Moreh bodies press for resumption of trade
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 08 2023:
Inpi Chamber of Commerce, Moreh (ICCM) has appealed to the authority concerned to allow trading of all permissible goods between India and Myanmar, so that the hardships faced by the people of the area can be mitigated.
In a release, ICCM stated that the impact of Covid-19 pandemic during the years 2020 and 2021 and the subsequent political imbroglio in neighbouring Myanmar have harshly affected the livelihood and economic condition of the people of Moreh and its surrounding areas.
Moreh being an international border town, both the central and state governments impose certain strictures and restrictions from time to time according to situations.
However, these strictures seem to have been enforced without bottom-up approach and have failed to address the plights and sufferings of Moreh denizens and its surrounding areas, it added.
ICCM continued that the Indo Myanmar border trade has come to a standstill since Covid-19 outbreak.
Moreover, the various strictures and restrictions have crippled economic activities of the majority populace whose means of earning livelihood largely depend on trading of goods, as it is not possible to survive on agriculture.
People, who matter, be it government officers or public leaders, have failed to see this reality, it lamented.
ICCM also conveyed the security forces, specifically 5 and 20 Assam Rifles, who are familiar and well acquainted with the plights and economic conditions of the people have been understanding and kind enough to make adjustments and concessions so that the people do not starve and commended the humanitarian gesture on the part of the 5 and 20 AR commandants.
Meanwhile, Moreh-based Hill Tribal Council (HTC), Meitei Council, Tamil Sangam, Manipuri Muslim Council and Gorkha Samaj Sewa Samiti have urged the 5 AR to consider the plight of the people of Moreh and restore normal business activities of the people by way of arrangement of local adjustment in-spite of the suspension of 'free movement regime' (FMR).
In a letter addressed to 5 AR commanding officer, the Moreh organisations stated that restrictions imposed on the movement of goods in Moreh and its surrounding areas have left many without work which means the source of income of many families have stopped.
In the absence of cultivable land in this part of the world, people are engaged in manual labour work and small time business activities to sustain living.
Restrictions on movement of sands, stones, wooden planks, construction materials, essential goods, etc., have now put many without work.
Many of them will go hungry if this continues for long, it lamented.
The letter further appealed to the AR commander to consider the plight of the people of Moreh in the light of the prevailing harsh situation.