Vendors from Mao light up temporary market shed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 09 2015 : Nagamapal area was jam-packed with shoppers as vegetable and fruit traders from Mao set up shop at Nagamapal yesterday.

Following the Kozirii and Dzuko land boundary issue with neighbouring Nagaland, Mao vendors are left with no other alternative than to journey up to the Imphal valley to sell their produces.

State civil organisations, in order to provide assistance to the affected Mao denizens, set up a temporary market shed for Mao vendors at Nagamapal from July 3, Kanglamei president Y Lairikleima who was on sentry duty at the temporary set up at Nagamapal told The Sangai Express.

The temporary market has been set up using bamboos and rubber sheets over the Nagamapal drainage by civil organisation volunteers without any assistance from the Government.

Vendors from Mao light up temporary market shed

According to the Mao vendors, goods truck heading towards Imphal from Mao are constantly stopped by suspected militants at Kanglatongbi and Sapermeina exacting a sum of Rs 1000 from each truck that passes through.

The vendors do not feel very secure in the valley area either as State police deployed at the Khwairamband area extract money from every passing vehicle.

Expressing her disappointment, the Kanglamei president appealed the outfit/s concerned and police personnel to refrain from repeating similar acts in future and also to extend support the Mao denizens in their difficult times.

She further appealed to the State Government to set up a separate market complex for Mao people at Khwairamband area and not elsewhere as discussed in the State Assembly session yesterday.

A proposal to set up a Mao market at Khuman Lampak near Apex office was discussed during the ongoing Assembly session on July 7 .

One Beso Mao from Koziiri village who has set up a temporary stall at Nagamapal said they are gratified with the arrangements made by the civil organisations.

Beso sells varieties of home-grown vegetables and fruits at her stall.

They have been received warmly by the people, she said.

"Business has been good.

Most of the stocks I brought from home were sold out before the end of the day", Beso added.

Mao vendors expressed surprise at how they were received by the valley people.

"They like our produce so much.

We never knew they had so much liking for our produce," one of the vendors stated.

One Keisham Shanti Devi who came to Khwairamband market only to buy groceries from the temporary market said, "I love what they are selling! They are fresh and green, and chemical free, tempts you to buy at the very sight." The initiative of the civil organisations have brought together the hill and valley people to some extent, Shanti added.

A separate market for the Mao people at Khwairamband will help strengthen the relationship between hill and valley people more, she added.