Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 18 2010:
Even as seat allocation for New Market vendors of Khwairamband Keithel began today, women vendors of all the three market complexes have decided not to ply their trades until and unless necessary arrangements are made to provide ample space to them in the newly constructed market complexes.
Seat allocation for New Market vendors was done in the presence of Imphal Municipal Council officials and City Police.
Remaining seats which could not be allocated today would be distributed tomorrow.
Some women vendors speaking to The Sangai Express said that many of their colleagues who got seats near the huge pillars of the new buildings have no space to display their wares.
Moreover, the new arrangement is so congested that people coming inside the market sheds would certainly touch the piled-up wares and this would upset the piles.
Earlier in the olden market sheds, each and every vendor had ample space to ply their trade.
The women vendors said that they were surprised by the long list of vendors compiled by the IMC.
Even as some genuine vendor licence holders have either sold off or mortgaged their licences, a large number of women have come out from nowhere in the hope of getting vendor seats.
This is one of the main reason for the turmoil and impasse being witnessed in Khwairamband Keithel.
On the other hand, IMC officials have assured the women vendors that alternative arrangements would be made for those vendors who got their seats behind or near pillars.
Demanding that alternative arrangements should be made within the next couple of days, women vendors of the three market complexes stated that they would not ply their trades in the new market complexes until and unless necessary arrangements are made.
They also cautioned that asking the women vendors to take their seats in the new market sheds without addressing the problem of space and congestion would result in a serious turmoil in Khwairamband Keithel.