Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government has approved the resumption of weekly markets across the state.
A comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued to regulate their functioning. The Home Department issued a notification to this effect, which has been circulated to all deputy commissioners.
According to the official notification, the approval for weekly markets is valid for one year, after which a thorough review will be conducted. The review will assess the effectiveness of the SOP and its impact on the farming community.
All deputy commissioners have been instructed to strictly enforce the SOP to ensure smooth and organized functioning of the markets.
Previously, the state government had ordered the closure of these markets as part of a state-wide initiative to strengthen enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system and as a measure to curb illegal immigration.
The Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan (ASTBA) had earlier extended support to the state government’s move to suspend all weekly markets.
“Weekly markets, originally intended to provide a platform for local vendors and growers to sell their produce, have unfortunately become a major entry point for outsiders entering the state illegally,” the organization stated.
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It claimed that many non-local sellers operate in these weekly markets without an Inner Line Permit (ILP), leading to a demographic shift.
