The Manipur Hawkers’ Association on Monday marked its 44th Hawkers’ Day Celebration at the Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal, with a renewed call for urgent government intervention to safeguard the rights and livelihood of the state’s hawkers.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines, Wangkhem Ajit Singh, President of the Manipur Hawkers’ Association, asserted that hawkers, who serve as the lifeline of the newspaper industry, continue to face systemic neglect despite their indispensable role in information dissemination.
He warned that unresolved grievances, coupled with the unchecked rise of social media, pose an existential threat to the hawker community.
“Street hawkers remain at the forefront of delivering news to every household, yet our welfare and security are rarely prioritised. The unchecked spread of digital platforms, particularly social media, is undermining our relevance and directly threatening our survival. It is imperative that the government takes decisive measures to protect hawkers, ensure their welfare, and safeguard their role in society,” he said.
The day’s programme was attended by S. Brojen Singh, President of the Manipur Peoples’ Party, as Chief Guest, while Khogendra Khomdram, President of Editors’ Guild Manipur, and Asem Bhakta Singh, President of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union, attended as Guests of Honour.
The Association also paid tribute to the generations of hawkers who have sustained Manipur’s newspaper ecosystem for over four decades, reiterating its commitment to fight for recognition, welfare measures, and protection against IT-era challenges.
