CRPF Mahila Bn in Manipur : Keeping pace with the spirit of local women

Rakesh Kumar Singh *

Women troops of the CRPF on drill on their arrival from Delhi at Langjing on June 2010 :: Pix - TSE

The active participation of women in public affairs will empower them socially. In India, women had shown phenomenal courage in initiating and accomplishing various successes in socio-political movements. Manipur women are no exception; rather they had been in fore-front to safe-guard the interest of common man more dynamically. No doubt, inspite of regressive policies of various UG groups, the legendary Mary Kom has boxed the world to her charm - a courageous bout true to the spirit of Manipuri women. Not only in sports where many women from State had scaled new heights but in the field of culture too their contribution is highly appreciable.

The empowerment of women is essential to emancipate them from various traditional customs and values which had subjugated them in their multiple roles and relations. Any Society can truly aspire to develop only if it has defined constructive activism for women and had institutional arrangements in this regard. However, society all over the world has generally failed to provide such institutional participation therefore mostly the women have to carve out their own place amidst inequality and discrimination.

Manipuri women are unique in a way that though generally they are engaged in domestic work or petty economic activities but possess great valour, patience and determination to fight against social evils and for the interest of families and common man. The bravery of women of State is reflected in their dancing skills in Thang-Tha, Kang-Sannaba and in modern times in boxing, weight lifting, archery etc. Mary Kom, Kunjarani, Sanamacha Chanu, Brajeswori, are a few women sports personalities who had put Manipur on international map.

In Manipur, the women have always taken up various challenges to improve the overall socio-political life. They had been on front to take up issues regarding freedom from social vices like drugs, substance abuse and alcoholism, to struggle against misgovernance or lack of governance. Some time, the protests being too forceful and too massive. Amidst such rich traditions of women's active role in society, it is matter of pride to provide policing assistance to them by CRPF women troopers. CRPF is also unique Force which has rich traditions of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women through various initiatives.

To tackle such unprecedented increase in women protests in 1990s a Mahila company of CRPF has since been deployed in the State. It was also call of the local women folk that women be handled by women police personnel alone so as to avoid manhandling and harassment of women.

The Mahila Company of CRPF is deployed when the protests by women increased tremendously in the wake of prevailing social vices like drugs, alcoholism and violence of militancy badly affecting families. The local women organization demanded that their protests should be dealt by women police only to save them from harassment and mishandling by male, consequently the company of 88 (M) BN was deployed.

In Manipur, the women had actively participated in every sphere of life in the Society even fighting against the British authority. The State is having rich traditions of Queens fighting against enemies in absence of kings. The women have participated for political causes during Statehood movement and for social causes launched protests as Nisha Bandh Movement.

Policing women protestors in Manipur is a very challenging task. Since the women of the State had given birth to two massive movement on their own initiative. The Nish Bandh Movement during Second half of 1970s and the Meira Paibi movement since 1980s were exclusively organised by women themselves. The women protestors of State had been posing difficult challenges to police. The years long fast of Irom Sharmila against AFPSA is an example of grit and determination of Manipuri women.

Meira Paibi movement has been awarded TOI Social impact Awards by President in January 2013 for its contribution towards human rights activism for promoting peace. Their efforts are valued as Motherly. The Meira Paiba associations and other organization protesting for various Socio-political issues appreciated the professionalism of CRPF women police and their humanism in dealing with protestors who are mostly elderly women. In this background, when Mahila BN has been deployed it has integrated well with police and society and had been performing duties in very effective and judicious manner. Having proved its professionalism in strife–torn Liberia and internationally acclaimed for that the women troopers had been doing its bit in a fair and free manner without prejudice or without being harsh towards anyone.

CRPF Mahila personnel have earned laurels and appreciation from the common people because their efforts have been promoting the interest of the people as a whole and for the maintenance of peace and harmony in the society.

If today Meira Paibas are known as "mothers" to the society then we can proudly say CRPF Mahila personnel are "daughters" extending helping hand in maintaining peace and promoting prosperity for women.