to ward off insurgents and common criminals. Once two plainclothesmen were posted in front of each shop to deter extortionists and gunmen. There are some other instances to show that a long time back the government had learned a valuable lesson not to bite the hand that feeds it.

In this backdrop the State Cabinet took a surprising and unprecedented decision on February 14, 2013 to ban the manufacture, display, sale and consumption of smokesless tobacco products. A sheepish official explained that this is a step to ensure the general health of the people. This was uncalled for and people suspected that there must be a hidden agenda. The Cabinet left out cigarettes and bidis which are also equally injurious to health. As days turn into weeks it had become increasingly clear that the two pronged strategy of the government was to cushion, if not deflect, the public attack on the burgeoning drug business and to appease and give the traders a chance to earn extra profit.

The government which always plays second fiddle to the powerful businessmen galvanised the usually rusted government machinery and the slothful officials into a flurry of activity. On February 26th Ram Muivah, Commissioner, Food Safety, issued the necessary order under the Food Safety Standard (Prohibition and Regulation on Sales) Regulation, 2011. The Health Director under orders from the government instructed all chief medical officers in the districts on March 5th to create awareness among the people about this ban order. Loudspeakers were used during the publicity campaign. By the second week of March all sections of people were informed of the government order. It was also announced that those who transgressed may be fined a sum ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs one million or imprisoned from six months to 10 years or both.

Once these official rigmaroles were attended to the ubiquitous businessmen and traders in tobacco pouches and pans laced with tabocco made their skullduggery and well scripted strategy clear by jacking up the prices with impunity. They hiked the prices of all varieties of smokeless tobacco products by over 200 per cent. In normal circumstances, sale, display and consumption of the tobacco products should have been banned and the shop keepers and kiosk owners who violated the order arrested and booked. However the government did nothing of the kind. It does not come as a surprise since the hidden agenda is there for all to see.

A visit in the parts of the city where such tobacco products are usually sold is enlightening. The traders are still selling the tobacco pouches in full view of the armed policemen who are always deployed inside the city. The traders however request the customers to slip the pouches inside the bags. They openly say that if it is seen they have to pass some money under the table. Roadside shops and kiosks are also selling the tobacco products and tobacco laced pans without any obstructions. The only difference is that these have become costlier.

The ubiquitous businessmen and traders in tobacco pouches and pans laced with tabocco made their skullduggery and well scripted strategy clear by jacking up the prices with impunity.

When it comes to mitha patti, the costly betel nut leaves, these leaves are airlifted in all flights originating from Kolkata and are brought to Imphal even if this means off loading a consignment of newspaper packets here and there. The profit is so high and business so brisk that the businessmen can throw bones here and there to please some officials so that the perishable item is given preference. The officials in the airports will not listen to anybody but will give preference to the mitha patti baskets and the reasons are obvious. The government ban does not include this mitha patti. However the traders demanded their pound of flesh and now it has become much costlier. There are two kinds of pans based on the quality of tobacco and they were priced at `7 and `15. However after the government ban these have been increased to `10 and `30 respectively. There is no mechanism to check price hike and indications are that the traders in tobacco products and mitha patti will increase the prices further. Half of the population of Manipur is hooked on tobacco products and pans laced with tobacco with the result that the sale is round the clock. In view of the abnormal increase in the prices taking undue advantage of the government ban, the daily net profit from the sales must be in terms of millions of rupees.

The government is impervious to the chemical or fertilizer laced edible items. Despite some botched government attempts there is free use of cancer causing plastic bags throughout the state at a time when the same was banned in Meghalaya. The government had not lifted a finger as it would infuriate the businessmen and traders. Once Victoria Yengkhom, the DSP (Traffic) had banned parking of all types of vehicles in two major streets inside the city. The Imphal Municipal Council had degenerated these streets to parking lots with the result that even pedestrians found it difficult to pass through. The shop keepers fumed since sales had plummeted. However the DSP remained unmoved since it is a question of convenience and road safety. Because of these congested roads, fire tenders and rapid action police force were unable to rush in to address emergencies.

If the complaints of the traders are genuine and tenable the SP of the district should have asked the DSP to withdraw the order. But the cabinet wasted tax payers’ money in deliberating this issue and came to the conclusion that an order should be issued revoking the one issued by the DSP (Traffic). The upbeat traders know that they are powerful since they have shown that money can make the elephant fly.

On January 1, 1991 the Revolutionary People’s Front had imposed a ban on the foreign liquor shops. It said that the 63 foreign liquor shops, the 3 bonded warehouses and ubiquitous roadside kiosks and hotels should be closed down in lieu of which the owners of the hotels should stop serving liquor. The government had privately offered the protection of armed police to the liquor barons. The traders wisely turned it down since they knew the price they would have to pay for throwing the gauntlet to the insurgents. Even now some ministers are breast beating over the revenue loss from the foreign liquor shops. The government has done nothing to legalize the flourishing country liquor business since it is for the monetary gains of some sections of officials. To pre-empt the insurgent move and save the face of the government the authorities imposed prohibition in Manipur a few days ahead of the deadline fixed by the insurgents. After some years the insurgents had relaxed the anti-liquor campaign since interested parties were doing many things to give a bad name to the insurgents. Assuming that the insurgents had backed out one minister thought of reopening the foreign liquor shops. The RPF insurgents said that the prohibition is still there. The official who recoiled scampered and maintained a stoic silence. Country liquor in Manipur is brewn using dangerous chemicals. It is seen that a person who regularly drinks this country liquor for 3 years or so invariably dies. It is yet to be explained why the government is not banning the sale and consumption of this country liquor.

Though the objective of the tobacco ban is commendable the base intention and total lack of official action to implement it is nauseating.

Kavita Laithangbam