Street food vogue boon for industrious youth
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 20, 2022 -

SOME years back, when the state used to be the epicentre of public agitations, not to speak of the insurgency movement, not many would have reacted to contentions that there is no history of entrepreneurship in the DNA of Manipuris.

Blood-letting, intolerance for outsiders and frequent public agitations not only had compelled outflow of precious capital from the state but also made the prospective investors fret over from funding or setting up business outlets here.

However, with the past situation of the state besieged in the vicious cycle of lack of job opportunities, inequitable enforcement of law and order, ethnic assertions, identity crisis, etc., all of which contributed to festering problem almost on a daily basis; no more the norm these days, there are ample signs that increasing numbers of people are realising the importance of self-employment and taking up small scale entrepreneurship.

For instance, setting up of street food vendors in different corners of the twin capital districts and the operational hours running till late evening signify how prevalence of a peaceful environment could make a difference and encourage the business-minded individuals to discard irrelevant inhibitions.

As had been reported in this daily, these street food vendors are yet to be regulated by the authority and quality or safety of the items sold not tested by the department concerned.

Nevertheless, even if the food safety institute active in the state carries out random checking, it is unlikely that the vendors would be found undermining the need to maintain standard quality of the edibles for they need no reminding that any sort of misadventure would only lead to loss of their source of livelihood.

The number of street food vendors may still not be overwhelming but it is heartening that quite a number of youngsters and young couples have started trying their hands in selling ready-to-eat items thereby ensuring steady income for themselves and enabling the working class people and recreation-starved families to pick items of their choice.

Therefore, to ensure sustainability of the street food vendors and encourage them not to wait in vain for white collared jobs, it is suggested that the Food Safety Wing of the health department conduct tests at regular interval for such exercise would definitely convince the consumers about safeness of the edibles as well as draw more customers, especially those who aren't fond of street foods.

In-fact, small outlets dealing in ready-to-eat food items have been in operation in different localities for the past many decades without any serious issue on safety and hygiene unlike some popular hotels where random checking by food safety officials often resulted in detection of unhygienic preparation of food and storage system.

Though this year's unusually hot and dry spell in the erstwhile rainfall abundant Manipur compared to the pleasant evenings seems to be one of the reasons for the thriving businesses of street food vendors but it is commendable that the many youngsters are raring to showcase that they are prepared to face life's challenges given the right socio-political condition.

The latest trend of sizeable number of citizens preferring taste of the varied local food items is also a rare opportunity for students from the economically unsound families to try their hands in taking up part time jobs and lessen dependence on their parents.