Ima Keithel – Manipur News

Ima Keithel : Repair to be over by Jan 22

Imphal, November 07 2017: The ongoing renovation of Ima Keithel after the devastating earthquake on January 6 last year will be completed by January 22 next year, said Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development (MAHUD) Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar, who added the contractor had given assurance to Works Department and MAHUD. The Minister made the promise […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/11/ima-keithel-repair-to-be-over-by-jan-22/

Manipur : Ranked 5th in women safety : Just stereotyping ?

Making it to the news for the right reason. Not bad for a State like Manipur which has been making news across the country for all the wrong reasons. Fifth safest place for women in the country and this is clearly reflected in the fact that unlike other parts of the country, Manipur has nothing […]

MAHUD celebrates 100 days in office

Imphal, June 25 2017: As a part of the celebration of the State Government’ s 100 days completion in the office today , Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development (MAHUD) celebrated “MAHUD in 100 Days” at Khwairamband Ima Keithel. A booklet was also released at the function organised by the Manipur Urban Development Agency (MUDA) […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/06/mahud-celebrates-100-days-in-office/

Governor Inspects Ima Keithel Grievances of women vendors will be looked into : Najma

Imphal, June 13 (DIPR):Governor Dr Najma Heptulla visited Ima Keithel, one of the biggest women markets in the world today, to look into the matters concerning the problems and inconveniences faced by the women vendors of the State after the January 2016 earthquake. The Keithel Ima Lups and the women vendors warmly welcomed the Governor. […]

Khwairamband Keithel Women vendors break into scuffle over vending spots

IMPHAL, Apr 5 : After the parking lot constructed over Naga nullah was temporary allotted to street vendors, scuffle broke out today among the women vendors over the allotted space. Later in the evening women vendors met the Chief Minister at his secretariat and presented their case. Earlier in the day, vendors of Ima Keithel […]

Shyamkumar inspects Khwairamband Keithel

IMPHAL, Apr 2: Manipur Administration Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) Minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh inspected Khwairamband Keithel and its surrounding areas today. The Minister also inquired about the repairing work of the Ima Keithel building, which was damaged in the Jan 4, 2016 earthquake. The Minister inspected the temporary market shed, the three Ima markets, […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/04/shyamkumar-inspects-khwairamband-keithel/

AMWJU’s list gets CM’s nod

IMPHAL, Mar 30: The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) today submitted an 11-point charter of demands to Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, which include setting up of a press academy. A team of the union led by its president Wangkhemcha Shamjai and advisor N Tombiraj met the Chief Minister in his office. The […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/03/amwjus-list-gets-cms-nod/

MLA Joykishan disrupts temporary market shed construction

IMPHAL, January 16: Furious over the construction of a temporary market shed by barricading the Thangal Bazar road for the displaced Ima Market vendors, Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan today made the construction workers to dismantle the fencing erected …

Northeast India Women Mother’s Bazaar of Bamboo Craft and Weaving Exhibition held at Delhi

Women Weaving Peace Together: Ima Keithel – A Northeast India Women Mother’s Bazaar of Bamboo Craft and Weaving Exhibition held at Delhi. Photo : CAF, India

New Delhi, 03 Oct 2015: Women survivors of Northeast India and Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh showcases beautiful handloom and handicraft products at the exhibition titled “Ima Keithel ~ A Northeast India Women Mothers Bazaar of Bamboo Craft and Weaving” that was held from 21 to 25 September at Gandhi King Plaza, India International Centre, New Delhi.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Ms Marina Walter, Deputy Country Director, United Nations Development Program, India and Ms Namita Gautam, Director, Sleepwell Foundation. The exhibition was visited by eminent personalities namely Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, Chairperson, Asia Project, India International Centre; Ms. Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, Director & Mr. Rajiv Chandran , National Information Officer of United Nations Information Centre, New India; Ex Governor of Mizoram Mr Amolak Rattan Kohli ; Ms. Laldingliani Sailo, Member of National Commission for Women; Prof Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, Jamia Millia Islamia; Ms Tajinder Kaur of North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach; women leaders from Northeast India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The concept of “all women’s” markets is very well known in Manipur. It is popularly known as “Ima Keithel” or “Mothers Market” where over 4000 odd Manipur women congregate in capital Imphal and in smaller locations across state to sell their products. It is a very unique phenomenon hardly found in other parts of country. “We used this concept of “women’s market” to ensure women affected by conflict from across ethnic communities and region come together in an important process to nurture understanding and peace amongst communities long divided by divides which are mostly man-made”, Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, Secretary General, Control Arms Foundation of India & Founder, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network.

In this unique exhibition which was one of the first of its kinds in India, women weavers from different ethnic groups in Manipur worked together for almost a year with top notch committed team from Delhi namely E’thaan Design Studio and Rangsutra to present a range of design prototypes in weaving and bamboo. Besides the collection from Manipur, a humble showcasing of products brought by women from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and even from Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh.

“We are first trained after which we make the prototype. We are given the layout for the motifs seeing which we reproduce the design,” says 38-year-old Arambam Bijaya, who has been a single parent to her 10 year-old-son after her husband abandoned her. Bijaya along with 100 other vulnerable women weavers have developed designs for a range of apparels in collaboration with the label ‘Rangsutra’ catering to the theme “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Salomi, a widow from Chandel who has lost her husband on 2003 demonstrated bamboo craft products that was made along with 20 other bamboo craft artisans belonging to different ethnic groups in Manipur. A large selection of bamboo products like lamps, cheese trays, holders and baskets is on display.

In this week long exhibition, some of the products of the market tried to popularise are enaphee (a shawl wrapped around the shoulders), phanek (wrap/sarong), and leiroom (a hand-woven scarf used on ceremonial occasions).

The exhibition objective was to take the beautiful arts and crafts of women of Manipur and Northeast to a larger audience and in long run bring peace in Northeast region and to ensure women from different ethnic groups come together to weave peace together in the said platform. The focus of the programme is the economic empowerment of underprivileged and violence affected women through skill development. The exhibition through its weaves and designs each woven by a woman survivor from Manipur, across Northeast India and beyond tells us the story that there can be no peace anywhere without the participation of women. We, the women are the threads that hold a society, community and nations together.

The exhibition was well received by the visitors and praised the efforts of the women exhibitors and organisers. The exhibition was organised by Control Arms Foundation of India with Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network along with E’thaan Design Studio and Rangsutra.

Women vendors` ILPS rally stopped midway

IMPHAL, July 15: Angry womenfolk of the three Ima Keithels took out a protest rally against the three months time set by the House to bring out a fresh bill

Police women trying to control vendors of Ima Keithels during a protest rally.

IMPHAL, July 15: Angry womenfolk of the three Ima Keithels took out a protest rally against the three months time set by the House to bring out a fresh bill which can protect the indigenous people during its special sitting today.

The women protestors demanded implementation of a bill at the earliest to check the unbridled entry of non-locals into the State.

Decrying police brutality in controlling the present ongoing movement, they further demanded that the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood should be punished at the earliest.

The rally started around 12:30 pm from the bazaar area and attempted to march towards the Assembly building where the one day emergency sitting of the Assembly was underway.

Police attempt to stop them resulted in a tussle, however, an understanding was brought about soon between the two groups and the protestors turnaround from the Bir Tikendrajit Flyover and entered into the Ima Keithel.

During the short rally, around 200 women vendors of the three keithels shouted slogans condemning the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood and implementation of the ILPS in the State at the earliest.

Meanwhile, residents of New Checkon road, Palace Gate also staged a mass sit in protest demanding implementation of the ILPS in the State by blocking one side of the road.

Residents of Keishampat also demonstrated at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai supporting the demand for implementing ILPS in the State and punishment for the police personnel responsible for Robinhood`™s death.

The Film Forum, Manipur also staged a sit in protest in front of the Usha Cinema hall.

Around 100 well-known actors, actresses and others hold placards condemning the death of S Robinhood and asking the government to act now to protect the indigenous people.

Following the sit in protest, they visited Robinhood`™s home at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai.

Meanwhile, an effigy of the Chief Minister was burn at Tera Bazar, while protestors from Khurai Leirikyengbam Leikai also blocked the Dingku Road in protest against the resolution of the House.

Local clubs and meira paibis of Tentha area also took out a meira rally this evening showing support for the ILPS movement.

Around 500 individuals participated in the rally.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/women-vendors-ilps-rally-stopped-midway/

A women’s post office at Ima Keithel in the offing

Imphal, May 23: A women’s post office at the Ima keithel could become a reality soon. As an outcome of the Governor VK Duggal’s recent visit to the Ima Keithel

Imphal, May 23: A women’s post office at the Ima keithel could become a reality soon. As an outcome of the Governor VK Duggal’s recent visit to the Ima Keithel on May 7, a reliable source has informed that the Governor’s Secretariat has directed the matter to the government of Manipur.

It said improvement of the Ima Keithel should be taken up on priority basis, necessary maintenance work of rain and sun protection and opening of additional entry points also feature in the list.

The source further added that all development plans should be managed by the women with their participation. The instruction from the Governor gives attention for opening a Post Office for women, run only by women like the one in neighboring state Nagaland.

It may be recalled that Governor VK Duggal had inspected the condition of the three Ima Markets complex and interacted with the women of the market on May 7.

The Governor VK Duggal had also inspected conditions of lighting system, drainage systems, fans, toilets and water leakage problem of the three Ima Keithels.

The Governor had expressed his amazement on the non-repairing of the three Ima market building since its inauguration till now ,and the first floor of the three markets still lying unused till today.

The Governor had assured to the women vendors of the three markets that all lighting systems will be made fully functional within 10 days by replacing the defunct electric blub. He had also instructed the authorities concerned to repair the leaking roof.