Interrogating the Potential of Poumai and Mao Women’s Collectives from the Context of Aenon Village, Imphal

Abstract

Imphal, the capital city of Manipur in India’s North Eastern Region (NER) exhibits a vibrant multitude of ethnic diversities, tradition and cosmopolitanism, religions, languages, among others. Apart from the Meiteis who constitute the largest demographic group in the city, the various tribes under the Nagas and Kuki--Zo groups (until the Manipur Conflict of 2023) also contribute to the tapestry of the mix of populace of the city. The present paper examines the contribution of women’s collectives of Poumai and Mao tribes residing in Imphal in socioeconomic affairs of their communities. The study also attempts to draw a comparative analysis of Mao and Poumai women’s collectives with those of Meitei women like the Meira Paibis. Based on the findings that pertain to the abysmal underutilization of Mao and Poumai women’s collectives in areas like financial cooperatives and economic upliftment/ empowerment and lower level of political participation despite a moderately robust social participation, the paper finally infers on the implication on social work professionals and suggests ways to define scope of their intervention in materializing the potential of such women’s collectives in community development and social transformation.