The Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Joint Street Vendors on Sunday demanded the authorities concerned to withdraw the recent order issued by Imphal West district magistrate restricting the vending hours at the temporary Ima Market from 6 am to 12 noon.
JAC convenor Sagolsem Rajendro told mediapersons that the district magistrate, Imphal West, Th Kirankumar issued an order on December 15 restricting the vending hours in view of prevailing issues concerning the street vendors.
Although the order has been accepted by the street vendors, the state government must urgently solve the problem and reopen the market soon, he said.
The order has affected many street vendors who are living from hand to mouth, he added.
He said that the state government had provided vending space for street vendors at temporary Ima Market just before the Sangai Festival was organised in the state. But due to irregularities in identifying the real street vendors, many issues have been continuously cropping up in the last few days, he said.
Many new street vendors started occupying the temporary Ima Market which has resulted in the genuine street vendors, who have been vending at premises of Khwairamband Ima Market, not getting their seats.
He condemned the irregularities allegedly caused by the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC), and claimed that the issue would not have resulted had the authorities concerned recognised only the genuine street vendors.
The biased nature of IMC has created disunity among the street vendors, he alleged.
The order that was issued by the district magistrate has been appreciated; however, the street vendors would be truly grateful if the state government settled the problem at the earliest and allowed them to vend without restricting the working hours, he appealed.
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