Student bodies ban import of selected machine-made garments
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 04 2023:
Six student organisations have imposed a ban on the import of machine-made garments sourced from outside the State which bear close similarity to local handloom products.
A joint statement issued by MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS and another student body has appealed to the State Government to place restrictions on the import of machine-made clothing items similar to the local handloom products, namely, "phee, phanek, lengyan, kokyet, phadi and khudei" and further called upon the tradesmen to stop importing these garments.
The joint statement called upon the people to advocate and support the local women weavers who are contributing a substantial share in the State's economy.
The six student bodies advised people not to be swayed by cheap prices and maintained that they should consider the losses to the State's economy in the long term and refrain from purchasing the imported machine-made clothing items.
The statement also made an appeal to make handloom uniforms mandatory for schools and colleges.
It may be noted that the six student bodies had notified against the import of these garments on April 29 of 2022 and announced a boycott on these machine-made clothes on June 22 of the same year.
Following this, on July 15 and 16, a drive was conducted by the six student organisations across many market places.
The seized items were then set ablaze on July 19, 2022, the statement shared.