SHILLONG: People of Shillong may not be having power, but they will at least be able to savour their chicken. For, the All Meghalaya Poultry Suppliers’ & Retailers’ Association (AMPSRA) has decided to call off its one-week strike which they had begun from Thursday last.
The strike was called off following a meeting between representatives of the association and East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal on Monday evening.
“We are satisfied with the assurance of the Deputy Commissioner to protect our interest. We would be resuming our business from Wednesday,” AMPSRA president Rymphang Kharkrang told newsmen after the meeting.
Taking cognizance of the problems faced by them, the Deputy Commissioner fully endorsed their stand that they should continue to purchase poultry from the market from outside the State to meet the growing demand in the State, he said.
“We have apprised the Deputy Commissioner that the total demand of poultry in the State will be between 30,000 to 35,000 kg per day. But the production of poultry locally which comes mainly from Ri-Bhoi district will be around 7000 kg per day. This shows the vast difference between demand and supply,” AMPSRA president said.
He said that this was the main reason that they were agitating since they would have to continue to buy poultry from Assam and West Bengal to meet the local demands.
Kharkrang alleged that they were frequently threatened and tortured by the members of a rival association while transporting poultry from the neighbouring States.
“The Deputy Commissioner has assured that he would ask the police to take stringent action against anyone who threatened the members of the association,” the AMPSRA president said.
Goyal said there was no justification in banning the import of poultry from outside the State.
“I have only asked the members of AMPSRA that they give first preference to purchase of locally available poultry,” Goyal said.
He said that the local poultry traders would always prefer to purchase from a market where the margin of profit was higher.
“They (local poultry traders) will be more than happy to purchase poultry which are locally produced if they are offered a good price,” Goyal added.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that he would be asking the police to find out if the local poultry traders were really being threatened for importing poultry from Assam.
