'Bandh/blockades used as political tool'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13, 2013: There is no such thing or sector which is unaffected by bandh/blockade.

The impacts of bandhs/blockades are universal.

Bandhs and blockades are being used as a political tool and when there is bandh or blockade, the Government cannot turn away its attention, observed economist Dr Ch Priyoranjan.

Talking with The Sangai Express about the impacts of frequent bandhs and blockades on day to day life of people and trade and commerce, Associate Professor Ch Priyoranjan of Economics Department Manipur University said that bandh generally implies a complete halt to daily activities.

Halting an activity which is going on according to a certain schedule affects all other sectors.

Nowadays, bandhs and blockades are being used as political tools.

Even for matters which have little merit, bandhs and blockades are imposed.

Such a disturbing trend is a fall-out of the Government's lapses.

When there is bandh, the Government usually turn its attention to the matter and it ultimtalely doles out something or strikes an agreement on certain points with the aggrieved party.

Because of such adhoc response of the Government, bandhs and blockades are caled at the drop of a hat.

The Government never bothers to identity the collective issues and aspirations of the people or work out a long term solution.

The Government just manages the multiple issues from time to time on adhoc basis, asserted Priyoranjan.

With the Government habituated to taking actions only when people raise an uproar, many small and new organisations were bred out of big, social organisations, and these new organisations never hesitate to call bandhs or blockades for whatever reasons.

On the other hand, the Government does not think it necessary to allow the people debate on its policies before implementing them.

Bandh and blockades serious affect small industries including livestock industries.

This plight is further compounded as almost all the raw materials are imported from outside the State.

Education sector is another area which is facing the maximum brunt of bandhs and blockades.

Bandhs and blockades have crippling effects on the cross border trade between India and Myanmar.

For small scale traders whose capital constitute just a few lakhs, a day of bandh or blockade can paralyse their business for weeks.

The annual volume of trade between India and Myanmar through Moreh is Rs 878 crores.

Out of it, export from the Indian side constitute just about Rs 2/3 crores, and the same amount is lost in a single when there is bandh or blockade.

When the industries and agriculture sectors are developed in Manipur and when people realise the extent of damages caused by bandhs/blockades to these production sectors, people would come out against the culture of bandh and blockade.

It is this area which needs urgent and maximum attention of the Government, asserted Priyoranjan.

Even as health sevices were said to exempted from bandh, bandh supporters pelted stones on ambulances and hospital staff could not attend their office to the full strength and patients needing medical attention are kept away from hospitals, said Shija Hospitals managing director Dr Palin.

"We must know that all the medicines and medical oxygen are brought from outside the State", he added.

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