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Pavement vendors seek Government assistance

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

PUSHING THEIR DEMANDS: CPI (M) leader T. Murugan addressing the second annual conference of Pavement and Sunday Market Merchants Union in Puducherry on Friday:

Puducherry: The second annual conference of the Union of Pavement Vendors and Sunday Market Merchants (affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Unions) held here on Friday urged the Government to provide infrastructure to run their business without the interference of the police and municipal authorities.

Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tamil Nadu unit, T. Murugan, convener of the union R. Azhagarraj, secretary of the CPI (M) here V. Perumal and its treasurer R. Rajangam addressed the participants.

The conference also adopted resolutions to push the demands of merchants and workers in the unorganised sector. The conference pleaded that the Government converts the Society for the Welfare of the Workers of Unorganised Sector into a Welfare Board. The funds allocated for the purpose should be increased. The Government should implement welfare schemes for the workers as was done by the West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura Governments. The Government should ensure that health programmes, pension and other facilities were available for them. As most of these merchants were in the clutches of moneylenders, they were not able to make both ends meet. The Government must also ensure that they were provided housing facilities. Identity cards should be issued to them to get housing loans. As there was no sufficient space available in the Sunday market, the Government should develop infrastructure on Gingee Salai and construct a shopping complex. Such a scheme was contemplated seven years ago, but yet to take off.

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