Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the Centre will ensure the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices to the public in violence-hit Manipur.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, Shah informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will offer essential goods at affordable rates to the people of Manipur through Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) outlets.
These bhandars, which are part of a welfare scheme launched in 2006 for serving and retired police personnel and their families, will now be open to the general public from September 17, 2024.
The state currently has 21 KPKB outlets, with plans to establish 16 additional ones—eight in the valley and eight in hill districts—making essential goods more accessible across the region.
In addition to the central government’s efforts, the Manipur State Government, through its Department of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution (CAF&PD), has set up 19 mobile sale units to distribute essential items such as potatoes, onions, pulses (masoor and chana dal), cooking oil, salt, and rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)].
These units, which became operational on September 15, 2024, aim to address the recent price surge in essential commodities.
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The mobile sale units are stationed in prominent markets and locations, including Kwairamband Bazar, Kwakeithel, and Lamphel Sanakeithel in Imphal West; Lamlong, Lamlai, and Kongba in Imphal East; Kumbi, Moirang, Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur, and Nambol in Bishnupur; Kakching, Wabagai, and Sugnu/Waikhong in Kakching; Yairipok, Thoubal, and Lilong in Thoubal; and district headquarters markets in Jiribam and Churachandpur districts.
To further extend the reach of this initiative, the state government will introduce seven additional mobile sale units in the districts of Senapati, Kangpokpi, Noney, Tamenglong, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, and Kamjong starting from September 18, 2024.
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