Street vendors demand

IMPHAL, Apr 5 : The All Manipur Street Vendors Federation (AMSVF), Sagolband Kangabam Leikai, Imphal has urged the State Government to resolve the issue of Khwairamband street vendors at the earliest.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club this afternoon, AMSVF secretary Sh Rajendro Meetei decried the Manipur Government for not resolving the long-standing issue of street vendors in the State.
He said that many women associations, including Sinfam and Saktam Kanba Lup and AMSVF have been urging the State Government to bring an end to the long-standing street vendors issue in Khwairamband Keithel since the time of the Congress Government.
The incumbent State Government had also claimed in the past that it will resolve the issue of street vendors in Khwairamband Keithel. But the street vendors are being chased every day by police personnel and IMC officials, he added.
While lauding the State Government for providing loans to street vendors, Rajendro questioned the Government how they would repay the loans if they are not given a vending space.
He added that the State Government should acknowledge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goodwill gesture of trying to sustain the livelihood of the street vendors in the country by providing loans to the latter.
Reminding that the Supreme Court of India has made relevant orders to protect street vendors and to resolve their issues, the AMSVF secretary maintained that taking the help of law will be the last option for the street vendors if the State Government does not resolve the street vendors issue.
Rajendro then asked the State Government and IMC to clarify who will be given a vending space in the newly constructed markets and shops at Lamphel Super Market.