Rethinking & Questioning the Future of Manipur: A One Day Consultation by IRMA

Date: June 22, 2022
Venue: Samusong Community Hall, Manipur
Organized by: Integrated Rural Management Association (IRMA)

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Event Overview

The Integrated Rural Management Association (IRMA) hosted a one-day consultation titled “Rethinking & Questioning the Future of Manipur” to inspire reflection and dialogue around the region’s collective future. Held at Samusong Community Hall, the event brought together community leaders, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens to discuss pressing issues such as peace, communal harmony, environmental conservation, and human rights in Manipur.

Moderated by Ms. Hatneichan Haokip, the program was designed to provide a platform for inclusive voices and solutions that honor the diverse fabric of Manipur’s society.

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Session I: Towards Peaceful Coexistence

Speaker: Shri Nobokishore Singh (Secretary, UNM-Manipur)

In his keynote address, Shri Nobokishore Singh emphasized the importance of inter-community harmony, recalling the origins of UNM-Manipur in 1995 amidst the Kuki-Naga conflict. He highlighted the association’s efforts to bring various ethnic communities—including the Meiteis, Kukis, Nagas, and Muslims—into dialogue, laying the foundation for peace and coexistence.

Singh identified key focus areas:

• Strengthening inter-community relationships.
• Empowering women for equitable societal participation.
• Addressing the implications of AFSPA as a reflection of ongoing security concerns.
• Raising environmental awareness about the risks of unchecked mineral extraction.
• Confronting the alarming rise in local drug production and consumption, with a call to safeguard Manipur’s youth.

He concluded with a hopeful message: if peace and structural reforms are prioritized, Manipur could emerge as a vibrant tourist destination in Northeast India.

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Session II: Shared Responsibility for a Sustainable Future

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Satkai Chongloi (General Secretary, KOHUR)

Rev. Dr. Chongloi opened his session by describing Manipur as a “mini-India” — a testament to its rich ethnic diversity. He advocated for the concept of shared land and resources, stressing that no community should claim exclusive rights to the land.

Key themes included:

• Environmental stewardship: The need for clean cities and villages to ensure public health.
• Digital responsibility: A strong warning against the misuse of social media that fuels misinformation and division.
• Drug eradication: A passionate call to stop both the internal cultivation and external trafficking of narcotics that threaten the future of Manipur’s children.

Dr. Chongloi’s message was clear: sustainable development and harmony require both collective responsibility and a shared vision.

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Session III: Human Rights as a Foundation for Progress

Speaker: Shri Seikholen Lupho (Advocate, Manipur Human Rights)

In the final session, Advocate Seikholen Lupho focused on the fundamentals of human rights, underlining their universal nature. He emphasized the need for awareness, education, and legal protections to build a just and inclusive society.

Highlights of his talk included:

• The importance of core rights: life, liberty, expression, work, and education.
• Focus on women’s rights, including bodily autonomy, protection from violence, and equal representation.
• An overview of the POCSO Act (2012), reinforcing its role in protecting children from abuse.
• A call for collective societal accountability in upholding and promoting human rights.

Lupho’s session reinforced the belief that true progress in Manipur lies in respecting the dignity and rights of every individual.

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Conclusion

This one-day consultation organized by IRMA served as a vital space for reflection, dialogue, and action. From the challenges of drug addiction and environmental degradation to the promises of unity, equality, and peaceful coexistence, the event underscored the urgent need for a shared and inclusive roadmap for Manipur’s future.

IRMA remains committed to facilitating such conversations and working alongside communities to build a stronger, more equitable Manipur.

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