Political empowerment and Tribal Women Of Manipur
- Part 5 -
Dr. Benjamin Gangmei *
Political Life of Paite Women
The Paite is one of the major non-Naga tribes of Manipur. Their population, according to 1981 census is 30,959. They are mainly concentrated in Churachandpur district of Manipur distributing themselves over 125 villages and 5,078 household in the State of Manipur.
The Paite political organisation has two layers in their traditional society. The first or lowest one is organised at household level. This is household council known as Inndongta in Paite.
The council is composed of household male members. "Each of the households' siblings hold separate household councils and its members are determined through kinship positions and recruited from among the siblings, father's sisters, mother's brothers, etc."
Then, there is traditional apex political institution of Paite which is similar to Naga system. That is, there is village council. The council is headed by the chief who is assisted by male elders of the village.
Each chief is derived from either Sukte or Guite which are ruling clans or behs. The chief appoints different members of the council which are village messenger or "crier", physician, priest to look after their respective aspects.
The Paite village council was also, like in other hill tribes of the State, partly transformed after 1956, through the introduction of Village Authority Act. The village chief continues to be chairman of Village Authority and the new body also "functions more or less in its traditional way."
Lower political status is no exception to Paite women. In spite of their important roles in other aspects of the Paite socio-economic life, they do not have "a say in the transactions of the Inndongta... The meeting of the Inndongta is attended by male members only. She has no voice into village administration."
So, both in the past and modern political process the Paite women have no role in political activities of the villages. They are confined to domestic affairs without being the partners of men in Paite political life.
To be continued....
* Dr. Benjamin Gangmei wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This article was webcasted on December 02, 2010.
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