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How hoarding of charcoal by poll candidates leaves small traders and old in the cold in Manipur

Amid the cold winter, old people and small traders are suffering as the demand for charcoal is growing and the price is rising, but the supply is running out as several candidates have reportedly bought them out directly from the suppliers in preparation for the coming state Assembly elections.

ByBabie Shirin

Updated 13 Feb 2022, 5:31 am

Local charcoal market in Imphal (PHOTO: IFP_Babie Shirin)
Local charcoal market in Imphal (PHOTO: IFP_Babie Shirin)

 

The demand for charcoal is on the rise in Manipur amid the worsening cold and rainy weather situation coupled with the preparation for the coming 12th state assembly elections. Amid the hectic poll scenario, there is a section of people suffering and braving the cold winter, which gets severe in this part of the country. They alleged poll candidates have bought most of the charcoal stock in the state, leaving them empty and cold. 

It's February, and soon it will be spring time. But the unexpected change in the weather this time, as it gets colder with the untimely rain has left many in the cold. The severe cold condition has pushed up the household demand for charcoal as most people in the region depend on it to keep the place warm. Power supply in the state is still erratic and one cannot depend on electricity for domestic use. With the rise in the demand for charcoal, the price of it has also increased. But, there are no more charcoal to sell, the local sellers said.

Charcoal sellers are facing the problem of shortage of charcoal due to hoardings of charcoal by ensuing candidates, a woman charcoal seller told this Imphal Free Press reporter. And, common people in the state are reportedly unable to get charcoal in the market like in the previous years. Many say they have to managed without charcoal.

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While charcoal sellers face livelihood problems due to the shortage of coal supply, old folks suffer for lack of it to keep themselves warm this winter. They are the hardest hit. 

The old populace are suffering due to the unavailibily of charcoal to beat the cold and its rising prices. Most are unable to afford them. The price of charcoal has risen due to the shortage of charcoal, Hemolata Soibam, one of the local charcoal sellers told the Imphal Free Press. She also said that she is unable to get charcoal from the supplier as it is out of stock now. Many ensuing candidates have bought out all the charcoal, she added.

"I used to sell one bag of 100 kg charcoal at Rs 550 to Rs 780. Now the price is Rs 1,150 per bag. And one tin of charcoal, which she used to sell at Rs 70 is now sold at Rs 150. Even if she wants to sell at lesser price, there is no more charcoal to sell," she lamented.

During winter, many old aged-persons depend on charcoal and come to buy charcoal from her, but due to limited and shortage of charcoal, they go back empty handed, she said, adding that those candidates who bought all the charcoal should have distributed it to poor households.

"A man came to buy charcoal for his old dying father but there was no charcoal to buy. Considering his condition, I gave a share of her low-quality charcoal with dust particles in it, without taking any money," she narrated.

The demand for charcoal continues to rise as candidates are now using it at election-related gatherings and to appease the voters by distributing it at their polling booths in every locality.

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Come winter, every year, locals use charcaol in meiphu's, a local utility, and almost every houselhold has it to keep the place warm and beat the cold. Hence, charcoal is very much a part of the way of life in this cold region and much in demand in both valley and hill areas despite the rising vocie against felling of trees and deforestation. 

However, small local traders and those daily wage earners depending on sales of charcoal for their livelihood are losing and suffering, as most political workers now buy directly from charcoal suppliers.

When Cvigil team leader Konsam Surchandra was contacted, he told the Imphal Free Press that one or two complaints have come through Cvigil with photos. Accordingly, team of Cvigil spotted the areas but there were no people with charcoal.

Surchandra also told the IFP that while workers may distribute charcoal, people who support the candidates do not reveal the truth. People may tell the charcoal was for them or bought by themselves. So, while complaining, it should be done with supportive evidence or proof, he said.

It may be mentioned that despite the high demand for charcoal every winter, the market for it remains small and unorganised in the absence of any policy or regulations till date to monitor the charcoal trade in the region. The locals sell them in small open markets and the prices are fixed randomly.

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Tags:

Manipurelectionpoll candidatescharcoalcharcoal tradeold people

Babie Shirin

Babie Shirin

IFP Reporter, IMPHAL, Manipur

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