SHILLONG, May 28: The farmers and the petty traders have been among the worst sufferers of the COVID-19 pandemic with many even struggling to make both ends meet.
East Khasi Hills district administration allowed the vegetable vendors to do business at Anjalee Parking lot in Shillong. However, the traders complained that they are not getting many customers due to the strict COVID-19 curbs. The administration, on the other hand, says it cannot lower its guard against the virus.
“They (administration) have opened this huge space for trade but they are allowing only two buyers at a time. How will we do our business here?” K Nongrum, a female trader, told reporters on Friday.
“We asked the police if they will buy our produce if we don’t get any buyers. It will be better if they close the gates and do not allow us to do business at all,” she said.
She said there was a long queue of buyers on Friday but the police chased them away. Later, they allowed but by that time, all the customers had left, she said.
Insisting that the government should open up Iewduh and nearby areas for the benefit of everybody, she said the traders had discussed the idea of taking their goods outside Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s residence as a mark of protest.
After failing to do business at the designated site, many traders were seen on Friday selling vegetables on the roadside from Anjalee petrol pump to MES point and near Jhalupara.
Another trader, requesting anonymity, said the government left the farmers to their fate. He claimed the traders strictly followed the physical distancing norms.
Banri Nongbri, yet another trader, said while the government has allowed them to carry out their activities at Anjalee Parking lot, the challenge is that there are no buyers.
“We received calls from our regular customers that they were not allowed to come to the site. It will be better if they (administration) close down everything,” she said sarcastically.
The farmers and the traders are spending more than Rs 1,000 to come to Shillong to sell their goods. There were times when they were forced to throw away their produce.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, said individual buyers are not permitted but retailers from different localities get passes to purchase the goods from the wholesale market.
Stating that people moving across localities for vegetables is not encouraged, she said since more markets on the city outskirts are opening up, it will provide relief to everyone.
“We cannot lower our guard and the orders will remain in force,” Laloo added.