Morung Express News
Kohima | October 13
Most of the women street vendors are compelled to join this vocation out of poverty, and most times there are absolutely no perks and extra dividends in their earnings.
During the training, Nini Lasuh Bendang, Kohima Branch Co-ordinator, Sisterhood Network provided a brief insight into the lives of street vendors through the work and activities of the Sisterhood Network. When Sisterhood Network first began, it started in the booze joints targeting a specific colony that is New Market colony in Kohima where a social mapping was made.
From the mapping, the Network found out that the colony had been greatly affected by alcoholism, mostly men whereby most of the mothers and wives resort to vocations like street vendors for their livelihood. A striking feature of the mapping was the identification of 60 widows in the ward with most of the husbands having died from alcohol.
“Most of the husbands are daily wage laborers, and alcoholics. Often the money they earn does not reach the family due to substance abuse. The mothers and wives are compelled to become street vendors to earn a living. Nobody ever aspires to become street vendors but the women are compelled to choose this vocation to take care of their families.
Sometimes their biggest achievement is being able to feed their children twice a day,” asserted Nini Lasuh Bendang. Bendang also pointed out that health is another major issue among the women street vendors, where the women cannot afford health care since the money they received by selling food products are spent on immediate needs in the family.
The social mapping also observed that most of the residents live on rented dilapidated homes, with almost eight members living in one single room. “There is at least one drop out in each family,” said Bendang adding that Sisterhood Network has been providing free tuitions for the young in the colony for almost 4 years.
KMC to set up vending stalls for street vendors in Kohima
“The street vendors’ income has a huge impact on the State’s and Country’s economy,” said Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) Administrator, Kethosituo Sekhose speaking at the opening of the pilot project to train women street vendors. Despite the introduction of the Street Vendors Act in India, Sekhose informed that the Act is yet to be implemented however the greater importance is that the vendors need to be aware of their rights.
The Administrator shared some of the proposed plans and activities of KMC for the welfare of women vendors in Kohima town. One street vending shed will be set up TCP gate area, while a temporary shed will be put up at the Southern Gate at Kohima local ground. The new Supermarket in Kohima will be reserving its entrance floor for the women vendors. It is said to accommodate 200-300 vendors.
Keeping in mind the congestion of Kohima town, plans are also being put up to open up sheds for vendors in each colony in Kohima town. Sekhose informed that the KMC has already directed the 19 wards to identify any unused government buildings which can be converted to vending sheds for the street vendors. “That way each colony can have their own market instead of coming to the main town to buy vegetables,” said Sekhose. The KMC Administrator also remarked that in his five months working as the Administrator, no women vendors have approached his office to complaint or express their needs. While his office has received complaints on the harassment of vendors by KMC inspectors, Sekhose also reminded the vendors the inspection on the vendors are mostly due to complaints received on traffic obstruction, pedestrians obstructions and the wastes that are dumped in the streets by the vendors.
“The KMC will look after your welfare at the same time regulate you when rules are violated,” assured the Administrator appealing to the women vendors to approach the office and share their problems and needs.
