Pack up by 8 am order leaves many street vendors in dire straits
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 16 2022: Street vendors subjected to harsh words and 'bullying ' by the police with the law enforcing agency even going to the extent of snatching and dumping their wares in drains is not a rare sight to those who frequent important markets such as Ima Keithel and its adjoining areas.

Even in the face of such crackdowns, many street vendors, who run a parallel economy, opt to run their business to make ends meet even if that means they sometimes have to hide behind parked vehicles or any structure which can hide them from the police with some vegetables in hand.

The Sangai Express encountered such an incident while visiting Khwairamband Keithel as one tearful woman was seen vending her goods hiding behind a parked vehicle to avoid police.

On being asked why she was selling her goods discreetly, the woman who introduced herself as Laishram Mimita responded that the Imphal Municipal Corporation had recently issued an order which put a restriction on vending goods at the adjoining areas of Khwairamband Keithel from 8 am to 4 pm on April 19 .

The 38 year old woman hailing from Khangabok Awang Leikai opined that the order is hard to follow as majority of the street vendors come to the market after finishing daily household chores.

Pack up by 8 am order leaves many street vendors in dire straits

"Even though we have to face police action, we have to make a living as vending is our only source of income," she said tearfully and added that she hasn't been able to run her business properly since IMC issued the notification.

Saying that she is a heart patient and her husband died nearly eight years ago, the street vendor continued that she can provide for her two daughters and meet her son's education only through vending fruits and vegetables.

"I also have to take medicines for my ailments and as such vending goods at localities is not enough to make ends meet," Mimita said and maintained that vending goods at Khwairamband Keithel is a little more profitable.

"Before the new rule of IMC came into effect, I used to earn at least Rs 500 daily," Mimita said and added that now she is tired as she occasionally has to hide wherever possible to avoid police.

"I could not even earn the capital, let alone profit and coming to Khwairamband Keithel from Khangabok is expensive as it cost Rs 120," Mimita said and urged the State Government to show some compassion for the street vendors and let them run their business peacefully.

Another street vendor from Yairipok, Maibam Tumhen (40) said that she used to make some profits in the past but now she could not ensure even two square meals a day on numerous occasions.

The dispirited street vendor continued that a large number of VDF and police personnel seem to be monitoring only the street vendors from 8 am to 4 pm and as such they pleased with the law enforcers to let them sell their goods.

Continuing that the police, however, didn't give any positive response but chase them, Tumhen continued that the street vendors are tired of facing frequent harassment.

She said that she vends goods to help her husband who also is a daily wager in running their family.

"Almost all the street vendors are impoverished and we have to earn as we could not depend only on the rice given by the Government," she added.

Loukhram Subita (37) from Keirao said that she had to sell vegetables despite not being healthy for her children.

Saying that she has been advised by a doctor to undergo a surgery but couldn't do so due to financial constraints, Subita maintained that she can do nothing when her belongings are sometimes dumped in the drain by the police.

She requested the State Government to withdraw the order which prohibits vending at Khwairmaband Keithel from 8 am to 4 pm.

The Sangai Express also interacted with the president of Roadside Vendors Welfare Association Kshetri Tama who said that there is a verdict of the Supreme Court which allows street vendors to operate in every keithel of the country.

The ruling was given on October 9, 2013 .

She continued that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) of Government of India issued an order on August 26, 2016 to implement the direction of the apex Court.

There are over seven thousand street vendors at Khwairamband Keithel alone and around 1600 vendors have been selling several items at the temporary market since 2010 on rotational basis, she added.

She then urged the authority to acknowledge the plights of the street vendors and do the needful at the earliest.