IRMA is one of the five partner NGOs which helps in implementing the project: “North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP-II)” under Senapati District Community Resource Management Project (SEDCORMS).It is a joint project of Government of India, NEC, Ministry of DoNER and IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development). The main objective of the project is “to improve the livelihood of the vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to preservation and restoration of the environment. IRMA works in 16 villages covering as many as 558 household. Altogether there are 18 Natural Resource Management Group (NaRMGs) and 39 Self Help Groups through whom development activities are being carried out based on the village annual work plan budget.

Capacity Building for involvement of Women in Governance (WinG).

One of the main objectives of this project is to - build up an environment for women’s participation in decision making bodies at different levels(family, community, civil society at large and  political participation of women.

Activities:

• Awareness  raising through organizing workshops and consultations from the village level on gender, human rights and local capacity for peace.
• Engaging with community based organizations and other civil society leaders for women’s participation in decision making at different levels.
• Capacity building of women leaders through leadership and personality development, exposures and cross learning between women groups within the state and outside.
• Documentation of cases pertaining to women survivors of different forms of violence against women.
• Networking and building alliance with other likeminded organizations at the state, regional and national levels.
• Observation of national and international events in solidarity with women across.

Outcome:

• Communities from the partner villages are sensitized and concern about the practical initiation of change on Gender discrimination and its hold on the traditional concept of the society.
• Increased awareness on the existing government schemes and services and its implementation.
• Significant changes has taken place in some of the villages-where women are given space in the village authority which is the highest decision making body at the village level.
• Ten WinG promoters from each village have been mobilized and trained on gender equality & gender mainstreaming. One of the WinG promoters by the name- Mrs. Phalchong Mangte has become a prominent activist advocating  for women’s participation in all decision making processes.