWA) today honoured the mother of a street vendor and three women vendors whose sons sacrificed their lives in the ongoing conflict.

At the observance at Rupmahal Theatre, the association presented gifts to the women and acknowledged their sacrifices.

On the occasion, Khwairamband Ima Keithel president, Kshetri Tama spoke of the challenges street vendors are facing, and lack of proper rules and regulations and planning to decongest Imphal.

Kshetri Tama said the street vendors have been wrongly blamed for the congestion in Imphal city and the marketplaces.

"The street vendors have been blamed for the congestion in the marketplace by the people and the police while the actual reasons for the extreme congestion are the Government's policy and planning failure," Kshetri Tama said.

In addition to the lack of proper policies and planning, there are no proper parking facilities for vehicles and parking norms are being violated.

For example, four wheeler vehicles are daily seen parking in space meant for two-wheelers only, she said.

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act was passed in 2014.However, this Act has not been implemented effectively in the State till today, she continued.

The State Government must, at the earliest, formulate the necessary guidelines and byelaws and implement the Act effectively in the State, she added.

There will be development when markets are improved and developed.

The Government has set up temporary market sheds for street vendors, and markets have been built in all districts.

These are positive steps towards developing the marketplaces, she said.

For the markets to run smoothly, she said, vendors should be given the benefits of Government schemes and other entitlements in time.

The vendors must also take up the responsibility to run the place efficiently and keep them neat and clean, she added.

Kshetri Tama also urged the street vendors to become aware of climate change and limit the use of plastics.

In a similar vein, AMUCO president, Pheiroijam Nando Luwang said putting the blame only on street vendors for Imphal's congested roads and marketplace would be Wrong.

The street vendors may be one of the reasons for the congestion, but there must be other factors which the Government should consider and study, he said.

He said the contributions of the street vendors in the society are huge.

The Central Government has passed Acts and Rules related to street vendors, but these have not been implemented properly in Manipur, he said.

The State Government must implement the rules effectively and take up steps to alleviate the condition of the street vendors, he said.

The society as a whole would improve when the socioeconomic condition of 1he street vendors is improved, he added.

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