Meira Paibis

Meira Paibis

• Home Minister met with the Meira Paibis as part of his meetings with various civil society groups.
• The Meira Paibi was formed in 1977. Also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur, are Meitei women who come from all sections of society in the Imphal valley, are widely respected, and represent a powerful moral force. 
• The Meira Paibis are loosely organised, usually led by groups of senior women, but have no rigid hierarchy or structure, or any overt political leanings.
• Their role as society’s conscience keepers is widely acknowledged.

Social role of Meira Paibis :

• One of the largest grassroots movements in the world, its initial focus of fighting alcoholism and drug abuse has now expanded to countering human rights violations and the development of society at large.
• Over the decades, the Meira Paibis have led numerous social and political movements in the state, including some powerful protests against alleged atrocities by Indian security forces, leveraging their strong position in society in the interest of the causes they have espoused.

Major actions undertaken by these women

• The Meira Paibi women were the active support base of Irom Sharmila, the activist who remained on a hunger strike in the state from 2000 to 2016 to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
• The Meira Paibis played an active role in 2015, over demands for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to be introduced there.

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