HERICOUN shares thoughts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2021: Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting effect on the people, the Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has laid down a series of points to alleviate the suffering of the people.

In a statement, HERICOUN stated that several traders selling essential commodities at inflated rate without giving a cash memo to the consumers is akin to sucking people's blood in these trying times.

The council has also been urging the wholesellers, stockists, suppliers in Imphal areas to issue a cash memo to the retailer for any purchase, but many disregard the direction, HERICOUN asserted and asked why the Government is remaining a silent spectator even though the price of essentials is sky rocketing in the State.

Maintaining that Manipur was once self reliant in terms of food production before merging with the Indian Union, he rued that the story is different today as the State can no longer survive on its own.

Further urging the Government to pay special attention to the needs of the farmers for them to continue their activities unabated, the Council urged all to plant crops/ vegetables on their unused fields to make Manipur self reliant in terms of food again.

HERICOUN also urged banks, money lenders, landlords to stop collecting rent fees, interest and capital during these difficult times.

The money may be recovered once the situation improves.

Pointing out that closing of market is compounding the hardship of both the farmers and the public, the statement appealed the State Government to arrange steps to ensure availability of food.

More will die of starvation than the COVID-19 if food is not available to the public, it added.

Apart from making essentials available to the public, the State Government should provide relief package to the people free of cost and ban sale of intoxicants, continued HERICOUN.

The Council also appealed the people of Manipur to follow the Covid preventive measures issued by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the SOPs laid down by the Government to arrest the spread of Coronavirus.

The Government should establish one Covid hospital and make sure shortage of oxygen doesn't crop up in the State, HERICOUN demanded.

Stating that non availability of cash in most of the ATM booths is also inconveniencing the people in looking after household need, the COUNCIL urged all concerned to look into the matter to relieve the suffering of the people to some extent.

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