Ima Market : the women-only exclusive retail market in Imphal, India /
An old Manipuri idiom goes, "A woman who does not go to the market is meaningless in society" (Sudhir, 2013). In keeping with this idea, the women of Manipur, India strive to occupy a central spot in the economic activities of the region. Their self-reliance and independent attitudes revol...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London :
SAGE Publications: SAGE Business Cases Originals,
2022.
|
| Series: | SAGE Business. Cases.
SAGE Busines. Cases. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | An old Manipuri idiom goes, "A woman who does not go to the market is meaningless in society" (Sudhir, 2013). In keeping with this idea, the women of Manipur, India strive to occupy a central spot in the economic activities of the region. Their self-reliance and independent attitudes revolve around economic freedom, which is often intrinsically linked to starting a business. Women's powerful presence in business can be felt in an exclusively women-owned and -run retail market yard, Ima Market, in the heart of Imphal, Manipur's capital (Ima means mother in Manipuri). According to historians, this market has been present in the city since the 16th century CE. In addition to representing ever-increasing economic freedom for women, the market uniquely symbolizes women's empowerment. Perhaps the market has fueled the greater number of women participating in the labor market. As the data show, almost 40% of Manipur's women participate in the labor market, compared to the national average of 25.5%. In a nutshell, the market stands for both a historical legacy and women's empowerment. Given women's ardent involvement in the market, the state government decided to replace the Ima market yard's old structure with a new building. Though the state believed that the new structure would help women flourish in the market, there were many issues. Keeping this in view, we need to discuss these questions: How could the state government make inroads in building consensus to replace the old structure with a new building? How will the women who own retail shops in the market yard respond to such a move by the state government? |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource : illustrations. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781529781229 1529781221 |