MLA Nemcha exhorts womenfolk to fight social ills
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, December 13 2021:
The 82nd Nupi Lal Memorial Day was observed under the aegis of Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen, the lone woman MLA in the BJP-led government, at Kangpokpi town on Sunday.
The commemorative event held at Nute Kailhang was attended by MLA Nemcha as chief guest.
She also handed over health and pension cards to many beneficiaries on the occasion.
More than 200 women from across Kangpokpi AC attended the Memorial Day apart from several women officials and CSO leaders including Lhingneikim, ZEO Kangpokpi; Tingnei Lhouvum, president BJP Kangpokpi Mandal; Hekim Hangshing,president Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organisation, etc.
Newly elected members of the 8th Kangpokpi Town Committee and leaders of Kangpokpi Youth Union as well as Church leaders of the town also attended the event.
In her address, MLA Nemcha Kipgen, while highlighting a brief history of Nupi Lal (women's uprising), said that there were several instances where Manipuri women exhibited their bravery to testify the power of women's voice in the country.
The MLA said that December 12 marks the day when thousands of women in Manipur valiantly protested for the rights of their countrymen and women against the injustice of forced labour imposed by the British in 1939.She recalled that the first agitation or uprising was triggered by the action of Colonel Maxwel, who in July 1904 reintroduced the abolished Lallup System, wherein men were required to perform free labour for 10 days after every 30 days.
Nemcha then recalled the major implications on the economy and trade of Manipur owing to excessive export of Manipuri rice outside the state, the British's slow and steady conversion of the region into a market for imported manufactured goods, which ultimately led to the decline of indigenous cottage industries and the Marwaris who had settled in the region taking over much of the rice trade with setting up of rice mills, resulting in running the local husking industry out of business contributed to the mobilization of the second Nupi Lal on December 12, 1939.Hundreds of Manipuri women came out on the streets of Imphal demanding a ban on rice export and closure of rice mills.
There have been many women-led movements across the country, but Nupi Lal remains a strong testament to the power of women's voice in India, said the MLA.
MLA Nemcha also stressed that education is the only tool to develop our society so women need to emphasise on acquiring education so that when they take part in the society, changes could happen.
She further said, "We have been taking various for the growth and development of the women in our society under the cooperation department.
I have been talking with central leaders and if we come to power again every woman in each household will avail the benefit of the development in their respective household to develop the society".
The MLA strongly urged the women of Kangpokpi to help in stopping poppy cultivation in the area as it will only lead the society to hell while exhorting them to fight the war on drugs for a better society.
She also handed over 28 old age pension cards and 50 health cards including CMHT and PMJAY to the beneficiaries on the occasion.
Joshi Lamkhohat Haokip, deputy inspector of school, Saitu, also spoke on women empowerment during the function.