Roadside vendors continued to forcibly sell items in and around Ima Market against the instruction of IMC, after members of ‘Roadside Vendors Welfare Association, Street vendors of Ima Market’ failed to meet the caretakers of Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Wednesday.
Publicity secretary of the association G Lembisana told media at IMC office campus on Wednesday that the members of the association came to meet the caretakers of IMC L Lokeshwor with the demand to withdraw the restriction to vend in and around Khwairamband Ima market after 8 am.
She said IMC instructed the street vendors of Khwairamband Ima Market to sell their items only till 8 am, and police personnel, including IMC staff dispersed the street vendors after 8 am.
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On the other hand, many non-locals are still vending at roadside, she further said and questioned why the non-locals are still allowed to sell.
The street vendors are daily bread earners and running their households, she said. The alternative place which the government has allotted is not a business area. Since the past many years, the street vendors have been demanding to implement ‘the street vendors Act, 2014’, she said.
The street vendors will continue to stir until the demands are met, she added.
The members of the association were unable to meet the caretaker of IMC and in response, the street vendors forcibly continued to sell at the surrounding areas of Khwairamband Ima market.
Tension erupted at Khwairamband between the street vendors and police personnel while police tried to disperse the street vendors from vending. Confrontations took place among the two parties and at least two street vendors were injured.
