Vendors storm IMC to protest eviction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 16 2008: In protest against eviction of road-side vendors in and around Khwairamband Market without providing an alternative site, a large number of agitated vendors stormed the office complex of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) here today.

The aggrieved vendors, mostly womenfolk who are eking out a livelihood selling vegetables and other items on the road sides as well as under the BT flyover, Nagamapal and Uripok Road, Allu Galli, Shamumakhong, etc demanded an audience with the Chairperson of IMC M Ranisana Devi.

City police tried their level best to disperse the agitating womenfolk who remained adamant insisting on lodging their complaint with the Chairperson.

Afterwards, an agreement was arrived at on which basis five of their representatives were allowed to meet the Chairperson.

Women vendors protesting at the IMC office against eviction

Among the women vendors there are many who have been running their makeshift shops along the footpath on the northern side of Johnstone Higher Secondary School.

Talking to mediapersons, they disclosed that there are many unauthorised vendors among those in the temporary market shed as well.

They informed that they were selling their ware on the basis of the hawker license issued by the IMC for the last 7/8 years.

But the licenses have been cancelled and they were not allowed to renew them for almost a year now.

Inspite of that they are being allowed by the IMC after charging Rs 20 every week as obstruction fine.

Nameirakpam Mema Devi who has been selling vegetables for more than 20 years now on the footpath of Nagamapal said 'we are ready to give up their present plot provided the IMC makes arrangement for an alternative sites to sell their wares.

Keeping an eye on the upcoming Ningol Chakkouba festival, some of the road side women vendors have already arranged goods in large quantity for selling.

However, after the eviction, they are worried.

O Memchoubi, one such woman vendor, said that she wished the IMC to allow them to sell their goods from their respective plot atleast till the end of the Ningol Chakkouba Festival.

Otherwise, they are going suffer great loss.

It may be recalled here that since assuming the charge of the Chairperson of IMC, M Ranisana has been launching a drive to evict road side vendors in Khwairamband Bazar.

In continuation of the drive, some of the road side vendors were dismantled today morning.

Efforts to contact the Chairperson in this regard drew blank.