Women rally against artificial scarcity, uncontrolled price
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04, 2010: A large number of womenfolk, mostly vendors of Khwairamband Keithel took out a protest rally at Imphal today demanding that essential goods be made available at appropriate prices in adequate quantities and to devise an effective price control mechanism.

The rally started from near Family Welfare office and snaked through Alu Gali, Gandhi Avenue, Nagamapal and Maharani bridge where a street corner meeting was held.

Later a memorandum was submitted to Law Minister Th Debendra as the Chief Minister is currently out of station.

The rally was organised under the aegis of the All Manipur Nupi Marup.

The protesters raised slogans and carried placards which read as "We condemn artificial escalation of prices", "Don�t starve the poor by hiking prices", "Punish those obstructing traffic along highways", "Don�t play politics on highway development", "We condemn hike in travel fares", "Ensure availability of essential commodities at appropriate prices", "Provide PDS items regularly", "Deploy Highway Protection Force on National Highways", "Develop NH 53 to a standard highway", "Don�t create artificial famine in Manipur" etc.

Addressing the rally and the meeting, vice-president of the All Manipur Nupi Marup, Sakhi said that the present crisis of scarcity of essential commodities is man-made.

Women folk on the war path against artifical scarcity and sky high prices of essential items

Even though essential commodities are being brought in continuously, the same goods are not available to the public in adequate quantity.

This artificial scarcity has been keeping the people in a miserable state, Sakhi observed.

Questioning the inaction of the State Govern ment against fixing prices of goods by traders and businessmen according to their fancy, Sakhi demanded that the Government should ensure that all essential goods are available to the people at appropriate prices in adequate quantities at the earliest.

The Government should devise an effective price control mechanism otherwise Manipuri womenfolk would launch a massive protest movement, the woman activist warned.

Even as goods are being brought in along NH-53, though not to its optimum capacity, prices of all goods have been soaring incessantly.

Potato which earlier costs Rs 10 per Kg has risen to Rs 25 per Kg.

Likewise, price of charcoal has risen from Rs 260 per bag of 50 Kgs to Rs 380, cost of one re-filled LPG jumped from Rs 320 to Rs 1000, price of urea has soared to Rs 700/800 per bag of 50 Kgs from the earlier price of Rs 450 per bag.

Superfine variety of rice is available at Rs 25-27 per Kg while petrol is available in black markets at Rs 80-100 per litre.

Chandrajini, a vegetable vendor at Khwairamband Keithel from Wangjing wondered why any commodity which is unavailable at normal price is easily available if offered higher price.

Saying that travel fare between Imphal and Mayang Imphal has risen to Rs 50 per trip from Rs 20, another vegetable vendor at Khwairamband Keithel from Mayang Imphal lamented that the little profit she earned from selling vegetables went in paying travel fares.

"Under such harsh conditions, I�m afraid if I would be able to meet the basic requirements of my children", she confided.