Markets hit hard
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 28 2024: The trade and commerce centre of Imphal, Thangal and Paona Keithel, are facing economic instability initially brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and made much worse by the unprecedented conflict ravaging the State since last year.

As majority of the shops in these markets are run on rent, a major financial burden to these shop owners is the monthly rent which has reportedly remained unchanged even in the face of this crisis and subsequent decline in sales.

Manipur has been in an unpredictable law and order situation which hinders normal business activity of the people preventing market centres in the valley as well as peripheral regions from thriving or gaining stability.

In this connection, different shop owners have expressed their concern with the crisis which has adversely affected their businesses.

Only shops which sell essential commodities like food grains or medicines are flourishing while stores that stock non-essential items like cosmetics, electronics and clothing items are facing a sharp dip in sales.

As a result, they are under constant pressure to keep up with payment of rent and wages for salespersons every month, said the shop owners.

Aside from their economic woes, they stated that the need of the hour for everyone in Manipur is to work out a concrete solution to the protracted crisis through political dialogue.

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