Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, September 09:
The Imphal Bazar Community this afternoon organized an urgent meeting at Dharmashala to discuss the role, duties, limits and responsibilities of the Consumers� Club, Manipur in relation to the business community in Imphal.
The meeting, preside over by state law secretary L Ibomcha Singh, was attended by among other advocate Chongtham Norendra Singh, journalist N Gyanendra Singh, AMUCO advisor RK Anand Singh, consumer� Club Manipur advisor Rana Singh and advocate S Shamchandra Singh.
They discussed legal provisions for protection of consumers in the state.
The discussion encompassed the recent closure of the Sangam Hotel at Thangal Bazar by the Consumers� Club for selling adulterated soft drink, Thumbs up.
Addressing the meeting, Imphal Bazar Committee convenor Amrik Singh Pahwa stressed on the functioning of the business community during the hours of crisis.
The bazar community shouldered the responsibility to feed the people during the recent crisis.
They are not outsides; they are also the people of Manipur; they are Manipuri Sikhs, Manipuri Marwaris, Manipuri Bengalis, Manipuri Bihari and Manipuri Jains, he said.
Regarding the Sangam Hotel closure, AS Pahwa said misunderstanding took place between the Club and the Sangam management.
However, he said, the Club is not to decide what is wrong or right against any trader.
In such cases, food inspectors are here to check such adulteration, he said.
Narrating the hardships of the business community, he said about Rs 60,000 worth of onion consignment of a trader wasted as it stranded for 22 days on its way to Imphal.
He also said the community brought to the notice of the governor and DGP the illegal taxes imposed at Dimapur entry gate and Kangpokpi sales tax post on the incoming goods.
All the resource persons in the meeting said the three voluntary organizations � Consumers� Club, Consumers� Guidance Society and C0nsumer Protection Society � which have been recognized by the Union government are there to bring awareness to the general public abut the rights of the consumers.
They can represent the aggrieved consumers to take a case before the court.