Trade regulations imposed in Ukhrul town
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 13 2011 -

IT HAS been reported that trade in Ukhrul town is being regulated so that mainly Tangkhuls are allowed to carry out all essential trade. This has been enforced by the Tangkhul Trade & Commerce body.

The given explanation is 'outsiders' should not control trade in Ukhrul town. This is a welcome step, provided the underlying meaning is to protect and promote Tangkhul entrepreneurship.

Trade and commerce in Manipur has long been controlled by outsiders and it is high time to redress the monopoly of those who have little time or no time to consider the fate of the sons of the soil. To the Tangkhuls we say, well done.

The Mizos started this trend, though in their case the stipulations were not explicitly phrased or put so succinctly.

Nevertheless the effects of their exclusive policies provided some results. The ultimate fall out is that non-Mizos are not given any 'natural' rights to embark on trade and commerce in Mizoram.

Is it full proof? No, there are lots of fictitious firms and trading houses in Mizoram under which non-Mizos do business, but the message is clear, without local patronage non-Mizos doing business in Mizoram will find it uncomfortable, to say the least.

The step taken by the Tangkhul Trade & Commerce body may not be applicable to the entire north east but it certainly deserves a second look. In Manipur at least, the practice could prove to be a huge success.

Who will gain by it? Needless to say the local entrepreneurs will come good. And the timing has been on the dot. With a multi-crore trans border trade expected to commence with the Look East trade it would be best if the benefits of this projected trade were to land in local hands.

If the benefits of the Look East Policy were to be garnered by non locals, the locals will be left with crumbs like being watchmen, drivers, porters, worse still pimps.

The script so far looks and feels good, but one could ask, is there a catch? The answer is yes.

Though the Tangkhul Trade & Commerce body has made no mention, if, and so far it is only an if, the regulations are also ultimately meant to cover Meeteis then the plan could boomerang on the Tangkhul brethren.

Because if this should come out to be true then it will be bye bye to them as far the trade in the Look East Policy is concerned. Those who have thought out and enforced the trade regulations in Ukhrul town must consider this issue.

What people in general want is that economic benefits, whether it be through trade and commerce or through industrial production be enjoyed by the people of the state.

If the exclusion directives are also to cover Meeteis who will sell them those needed items which only the Meeteis can provide?

If their objective is to promote trade with Nagaland it could well lead to procuring commodities from Nagaland to be sold back to Nagaland. This will expose a total lack of business acumen.

At this stage it is only a possibility which could happen but which every one wishes to avoid. Perhaps the Tangkhul Trade & Commerce body can explain better.