It has been more than a month since the ongoing violence between the Meiti and Kuki communities in Manipur. Due to this struggle, the prices of essential goods have skyrocketed in the state and ATMs are out of cash. Black marketing of petrol is taking place, which people have to buy at the rate of Rs 200 per litre. There’s an acute shortage of life-saving medicines in the state and shops are open only for a few hours a day.
These struggles of the people here are hidden behind the slogans of ‘Manipur is burning’. The conflict in Manipur began on May 3 when violence broke out during a tribal unity march protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since the violence began, 98 people have lost their lives and 310 have been injured in clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Thousands of people became homeless
Till now hundreds of people have lost their homes and have been forced to take shelter in Manipur or in relief camps in Delhi, Dimapur and Guwahati. The state government had issued a statement on Friday (June 2) saying that at present there are a total of 37,450 people in 272 relief camps. Since the violence started in the state, 4,014 cases of arson have been reported. Now the question is, what about the people of Manipur who have been cut off from the world without internet connection for a month and are doing their work every day after the curfew is lifted for a few hours.
Sporadic violence still going on
Sporadic violence is still going on in many areas of Manipur, but in the meantime life must go on. Now he needs daily essentials. The two communities – the Meitei and the Kuki – are at loggerheads, but this is an issue that affects both. Imphal Valley is home to many tribes and communities. Hence, the scarcity of daily things is not limited to any particular tribe or community.
The prices of essential commodities doubled here overnight as the civic bodies have blocked the National Highway-2 and goods trucks are not being allowed to enter the capital Imphal. The price of rice increased from Rs 30 earlier to Rs 60 per kg. The cost of vegetables has also been affected. Onion, which was earlier Rs 35 per kg, has now become Rs 70 and the price of potato has increased from Rs 15 to Rs 40. The price of eggs has now increased from Rs 6 per piece to Rs 10 per piece. Refined oil has also become expensive.
In cities like Delhi-Mumbai where even Rs 100 per liter petrol seems very expensive, then imagine the pain of the people of Imphal Valley. Here people are forced to pay up to Rs 200 for one liter of petrol. Because there is no oil at most of the petrol pumps. Some selected petrol pumps which are still open have queues several kilometers long. There is also an acute shortage of life-saving drugs in the state. This shortage has further increased after excessive shopping and hoarding.
The scarcity of things has further affected the people in a state already grappling with violence. People who took shelter in relief camps said that there was not enough food for everyone and they had to go to bed hungry. People are falling ill in many relief camps and they are not getting any medical help. The risk of diseases is increasing after rain. The rising prices coupled with curfew, which is relaxed for a few hours every day, adds to the woes of the people. During this, a crowd gathers to buy essential goods or essential medicines.
ATMs are empty, internet is closed
On top of all this, ATMs run out of cash, which makes it more difficult to make payments because the internet is also closed in the state. At the same time, RBI had also recently announced that Rs 2,000 notes would be withdrawn from circulation. Due to which the situation has become very critical. Banks started opening for a few hours, but were closed after fresh violence broke out.
Union Home Minister assured
Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Manipur had said that arrangements have been made for the supply of gas cylinders, petrol and vegetables. Assuring the people, Amit Shah had said that the supply of essential commodities to Manipur from the rest of the country would be ensured by setting up a temporary platform at the Khongsang railway station. However, there is a possibility that as soon as the matter calms down, the prices will also come down.
