Cachar District, ASSAM :
The Cabinet Minister of Transport, Excise & Fisheries, Government of Assam, Primal Suklabaidya has donated a sum of Rs. 5 Lakhs from his local area development fund for the welfare of the Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis (Manipuri Muslim Torch bearing Mothers) operating in Cachar District of Assam.
The Minister has handed over the amount to the President of All Manipuri Muslims Meira Paibi Sanstha, Cachar, Assam Moinam Jubeda Begum on the occasion of the 3rd Foundation Day Celebration of the Sanstha held on the 5th October 2023 at Bhaga, Islamabad, Cachar District, Assam.
The Minister also announced a special package including development of the office complex of the Sanstha, construction of a public community hall and development of approach roads. Attending as the Chief Guest in the 3rd Foundation Day of the All-Manipuri Muslims Meira Paibi Sanstha, the Minister also took note of the acute shortages faced by the Meitei Pangal Communities in the District and assured the package in a very quick response to a memorandum submitted by the Meira Paibi Womenfolk during the occasion.
The galaxy of other eminent personalities from Assam and Manipur present in the foundation day include Principal of Moirang College, Manipur Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh, Retired Additional Secretary of Assam Nandababu Singha, Assistant Director of Textiles Lairellakpam Harilal Singha, Assistant Professor of S R College Dr Abul Khair Choudhury, Vice President of Federation of Civil Societies Organisations (FOCS), Manipur B M Yaima Shah and Lakhipur East Zila Parishad Kabrabam Anita Devi as special guests.
A two minutes silence was also observed by the gathering to mark the tribute to the two of the Manipuri Meira Paibi leaders viz Ima Memchoubi Devi who expired very recently and Ima Sitara Begum who passed away last year.
The FOCS also extended financial assistance to the Muslim Meira Paibi Sanstha of Cachar by donating a sum of Rs.10,000/- only which was handed over by the Vice President B M Yaima Shah to the president of the Sanstha – Moinam Jubeda Begum.
In his short address by the special guest from Manipur, Moirang College Principal Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh emphasised the role of Manipuri women in the social change which became a unique culture of the Manipuri Womenfolk which is not seen in any other parts of the World and dire need for support and preserve the culture for the welfare of the future generations.
The women’s participation in safeguard of the people has a long history which may be dated back to the monarchy system in Manipur which later became more significant after the women agitation broke out in 1904 and 1939 showing discontentment of the womenfolk against the British policy.
Beginning with the safeguard of their male counterparts and children as the informal Nishabandhi groups in the localities during 1970’s, the Meira Paibi has now emerged as one of the biggest forces to move for a social change, an indispensable force to safeguard the integrity, starting from the issues of drug abuse and illicit trafficking to the eradication of antisocial elements and now the Meira Paibis have come up with the strongest force to deal with the present unrest in Manipur.
In her key note address, Lakhipur Zila Parishad Anita Devi has reiterated that the Foundation Day is being observed every year since the year 2021 in various places where the Manipuri Muslims (Pangals) are inhabiting in the Cachar District.
The venue of the 3rd Foundation Day this year has been chosen at Bhaga, Islamabad as the sanstha intended to reach out the importance of services rendered by the torch bearing mothers in various field including eradication of antisocial elements, drug abuse, upliftment of the educational, social and economical status of the people belonging to this area of the district which is being considered as the most backward as compared to the Meitei Pangals of other areas in Cachar District.
Sanarei Bibi & Thanin Bibi / Publicity in Charge, 3rd Foundation Day
All Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibi Sangstha, Cachar, Assam
source: http://www.e-pao.net / E-Pao / Home> News section / Press Release 2023 / October 07th, 2023