Ima market, a daily dose of life for many women

Pramo Devi

If one visits Ima Keithel, a different atmosphere carrying a peculiar scent can be felt upon stepping inside the market. A commercial hub of over 4000 women vendors, selling everything from kitchen items, handicrafts and modern clothing to vegetables and even new notes.

It will be wrong to assume it as an ordinary market. The mothers here also take an active part and contribute in different issues of the state.

The market is a part of life for many women whose daily dose of life remains incomplete without spending a day here.

The Ima Keithel is also a unique symbol of Manipur history and a symbol of gender justice. It is arguably the only marketplace in the entire world exclusively for women and no men are barred from selling goods in the surrounding of the marketplace.

Every vendor has a different story here and not all of them are daily bread earners but there are also many who come here not just to earn but to spend a quality time with fellow vendors and share their sorrow and happiness and even to discuss the burning topics of the state.

“I feel restless and sad if I could not come to the market, coming to the market makes me forget different problems,” said Pramo, 53, of Mayang Imphal who has been selling fish for decades thereby supporting her family with a daily profit she gains from selling the fish.

She does not eat with her family in the morning and she wake up early, collect fishes from Samurou and Pishum and would start selling them in the market from 6 in the morning to 7 at night.

And at times when her children were still young, she raised them up in the market while selling the fishes.

Pramo said she received a profit of 400 to 1000 rupees in a day and at times, when the sale is not going smooth, she would sell the dead fishes to the nearby food stall owners at a lower price.

When there are fewer customers, Pramo would also earn extra income by making plastic hand bags.

Pramo learned the technique of making the bags during the protest for reconstruction of the market 10 years ago when the mothers spend their night in the market to protect it.

She did not take any formal training but learned the technique by seeing others doing it. She bought the materials with 40 per kg and re-sell the completed bag in the market itself at the rate of 200 to 400 rupees but she does not have the intention of expanding her business through it, said Pramo.

Pramo has influenced other women in the market and now there are a number of them earning through it too.

While speaking about the frequent bandhs and the price hike in the essential commodities, Pramo said that she is against the bandh culture even for petty issues in the state and said the public, the bandh supporters are the only one who suffers while the leaders and the government settle the issues in a closed room.

She also added that the poorer sections are suffering because of the price hike. The government is digging money from the public rather than helping.

Pramo further said the representative of the people should remember the promises they made at the time of election and work for the welfare of the public rather than building huge buildings of their own.

Pramo also questioned why tobacco products and alcohols are banned rather than stopping them from the source. She said the ban is only increasing the price rather than stopping them.

Being a fish seller, she also questioned how the fish will be wrapped if the government bans plastics bags.

“Many youngsters are neglecting the culture and traditions, be it in dress or manners. Therefore many youths, especially the women, are facing different problems today and with the present trend of modernization, there is a high chance of losing our culture,” said Pramo.

She also said that the introduction of mobile phones and social media has lessened the bond in the family because youths prefer to spend time alone with their mobile rather than the family.

Source Imphal Free Press