SHILLONG, June 12: The lockdown in East Khasi Hills has continued for a painful period of time, especially for the daily wage earners and simple traders. Shopkeepers and vendors at Iewduh, Asia’s largest open market, have also suffered equally for it has remained closed for more than a month now.
With the lockdown extended in East Khasi Hills by one more week, many might even have accepted a bitter truth that their source of livelihood will not restart as soon as they expected.
But the government may have something up their sleeves in favour of the aggrieved traders.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo along with Syiem of Mylliem and KHADC CEM Titos Chyne, and Executive Member in charge of Markets, on Saturday, conducted an inspection at Iewduh to chalk out a strategy for reopening of the market.
The KHADC CEM said that the inspection was conducted to take stock of the situation and undertake spot calculation of how to reopen state’s largest traditional market.
It is learnt that another meeting will be convened Monday to finalise the plan for reopening of the market.
Titos Chyne said that besides Iewduh, shopkeepers in the entire district including Sohra and Smit have been suffering since things went south in the state and lockdown had to be imposed.
More than a month and counting, shopkeepers have come under extreme pressure due to closure of almost all economic activities in the state. Apart from the shopkeepers, hawkers at the market have also been hit severely.
Also, West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang had called upon the government to come up with a decision which would keep COVID-19 at bay and also ensure that the livelihood of people is not affected. Earlier, options like opening of shops on odd-even basis were mooted to restart the market. The upcoming strategy, however, is likely to be on similar lines.
