Khwairamband Bazar
The untold but seen side of the story
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 02: It has been accepted since history that Khwairamband Ima Keithel has been the only succour for many a great number of hapless women, helping them keep the kitchen fire burning and enabling them to send their children to schools but the plight of many women vendors who do not have proper stalls goes unnoticed to any of the officials who matter.

In short you have seen them but you have not heard their stories.

A licenseless woman tries to sell her ware on the roadside

These women vendors who belong to different communities and age groups sell their vegetables and other wares in front of shops one day and in parking lots the next day and near stinking garbage pits at other times.

Each day is a struggle for them to find a spot just to sell their vegetables.

Even if they manage to find a spot at such odd places, they never enjoy an hour of peace in their battle for a square meal a day.

They are often thrown out of their places by shopkeepers with their goods regularly scattered by traffic policemen.

They are also the subject of scorn from commuters for occupying footpaths.

Unlike their more fortunate sisters who have their own definite places in market sheds and vendor licences issued by the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC), these road-side vendors are denied access to any co-operative bank or private bank for even a trifling amount for a loan.

According to data received from Imphal Municipality, the number of licensed women vendors in Purana Bazar is 1808, 1253 in New Market and 840 in Laxmi Bazar.

Every license holding vendor pays Rs 15 per month to the IMC.

Even though these licensed vendors are relatively better off, they are not free from several difficulties.

Following the clubbing of the three market complexes into one single crowded compound to make space for construction of new market sheds, the vendors are suffering a lot in their trade.

Although the women vendors were shifted to the temporary sheds in April 2005 on the assurance that the new market sheds will be ready soon, they are far from completion.

Moreover, foundation stone for one shed is yet to be laid, lamented joint secretary of the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Shemgat Shagatpa Lup Mayanglambam Radhesana.

These women vendors occupying the three market sheds are relatively better in the sense that they don't live hand to mouth.

They may start their business with Rs 5000/6000 but there are other vendors who are investing more than Rs 2 lakhs.

On the other hand, vendors dealing in vegetables, spices, betel leaves and sweets may start their business with Rs 1000/2000, said a Kabok vendor.

The greatest misery of vendors without license is lack of a definite spot to sell their goods.

"It's the fourth time that I'm shifting from one place to another to sell my goods.

Even though I don't have a definite spot, I must sell my goods somehow at some corner.

Whatever amount I could earn as profit, I'm spending it on my children's education", said one women vendor.

One Mema who has been selling vegetables in the market without a legal licence since she was 25 years old said, "For the last 30 years, I've been selling vegetables without a definite of my own.

All the while repeated applications to the IMC to issue me a licence remains unheeded".

"As I cannot sell my goods sitting at a spot, I am always anxious whether Traffic police will come and scatter my goods or my goods will perish unsold" said florist Pishak, another vendor without licence.

Looking at their faces, it was more than clear that their common predominant wish is to give them proper spots to do their business and to recognise them as vendors of Khwairamband market.