CM seeks women's intervention to end militancy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 04 2022: Chief Minister N Biren has appealed to women vendors of the three Ima markets of Khwairamband Keithel to work out a course towards a political solution so that all the people who left home and took up arms out of some disappointment and frus-tration can return to the mainstream.

A felicitation function was held today at Khwai-ramband in honour of Chief Minister N Biren, his Council of Ministers and all the elected Members of BJP under the aegis of the Nupi Keithel Shinpham Amadi Shaktam Kanba Lup.

Apart from Chief Minister N Biren, Power Minister Th Biswajit, MAHUD Minister Y Khemchand, Works Minister Govindas Kon-thoujam and many BJP MLAs attended the function.

CM seeks women's intervention to end militancy

Speaking at the felicitation function, N Biren stated that Manipuri women used to keep vigil in their localities every night amidst mosquitoes and all kinds of other inconveniences and this daily routine underwent a change for the better only during the last five years.

This positive change was a result of the collective efforts of the public, he asserted.

The recent lifting of AFSPA from the jurisdictions of nine police stations of Manipur following remarkable improvement in the State's law and order situation testified how much the Central leaders think for Manipur and other Northeastern States, Biren claimed.

He called upon all sections of the society to exert pressure on the Centre collectively so that AFSPA is lifted from all over the State.

Urging mothers to appeal to all the people who had left home and taken up arms owing to certain disappointment and dissatisfaction to return to the mainstream, the Chief Minister appealed to the women vendors to help the Government in charting out a course so as to bring a political solution and restore peace in the State.

Noting that many of the women vendors of Khwairamband are suffering from different health problems, Biren announced that a health centre would be opened on the upper floor of one of the market complexes.

A senior nurse would be stationed at the health centre while doctors would visit the same centre once in a week, he continued.

Taking note of the reports that some businessmen of Khwairamband have monopolised prices of handloom products, Biren said that he has consulted the Handloom and Handicraft Director on the matter.

Conveying that he has already talked with the relevant Central ministry regarding the matter, Biren said that a wholesale shop would be opened on the upper floor of one of the market complexes so that yarns can be made available to weavers at reduced prices by giving a subsidy of 20 per cent.

He also appealed to the business community to give up the attitude of hiking prices of goods whenever there is closure of highways on account of landslides and other reasons.

The market complex being constructed in the erstwhile Tombisana High School complex for vendors who have been plying their trades around the three Ima markets is nearing completion.

Construction of vendor sheds for the temporary market of Lamphelpat is also on the verge of completion.

The Government has been working to provide space to street vendors at these new markets.

Once the existing street vendors are accommodated at these new markets, the Government would not remain silent if vendors come out to streets again, Biren said.

Saying that there is little space for pedestrians on many of the major roads of Imphal city as large parts of these roads are being used as parking lots, Biren informed that concerned authorities have been instructed to remove vehicles parked on busy roads.

Appealing to all the people to park vehicles over Naga Nullah, the Chief Minister assured that necessary instruction would be given to Traffic Police to avoid loss/theft of vehicles.

A campaign of Green Manipur/Clean Manipur has been launched to de-clog and desilt all the drains of Imphal city, Biren said.

He said that the same initiative would be taken up at all district headquarters.

The Chief Minister further appealed to all the people to extend cooperation in keeping Imphal city neat and clean.