IMPHAL, January 20: Even as the women voters outnumbered the men since 1990 polls, Manipur is not ready to introduce or elect women as their representative. Out of state`s 17,40,820 electorates female voters outnumber their counterparts by 38,174 votes this election year too.
“This is because of lack of financial support and social responsibilities.Women cannot defend money and muscle power”, reasons stated by L Mema, President of Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup,a women vendor body in the busy Ima Keithel which is one of South Asia’s biggest women market.
But women’s role in Manipur history is exemplary as the population here has shown great respect to the movement led by women particularly the women vigil group viz.Meira Paibi’s movement spear heading the anti-liquor drive and other anti-social activities.
Even Nupi Lan(women’s war) against artificial scarcity of food grains during the British regime is being observed by the population on December 12 annualy,besides giving respect to the famous Ima Keithel etc.
“There are also chances of women winning polls if there is an actual free and fair poll without money and muscle power,” Mema who is also a popular Meira Paibi leader in Imphal claimed.
But then there are differences when participation of women in polls or decision making bodies comes into force. As a result representation of women in Manipur’s assembly history is almost negligible. Former Lok Sabha MP and President of state Trinamool Congress unit Kim Gangte sharing a similar sentiment while speaking to IFP said,“Women here are not so aggressive besides have a mentality that hardly counts on women when we talk about their participation or contesting in assembly elections. I`m not only talking about this assembly polls.” “In my case there were around 9 candidates and I was the lone woman candidate,”she added.
So far Manipur assembly has just four women MLAs including the existing member O Landhoni who is the better half of Chief Minister O Ibobi from Khangabok seat. The other ex-MLAs are Keisham Apabi Devi(Oinam),Hamingla Shaiza(Ukhrul) and Wahengbam Leima Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa).
Except Karong,Tadubi,Kangpokpi and Thanlon,females outnumbered males in the state’s 60 seats in ensuing polls.If one goes by pure number,the fate of 60 seats in the January 28 ballot battle lies in the hands of female voters.
“Agreed. But we still need to build up the confidence among ourselves that women also can do the same in politics, besides money power,” opines political worker T Nenie Haokip of Churachandpur district.Ng Sundari, another functionary of a political party also echoed a similar feeling. This time 14 women candidates including 3 congress candidates,2 from Manipur State Congress Party,1 each from BJP,CPI(M) and Trinamool congress are in fray for the assembly polls.There were just 6 women candidates in 2007 polls.