Temporary shifting of vegetable sellers to school campus, locals raises objection

May 26: In a letter issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, direction was given for temporary shifting of vegetable vendors from road side to school campus. In this connection 5 schools were identified in Silchar town area wise. The Silchar Municipal Board (SMB) was asked to take steps to restrict number of vendors upto the capacity of the ground maintainable for social distancing.

The letter issued to Inspector of Schools, Silchar and District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO), Cachar specified that “For strict compliance of social distancing, Silchar Municipal Board has proposed to shift roadside vegetable vendors into the playground/ school campus temporarily as the schools are likely to remain closed during the lockdown period.” In this connection, five schools were identified area wise by SMB, where six temporary vegetable markets would be set up.

1. For Janiganj & Ukilpatty: Government Boys H.S. School
2. For Hospital road & Rangirkhari: Public H.S. School, Public School Road
3. For College Road: Agrani Playground (Niranjan Paul Institute)
4. For Annapurna Ghat & Trunk Road: Narsing H.S. School Playground & Govt. Boys H.S. School Playground.
5. Malugram: Devi Prasad Pathsala, Itkhola.
6. Rongpur: Dr. B.C. Roy High School, Rongpur.

In this connection, the Inspector of Schools, Silchar and BEEO, Cachar were asked to take necessary steps to spare the venues mentioned in the letter for shifting of vegetable sellers temporarily during the lockdown period.

However, this decision did not go well with residents of areas where the temporary vegetable sellers were asked to shift. Particularly, in areas surrounding residential areas, local people have objected to such a decision of the district administration. Wishing not be named, residents of Public School Road said, “This is an area of high density of populace. There are innumerable houses surrounding the ground of Public School. As said in the order, this temporary vegetable market will cater to people of Hospital Road Rangirkhari. That means, everyday there will be a huge rush in this area, which may give rise to great risk and compromise of hygiene.” They appealed to the district administration to take back the decision and rather to allow the vegetable vendors to sell vegetables at Sanjay Market at Rangirkhari in a systematic manner obeying the rules of social distancing.