A group of internally displaced women from the Leima Self Help Group (SHG), based at the Meitei Langol Leima Khullen Leikai Relief Camp in Imphal West, visited Raj Bhavan today to interact with the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The meeting was facilitated by the MaolKeki Foundation to brief the Governor on the ongoing progress and impact of the Livelihoods Development Program, launched in December 2023 by the then Governor, Anusuiya Uikey.
Following the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, displacing thousands across the state, MaolKeki Foundation shifted its focus to supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The foundation has since extended aid to over 1,000 children across 12 relief camps in five districts, while also providing essential healthcare materials, including sanitary pads, to more than 14,000 individuals. Recognising the need for more sustainable solutions, the foundation launched the Livelihoods Development Program to provide long-term economic support to displaced communities.
The program, funded by Anaha Trust (managed by Sattva) and the North American Manipuri Association (NAMA), aimed to equip displaced women with self-sustaining livelihood skills. Under this initiative, 111 women from seven relief camps across four districts received training in business management, leadership, skill development, and market access. These women went on to form 11 Self Help Groups, with regular mentoring and monitoring over a 12-month period.
Among them, Leima SHG emerged as the top-performing group, earning an average of Rs 4 lakh annually through tailoring activities—a remarkable feat considering the women had fled their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Encouraged by the success, the program has now secured additional funding from the Azim Premji Foundation, aiming to scale up support to 120 more women across various relief camps.
During the interaction, members of Leima SHG expressed their gratitude to the Governor for supporting initiatives that enable them to regain dignity and economic independence. They also appealed to him to help resolve the ongoing crisis so that displaced families could return home. As a gesture of appreciation, the group presented the Governor with a lengyan (traditional scarf) handmade by another SHG and shared samples of their tailored products, including bags and stationery covers.
Representing the MaolKeki Foundation at the event were Kenedy Lourembam, Project Manager; Nirupa Sanjenbam, Head of Projects; and Dr. Shachi Gurumayum, Trustee of the Foundation and recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
The event served as a powerful reminder of how resilience, when supported with the right tools and opportunities, can empower communities even amidst displacement and uncertainty.