Itanagar– The Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) has strongly denounced an incident at Gandhi Market near the BSNL Office in Itanagar, labeling it an “illegal and arbitrary seizure” of traditional tribal food items from women vendors.
The APWWS stated that approximately six officials conducted an unannounced raid on April 8 between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm. During this operation, various traditional food items being sold by women were confiscated. The seized goods included honyor, banana flower, wild mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tanam, tase, dried king chilli packets, and even brooms.
Members of the APWWS met with the affected vendors today, April 9, to confirm reports that had surfaced on social media. The vendors reportedly testified that the officials informed them they lacked the necessary permits to sell these items. Disturbingly, some officials allegedly suggested that these traditional foods were “harmful.”
An APWWS spokesperson asserted that this action constitutes “a direct attack on indigenous food practices that have sustained our communities for generations.” The organization emphasized the immediate negative consequences for the women vendors, including the loss of their daily income as many are the sole earners for their families, economic losses due to the spoilage of perishable goods, and the emotional distress caused to the vendors.
The APWWS underscored the rights of tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh to harvest and sell non-timber forest produce under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act of 2006, questioning the legality of the confiscations. The organization also voiced serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency during the raid, noting that no proper documentation or seizure warrants were provided to the affected women.
The APWWS further stated that “any administrative action that undermines their economic independence without following proper procedures contradicts both our constitutional values and the state’s commitment to women’s empowerment and indigenous rights.” The society has urgently appealed to the State Government for immediate intervention, demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the matter, fair compensation for the affected vendors, and appropriate action against any officials found to have overstepped their authority. The APWWS is also in the process of preparing a formal representation to the Chief Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh government concerning this incident.
Read More: Arunachal: Smart Vending Zone Launched in Itanagar, Ushering in Modern Era for Vendors