IMPHAL, June 19: Police personnel including traffic police personnel should not drive off street vendors and dismantle their wares. This is their means of livelihood to support their families and send their wards to educational institutes. This was stated by opposition leader, MLA Dr. I Ibohalbi Singh raising a calling attention motion on “non-arrangement of proper places for street vendors in and around Uripok – Nagamapal in Manipur Legislative Assembly.
He further said it seems that the Government does not have a policy for street vendors of the state including those in the vicinity of Khwairamband Keithel, Imphal and called on the state government to implement the National Policy on street vendors – 2009 in toto.
The Manipur government made efforts that the construction of three new markets was completed but the card holders occupied the vending space in the three markets, he said. So appealing to the government to provide the vending space to the street vendors and their rights, he pointed out that police personnel including traffic police drove them off and kicked out their wares. Against this backdrop, an appeal was made to the concerned police officers in consultation with Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam but it seems useless, he said. It is learnt that a new market will be constructed in the Tombisana High School compound opposite old Assembly Secretariat, he noted and appealed to arrange the temporary vending space for street vendors before the construction of the market is completed.
Stating that the street vendors are facing lot of difficulties during rain and in the heat of the day at the vending areas provided at Lamphel as there are no roofed sheds over there, he further appealed to roof the vending areas with GCI sheet temporarily over there or make arrangements for them to vend their wares at the parking area on the northern side of market sheds at the area where the old district hospital was located.
Stating that if temporary arrangements are found difficult to be implemented, he tendered his appeal to the Chief Minister to give street vendors the time from 5 a.m. to 8/9 a.m. to vend their wares.
Replying to the calling attention motion, the leader of the House who is also in charge of MAHUD said that the government is planning to use the basements of the three markets as space for public parking. On the other hand, buyers should come to the area where the wares are sold, he pointed out and added that he will look into what can be done for them with a neutral body for street vendors being constituted. He assured on the floor of the House that efforts will be made to take up works to roof the vending area at Lamphel with GCI sheets.