| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Jun 23: The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Tuesday carried out an eviction drive at the vendors’ area in Ganga Market here, removing several vegetable and dry fruit vendors from the site.
The drive led to protests from affected vendors, who questioned the rationale behind the action and alleged that authorities were selectively targeting small traders while ignoring larger illegal structures.
One woman vendor claimed that most street vendors belong to poor and low-income families, including widows, who depend on the sale of vegetables and other goods to sustain their livelihoods.
She said many vendors had availed government-supported loans through the IMC to run their businesses and expressed concern over their ability to repay the loans if their means of livelihood were disrupted.
“If our source of income is demolished, how will we repay those loans?” she asked.
The vendor further alleged that adequate notice had not been provided before the eviction drive. She claimed that vendors had cooperated with officials and even suggested alternative arrangements to address the issue.
Appealing for public support, she urged citizens to question the authorities over the eviction and asserted that she would continue to fight for the rights and livelihoods of street vendors.