Tribal market Inaugurated but yet to be a full fledged market

Source:

Imphal, April 05 2013 : Tribal Market at New Lambulane, New Checkon in Imphal East is still short of becoming a full-fledged market even two years after its inauguration by none other than the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

As the Government has failed to provide adequate manpower to run the all exclusive tribal market, the same has been maintained by a local managing committee with meagre contributions from the vendors.

With a capacity to house 640 vendors, the Tribal Market at New Lambulane is constructed by Development of Tribals and Scheduled Caste Department, Government of Manipur.

The market was inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on November 12, 2010.The same year, vendor licence was given to seven vendors by Chief Minister O Ibobi.

The market, along with other markets in the City area, has been constructed with an attempt to ease congestion of vendors at Khwairamband Bazar.

A near deserted Tribal Market

Around 60-70 vendors, with or without licences, are occupying the market at present.

An amount of Rs 20 each is collected from each vendor on weekly basis for maintenance of the market.

Remunerations for engaged sweeper and chowkidar are paid from the amount collected from the vendors, Secretary of the Market Managing Committee, Thiampuina told .

Maintaining that the market is very important for the tribals as any vegetable items and other commodities found in different nooks and corners of the hill areas are available here, she said the market would assume more importance if the Government pays adequate attention.

The market has three blocks with 32 stalls with shutters.

Although all the three blocks have been occupied by vendors, who deal with a wide variety of merchandise and vegetable items, the stalls with shutters remain idle so far.

The authority concerned has been urged to make arrangement for handloom and handicraft dealers at the stalls attached with shutter, Thempuina said while also admitting that no commitment has been given so far by the authority concerned.

Besides various merchandise coming from the hills, other edible items and tribal cuisines are also available in the market.

Meanwhile, interacting with , an official of the Development of Tribal and SC Dept said the Government is not in a position to shoulder the responsibility of maintenance of the tribal market as of now.

He said that efforts have been on to accommodate vendors from all tribal regions of the State.

The Dept official further said that the Government would be pursued to explore the possibility of handing over the charge of maintenance of the market to the Municipality in the absence of official to look after it in the concerned dept.

The official added that 320 vendor licences have been issued till now.

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://www.necalling.com/tribal-market-inaugurated-but-yet-to-be-a-full-fledged-market/