Support for women weaving for peace and development in Manipur

New Delhi, 19 October 2015:

Ms Pramodini and Ms Bijaya, members of MWGSN at work

The Manipur Women Gun Survivor Network (MWGSN) which is a project of the Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) has entered into a partnership with North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under Department of Science & Technology to expand the economic empowerment and livelihood possibilities for women members of MWGSN.

Following the success of the handloom and handicraft display in Delhi titled “Women Weaving Peace Together: Ima Keithel- A Northeast Bamboo Craft and Weaving Exhibition” held from 21 - 25 Sep 2015 at India International Centre, New Delhi, the two agencies are preparing the ground work for opening up economic empowerment and livelihood possibilities for its members.

NECTAR will support the technology input and has already provided funding for 50 looms. These looms would be installed in the existing MWGSN’s worksheds in Imphal and Bishnupur District of Manipur. In order to make these operational NECTAR has provided support for raw material purchase to kick start production and has offered to provide marketing support through their website. This is only the beginning of a partnership which will be expanded to support training, technology and livelihood in Manipur and other north eastern states.

Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and the Control Arms Foundation of India was formed to help women whose lives have been changed dramatically by violence in Northeast India particularly Manipur; to find solutions to end the ongoing violence and to provide a space for women to take a leading role in gender sensitive peace and security advocacy efforts.

The Network has been working in 300 villages with women survivors of violence that belongs to the most vulnerable and marginalized section of both hills and valleys of Manipur mostly widows. In 2014 alone, Manipur recorded a total of 20,000 registered widows. The network is providing humanitarian and livelihood support in a varied ways by imparting trainings, capacity building and handholding for the last 7 years.

The network has several skilled and trained women in handloom and handicraft sector has established Women Run Production Centre for weavers and bamboo craft group in Imphal, Bishnupur and Chandel Districts of Manipur. CAFI and MWGSN’s Humanitarian efforts have been recognised through several awards such as Sean McBride Peace Prize 2010, CNN IBN Real Heroes Award 2011 and Femina Women Achievers Awards 2015.

For more information, please contact:

Control Arms Foundation of India
B 5 / 146, First Floor,
Safdarjung Enclave,
New Delhi - 110 029, India
Website: www.cafi-online.org,
Phone: +91-11-46018541, Fax: +91-11-26166234