FRIENDS OF WOMENS WORLD BANKING, INDIA

STUDY OF THE DYNAMICS OF THE IMA MARKET:

A Womens only market, Manipur

BINOTA LOITONGBAM, FWWB

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CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The Ima keithel1 situated at the heart of Imphal city have become the symbol of Manipuri womens

empowerment in the society. The market was the centre of trading for the Manipuri women since the

reign of the kings. It was patronized by the queen and with time the market expanded and diversified

with people not only from the plains but also the hills people actively engaging in the trade.

With changes in the society, continuous development and modernization with new global market

products replacing the traditional local goods, the Ima market have survived till date though not fully

retaining its original form. The study examines the various dynamics of this women market which have

withstood the force of modernity and the attacked from different external factors like the disruptive

political governance, the richer and powerful businessmen and the insurgents of the state which

continuously disrupts the state. The study analyzed the credit providers for the women traders and

traditional system of marups2, whose importance as the methods of savings and getting revolving fund

predominates and the formal system barely existing for the women whose livelihood depends on theses

small amount of money, which they need continuously to conduct their transaction. The study also tries

to analyze why the formal system have more or less failed to served the thousands of women, who

clearly required various services and also why the semi formal or the microfinance organizations

existing in the state are not interested in providing services to these women.

The market was known as khwairamband bazaar and has been in existence since the reign of the

Meetei3 kings as the centre point of many transactions. It also was a place for recreation and meeting

point for discussing various socio political issues of the state. The practice of the adult male member of

the Meitei community to serve the king for the development of the state known which is known as the

Lallup system has been the major reason whereby the women in the Meitei community became active

in the economic front. The women have always been the silent worker, actively engaging in the paddy

fields for cultivation, looking after the household chores and weaving traditional cloths during her spare

time. But with the male members being sent away to far off places by the king to do labour work, it

became imperative for the women to come out in the market. Since then the women market have

became part of the livelihood and the living system for the Manipuri women and the society.

Khwiaramband bazaar has since then become the epi centre of the Manipuri womens symbol of

strength. It has withstood many storm and challenges time and again. The market structure of Purana

1Ima keithel means Mothers market

2 Marup literally mean friend but here it implies the traditional practice of ROSCA

3 Meitei is one of the ethnic majority community in Manipur residing in the plains.

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Bazaar, Lashkmi bazaar and new market were demolished by the state and the women were shifted to

temporary sheds constructed in the premise of the old district hospital. The demolition was initially

opposed by the women vendors fearing they would lose their place in the market. The construction also

marked another change in the traditional market giving way to modernization.

The study also highlights the problems faced the unlicensed women vendors. There has been a massive

increase in the numbers of unlicensed vendors spread throughout the periphery of the main market.

The market is most active early morning with women from different far places reaching the main market

with their fresh vegetables and the market looks like a battle ground with the licensed women who will

be sitting the whole day scrambling to get the best goods at the lowest price.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To reflect on the evolution of the womens market and to explore how the market have been impacted

by the external socio-political and economic environment.

To understand the significance and contribution of the market in the state economy

To analyze the major financial players (informal and formal) and to what extent of their influence in the

market transaction

What are the scope of improvement for the women vendors whose means of livelihood and life linked

to this market.

1.3 METHODOLOGY

The study involves field research. Select sample of women traders were interviewed with the help of a

structured questionnaire. These women were selected from across the different markets and across

types of trading activities. In all 294 women were interviewed. We also met the representatives of

some of the association of these women traders. The respondents were selected randomly on the basis

of the number 4allotted to their sheds and the seating arrangement. We took care to draw a

representative sample of all varieties of traders including the unlicensed vendors who are scattered in

and around the market without any fixed timing. Interviews with some of the existing financial providers

and formal banks were structured to know their outreached of financial services in the market and their

understanding of the women market.

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Market N Percent Total vendors(source: Imphal municipal Council)

Purana bazaar 81 27.6 1873

Laxmi bazaar 43 14.6 734

New Market 42 14.3 1116

Nagamapal 62 21.1 971

Session Court 36 12.2 828

Chakrikom 15 5.1 248

Maharani bridge 15 5.1 --

total 294 100.0

Table .1 Distribution of the sample according to different market segments

1.5 Limitations of the study

Lack of secondary data on the historical evolution, records of the market etc from any sources

which otherwise would have immensely enrich in understanding the market in contact of the

Manipuri society.

The present market shed will be shifted to the newly constructed shed in the future; thereby the

physical dynamics of the market might change in future.

The study could not touched deeply into the political impact or inter relation of the political

dynamics and women vendors which is another critical issues, and the study leaves scope for

further critical analysis on this issue.

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CHAPTER 2

Location of the present market

The market is divided into segments according to its location, though the entire segment is

interconnected. Purana bazaar, laskmi bazzar and New market are located together in the same stretch

in the southern side of the city. The Naga river runs in the middle of the city the Nagamapal market is

located in parallel to the river in the northeastern side of the market. In and around the flyover and near

the session court, the market is known as the session court. Shed are built in rows with spaces for foot

walk for customers in between two sheds and each woman vendor sits in the allocated place in the

shed. Each shed has allocation of around 20 seats where the women seats next to each other.

Each market segment has specific trades which are practiced since the beginning of the market. Purana

market is the oldest market and it has 28 sheds and the women here sell items like jewelry, eateries like

pan and pan patta, rice products, local handicrafts like dolls, knives, bamboo mats and other bamboo

products, fruits and vegetables, fresh and dry fish etc.

Lashkmi market has 14 shed and is adjoining to purana market. Here the women sell traditional cloths

like gamcha, dhoti, and the locally made mosquito nets. Items for worshiping, and festivals are also

available in the market. In the new market, silk items, mixed clothes for all traditional occasions

(marriage, puja, shradda ceremony etc) are available in new market. Ready made cloths are also

available. In the Nagamapal and session court side, fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and NTFP products are

sold. Varieties of indigenous and seasonal products can be seen in the market.

Surrounding the different markets and in roadsides are the unlicensed vendors. They sell almost

everything from vegetable and fish items and fruits, second hand cloths and all junks items. Most of the

unlicensed vendors have no fixed timing and place as they kept moving from one location to another in

order to avoid eviction and harassment from the traffic police.

The market comes alive early in the morning before even the sun rises, with women coming from far

places in jeeps and buses unloading their goods esp. fresh vegetables and fish items. These women are

mainly from the hill district like Senapati, Charuchandpur and Ukhrul and Bishnupur. In most cases, the

women sell off their bulk items to the middle women who in turn will be directly selling to the

customers by sitting in the market whole day. Common people from the city also come out to directly

buy from these women as they can get fresh good at reasonable price. There are also women who dose

not have licence for place but they prefer to have direct sells with the customers rather than to the

middlewomen.

Those women selling items other than vegetables and fish generally start their trading later in the day.

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2.1 THE WOMEN VENDORS OF IMA MARKET

The market have witness many changes within and outside of it. We can see more women coming from

the hills and far off villages to do trading in the market. From table 2.1, according to the district wise

distribution of the respondent, 87.07 percent of the women vendors are from the Meitei community

with few Muslim and Christian women 4.42 and 8.50 as part of the market. 95.60% of the women

vendors are from the three plain districts of Imphal east and west, Thoubal and Bishnupur which have

majority of the Meetei community. Only the remaining 4% vendors are from the hill district which is

majorly the Christian community. The market evolved as the trading centre of the Meetei women who

are in the plains whereas the Christian majority reside in the hill districts. With time, the hills people

started coming and trading in the market and their need for a place resulted in the construction of the

Nagamapal keithel.

TABLE 2 District wise profile of the respondent

District No. of respondent Percentage

Imphal East 69 23.50

Imphal West 156 53.10

Thoubal 35 11.90

Bishnupur 21 7.10

Senapati 9 3.10

Ukhrul 4 1.40

Total 294 100.00

TABLE 3. Social group category of the respondent

community N percent

Meitei 256 87.07

Muslim 13 4.42

Christian 25 8.50

Total 294 100.00

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Table.4 Distribution of sample according to Licensees status

Frequency Percent

License 199 67.69

Unlicensed 78 26.53

rented license 17 5.78

Total 294 100

The vendor card is the license to the place in the shed. The Imphal Municial council is responsible for the

distribution and collection of the monthly rental amount of around Rs15 Pm from the card holders. The

IMC keeps a list of the number of sheds and trades in each market segment in a file and is responsible

for the maintenance and up gradation of the records, but the IMC does not seem to have the list of

individual license holders in their record. The card has much value attached, with the increasing number

of vendors and limited no. of seats in the market sheds. Within the vendor card holders, there are cases,

where the license card is rented out to another fellow for a monthly amount. Also, there are cases of

giving the vendor card on pledge due to financial requirement. Some vendors also have more than one

vendor card as they require more space.

Pic 1: Sunita Devi runs a food stall, serving lunch to the other women vendors in the keithel shed

itself. She occupies four seating place adjoining each other, by taking on rent three more vendor card

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Table 5. Age distribution

Looking at the age distribution, 59.52% of the total samples

are in the age group of 41 to 60years. This is the period where

the expenditures are more, where the children are still getting

education and major expenditures are spend on the childrens

upbringing.

During the field study, many respondents have expressed their regret for not having got any education.

There were 4 (1.4%) respondents who are graduates. Education overall does not seem to have any

implications on the trading activity. There were individual cases whereby, the woman who was working

in a private organization left her job and started selling cloths in the Ima market. For many women, the

Khwairamband keithel has become a way of living. They have been in the keithel for as long as they

remember and they know of no other alternative means of livelihood. Some women expressed that the

market is their life and for some, they have no need to work as their children are well settled but, its

being in the market has become their pastime and they know nothing else.

age N percent

23 to 40 57 19.39

41 to 60 175 59.52

61 to 80, above 62 21.09

total 294 100.00

Table 6 Distribution of sample on education

Education N Percent

Not educated 123 41.8

Till 5th std 55 18.7

Matric 79 26.9

Graduate 33 11.2

above graduate-others 4 1.4

Total 294 100.0

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Table 7 No. of years in the keithel

No. of years in the keithel N Percent Average

1to 10 yrs 161 54.76 5.5 yrs

11 to 20 yrs 67 22.79 15 yrs

21 to 30 yrs 44 14.97 25.5

31 to 45 yrs and above. 22 7.48 37.78

294 100

Table 8.

Total Average annual HH income

Minimum Maximum Total Income

295 136644.7 1250 876000

40173536

2.2 Discipline in the market

The Ima market has its own set of unwritten rules and norms that are followed by the women. There is

trust and faith in the collective strength of the women vendors which have been demonstrated time and

time again. Manipur have been victim to continuous bandhs. It was an unwritten rule among the women

to participate in any agitation. Not everyone is a member of any of the association, but it as an

unwritten rule to participate at any moments notice. Each segment of the market has fixed allocation

for particular trading items. Likewise, a woman who has been trading in cloths for years cannot change

her trade into other items, though there are no written rules but there will be opposition and she wont

be allowed.

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CHAPTER 3

3.1 SOURCES OF CREDIT

Continuous credit supply is the most important requirement for the women vendors for sustaining their

trading activity. Trading is done on a daily basis for most perishable items like vegetables and eateries

for which the women purchased from the producers on daily basis. The credit requirement is not much

as compared to the women selling non perishable items like cloths, jewelry items etc. In the case of the

women selling cloths, jewelleries, brass wares and other non perishable item, the women buys in bulk

and keep selling it, she also keeps adding new items everyday and depending on the sale. Thus her

credit requirement differs and comparatively is higher than those selling vegetables and fish items

Table 9 Major Sources of Loan

source N Percent average borrowed amount

Mean annual int Rate

Mean loan tenure (months)

Government 2 1.26 5500 12 21

Commercial 1 0.63 50000 12 12

Coop Soc/Coop Bank 13 8.18 15384.61538 12.93 11.54

Money lender 100 62.89 10770 67.58 8.35

Relative/Friend 10 6.29 7100 48.8 4.43

private Finance co. 31 19.50 10967.74 86.53 4.43

Marups 1 0.63 3000 90 9

Roscas 1 0.63 10000 90 3

159 100

Moneylenders constitute 62.89% of the total source of loans availed by the women vendors in

comparison to the total combined percentage of 10.05 % of the Government, Commercial and

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cooperative Bank. The vendors are familiar with the moneylenders who also share certain comfort level

with them. They are familiar with the dynamics of the market though profiting from it. In the absence of

other alternative, moneylenders are the main providers of credit. According to the vendors, Banks ask

for their license card for security which they are not happy with, also they feel banks are too

unapproachable and the women have to go to the bank office for repayment. Banks are also highly

influence by the politician which led to the woman to consider the loan as government grants which

need not be repaid.

Private finance organizations are making their presence felt in the market with 19.5% of the women

availing loans from them. During the course of the survey we came across some loan recovery officers of

two three organizations. The women vendors are not aware of the name of the organization, nor who

are the secretary or the president of the organization. They just knew the recovery officer who comes to

get the money. The mean annual interest rate is highest in the case of the private finance institutions

with 85.43.

The average loan size does not differ much for all the sources of loan with the moneylenders and the

cooperative loan size averaging to around Rs.10000 to Rs.15000. One case of government source of loan

was found with the loan size of Rs.50000.

The Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank (IUCB) have till date disbursed up to Rupees 1 crore under

two programs called the Urban Credit card launched in 2006 and the Cash credit women vendors

program.In the first program, credit was disbursed though groups formed and registered as

cooperative. The repayment was dismal and many reasons were given by the bank employees, the

main reason being that the program was highly politicized due to which the women were also not

repaying. There was no monitoring system for the program which also led to the failure. The leaders

of the women cooperative were supposed to come to the bank for the monthly repayment but,

without strict monitoring it were difficult to trace the women. The demolition of the sheds and

shifting to the temporary shed also added to the confusion for the bank employees. We were advice

by the bank employees not to trust the women vendors and with a warning that we will lose our

money if we enter the Ima market.

3.2 SAVINGS

The traditional methods of credit rotation known as Marup is still the most prevalent method of savings

for the women vendors. It can be assume that apart from marup, the women have no savings.

Table 10. Savings profile of the vendors

place of Savings N Average Saving PC share in all savings Minimum (rs) Maximum (rs.)

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1 Home 5 15200 2.47 5000 50000

2 Bank 10 11824.44 0.35 300 69120

3 Marup 163 18142.1 92.4 130 200000

4 Other ROSCA 0 0 0 0

5 SHGs 4 4950 0.64 800 10000

9 Other 7 21330.83 4.15 3500 60000

Table.3.2

Marup constituted about 92.4% in all total savings. Almost all the women are part of a marup, either a

marup formed within the close circle women vendors or a marup in their locality. Some groups or marup

even have an external agent for daily collection and circulation of the money. This agent gets a small

commission. The women expressed that marups are most convenient source of credit for them. Groups

of vendors who sit in a single shed, who have known other for years formed a marup, they collects Rs

20 to Rs.1000 either daily or monthly , the total amount is given to the member according to list or

lottery each time. In few cases, the member who got the money first has to pay Rs.1 every time till the

circulation of member is over. The process will be restarted, with either new members joining or with

higher amount. There is few chances of defaulting in the Marup, the groups are quite strict and also as

they expressed, where will a women run away from the group with Rs.5000 as the market is their

livelihood, they have to come to the market for life. In most cases, the records are maintained in a

notebook or registered by the person responsible refer to as Mohori in the local language.

3.3 Problems faced by the women

Bandhs, strike and blockade are a common occurrence in the daily live of Manipur, which creates many

hurdles in conducting daily activities. People who earn their livelihood on daily basis are the most

affected whereas those who are working in government services are happy with the constant bandhs,

strike as they are getting their salary without going to office.

Table.11 table showing problems of the women

Problems N Percent

Bandh-Strike_-blockade 133 37.46

Lack of credit 10 2.82

Health-illness 2 0.56

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Inconvenient surroundings 47 13.24

Law and order 14 3.94

Low income 17 4.79

Less customer 34 9.58

monetray demand from unwanted source (UG) 1 0.28

Old age 1 0.28

Others 18 5.07

Place problem 42 11.83

Robbery 4 1.13

Traffic-Transport 32 9.01

total 355 100.00

Surprisingly the physical structure of the market sheds posed inconvenient for the women vendors.

congested seating arrangement, direct heat due to the tin roof of the sheds, muddy lanes in between

the sheds are some of the inconveniences faced by the women in the market. The volatile low and

order in the state which often leads to violent repercussions affect the market directly and indirectly.

Lack of credit, low sale and fewer customers are also some problems expressed by the women vendors.

Another major problems expressed was the traffic congestion, traffic harassment from the traffic police

and the lack of regular vending site for the unlicensed women whose numbers are increasing.

Table 12 Risk perceived by the women

Frequency percent

Bandh-Strike 93 60.39

Credit availability 5 3.25

Less customer 1 0.65

Place problem 11 7.14

Health-illness 22 14.29

Traffic-Transport 2 1.30

Law and order 1 0.65

Robbery 1 0.65

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Low sale 4 2.60

Others 14 9.09

Total 154 100

It became very clear from the survey that the continuous bandhs and strike have been affecting the

market and it is one of the major risks for the smooth functioning in the market. Lack of support system

and security to fall back in times of sickness also posed risks for these women whose whole lives is spent

in the market. It is assuring to find that robbery and other risks like distrust are few and not prevalent at

the market.

4.1 Nature of Transaction

It was difficult to differentiate the various nature of procurement of goods and the nature of transaction

by the women in the market as most of them does not restrict to a single source of procurement.

Considering the nature of the market, the nature of transaction was classified into four categories.

Table 13 Classification of the nature of transaction by the women vendors.

01 Purchase items in bulk and sells it throughout the day

02 Buys items in small amount and quickly sells it.

03 Produce the items on own and sell throughout the day on own

04 Others

More than 92% of the transactions are in the above 01 and 02 categories, whereas only remaining

7.54% of the women vendors are direct producers. Within the first two categories, it was difficult to

clearly classify the above two as most of the transaction is a combination of the two classifications.

Table 14

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Frequency Percent

Perennial 242 82.31

Seasonal 49 16.67

Casual 3 1.02

Total 294 100

Table:15 Mean cost and Mean profit of the non- perishable items.

Item N mean procurement and other cost monthly profit (mean)

Meetei Phanek and phee 65 6315.55 5002.62

Ready made clothes 3 4108.33 4700

Hao fee - traditional chaddar of hills 11 9409.09 10472.73

Jewellry 14 503.57 3585.71

Mosquito nets 7 42939.29 14785.71

quilts/blankets 2 910 6000

dry seeds 1 1300 4500

bamboo items 1 4005 2100

second hand cloths 1 5010 7500

Pottery items 1 505 2100

All 106 7500.583 6074.677

Table:16 Mean cost and Profit for Perishable items

Item N mean procurement and other cost monthly profit (mean)

Vegetables 67 1017.46 3555.30

Fish-raw 11 4015.45 6927.28

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Fish-dry 18 4439.67 5127.78

Fruits 31 1821.93 4335.48

Kabok and other eateries 15 2594.53 3995.33

Kwa mana - maru 16 2993.75 5118.75

Channa 2 11065 4800.00

Flowers coconuts etc 6 996.67 3700.00

Bori 1 1000 3600.00

Traditional home made items 20 2045.25 2722.50

Banana leaf seller 7 2344.29 5100.00

Bakery item 8 1615 3202.50

Egg vendor 2 4755 1725.00

Food-mini eating place inside the shed 2 1005 10500.00

fish net 1 2000 6000.00

rice 2 2107.51 5475.00

Others 4 576.25 2475.00

All 213 2728.99 4609.41

Comparing the items of trading, perishable items are more in comparison to non perishable items.

Vegetables are the major items that are sold in bulk everyday especially in the early morning. The

markets become a hub of activity in the early morning crowding over the roadsides. Nowhere else we

would see women travelling hours and hours starting from around 3-4 am to reach the Ima market as

early as possible. For those women who are from very far off places, they usually comes twice or thrice

in a week. Women usually come together in two or threes, sells their goods individually and goes back

together. There is scrambling amongst the buyers to get the best of the vegetables, fresh fish and fruits.

This market exhibit a relationship between the hills and the plains, where there is interdependency and

livelihood sustenance through it.

Traditional cloth items remain major non perishable goods. Clothes worn during festivals, occasions etc.

are sold here in the Purana bazaar. Sales are highest during October till March as its the marriage

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season and also all major Festivals falls during this period. Demands also differ on the latest in fashion

esp for color combination, prints etc. And producers also keep track of the demand and cater

accordingly to the customers. Like wise in most items, the women vendors keep their items according to

the latest demand by the market. Changes could be seen in the items as in order to keep in tune with

the modernization, the traditional pattern is blended with modern designs thus keeping the traditional

feel intact while giving a modernized touch to the dress items.

The raw materials like yarn for producing the cloths are majorly from outside of the state, the women

producers buys the yarn from the businessmen who controls the price accordingly. Thus the price of

the yarn will also determine the price of the finish product.

Frequency Percent

Increased 118 40.13605442

Decline 55 18.70748299

Remain same 121 41.15646259

Total 294 100

Table 17

5. The Unlicensed Vendors

With more and women vendors coming in from different districts in the main market, the problem of

space, traffic congestion and conflict of interest between the licensee and the unlicensed have also

created tension in the market. There are women from far places who have been coming in the market

early morning for years, selling their fresh vegetables and fish to the other women, but they have no

vendors card or a fixed seating place in the shed. They have a certain understanding and agreement

with those licensee women. But with time, more and more of these women started preferring to sell

directly to the customer by sitting in the market whole day. Roadside vendors outside the market shed

have the advantage when customers want to buy quickly without taking the trouble of spending more

time inside the sheds.

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CHAPTER 4

Conclusion

The Ima Market has evolved and changed over time as nothing remains static and unaffected by the

dynamics of the external socio-political and economic environment. The historical and cultural

rootedness of the market with the people makes the market unique from any other market centre. The

Ima market symbolizes the womens status and pride of place in the state. It has been promoted as

tourist site by the government. The present study has tried to go deeper than the outward depiction of

the women vendors of the famous Ima market and have realized that not everything has been smooth

and easy for the thousands of women whose means of livelihood depended on the market trading.

The most beautiful aspect of the market is the discipline and the unwritten norms that have been

practiced since decade and the women takes pride in following the norms. The women know their

power lies in their collective strength and unity. They are politically aware and active. They are not

afraid to stand up against any forces, be it the state force or the non state force. Indeed the collective

force of women in the state has been recognized all over the world. The market thus acts as the centre

point for many debates and discussion and also for spreading propaganda amongst the masses.

These thousands of women have to bear the inconvenient surrounding everyday. Excessive heat in

summer and rains and mud in the rain seasons makes it difficult of the women. It remains to be seen

how the market shed that is being constructed by the state government help solving this problem.

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Congesting in the seating arrangement will remain and unless the state provide some positive

alternative, traffic congestion and crowding of the roadside by the unlicensed vendors will continue.

The state can play crucial role in promoting these market. Why does women from the hill district have to

travel far to sell their vegetables themselves individually. Huge amount of vegetables and other goods

are transported in small volumes individually by the women by struggling in the local transport system

which is unreliable and often expensive. In the lack of alternative means for these women, they have to

come all the way to Ima market to sell their goods. At times they are also subjected to abuse, theft and

most often due to sudden violent eruptions, they are left stranded in Imphal and have to stay overnight

as there are no transport during such times, or they have to pay exorbitant charge to reached back

home. The state or any committed organization can find some alternative where the goods are

transported regularly from the hills to the main market without the producer women losing out on the

price control. Or the government can provide transport subsidy for these `1women.

The increasing number of vendors without increase in the number of consumer and the consumers

capacity to absorb more is also another issue that needs to be analyzed. What have been romanticized

as women power can be critically put as a situation where the women in the household comes out in the

market to earn their livelihood in the absence of any other alterative. Do the women have any decisive

power in matter relating to their trading and in their welfare remain another critical question.

High dependency on the exploitative moneylenders for their credit supply could be reduced if the formal

banks or the private financial organizations come up with innovative approaches of supply of credit and

other services. Inefficient delivery and monitoring system has been the major reason for the past failure

for the low repayments. The credit requirement for trading for these women is not high so, it would not

be wise for overlapping of loan from various sources, rather if the women could be provided with a

single loan with low interest and provision for insurance would proof more beneficial for the women.

Some provision of insurance for the women and their household is urgently required. For these women

their savings are the only asset to fall back in times of emergency like ill health, accident, deaths and

also in their old age when they no longer are able to work. The strong prevalence of the traditional

Marup have provided strong savings mechanism for the women, but Marup are only rotating system

which does not provide options for long term savings. Using Marup for payment of insurance premium

in collaboration with Insurance provider can be explored. Group Insurance covers for medical care and

old age insurance where some amount of money is protected for old age is a must.

The existing private financial providers in the market are also charging exorbitant interest rate; they are

also no less exploitative than the moneylenders. Most of them are small private bodies that have

collected money from few sources and are lending to the women at high rate. They have no social

motivation to upgrade this women in their trades neither have the resources and skill to cater to the

demand of all the women. As Prof.Amar Yumnam puts it, this private lenders will fizzled out after two

three years as they dont look for the women to thrive in their business, they only look for immediate

profit with the intention of extracting money from this poor women.

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The Women of the Ima market have faced challenges before and will continue to do so in the future, but

the market will survive though changes in its structure and dynamics are inevitable. Its sheer catering to

the traditional needs of the Manipuri community will remain as long as the society exist. The changes in

the societys requirement will be reflected in the markets supply and the women of the Ima market

have the ability to absorb many shocks and risks in its bosom.

Annexure