State shows strong roots, rising voices for women
Source: Chronicle News Service / Keicha Chingthou Mangang

Imphal, April 12 2025: In Manipur, women are shaping communities from the ground up - leading local councils, driving small businesses, and voting in high numbers.

Yet, at the national level, their voices are missing - a stark contrast that captures both promise and persistent barriers in this northeastern state, according to data published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently.

Despite accounting for just 0.22% of India's population, Manipur performs well above its demographic weight in several key gender indicators, especially at the grassroots level.

But when it comes to national political representation and scaling .economic impact, the state lags far behind, shows data in the recent 'Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data'.

Women in Manipur hold 50.69 per cent of seats (880 out of 1,736) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), compared to the national average of 46.57 per cent (15,03,836) -placing it among the top states for female participation in grassroots governance.

Though it contributes just a fraction to the national total, the percentage reflects a culture of inclusive leadership.

Civic participation is equally strong.

In the 2024 general elections, 78.72% of women voters in Manipur turned out - far exceeding the national female turnout of 65.78% and placing the state 10th among 36 states and union territories.

The judiciary also reflects positive representation.

One in four High Court judges in Manipur is a woman (25%), almost double the national average of 14.08% (106 out of 753) - putting the state near the top of the national rankings.

At home, the pattern continues as 94.8% of Manipuri women report active participation in household decision-making, well above the 88.7% national average.

This high rate suggests women are not only politically aware but also influential in private life.

Manipur also leads among small states in economic participation.

The state has 36,584 women-owned MS-MEs, generating over 227,000 jobs - the highest among northeastern peers.

This accounts for 0.55% of all such enterprises in India, more than twice its population share.

In women-led start-ups, Manipur ranks second among small states with 78 ventures, and second in informal micro-enterprises (IMEs) with 27,227 units.

While small in national terms - just 0.1% of start-ups and 0.19% of IMEs - these numbers reflect strong relative performance.

Despite these gains, Manipuri women are completely absent from the Lok Sabha.

The state's two parliamentary seats are both held by men, and it ranks among a handful of states with 0% female representation, compared to the national average of 13.79%.The state assembly fares slightly better, with 5 out of 60 seats (8.33%) held by women.

While this is close to the national average of 9.35%, it still places Manipur behind peers like Tripura (15%) and Sikkim (12.5%).Such gaps highlight a larger issue - while women thrive at the community level, institutional pathways to national leadership remain narrow.

Nationally, Manipur's contribution to women-led start-ups and MSMEs remains minimal.

Its 78 start-ups are a drop in the bucket compared to states like Maharashtra (14,000+) or Karnataka (8,000+).In total job creation through women-owned MSMEs, Manipur contributes just 0.54%, underscoring the challenge of scale.

In land ownership, only 24.8% of women in Manipur own land - below the national average of 31.7%.By contrast, 57.3% own houses, placing the state in the top third nationally.

This split points to structural barriers in accessing long-term economic assets like land.

Experts say bridging the gap between local participation and national influence requires deliberate effort.

Political parties must prioritise female candidates, while mentorship and training programs can prepare women for higher office.

Targeted economic support, such as credit access, digital literacy, and market linkage, could help women-led businesses scale up.

Legal awareness and reforms could also enhance women's land rights, particularly in rural and tribal areas.

"Women in Manipur are highly engaged - at home, in the community, and in local governance," said a policy expert.

"What's needed now is a push that takes them from participation to power, from presence to leadership".

Manipur represents a striking duality.

At the local level, it's a success story in gender inclusion.

Nationally, it's a cautionary tale of missed opportunity.

The state's experience offers a blueprint for both celebration and course correction - a reminder that true empowerment must reach from the grassroots to the highest levels of power.

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