Imphal, January 13: Apunba Kanglei Sinnaibi Lup has announced its decision of launching intense agitation against the monopoly of the businessmen on the price of yarn and failure to respect the rate fixed by the Govt.Speaking at the occasion of introducing the women weavers of the Panung Lairembi Weaving Co-operative Society located at Bashikhong in Imphal East district today, vice president of Kanglei Sinnaibi Lup L Pramo pointed out that one of the biggest problem being faced by the women weavers in Manipur is the fluctuation in the price of the yarns being old in the market.

Businessmen have been randomly hiking the price of the yarns and even to the extend of creating artificial scarcity of yarn in Manipur, she alleged and warned of launching an intense in this connection.

On the rate fixed by the Government, Pramo said on 1kg of one-ply woollen yarn (super) cost Rs 220, but the shop-keepers selling it anywhere between Rs 230 to 235.The rate fixed by the Government should also valid for the whole year, but the businessman have been hiking the rate randomly specially during festival seasons, she lamented.

She also rued over the fact that there are not adequate yarns and colour of their liking in the Yarn Banks being run by the Industries Department of the State Government.

Secretary of Panung Lairembi Weaving Society L Angousana informed that there are in all 25 looms at the disposal of the Society, and out the total 104 members of the Society, only 35 of them are actively engaged in weaving activities.

During 2004-05, the Society has been able to expert the cloths locally known as Pagan Phee to places outside India like Iraq.

More that 500 cloths were exported in a month and could earn a profit of more than Rs 4700, Angousana informed, adding that the same has not been able to do so since 2006 due to increase in the price of the yarn.

A woman weaver of the Society disclosed that since there is no corresponding increasing in the price of the finished products and wages to the increase in the price of the yarns, it is very difficulty to sustain the family on the income earned from weaving.

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