Imphal, January 19: In what could be terms an entrepreneurial influence, 52 years old Thokchom Joy, who hails from Lairenbi Leirak Yumnam Leikai, has given vegetable vendors in particular, more than a flicker of hope by providing the accessories they needed most but which they could not perceive of not long ago.

It is none other than the artificial lamp that is used far and wide after dusk mainly in the market places of Imphal to replace the cumbersome pudon.

Commuters and customers alike especially office-goers after long hours of work during the day sometimes end up with no time left for vegetable shopping in the market.

However, with this innovative idea coming into full public view, vegetable sellers especially the Imas have now the chances of easing themselves into longer hours of sitting in the glow to earn more apart from ensuring convenient marketing to the customers.

Customers too have a wide array of choosing more vegetable items with longer time at their disposal.

Joy, who is the man behind such innovative thought runs a shop of various items at Keishamthong market and he is living with his wife and three sons.

"The idea of providing electrical lamps ebbed in my mind some years back but I had the chance of putting it into practice only last September after having a thorough survey about pros and cons of the work," he said holding a saw in his hand.

Explaining his marketing strategy he said, "When I first discussed with the women vendors at Keishamthong market to see if they would prefer the new lamp to candle or pudon I got positive response from them and that moment happened to be a turning point towards accomplishing my work".

Demand for the lamp is said to be increasing day by day and this has somewhat eased Joy's tension over the means to make an earning.

What is interesting is also that the family members of Joy are being engaged in such business and besides that they have also made a joint venture called KLB that exclusively deals with the supply of betel nut and betel leaves (Kom Kwa) in the capital city of Imphal.

"Life is not a bed of roses, I have experienced many difficulties in my life time.

Upto class X, I studied and dropped my further study owing to so many difficulties that had cropped up in my family, financial problem being the main factor," he said.

"I have worked as rickshaw puller at night and Maharani Thong used to be our main station during those days.

I have also driven a jeep moving to almost every part of the state to make earning and now I work simultaneously with dispatching and collecting of lamps when evening falls and with supply of kom kwa in KLB," continued 25 year old Thokchom Bobo, the middle son of Joy, as he recalled his past.

''But now my elder brother is in Army and since we are undertaking few business enterprises though small in nature we could somehow manage our family, and those hardship have lessened to certain extent', expressed the youngster.

Without such artificial lamps shopping of vegetables and other food stuff would certainly be dull now.

According to a 42 year old woman Tombi from Samurou Makha Leikai, who runs a vegetable shop at Keishampat, who have been vegetable trade since ten years back, the quantum of her business is increasing and attributed the rise to invention of this new light.

"in the beginning I used to rush home at 7 in the evening but now I can sit upto ten because customers also wish to go out in the night because of the light," she confided.

Mrs Mema who sits in Maharani Thong has this to said: "The new invention of such light in particular has made certain changes.

in the beginning we faced so many problems but now with the invention of such lamp we feel easier in dispatching our goods and just paying Rs 5 is of course economically viable than buying candles and lighting pudon".

One could probably try having a stroll at places like Keishamthong, Keishampat, Khuman lampak stadium road, Singjamei, Kwakeithel and Nagamapal to see how things have changed during this short while.

till not so long ago vegetable markets used to close down as early as 7 pm but these days with this gift of Joy's lamp they feel the warmth of vendors and customers still doing their round of bargaining late into the night.

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