Members of IDP SHG interact with Governor
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 16 2025: A group of internally displaced women from Leima Self Help Group (SHG), who are staying at the Meitei Langol Leima Khullen Leikai Relief Camp in Imphal West, interacted with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.

As per a release, the interaction was facilitated by MaolKe-ki Foundation to update the Governor on the progress of the Livelihoods Development Programme launched in December 2023 by the then Governor Anusuiya Uikey.

Following the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023 which displaced tens of thousands of Manipuris, MaolKeki Foundation focused on helping the internally displaced'persons (IDPs), supporting hundreds of children in 12 relief camps in five districts and providing healthcare materials including sanitary pads to over 14,000 individuals.

However, the Foundation soon realised that it needed to implement a more sustainable programme for the IDPs, said the release, adding that Livelihoods Development Programme was launched with funding from Anaha Trust, managed by Sattva, and the North American Manipuri Association (NAMA) with the aim to train IDPs on self-sustaining means of livelihoods.

Under the programme, 111 women in seven relief camps across four districts were provided training on skill development, business management and leadership, material support, formation of SHGs, financing, promotion and market access.

Along with formation of 11 SHGs with the members mentored and tracked in following 12 months, Leima SHG emerged as the best performing SHG earning an average of Rs 4 lakh per annum from tailoring activities, a significant achievement considering that the women fled their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back, elaborated the release.

It also informed that the programme secured funding from the Azim Premji Foundation to further scale the support to 120 women in various relief camps.

The entrepreneurial women from Leima SHG thanked the Governor for his support and appealed to resolve the crisis at the soonest possible so they could all return back to their homes.

They honoured the Governor with a 'lengyan' (stole) made by another IDP SHG and also shared items they tailored including bags and stationery covers as gifts with the Governor.

At the meeting, the Foundation was represented by project manager Kenedy Lourembam, head of projects Nirupa Sanjenbam and trustee Dr Shachi Gurumayum, who is also a recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, it further informed.

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