May 15, 2026 (TBL): Women vendors of Thoubal Market and small shopkeepers around the market took to the streets today, demanding that the Vishal Mega Mart opened near Thoubal Police Station be relocated away from the market area. A group of protestors later met with the Deputy Commissioner, Thoubal.
According to the protestors, the Vishal Mega Mart, which opened on April 30 very close to Thoubal Keithel, has severely affected their small businesses. They said that sales at the market and in nearby small shops have dropped drastically, leaving families who depend on daily earnings in deep distress.
A delegation met with DC Thoubal, Yumnam Robita, IAS, but no agreement was reached. Following the meeting, the protestors marched to the Thoubal Municipal Council (TMC) office. After failing to meet TMC officials, the vendors locked the office and main gate, declaring that the TMC office would remain closed until their demands are addressed.
Irom Subasini, a woman vendor at Thoubal Market who joined the protest, said that because Vishal Mega Mart is so close to the market, no one is able to sell anything. “We can’t even earn our daily wages or repay bank loans,” she said.
She added that they had already submitted their grievances to the DC and TMC, but received no resolution. “Since TMC gave permission to open Vishal Mega Mart here, we have locked the TMC office today. We will not reopen it until a solution is reached,” she said.
Subasini further stated that market vendors and small shopkeepers would stop paying taxes to the Municipal Council since they are unable to do business. “There is no space left for women who run households in Thoubal Keithel now. If this continues, we will demand compensation from TMC. We cannot accept a system that supports big businesses while ignoring the poor,” she said.
