Women rise against sending out food items
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 11 2010: Worried over the fast depleting stocks of essential commodities, particularly food items, women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel and women activists raised an uproar at Khwairamband market today demanding that wholesalers dealing in food items should stop diverting such commodities to other places on the sly and to be sold at inflated rates.

The women vendors and activists intercepted one Tata Sumo, one 407 Tata and a jeep loaded with rice, potato, dal and other food items which were to be taken to other destinations between Alu Gali and Dharamsala today.

Women intercept a vehicle carrying food stuff to other places

The food items were returned to the wholesale shops from where they were purchased.

One woman activist said that essential commodities have become very scarce in Manipur valley following the prolonged economic blockade being imposed against ADC elections coupled with the turmoil created by the proposed visit of Th Muivah to his birth place.

She said that the women blocked transportation of the food items to other places with the intention to send out a message that misery caused by the blockade should be shared by all the people of Manipur.

Until and unless the blockade is lifted, no articles will be allowed to be transported from wholesale shops of Khwairamband to other places, she said.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting held today between wholesalers dealing in food items at Khwairamband market and women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel have decided not to allow transportation of any food items from Khwairamband market to other districts.

On account of the drive, shops dealing in rice, dals etc at Dharamsala and Alu Gali remained closed today.

Similar drive of blocking transportation of goods to other places were also undertaken at Khumbong, Moidangpok, Korouhanba and Moidangpok Aheibam Leikai.