Election pressure on Meira Paibi activists
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 14, 2022 -

HAD it not been the election season no one would dare to question the valour and integrity of Manipuri women simply on the premise that they have been at the forefront of any movement related to safeguard of socio-economic and ethnic interests of the society.

Since time immemorial, Manipuri women have been taking giant steps in diverse sectors, playing vital role in safeguarding political and economic frontiers, excelling in the field of sports and education, and sustaining livelihood, to name a few of their enviable characteristics.

To cut the long story short, observance of Nupi Lal on December 12 every year by government and civil society organisations not only testifies fierceness and valour of women of Manipur but also underscores the respect they have earned through sheer grit and sacrificial spirit.

All such esteemed qualities, however, seem to get diluted whenever elections are round the corner.

While pro-active involvement of womenfolk in election activities at the grassroots level is well documented, their role as guardians of the society against social ills appears to be diminishing with every election, primarily due to the democratic exercise unstoppably evolving into a contest among the creamier layer of the society.

Regardless of the various measures being initiated by the Election Commission of India to curb all unethical practices during election times and alertness of the vigilant agencies, almost all the candidates possessing huge wealth and unhesitating to invest heavily to impress the voters remain the greatest threat to free and fair conduct of the periodical democratic exercise.

Amid the tell-tale signs of degeneration of the electoral process, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) president Nando Luwang expressing suspicion that activists of Meira Paibi or women vigilantes are taking sides of certain candidates ring out the message that there are politicians who wouldn't fret from taking undue advantage of some vulnerable women activists, as they are commonly referred to.

As one of the civil society organisations which has been shouldering the responsibility to confront elements and institutions trying to destabilise the society and divide the people on ethnic line, the AMUCO president has every reason to worry over the gradual debilitation of Manipuri women, particularly during election times.

As AMUCO's primary objective is protecting unity and integrity of Manipur and carrying out various activities to promote harmonious coexistence among the different communities settling in the state.

Though the AMUCO executives are mainly males, significant numbers of womenfolk generally take part in any movement the organisation leads consequently making the Meira Paibi groups inseparable component whenever the state faces any serious issues.

While a cursory observation of womenfolk taking keen interest in the election process indicates relentless scheming by the candidates and their agents to induce the local vigilante groups to win over their members, it is desired that involvement of Meira Paibi in elections should be limited to preventing violence and checking proliferation of money into the electoral system.

As the reverence is mainly due to their indomitable spirit in taking on elements inimical to peace and integrity of Manipur, over-indulgence in money-centric contemporary elections should be avoided.