The Khwairamband Keithel Street Vendors’ Welfare Association (KhKSVWU) on Friday alleged that vendors under them were restricted from vending at the Temporary Market of Ima Keithel by the police and two vendors association.
The KhKSVWU demanded justice delivery from Chief Minister N Biren, MAHUD minister Y Khemchand and CSOs of Manipur.
“We were chased out using violence by the police and vendors under two associations while we were trying to vend at the Temporary Market as per the notification issued by the IMC on October 16,” KhKSVWU president L Beda told mediapersons at Manipur Press Club in Imphal.
She informed that as per the IMC notification, street vendors were permitted to sit in the Temporary Market in two different shifts (6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM) on a daily first come first serve basis.
So, if both the shifts are counted, there are a total of 2,800 seats as the capacity of the Temporary Market is 1,400 seats, she explained, adding that unfortunately the police made the same vendors (only under two specific associations) to sit during both the shifts.
The two associations are Road Side Street Vendors’ Association led by one Tamang and Panthoibi Street Vendors’ Association led by one Joymati, she added.
Pointing out that KhKSVWU, which has a total of 330 members, is a registered association under the IMC, she said such biased acts of the state police and IMC is an act of snatching the rights of the street vendors who are genuinely earning their livelihoods on a daily basis.
“We are not allowed to sell at the street nor at the Temporary Market. How will we run our family?” she questioned, drawing the attention of the chief minister, MAHUD minister and the CSOs for their intervention in the matter to deliver them justice and protect their rights.
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