Market Organisation in Manipur

The level of market organisation is largely determined by the new imperatives of the rising level of economic development. In the non-monetised barter economy there is, perhaps, no necessity of modern market-organisation as such. The "money economy" grows with the separation of production, consumption and distribution. In the exchange economy there is structured processes of production, distribution and delivery. The article of interdependence is fairly high. All economic activities get increasingly market-determined and market-oriented.

Secondly it may also be noted that the generation of "marketable surplus" (commercial surplus) marks a fountainhead of the development of market organisation. Greater the marketable surplus higher the market organisation. The changing composition of the marketable surplus is another added impetus. Diversification is really inspiring. The rising market-interaction becomes a fertile ground for higher per capita income (greater purchasing power), faster change in the composition of output and taste and preference of the consumers. Because, Supply acts on Demand. The availability of efficient physical facilities such as road, transport, communication, housing, electricity, water supply, health, drainage and place for disposal of solid waste etc. strengthens the foundation of the market organisation. The primary services are followed by the secondary services. The primary services include assembling, processing and dispersion. The secondary services cover grading, packing, transporting, storing, financing and selling.

In addition we come across a chain of agents, hawkers and middlemen with the growth of the sophistication of the market. Obviously "market-information" becomes a critical input. Perhaps all market-related activities are undertaken depending upon the so-called market-information. Remember, market rewards the strongest while market punishes the weakest also. To that extent market information is important. Today we have "market-player", "market-developer" and "market- changer" etc. Really interesting. There is, indeed, a market for market information in the sophisticated economy. Globalisation is in a sense, the Global Market - largely characterized by free entry and free exist and largely operating beyond traditional geographical frontiers.

Thus market organisation essentially implies the system of networking of the apparatus of various entities and institutions in a market-region. Rules are required. Regulation is required. Incentives are called for. Distortion must be stopped. Unfair trade practices are to be guarded against. Security of scale and purchase is the religion of a strong market organisation. Credibility is a strong inner force. Quality is part of greater asset. Competition is a way of life. Commercial achievement strengthens the new sense of professionalism and specialisation. Innovation is the essence.

The growth of Central Market (Terminal Market) is a sign of greater tempo and larger volume of trade-activities. The two important activities namely- Concentration (Assembly) and Dispersion are primary functions of the central market. In fact, market prices get largely formalised in this market. Other markets such as district markets and local markets depend upon the efficiency of the central market. The petty and isolated producers look to the behavior of the central market.

We have, perhaps, the Khwairamband Market in the heart of Imphal city as a central market in Manipur. A few district markets are;

1) Kakching Market
2) Moirang Market
3) Bishnupur Market
4) Nambol Market
5) Thoubal Market
6) Churachandpur Market

These markets are operating in response to the changing behavior of the Khwairamband Central Market where all concentration activities and dispersion activities are being undertaken.

Another form of marketing organisation is co-operative market, which is getting into trouble because of "inbreeding" and "vested-interest". Very few are found operating successfully.

In Manipur, very peculiarly, one finds general ignorance of sensitivity of consumers to unduly high rate of price. All forms of market imperfections are visible. The unfair trade practices are simply ignored. Adulteration is quite open. There is market but not marketing system. Not a single "market-authority" (such as Food Inspectors and Officers of the Weight and Measure Departments, and Sanitary Inspectors) inspects the market operation either in the input markets or the output markets.

Of course, there are elected members of the Municipal Councils, Small Town Committees and Nagar Panchayats etc. Their presence is largely very nominal so far as the market-development is concerned. What they actually do is a few works of minor nalas, approach roads, galis, disposal of solid waste and collection of user-charges.