Women vendors of the temporary market, which is also known as 4th Ima Market, demanded renovation of the market before reopening other Ima markets and further warned that protest will be carried out if the demand is not fulfilled.
Speaking to the media at a temporary market on Monday, one of the women vendors, Wahengbam Luwangleima said that they had approached the MAHUD minister and even the chief minister to renovate the market before February 10. The authority concerned had assured that the market will be renovated. However, despite the assurance, no steps have been initiated till date, she added.
Local media have reported that the chief minister has declared to reopen the other three Ima Keithel by mid-February. As such the temporary market should also be renovated before reopening other Ima markets, she said.
She also said that women vendors of the temporary market also have vendor cards like vendors of the other three Ima markets and they also pay the same tax monthly.
“Majority of the vendors in the temporary market are daily bread earners. However, we have no option but to halt the business since March due to the pandemic. We are not demanding reopening of the market but to renovate it before the business resumes,” Luwangleima said.
Earlier on December 12, 2020, the women vendors had placed the same demand through local media. They informed the media that the drains inside the market are not functional and the roads within the market shed will be flooded or muddy during the rainy season. The women vendors also informed that there is no proper electrification inside the market and moreover, there has been many illegal activities in the market area during night time.
