IMPHAL, December 14: The government imposed temporary restriction on small eateries set up inside the Ima Market during the Sangai Festival which ended on November 30, is yet to be lifted much to the dismay of the women vendors.
Altogether 53 small time women vendor who have set up eateries serving rice meals inside the Purana Market of the Ima Keithel today called a press conference at the Manipur Press Club charging the government to victimising them.
The women vendors claimed that the government is victimising them by creating this restriction on their livelihoods.
One of them said, since they are not vending their spaces are lying vacant and taking advantage of the situation, others have opened stalls in their spaces.
A vendor Yumnam Shakhi said for the past more than 40 years, several women vendors have been running small rice eateries inside the Purana Market, Ima Keithel.
She said during the initial stages of the construction of the three Ima Keithels, the Chief Minister had himself assured none of the women vendors making a living from inside the market would be disregarded or displaced.
Again during the inauguration of the Bir Tikendrajit flyover, the Chief Minister had reassured that no woman who has been vending in the Ima Keithels for more than 20 years would be neglected and left out, she continued.
She said foreign tourists including from countries like Netherlands and Thailand visiting the State had even tasted their food and commended them for their hard working nature.
However, whenever there is any festival like the Yaoshang or the Sangai Festival when there are several foreign tourists visiting the State, the Imphal Municipal Council has always cited maintenance of hygienic conditions in the keithels before the foreign tourists and restricted them from opening their eateries, she continued.
On November 18, some 10 days before the Sangai Festival, an official order was issued banning these eateries inside the keithels, she said.
Since November 18 onwards, the City Police personnel started seizing any stove including chullas found in the keithels, she said adding that they were told it would be only for 10 days and that they can re-open their hotels once the Sangai Festival concluded.
However, the IMC is yet to lift the restriction and allow reopening of their eateries in Purana Keithel, she claimed.
Another vendor Phajabi Mayengbam said if the IMC is concerned about maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the market place, then they can understand that the women vedors are keeping their vending spaces and surrounding areas clean by conducting regular cleanliness drives.
She said the IMC has asked them to only sell things which can be brought inside the keithel.
She further appealed to all concerned to lift the ban and save their livelihood.