Mapusa Municipal Council is famous for its “Friday Market”. However, people visit the market hoping to earn their daily bread by selling various products. But when they take to ground vending and pay sopo they still are deprived of their daily earnings. Sometime back, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) had removed the poor and those wheelchair-bound persons selling lottery tickets, readymade garments and other accessories etc at market entrance for many years stating that they were blocking public access.
The ground reality is that the vendors pay rightful sopo to the MMC contractor but the irony is that the vendors are “harassed” as their goods are often confiscated by market inspectors and later transported in MMC van to its head office at Feira Alta, Mapusa. However nobody knows what really is done with regards to these confiscated goods. The officials cite the reason for confiscating the goods is that it is done as per the order of the MMC to clear public access. Well done MMC.
As seen in the picture two municipal inspectors having discussion with the ground vendors and ordering the MMC workers to remove basket containing vegetables to clear the middle lane upto Paradise Pharmacy. But the reality is sometimes a goods trailer is allowed to pass freely to unload goods at the traders’ shops.
The traders displaying their goods along the market footpath are left untouched. The MMC should stop “harassing” the poor vendors.
Despite High Court directive to all municipalities to clear all the footpaths and encroachments along roads for safe public access, till date the same have not been strictly implemented by the MMC.
MMC Chairperson, I request you not to harass poor vendors.
