Govt planning tribal market at Lamphel: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 05 2022: Chief minister N Bi-ren has said that the government is planning to construct a large market at Lamphel where all the indigenous tribal communities of the state could be accommodated and sell their products collectively.

The chief minister disclosed this during the inaugural session of 'Capacity building training programme for women traders of 3 Ima Keithel' organised by National Commission for Women, New Delhi in collaboration with Manipur State Commission for Women at Hotel Imphal, here on Tuesday.

Attending as chief guest of the inaugural session, N Biren said that the main reason for delay in taking up development projects in the hills is problems faced during land acquisition process.

Accordingly, the government is planning to enact a separate land law for the hills and this could enhance development in the hills.

Despite such hurdles, the state government has so far constructed seven Ima markets in the hills, Biren added.

Stating that contribution of women vendors has been a major part of the rural economy, the chief minister stressed the need for them to be well aware of the digital world so that they could cope up with the flow of development.

He continued that the capacity building training programme would also help them in better usage of mobile technology in marketing their products and adopt cashless transactions.

The training programme would also facilitate in accessing banking services and availing the benefits of various Government Schemes as most of the worn en vendors already had bank accounts, he added.

Pointing out that women of Manipur had always taken part in many causes of the state for the last many years and took a commendable role in its development, the chief minister said that many women are currently holding important posts of the state government institutions and taking part in administration of the state.

He also said that women of Manipur had already been empowered and time has come for the women to take a leading role in development works.

He then appealed to women vendors to take part in the training session seriously so that they could share the knowledge and information to their fellow vendors who could not take part in the training programme.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma, who attended the inaugural session as guest of honour, thanked Manipur State Commission for Women for the support in organising the training programme and said that she could notice women of Manipur taking part in every activity carried out in the state.

Women had already been empowered and as such the need of the hour is women-led empowerment where women show the ways for development to others, she added.

Stressing the need for women vendors of the state to be aware of e-marketing to sell the products, Rekha Sharma continued that their market shouldn't be limited to the state only, rather it should reach to customers around the world.

She also informed that the training programme would provide knowledge of e-commerce and ways to avail loans from banks under various MSME schemes.

She also informed that such training programmes would be conducted for women vendors in hill areas as well.

Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) chairperson Thumlip Tiningpham Monsang, members Lourembam Dayabati Devi and T Chuongsin Koireng, director (social welfare) Ngangom Uttam, officials of the social welfare department and women vendors of 3 Khwairamband Ima markets also attended the programme among others.

During the programme, the chief minister led others in observing a one-minute silence.

in honour of those who lost their lives in the recent massive landslide tragedy that occurred at Tupul yard railway construction camp.

Ima Keithel is said to be the largest all-women market in Asia with large number of women manning the stalls in these markets.

In pursuance to the Commission's programmes in North-eastern states, NCW conducted the training programme for women traders of three Ima Keithel to improve their livelihood, social security and overall quality of life.

The training programme was divided into three technical sessions.

The first session was on 'Knowledge of Relevant Banking Schemes and How to Use Online Banking', second on 'Knowledge of Tax Laws/GST Laws and Tax Compliances' and the third session was on 'E-Commerce Demonstration' .

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