Govt urged to ban sale of imported 'Eyong Phi'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 04 2023:
Six student bodies of the state have urged the government to prevent the entry of imitations of 'Eyong' cloth made by power-looms into Manipur.
In a joint statement, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS and another students' organisation recounted the previous bans announced on entry of imitations of machine-made Eyong cloth into the state on April 6 and June 22 last year.
After this, a joint drive with the local vendors was carried out and many such machine-made Eyong cloths were impounded and later destroyed by setting on fire.
In addition, various meetings have been convened for preservation of Eyong cloth.
Amidst this, it was found that machine-made Eyong cloths are again being brought into the state.
Thus, the student bodies urged the government to take stringent measures to prevent such imitations of Eyong cloth from being brought into the state Stating that the student bodies had taken up the initiative to save the Eyong cloth, which is an integral part of the state's culture; the joint statement appealed to the people and the authority concerned to extend their support including making uniforms of schools and colleges with Eyong cloth.
It further urged the government to take up steps to keep the prices of Eyong cloth affordable.
Further appealing to all to promote local weavers, the six student bodies urged the government to ban the entry and sale of imitations of the state's traditional attires from outside so as to protect the livelihood of the local weavers.
It also advised those bringing the machine-made cloths to refrain from doing so, while appealing to the people of the state not to purchase the imitations brought in from outside Manipur.