Trade Union for street vendors' special policy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 28 2022: All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Manipur State Committee has drawn attention of the MAHUD minister for taking up necessary initiatives so as to bring out a special policy for street vendors in order to prevent violence and discrimination being meted out against them.

In a statement, the union recalled the April 19 order issued by the caretaker mayor of Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) restricting street vendors from selling their wares in Khwairamband Keithel beyond 8 am and asking them to carry out their trade at Lamphel Super Market.

Though the order might have been issued keeping in view of the traffic congestion being experienced in the market area, it is against the interest of the street vendors, who are fighting against all odds to run their families, the statement said, while urging the MAHUD minister to annual the IMC's order.

The statement further said that the main reason behind the increasing traffic volume in Khwairamband Keithel is due to restriction on parking in Thangal Keithel area.

Besides, passenger autorickshaws are parking alongside the BT Road from Snamu Makhong till the public toilet complex, which the traffic control police are overlooking.

Instead of cracking down against the street vendors, the authority should ask the autorickshaws to park elsewhere and ensure smooth flow of traffic by preventing irresponsible parking of vehicles along the road.

The street vendors are coming out while facing the harsh weather and persistent rebuke of police just to support their families.

The state would be experiencing a boost in the economy when the street vendors get good income, the Council reasoned, while pointing out that the Supreme Court had asked the state governments to implement Street Vendors Act.

It also condemned the irresponsible act of discriminating the street vendors by the government authority.

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