PONDA: The Ponda market vendors have voiced their concerns over the intrusion of vendors from Karnataka and Maharashtra, who engage in the illegal sale of marigold flowers, fruits, and other items, during major festivals. The vendors are demanding that the entry of these out-of-State vendors be stopped at the Ponda Market during the upcoming Diwali festival.
The local vendors have expressed anxiety regarding the potential loss of business and livelihood due to the presence of these migrant vendors. They urged the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) to cease encouraging these outside vendors, which they believe will negatively impact the business of local traders.
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The local vendors have observed that during festivals like Dussehra, migrant vendors conduct brisk unauthorised business, selling marigold flowers in large quantities on the roadside.
The local vendors say they have been engaged in their businesses for four to five decades, with their livelihoods dependent on the festival season. They believe that permitting migrant vendors to encroach on their traditional businesses would be a major injustice to the local vendors and discourage their children from continuing the age-old family trade. Therefore, they have called for action to be taken against the migrant vendors, including the imposition of fines.
The Ponda Market Vendors have proposed that the PMC should refrain from encouraging the entry of migrant vendors and instead purchase marigold flowers and fruits from them in bulk. These items can then be distributed to local vendors for retail selling, benefiting both local and migrant vendors.
The local vendors have pointed out that during festival days such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, and Diwali, when there is a high demand for vegetables, fruits, marigold, and other flowers, vendors from Karnataka arrive at the Ponda Market with truckloads of these items.
The Ponda Market Vendors were joined by the Amchi Vyapari Sangatana (Ponda Market Vendors Association) and Ponda locals in submitting a memorandum to the PMC and Ponda police regarding their concerns.
