Imphal, Aug 06: People of Mayanglangjing are under Imphal West district, whose main income depend on grinding and trading Chamang (rice used for brewing local wine), have been hit hard following the anti-drug and liquor launched by AMADA and other social organisations in Manipur.

Caught in a kind of catch-22 situation, the aggrieved people of the area, who although said are in support of the ongoing anti-liquor drive, nonetheless have appealed to the Govt for arranging an alternative means through which they could supply the rice and keep the hearth burning.

Talking to mediapersons at Mayanglangjing Maning Leikai today, Takhellambam Rajen, the owner of a rice mill engaged in grinding Chamang and womenfolk of the locality who earn income from supplying the same to the people of Sekmai, narrated the financial difficulties being faced by them after the anti-liquor drive.

Rajen informed that he has been operating his rice mill since 1988 and looking after the need of his family with the income earned from the Chamang grinding business.

There are in all seven such rice mills in the area, he said.

To supplement the income of the family, most of the womenfolk of Mayang-langjing area are engaged in supplying this rice product is to places like Sekmai where brewing of local wine is practice as customary as well as for business purpose, he said, adding the economic activities of the people of area have been affected after the anti-liquor drive.

Before the anti-liquor drive, normally around 200 to 300 Phoubot (Sack of rice) were ground to extract Chamang on daily basis and could earn Rs 200 as income.

But now it is difficult to get even 10 to 20 Phoubot for grinding and earn Rs 30 to 40 as income, he informed.

This has caused financial difficulties in the running the family for many people living in the area, he added.

Naoroibam Shilaton of Mayanglangjing Maning Leikai, who is among the womenfolk engaged in supplying Chamang to Sekmai, said although they have not been prevented from supplying Chamang directly, stepping up anti-liquor drive in Sekmai area, demand of Chamang has come down greatly.

There are in all 40 to 50 womenfolk in Mayanglang-jing area who are engaged in supplying Chamang, she informed.

While admitting that the steps being taken up to prevent alcoholism and its related crimes is for the betterment of the society, the people of Mayanglangjing, nevertheless prayed to the Government for providing a venue where they could supply the rice in view of the financial difficulties being faced.

Meanwhile, AMADA Bishnupur District Council has destroyed 2000 litres of illicit liquor and other ingredients used in brewing wine seized from 22 different people during a drive launched in various parts of Bishnupur district like Toubul, Moirang and Ningthoukhong area, by setting it on fire at Moirang Lamkhai today.

According to sources from AMADA, in all 29,410 litres of locally brew wine, 629 full bottles of foreign liquor, 4003 kgs of Hamei, 275 kgs of Chaknam, 530 kgs of Chamang, 3873 trips and one piece of SP tablets, 42 strips of N-10 tablets, 94 kgs of Ganja, 12 dendrite pastes and 9 grams of heroin seized during the ongoing drive have been destroyed so far.

Comment