TODAY -
An Exploratory Study Of Khwairamband Women Market In Manipur – Highlights The Business Opportunities For Banks - Part VI |
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By: Thingbaijam Michael Khumancha * |
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But some efforts are needed to check the exploitation of the women entrepreneurs and traders in this women’s market. 11. Conclusions The Kwairamband market is supposed to be the biggest market in Asia dominated by women traders and entrepreneurs. It is believed that the lallup system prevalent in Manipur during the olden days was responsible for the emergence of this women market at Imphal. The Khwairamband Market now consists of eight constituent markets such as Nupi Keithal (women’s market), Laxmi Keithal, Nupa Keithel (men’s market) etc. However, in olden days only the Nupi Keithel was known as Khwairamband Market. Varieties of articles are traded in different constituents of the market. The items ranges from items of daily consumption such as vegetables, fishes, dried fishes, chicken to varieties of cloths, ornaments and jewellery, and even plantain leaves etc. Most of the women traders/entrepreneurs come from villages. Most of them are above 50 years of age. Again, majority of them are illiterate. The women handloom traders are involved in marketing cloths. Those who are engaged in production do not ordinarily market their products by themselves. Moneylenders (sensanbi) play an important role in providing finance to the women entrepreneurs. But they charge an exorbitant rate (@ 10% per day) interest, that is, 300 per cent per month. The women traders/entrepreneurs primarily depend on the middlemen for finance. As the things stand now, there is little scope for banks to lend to the women traders and entrepreneurs (may be called primary vendors) since the primary vendors do not come to the market regularly. Only the secondary vendors are the regular traders/entrepreneurs. They can provide credit opportunities to banks. However, bank can open up short term loaning facilities to the permanent traders (secondary vendors). This should be preceded by awareness creation about the banking facilities that may be available to the women entrepreneurs. Some hurdle will still remain. The traders/entrepreneurs are mostly illiterate. This will be a real hurdle for banks while dealing with these trader/entrepreneurs. But some efforts are needed to check the exploitation of the women entrepreneurs and traders in this women’s market. GLOSSARY 1. Khwai : Literally means “of all” in Manipuri language. 2. Cheithrol kumpaba: the Royal chronicle of Manipur. This books dates back to first century AD describing all the kings and the state of affairs. 3. Nongda lai Pakhangba: The first king who ruled Manipur from 33AD. 4. Lallup: The taxation system that was prevalent in Manipur. In this system all male citizens was to work for the state for 2 months in a year. Later on the British abolished this system in late 19th century. 5. Khamba and Thoibi: These are characters taken from the history of Moirang principality. Almost all the Manipuri knows the story of Khamba and Thoibi as legend. Khamnu is the elder sister of Khamba. 6. Moirang: A principality of Manipur. It is situated around 45 km from Imphal on the bank of Loktak Lake in southwestern direction of Imphal. 7. Keithel Lairembi: Literally means the goddess of market. There is a pair of statues installed in each market in any part of Manipur, especially in Manipur valley. 8. Keithel : means “Market” 9. Nupi : means either a lady or a girl. 10. Nupa : means a man. 11. Lalyonbi: they are the secondary traders or vendors that are prevalent in market. The word “Lan” means goods and “yonbi” means “trader” 12. Ngari: Fermented fishes, which are eaten by Manipuri. It is a daily consumable item by all. Imoinu Keithel is known as Ngari gali too. 13. dukan: meaning a “shop” where items are sold. 14. Ningol Chak kouba: a festival, which is celebrated in October – November among the Meitei.On this day married women come to her maternal home and dine together eating rice and fishes. 15. Meitei: the predominant inhabitants of Manipur. Nearly 2/3rd of the population of Manipur is Meitei. 16. Sensaanbi: literally means “the money lender”. She can be a rich trader who lends money to other traders. 17. Cheiraoba: The New Year celebration of the Meitei. It falls in the month of March - April and during this season handloom products are sold the maximum. 18. Yaosang : The festival of “Holi” is locally termed as Yaosang among the Meitei. 19. Phanek : This is a Mongoloid garment (Rectangular with either horizontal strips or with out strips) usually worn by a girl or lady either worn from “left to right” or “Right to left”. Phanek is prepared as a strip earlier by a hand Loom and presently by a Modern loom. Two strips are sewed by a needle horizontally to make one Phanek. It covers the leg and at times cover up till the armpits of a women ( called “Khoi thak” means “Above Navel”). When Phanek is worn below Navel it is called “ Khoi Kha” (meaning “Below navel”). The beauty is that all the women in Manipur and of Manipur origin whether Meitei or Non Meitei wear this garment. Embroidery is done with “Khoi Mayek”, “Hija Mayek”, etc for Meitei and Hill women prepare numerous Clan Symbols on Phanek. along the top and bottom strip. The embroidery of Fanek was started during the reign of Meidinggu Keifaba (969 To 984 Anno Domini ) . “Fige Phanek” is the highest Phanek made out of silk and at present (2004) ranges up to Rupees 3500/- . The social dignity and position of a girl and lady is shown by this lower Garment. Right from a lady farmer to the Royal Queen Fanek is worn. Presently modern designs has come to Phanek and this has numerous Market value both in North east India and Myanmar. “Modern Manipuri Classical dancer” always wear a Fanek. 20. kouna phak: Mat made out of wild water grass. Note: 1. Nupi Keithel is also known as Ima market. Ima market and Linthoingambai Keithel (Also known as New Market) are the two nuclei of Khwairamband market. Ima market is involved in pottery, vegetable, grocery, metal, ornaments, etc. However Linthoingambai Keithel is mainly involved in handloom goods. 2. Private Bank is a bank owned and run by local people around the bazaar. Basically it is a money-lending agency that lends money to traders. The private bank collects money from the borrower daily in the evening. There are two systems: it daily collects interest and capital from the borrower or only the interest is collected daily.
* Thingbaijam Michael Khumancha (Meiraba) prepared this report and was approved by Dr D. D. Mali, Former Director, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati , India. You can contact Meiraba at khumancham(at)rediffmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on March 13th, 2007. |
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