Guardians' body takes up street vendors' cause
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19 2013: Noting that upper floors of the three market complexes at Khwairamband keithel are yet to be occupied, All Manipur Students' Guardians' Organisation has proposed that the Government of Manipur provide trading slots to women street vendors at these vacant spaces.

Speaking to mediapersons at the Palace Compound office of the organisation today, secretary (organisation) S Sumati Devi said that inspite of large number of women street vendors struggling to live a decent life they (street vendors) often face abuse and physical assault by security force personnel in addition to their source of earning scattered and destroyed by the police.

While the women street vendors suffer continuously the customers too face severe inconveniences in trying to purchase daily requirements, expressed the secretary, who also wondered why the vacant first floor of the market complexes cannot be leased out to the plot-less street vendors.

Suggesting that the Government initiate necessary measures within a month to accommodate the women street vendors who too are toiling to supplement family income and more importantly educate their children, Sumati also asserted that failure to get a positive response from the Government might compel the Organisation to join the proposed agitation of the street vendors.

alleging frequent excesses by police personnel against the women street vendors, she expressed that relief and joy of the general public when the market complex construction was completed soon dissipated upon realising that chaos and disorder has became the hallmark at the historic location.

Contending that women vendors suffer the most due to absence of systematic and efficient management of the market complexes, Sumati regretted that continuous crackdown against women street vendors since about a month has deprived them earning sources.

With regard to an earlier arrangement to accommodate women street vendors at Lamphel Sanakeithel, she highlighted that poor approach road to the proposed site, and absence of security provision and banking facility in this area would not be feasible to sustain trade activities.

further stating that economic security of several thousand of families are directly connected to sale and purchase of goods in and around Khwairamband Keithel, the commercial hub of the state, the secretary opined that vacant sites, including defunct Government institutions be converted into market places to enable economically unsound citizens sustain livelihood.

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