Almost a year after the closing down Khwairamband Ima Market due to COVID-19 pandemic, it was reopen on February 15 but women own food stalls and tea shops are still not allowed to resume their business till date, one Mayengbam Phajabi said in a press conference held at Manipur Press Club on Saturday.

Every section of society has been hit hard by the prevailing pandemic, however, its impact is more severe to people living below poverty line, she said.

Most people of such shops in the Ima Market belong to an economically deprived group, she said. There are no sources of income to earn, except for making little money from their small businesses; she further said adding they are no longer able to manage their livelihood. The government should give some attention in this regard, she added while appealing to allow them reopening of their shops.