Imphal: The Manipur government decided to exempt the taxes collected from women vendors of the iconic women market, popularly known as Nupi Keithel, for another year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was announced by the State Chief Minister N Biren Singh while attending the sectoral meeting of women involving public aspirations at Nupi Keithel in the heart of Imphal on Sunday.

BJP national spokesperson and in charge of Manipur Sambit Patra, president of BJP Manipur Pradesh A Sharda Devi, Union MoS and election co-in charge of Manipur Prati ma Bhaurnik, and other senior BJP leaders of the party also present in the meeting.

Sharing the government's decision in his Facebook post on Sunday, Biren Singh wrote, "Great news. As requested by Emas during the Sectoral Meeting of Women programme held at Ima Keithel today. The Govt of Manipur has decided to exempt all taxes for another year which was earlier exempted for a year in year view 161 the Covid-19 pandemic.

It may be mentioned here that the State government had already exempted the license fee for women vendors at the iconic Nupi Keithei which is one of Asia's women-run markets located in the State capital, for the "the year 2020-2021. Nupi Keithel along with the temporary market also in Imphal reopens under certain conditions in September end of this year after five months closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In January this year, an independent researcher in Imphal claimed that the shutting down of Nupi Keithel during the lockdown might have caused a minimum loss of Rs 3,879 crore to vendors in the last 10 months Nupi Keithel reportedly hosted 3,614 license holding vendors.

The monthly vendor license fee is Rs 90 per vendor according to officials.