Imphal, February 26, 2010: Possibly, on account of State Government employees not getting their salaries for the last three/four months, Khwairamband market witnesses comparatively dampened spirit of Yaoshang shopping even as the festival is just two days away.

Unlike in the previous years when all the streets and shops of Khwairamband market were choked with Yaoshang shoppers days ahead of the festival, the number of people coming to buy fancy clothes, ornaments and other articles for the festival is considerably reduced this time.

Usually, people used to store up food and other essential items for use during the five days of Yaoshang festival as communication is very difficult during these days.

Yaoshang is a festival of gaiety for young and old alike.

Parents and grand-parents have no qualms in spending money on toys, new clothes and eatables of their young children, One woman phanek dealer at Khwairamband Keithel�s new market said that the sales rate of phanek is quite low this time compared to last year.

�Last year I could not meet the demand of customers for mini-phaneks.

But this time, the stock virtually remains unchanged�, she said.

Pertinently, employees of many State Government departments like Education, Social Welfare, Electricity, PWD, Health etc have not been getting their salaries because of the ongoing cease-work strike launched since January 16 under the aegis of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO.

Even before this, a large number of employees have not been getting their salaries due to non completion in compilation of MGEL.

Except for Home Department, no other departments have been getting their salaries.

In addition, admission time for schools coincide with the Yaoshang eve.

The admission had been deferred as schools could not conduct annual exams according to schedule followed in previous years due to the four month long class boycott called by AMSU, MSF and KSA in protest against the killing of Rabina and Sanjit on July 23, 2009. Perhaps, parents could not spare enough money for Yaoshang shopping as they have not been getting salaries whereas they are occupied with the immediate concern to pay admission fees of their children.

One Nungshitombi who came to buy phanek for her grand-daughter said, �How could we not buy a phanek for my little girl.

Even if there is the JAC�s strike and salaries not paid, Yaoshang comes only once in a year.

How would my little girl feel if we don�t buy her a phanek?� Another woman selling joypur said that the quantum of sales is quite low this time.

In the previous years, 20 to 30 numbers of joypur were sold in a day on the eve of Yaoshang.

But this year, it is hard to sell even 10 numbers of joypur, she said.

Stockpiles of merchandise could be observed in different sections of Khwairamband market.

None of the shopkeepers and vendors said that they were doing any brisk business.

Nevertheless, they were still hopeful that sales rate would pick up the day before Yaoshang and the first day of the festival.

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