Heptulla inspects women’s markets in Imphal

[caption id="attachment_121031" align="alignleft" width="550"] Dr Najma Heptulla trying a locally made bangle during her historic maiden visit to Women’s Market in Imphal on Tuesday.[/caption] Our Correspondent Imphal, June 13 (EMN): Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla on Tuesday said that Northeastern states should work as a federation to solve their problems; should show the artistic talent and try to export the textile products to other parts of the country. Expressing her happiness on the 16th Annual Conference of North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to be held in the State, she added, “They should join hands and work together for development and prosperity of the states.” Speaking to media on the sideline while visiting Nupi Keithel (Women’s Market) Heptulla said, that ‘she will look into the matters concerning the problems faced by the women vendors of the state after the January 2016 earthquake.’ During her visit, Governor interacted with the women vendors of the temporary market shed situated near the Bir Tikendrajit Park and later the Ima Keithel No. 1. Interacting with the media, Heptulla said that the main purpose of visiting the market site was to look into the problems which were put up by the women vendors from a long time. She said that if she could visit Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Loktak etc., she would also visit Ima Keithel, one of the biggest market in the world run and owned only by women, to hear their grievances. Inspecting the temporary market shed, she said that the women vendors faced a lot of hardships because of the delay in repairing the permanent market shed destroyed in the earthquake. There are so many problems at the temporary market shed such as lack of proper electricity supply, leakage during rainy season, withstanding the worst of hot season under the tin roof etc., she added. She also assured that as she had seen the situation of the market on spot, she would talk not only to the state government but also to the central government to sort out the problems in repairing work of the permanent buildings as soon as possible as there are disaster management teams. Governor further added that she would write to the state and central government that they should do something for the earthquake-affected areas especially the women’s market as many women of the state are the sole bread earners of the family and the market itself is the place of livelihood of the people of Manipur.