IMPHAL May 18: Addressing the present conflict between the street vendors and the state government, Ramesh Mishra, legal advisor to National Association of Street Vendors of India in a meeting held at Majorkhul community hall today exhorted the need for action from the street vendors towards the cabinet decision taken by the government effecting the lives of the women street vendors of the state at present.
He said that the woes affecting the vendors need to be approached systematically and through social, political and legal means.
Citing examples of other similar problems faced by vendor counterparts in other states, he said that only the legal means is not enough to address the situation to provoke the government to retract their stance, but the vendors need to take to the streets to demand their rights to conduct business effectively.
The state decision taken recently is opposed to the interest of the street vendors, timely action is needed from them so that the effect will reach the ears of the judiciary, their decision will ultimately help to bring justice to the vendors, he said.
The NASVI legal advisor was speaking at a `one day open discussion on problem and prospect of street vendors in Imphal City` held at Majorkhul Community Hall today, the discussion is organized by the Street Vendors Welfare Association of Khwairamband Keithel.
The discussion was attended by Professor of Political Science, MU, Dhanabir Laishram, Chinglen Meisnam, assistant professor, dept. of Economics, MU, Ramesh Mishra, legal advisor, Mutum Churamani Meitei, vice-president, HERICOUN, JK.Mangang, secretary organization, UCM, L.Memchoubi Devi , president, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, Th. Ramani Devi, All Manipur Women Social Reformation and Development Samaj, T. Demona, general secretary Macha Leima, Kh. Kunder , Secretary Friendship Soceity Manipur, H.Ibotombi Khuman, Social Activist, among others as presidium members.
Today`™s meeting also resolved to urged the concerned authorities to institute a state policy and formation of a town committee comprising of street vendors in the committee so as to bring in the street venders issue.
It was further resolved to urge the state government to reserved the vacant lots for the street venders lying unoccupied at Ima Keithel.
It also resolve to urge the government to make a parking lot at the basements of the three Ima markets to solved the issue of the parking problems faced by the public and to utilized the funds mean for construction of the fourth proposed Ima Keithel for the construction of the temporary market.
Furthermore it was resolved to demand unconditional release of the 25 street venders arrested by the police recently. It further resolved that if the demands are not address by the state government then, different forms of agitations will be initiated by the street venders along with support from the National Association of street venders of India.