STAFF REPORTER
DIMAPUR, JULY 23
The daily market of Purana Bazaar in Dimapur had been lying unattended and running without shelter for vendors for the past 28 years. The market has now received a facelift with a set of market sheds.
The new facility was inaugurated by Extra Assistant Commissioner of Chumukedima, Thungbemo Patton, on Thursday, July 23.
The initiative to construct market sheds and reconstruct the daily market is being credited to Patton. The facilities were constructed at a cost of Rs.17 lakh. Out of it, Rs.3 lakh was funded by the Purana Bazaar Daily Market Managing Committee. This information was given by officials of the committee after the inaugural program.
During the event, the chairman of Purana Bazaar Village Council, N Hozheto Achumi, lamented the neglect the Purana Bazaar market underwent during the past 28 years ‘by various departments and leaders’. However, the community leader acknowledged the initiative of the Chumukedima EAC and that the inauguration would be the ‘first and last opening’ of a suitable market place in Purana Bazaar’s areas. Also, Naharbari Village Council chairperson Tokheli Kikon spoke during the event. She emphasized the role of women, the wage earners who struggle through ‘summer heat sitting under the hot sun daily’. The community leader expressed appreciation for the initiative that provided a proper place for the women traders and vendors who toil day and night.
Doragajan Village Council’s chairman Vitokhu Achumi also spoke on the inaugural program. He expressed gratitude for the initiative the Chumukedima commissioner took ‘for smooth functioning of the daily market’.
During the day, local and non-local vendors appeared in high spirits in their receiving market sheds and ‘proper settings’ especially now for the women folk. They explained the hard times ‘braving the hot sun and the stormy weather’ before there were any shelter.
The chief guest of the day, the Extra Additional Commissioner Thungbemo Patton inaugurated the new-look Purana Bazaar daily market. In his speech, the administrator urged the gathering to maintain clean and hygienic surrounding for a better business experience and to offer good customer services.
He reminded the vendors and the community in general that business was a ‘two-way traffic’ between the seller and customer ‘where the seller should not only intend to earn money through customers but also provide good services in return’.
To achieve that, Patton urged the local community and the vendors to keep the newly-inaugurated market place clean and maintain it as their own. He also called on them to honor and maintain price for the various goods that they sell to the public. They were encouraged to adhere to the price rates in accordance with what was legally sanctioned and not attempt to make more money out of customers.
