Manipur Shuts Down Main Markets in Imphal Valley amid Arrival of Stranded Citizens

Imphal, May 6, 2020:

The Manipur Cabinet has decided to shut down the main markets in Imphal Valley (such as Ima Keithel, Poana bazaar, Thangal Bazaar) as a precautionary measure and "in consideration of the stranded citizens arriving from other states."

However, rural areas will be exempted from the shut down with certain considerations.

After the meeting today, the cabinet has also decided to accept the demands of the doctors for a "special pay".

It may be recalled that a majority of government doctors in Manipur started treating patients on Saturday wearing black badges, protesting against the state's decision to scrap an allowance from their pay.

At a press conference, All Manipur Health Services Doctors Association (AMHSDA) president Potsangbam Radheshyam Singh said if the Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) is not restored within a week, the doctors will go on "cease work" the next day.

At the same time, the cabinet has decided to make all the necessary arrangements for the citizens stranded outside Manipur and the government will bear train expenses to reach any state in Northeast India. However, red zone districts are exempted from this provision.

The cabinet has decided that all the necessary arrangements for homeward travel will be made for citizens of Manipur who are stranded in other Northeast Indian states. However, they must pay from their own pockets to reach Manipur. Again, this rule will not apply to Red Zone districts.

The Manipur Government will also bear a sum of Rs 200 per day for arriving citizens during their stay at quarantine centers, the Cabinet resolved.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.