Champu Khangpok residents remove plastic and waste from Yangoi Achouba River, highlighting pollution threats to Loktak Lake. Community action underscores urgent need to restore the polluted river draining through Imphal into the Ramsar-listed lake. TFM Desk As is observed every year on the 14th of March in commemorating the importance of rivers in sustaining human […]
Champu Khangpok residents remove plastic and waste from Yangoi Achouba River, highlighting pollution threats to Loktak Lake. Community action underscores urgent need to restore the polluted river draining through Imphal into the Ramsar-listed lake.
TFM Desk
As is observed every year on the 14th of March in commemorating the importance of rivers in sustaining human lives and for the planetary health, Loktak fishers residing at Champu Khangpok Floating Island Village observed the day with Yangoi Achouba (Nambul) river cleanup.
Year 2026’s theme on ‘Protect Rivers, Protect People’ signify the intricate relationship rivers share with humans in sustaining lives and livelihoods on the one hand while sustaining healthy environment that can support all life forms that primarily depend on freshwater river ecosystem for their existence.
The Yangoi Achouba Turel, better known as Nambul River to the general mass, is one of the few important rivers to drain directly into the freshwater Loktak Lake – a Ramsar site.
The health of Nambul River signify the status of Loktak Lake, wherewith the current condition of the river being described as pitiful is fairly degraded with high pollution levels implying poor health status of the lake.
The river Nambul which flows through the densely populated Imphal city carry high pollutant loads and direct sewerage discharge from urban settlements that are deposited into Loktak Lake continuously every year without check.
The fishing families of Champu Khangpok floating island village, situated in the midst of the lake, had taken upon themselves the onus of organizing river cleanup of Nambul River stretch from Liklai Karong up to where the river flows directly into the lake on every occasion of environmental events.
Considering the large quantity of plastic and other domestic wastes carried by Nambul River and deposited directly into Loktak, Champu Khangpok resident Oinam Rajen Singh described the situation has bad and detrimental to the overall health of the lake.
Citing encroachments, pollution, siltation, weed infestation and eutrophication as major issues in the lake presently, Rajen called upon the relevant government agencies to address these issues on priority basis, otherwise the lake fares to degrade and degenerate each year, ultimately coming to the undesired condition when the water of Loktak will become useless for human use while possibility causing species decline in the lake.
The International Rivers Day is observed throughout the world to focus attention on rivers as vitally important for healthy ecosystems while sustaining lives and livelihoods for thousands of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) who depend entirely on rivers for everything in their lives.
The day also focuses on the negative anthropogenic activities like dam construction and diversion of rivers for ‘developmental’ projects that are highly detrimental to the health of the life-providing rivers.
The day also calls for letting rivers flow free without any obstruction, and to regain the passage of migratory fish species like salmon and trout that signify healthy river ecosystems while providing resources for local communities in sustaining their lives.
The day’s observation was supported by the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Manipur and Bishnupur-based non-governmental organization People’s Resources Development Association (PRDA).
This article, the first in a series, traces the evolution of privacy in India from a fragmented common law concept to the fundamental right enshrined in the 2017 Puttaswamy judgment. It then provides a comprehensive overview of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, highlighting its key definitions, salient features, and how it establishes a […]
This article, the first in a series, traces the evolution of privacy in India from a fragmented common law concept to the fundamental right enshrined in the 2017 Puttaswamy judgment. It then provides a comprehensive overview of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, highlighting its key definitions, salient features, and how it establishes a unified, consent-centric framework to replace the outdated sectoral regulations of the IT Act.
Lt Col Ujjual Abhishek Jha, Retd
Introduction
The enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) marks a transformative milestone in India’s journey toward a robust and accountable digital economy. The Act is designed to operationalize the Right to Privacy, affirmed as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court in the landmark K.S. Puttaswamy Judgment (2017). By establishing a comprehensive, consent-centric framework for processing digital personal data, the DPDPA empowers individuals with meaningful rights over their information, thereby aligning India’s data governance with global privacy standards.
The Concept of Privacy in India: A Pre-DPDPA Perspective
Prior to the DPDPA, the concept of privacy in India was not anchored in a single, overarching statute but was instead shaped through fragmented judicial interpretations and sector-specific regulations. This patchwork approach left the judiciary grappling with the dual challenge of defining the scope of privacy rights while balancing them against national imperatives like economic growth and digital inclusion.
The watershed moment for this evolution was the large-scale digitization of public services—most notably the Aadhaar program—which catalyzed a paradigm shift. The understanding of privacy expanded from a notion of physical autonomy to a broader right of control over one’s own data. In the contemporary context, Indian jurisprudence now views privacy through a dual lens:
As a Fundamental Value: Recognizing privacy as an intrinsic and inalienable human right.
As an Active Value: Acknowledging privacy as a critical prerequisite for fostering innovation, building trust in the digital ecosystem, and safeguarding other fundamental freedoms.
Cornerstones of Privacy: Milestones & Governing Laws
Before the DPDPA, India’s privacy landscape was a mosaic of constitutional principles and sectoral rules. The key pillars were:
The Constitutional Keystone: K.S. Puttaswamy V. Union Of India (2017). This unanimous verdict by a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court serves as the bedrock of modern Indian privacy law.
– The Landmark Ruling: The Court unanimously held that the Right to Privacy is an intrinsic facet of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
– The Enduring Impact: The judgment established a rigorous, three-fold test to validate any state-imposed intrusion into privacy, mandating that such action must satisfy:
– Legality: The presence of a validly enacted law.
– Necessity: A legitimate state interest or aim.
– Proportionality: A rational and proportionate link between the means employed and the object sought to be achieved.
The Pre-Existing Legal Framework Governing Privacy
The Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act). For years, the IT Act served as the primary statutory mechanism for data protection in India, functioning largely through Section 43A.
– The SPDI Rules (2011): Framed under the IT Act, the Sensitive Personal Data or Information Rules mandated that corporate entities implement and maintain reasonable security practices and procedures.
– Inherent Limitations: The Rules were confined to corporate bodies and applied only to a narrow category of “sensitive” data, leaving a vast expanse of “personal” data—and the public sector—outside any regulatory ambit.
Sector-Specific Regulations. Pending a central law, sectoral regulators filled the void by imposing privacy and confidentiality mandates within their domains:
– Financial Sector: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) enforced stringent data localization norms and confidentiality requirements for payments ecosystem data.
– Telecom Sector: The Unified License agreement imposed binding confidentiality clauses on telecom service providers concerning subscriber details.
– Healthcare Sector: Patient confidentiality was primarily governed by professional ethics regulations, such as the Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, alongside draft legislation like the Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act (DISHA), which remained in a nascent stage.
Concept and Existing Privacy Laws in India
The Imperative for a Comprehensive Framework – The inadequacies of the IT Act’s Section 43A—particularly the absence of an independent regulatory authority and weak enforcement mechanisms—underscored the urgent need for a dedicated, omnibus data protection law. This legislative journey commenced with the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee (2017), which produced the first draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill. Subsequent iterations in 2018, 2019, and 2022 were deliberated, debated, and ultimately withdrawn, paving the way for the passage of the DPDPA in August 2023. The subsequent notification of the DPDP Rules, 2025 translated the Act’s mandate into actionable procedures, detailing governance structures, compliance thresholds, and implementation timelines.
Overview of the DPDPA 2023 – The DPDPA 2023 establishes a comprehensive regime for the processing of digital personal data within India, including data originally collected in non-digital form and later digitized. It possesses extraterritorial applicability, binding entities outside India that process data in connection with offering goods or services to Data Principals within India. The Act applies uniformly to public and private entities, with specific exemptions for notified state functions, research, and certain low-risk processing activities.
Key Definitions:
– Data Principal: The individual to whom the personal data pertains, with special provisions for children and persons with disabilities.
– Data Fiduciary: The entity that determines the purpose and means of processing. A subclass, Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDFs), are subject to heightened compliance obligations due to the scale and sensitivity of their operations.
– Other Key Entities: The framework also defines the roles of Data Processors, Consent Managers, and establishes the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) as the primary adjudicatory and enforcement authority.
Salient Features of the DPDPA 2023
– Consent and Legitimate Uses: Consent must be free, specific, informed, unconditional, and unambiguous, with a clear affirmative action. Notices must be provided in plain and simple language, including translations in any language specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Act also identifies certain “legitimate uses” that permit data processing without explicit consent (e.g., for specified state functions, medical emergencies, employment purposes, and legal compliance).
– Empowering Data Principals: The Act enshrines foundational rights for individuals, including the rights to access information, seek correction and completion of data, demand erasure, and have access to effective grievance redressal mechanisms. A novel provision allows a Data Principal to nominate another individual to exercise these rights in the event of their death or incapacity.
– Safeguarding Children’s Data: The Act imposes strict prohibitions on tracking, behavioural monitoring, or targeted advertising** directed at children. Processing of children’s data is conditional upon obtaining verifiable parental consent, with provisions for future relaxations to be specified through rules.
– Enshrining Duties of Data Principals: In a significant move, the Act imposes specific duties on individuals, prohibiting them from filing frivolous or false complaints, furnishing false particulars, or impersonating others.
– Penalties for Non-Compliance: The Act introduces a stringent financial penalty regime, with monetary fines reaching up to ?250 Crore Per Contravention. Higher penalty slabs are prescribed for particularly egregious violations, such as data security breaches and non-compliance with provisions relating to children’s data.
Architecture of the DPDPA 2023
India’s erstwhile privacy framework, anchored in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended in 2008), proved fragmented and ill-suited for the digital age. Provisions like Sections 43A and 72A offered limited recourse, primarily focusing on compensation for negligence and penalties for unauthorized disclosure, but fell short of establishing a holistic framework of data rights. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, therefore, represents a pivotal and long-overdue shift. As India’s first comprehensive data privacy law, it regulates the entire lifecycle of digital personal data, embedding principles of user consent, data minimization, and purpose limitation, while granting citizens enforceable rights and establishing the Data Protection Board as a robust oversight mechanism.
(Lt Col Ujjual Abhishek Jha, Retd, is a Certified Data Privacy Professional and Strategic & GeoPolitical Advisor. In addition, his specialised fields includes Intelligence, Insider Threat Management, Financial Crime Investigation and Geopolitical Risk Analysis with experience of two decades in the field.)
Just as cinema in India saw family dramas—once dismissed—become its most powerful connector with audiences, a similar shift in storytelling is now being observed in Manipur’s film industry. By Akee Sorokhaibam There was a time when a curious trend could be observed in the way people talked about cinema in India. Many viewers were increasingly […]
Just as cinema in India saw family dramas—once dismissed—become its most powerful connector with audiences, a similar shift in storytelling is now being observed in Manipur’s film industry.
By Akee Sorokhaibam
There was a time when a curious trend could be observed in the way people talked about cinema in India. Many viewers were increasingly drawn to imported films rather than Hindi cinema. Watching Hindi films was sometimes treated as an insult to one’s cinematic intelligence. Foreign films were seen as more sophisticated, more artistic, and therefore more worthy of appreciation.
Yet cinema history often moves in cycles. The moment Hindi cinema began reconnecting with audiences through emotionally engaging family stories, the same kind of storytelling that had once been dismissed started drawing large audiences back to homegrown films. What was earlier mocked as “mere family drama” suddenly became a powerful bridge between filmmakers and viewers.
Today, a somewhat similar conversation can be heard in Manipur.
Among certain sections of the cinema intelligentsia, a common criticism is that Manipuri films are mostly family-oriented and lack variety. According to this view, the industry seems trapped in domestic melodrama, repeating the same emotional structures again and again.
To some extent, this observation is not entirely wrong. Many films produced locally do revolve around family relationships and social conflicts within the household.
But there is also a practical reason for this. These are the films that bring audiences into theatres. These are the films that manage to recover investments and sustain the livelihoods of actors, technicians, and producers. In a small film industry like Manipur’s, survival often depends on what sells.
What makes Manipuri cinema unique, however, is the way it has survived against difficult circumstances. There was a period when screening Hindi films in the state was banned by underground groups. This created an unusual situation where local filmmakers had to fill the vacuum almost entirely on their own. The industry shifted heavily into the digital video era, producing films with limited resources but strong local engagement. In many ways, Manipuri cinema became one of the few regional industries in India that survived largely on its own audience and cultural context.
At the same time, it would be inaccurate to say that Manipuri cinema has not attempted other forms of storytelling.
The works of Aribam Syam Sharma stand as an important example. Films such as Imagi Ningthem and Ishanou travelled widely across international film festivals and earned global recognition. Imagi Ningthem won the Grand Prix at the Nantes Three Continents Festival, bringing unprecedented international attention to Manipuri cinema. These films are admired for their quiet storytelling, cultural depth, and strong cinematic language.
In many ways, they represent precisely the kind of thoughtful and artistically ambitious cinema that critics and intellectual viewers often claim to desire.
Yet the irony is difficult to ignore. While these films received admiration on the international festival circuit and from critics, they did not always receive the same level of support from audiences at home.
Interestingly, the story of Manipuri cinema itself has attracted attention from outside the state. The documentary Fried Fish, Chicken Soup and a Premiere Show, directed by Mumbai-based filmmaker Mamta Murthy, won the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film. The film follows a Manipuri film crew during the making of a movie and uses that journey to explore the struggles, passion, and resilience of filmmakers in Manipur. The fact that outsiders felt compelled to document and celebrate this small industry says something about the cultural significance of Manipuri cinema.
And yet, within our own viewing culture, the relationship with our cinema often remains conflicted.
We often say we want better films, more diverse subjects, and more serious storytelling. But when such films are made, they frequently struggle to find viewers. Meanwhile, the very films we criticize for being “too family-oriented” are the ones that continue to sustain the industry.
Perhaps the real issue is not the lack of variety in Manipuri cinema. Perhaps the real issue is the gap between the cinema we claim to value and the cinema we are actually willing to support.
And if Manipuri films are often family-based or domestic, it simply means they are stories built around love—between parents and children, husbands and wives, friends and communities. If cinema reflects life, and life is held together by such bonds, then perhaps the question is simple: what is really wrong with showing love?
(Akee Sorokhaibam is a occasional filmmaker and a hardcore cinephile who breathes behind silver screens.)
Global conservation body urges expanded species listings and stronger international cooperation ahead of CMS COP15 in Brazil. Declining fish populations, dams, pollution and climate change threaten river ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide. By Salam Rajesh Migratory freshwater fishes remain vastly under-represented in the CMS appendices despite facing severe declines and high extinction risk across the globe. […]
Global conservation body urges expanded species listings and stronger international cooperation ahead of CMS COP15 in Brazil. Declining fish populations, dams, pollution and climate change threaten river ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide.
By Salam Rajesh
Migratory freshwater fishes remain vastly under-represented in the CMS appendices despite facing severe declines and high extinction risk across the globe.
This critical assessment is the hard statement of the IUCN position paper of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) to be held from the 23rd to the 29th later this month at Campo Grande in Brazil.
The document (Doc.25.6.1) to be presented at COP15 and the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes underscores the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and protection for migratory freshwater fish species globally.
Only a small fraction of known migratory freshwater fish species is currently covered by CMS listings, even as fish species worldwide face acute challenges with their habitats threatened by dams, pollution, water abstraction, climate change, overfishing and other undesired human interventions.
Highlighting this critical conservation gap, IUCN stresses that the CMS can help address these issues by expanding species listings and coordinated actions at basin scale across the seven continents.
On the basis of this urgency, IUCN called on all Parties to the Convention to support improved data, baselines and specified proposals targeted at enhancing freshwater fish inclusion and conservation under the Convention, thereto recognizing their essential roles for river ecosystem health, food security and livelihoods worldwide.
Stating its stand on the matter, IUCN committed to supporting CMS Parties with scientific data and advice on migratory freshwater fish species and their conservation.
Making its position clear on communities and livelihoods, IUCN said it strongly supported the proposal from the eighth meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council (ScC-SC8) in establishing a dedicated working group that would deal with the strategic issues related to interactions between communities and the CMS listed species (in reference to: UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.28.4/Add.1).
IUCN suggested that COP15 needs to amend the text to specifically focus on issues related to ‘human–wildlife conflict and coexistence’ which are addressed by various CMS frameworks, where a multi-stakeholder working group is crucial in promoting alignment and coordination across these initiatives.
The suggestion further stressed that by leveraging the impartial support of the IUCN SSC (Species Survival Commission) Human–Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group, the proposed working group would help Parties prevent and mitigate the impacts of human–wildlife conflict on CMS-listed species while promoting coexistence.
On Transfrontier Conservation Areas, IUCN said it supported the adoption of the draft decisions on Transfrontier Conservation Areas for Migratory Species (COP15/Doc.28.3) and that it stood ready to assist Parties through its technical expertise and global experience in transboundary conservation.
This support is reflected in outcomes of the Forum event held at the 8th IUCN World Conservation Congress (October 2025) which produced the report “Transboundary Conservation Around the World: Ecologically and Culturally Well-connected Landscapes and Seascapes”.
The report highlighted two key priorities directly relevant to CMS implementation. These are: (1) Emphasize moving from planning to action, harmonizing laws and management across borders, integrating connectivity for all species and ecosystems, and applying conflict-sensitive strategies, and (2) Long-term funding and multi-sector collaboration critical for sustained success.
IUCN therefore encouraged Parties to advance practical, cooperative measures that would strengthen connectivity for migratory species across national boundaries.
Touching on the subject of light pollution, IUCN welcomed the CMS draft decision on light pollution (COP15/Doc.28.7) and said it supported its emphasis on consolidating and disseminating the CMS International Light Pollution Guidelines for Migratory Species.
The draft decision recognized light pollution as a growing, cross-sectoral threat to migratory species and ecosystems, reflecting a mature phase of CMS work in which the priority shifts from developing new guidance to scaling up implementation, outreach and uptake by Parties and stakeholders.
Welcoming the conclusion of the Scientific Council that no immediate amendments to the guidelines are required, IUCN suggested that efforts should focus on awareness-raising, capacity building, and integration into policy and planning processes.
An interesting aspect of its position paper is with reference to the conservation implications of animal culture and social complexity.
IUCN welcomed the document COP15/Doc.28.13 on Conservation Implication of Animal Culture and Social Complexity which recognized its alignment with IUCN Resolution 8.112 (2025) in planning for strengthening the preservation of biodiversity through the use of Longevity Conservation approaches to ensure naturally age-structured populations of species.
Scientific evidence demonstrates that older individuals in animal populations often perform disproportionately important ecological, demographic, and social roles, serving as repositories of ecological knowledge, behavioural traditions, and socially learned strategies that enhance survival, reproduction, and population resilience – concepts that closely linked to emerging global work on animal culture and social learning under CMS.
IUCN appreciated the positive dialogue with the CMS Secretariat on the topic of animal culture and social complexity.
In collaboration with the CMS Secretariat and the Chair of the CMS Expert Group on Animal Culture, and through the IUCN CEESP-SSC Conservation of Animal Culture Task Force, IUCN sought in advancing the integration of animal culture into conservation policy and practice.
Complementing CMS’s focus on migratory species, IUCN promoted a holistic approach across migratory and non-migratory species, inclusive of traditional knowledge and Indigenous perspectives.
IUCN’s push for protection of migratory freshwater fish species is viewed in perspective of the concerns on rapid depletion of wetlands due to the primary reason of human interference in many aspects including infrastructure developments and reclamation of wetlands for different activities, thereby threatening fish populations and their habitats.
Dams across rivers have long been one of the contentious reasons for depleting migratory freshwater fish fishes like salmon and trout, triggering extensive tension between developmental agencies and the IPLCs (Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities), primarily over resources and livelihoods.
In this scenario, an isolated State like Manipur in India’s far northeast is no exception with the contentious Ithai Barrage for the 105 megawatt Loktak hydroelectric power project disrupting migratory freshwater fish routes and causing species loss upstream of the barrage, a reason that is cited as inducing economic loss and threats to livelihoods for thousands of fishing families within the Manipur River basin.
Donald Trump’s aggression in the Middle East reflects the West’s intended move to dominate the world economy which in other words can be equated to Nazi Germany’s campaign to subjugate the world militarily and politically with dominance over agricultural, mineral and oil rich countries By Salam Rajesh The Unites States’ interference in the Middle East […]
Donald Trump’s aggression in the Middle East reflects the West’s intended move to dominate the world economy which in other words can be equated to Nazi Germany’s campaign to subjugate the world militarily and politically with dominance over agricultural, mineral and oil rich countries
By Salam Rajesh
The Unites States’ interference in the Middle East is largely seen by observers as a premeditated campaign to consolidate its hold on the oil rich nations which the western states require to sustain and bolster their global geopolitical dominance – politically and economically.
Donald Trump’s aggression in the Middle East reflects the West’s intended move to dominate the world economy which in other words can be equated to Nazi Germany’s campaign to subjugate the world militarily and politically with dominance over agricultural, mineral and oil rich countries.
The United Nations has since been in the thick of heated debates over ending fossil fuel resourcing, exploitation and production as a means to address critical concerns on global warming and climate extremes that otherwise are threatening humanity and the planet with dire consequences if actions are not taken up immediately.
The call to reduce and halt fossil fuel use extensively has been the centre-piece of extended dialogues in several of the climate conferences around the world – Belem, Abu Dhabi, Baku, Kunming, Montreal, Paris, Tokyo, and many more.
Yet, the dialogues have remained stuck in most instances, with world leaders like Donald Trump kicking aside these dialogues as a ‘waste of time’. The United States had recently moved away from these dialogues by distancing itself from the UN functionaries, with even Trump saying that climate change is a ‘lie’.
In recent climate conferences there were heated debates between fossil fuel lobbyists and those suggesting reducing and limiting fossil fuel use globally.
The COP30 at Belem in Brazil, held in November last year, came up with a statement on transitioning away from fossil fuels, supported by over 80 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Spain, Slovenia, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.
The declaration is grounded in the scientific truth that fossil fuels are the primary driver of the climate crisis, and subsequently the Government of Colombia, in alliance with the Government of the Netherlands, announced the first international conference on just transition away from fossil fuels.
The conference proposed to be held at Santa Marta, Colombia, on 28 April later this year is projected as a broad intergovernmental, multi-sectoral platform, complementary to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), and designed to identify legal, economic, and social pathways for phasing out fossil fuels.
The proposed climate conference seeks in the deliberation on financial and trade mechanisms, macroeconomic challenges, fossil fuel subsidy phase out, renewable energy acceleration, economic diversification, and labor reconversion.
The Belem climate conference had some immediate results, such as, following the leaders’ summit at Belem, Netherlands’ Prime Minister went to Aruba to announce the closure of the oil refinery with a Dutch green subsidy fund. As of 2030, the Netherlands will prohibit electricity production with coal.
The atoll nation of Tuvalu, which is currently facing total submergence due to rising sea level as an after-effect of global warming, raised the urgency of climate action while noting that achieving the climate goals required international cooperation.
Tuvalu was one of the first countries to call for the development of a fossil fuel treaty, offering the clearest pathway for ‘a negotiated, fair and forcible transition away from coal, oil and gas’. The International Court of Justice, too, confirmed that acting in line with climate science is a legal obligation.
The proposed treaty process complements the Paris Climate agreement by addressing fossil fuel phase out directly.
Urging global community to support the proposed treaty, one of Tuvalu ministers called out that, “We are already drowning, but we will not give up and we will never give up. We are headed towards a point of no return and we need to do something (fast)”.
The Belem conference did emphasize that phasing out fossil fuels requires substantial growth in renewable energy, which is in other words is the energy transition that is necessary to address climate goals and to achieve stable economies, and overall security.
Meanwhile, even as these heated dialogues are doing the rounds in contrasting political scenario, climate watch groups are coming up with findings that are warnings of dire consequences if actions on climate mitigation and adaptation processes are not initiated post-haste.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) noted that ‘a large region of the subtropical and the northeast North Atlantic, including the Norwegian Sea, had the warmest sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on record for the time of year’.
The SSTs were higher than the average in large parts of the North Pacific Ocean as well and were near normal in central and eastern Pacific Ocean, because of the prevailing weak La Nina conditions, C3S said.
In the Southern Hemisphere, where it is summer season now, temperatures in southern South America, Northern Africa, most of Australia and Antarctica were much higher than the normal. This lead to extensive and intense heat waves in many regions and even triggered devastating wildfires, the climate watch group said.
The excessive heat that generated wildfires in southeastern Australia in the second week of January earlier this year were made five times more likely and 1.6 degrees Celsius hotter due to global warming and consequent climate change, according to an analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium.
The cold snaps on land did not have much of an impact on sea surface temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, especially close to Europe and North America. The average sea surface temperatures between the latitudes 60°S–60°N was 20.68°C was the fourth highest average SST on record.
All said and done, the unprecedented winter storm that lashed parts of the United States, including New York, earlier this year is a fair warning that climate extremes are becoming more extreme by the year.
Beyond Infrastructure: Why Intellectual Courage and Evidence-Based Inquiry Must Anchor Higher Education in the State By Dr Maibam Birla Singh National Science Day, observed every year on 28 February, commemorates the discovery of the Raman Effect by Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman in 1928. His ground-breaking work demonstrated that when light passes through a transparent […]
Beyond Infrastructure: Why Intellectual Courage and Evidence-Based Inquiry Must Anchor Higher Education in the State
By Dr Maibam Birla Singh
National Science Day, observed every year on 28 February, commemorates the discovery of the Raman Effect by Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman in 1928. His ground-breaking work demonstrated that when light passes through a transparent substance, a small fraction of it scatters with a change in wavelength, revealing crucial information about molecular structure. The discovery not only earned India its first Nobel Prize in the sciences in 1930, but also ignited confidence that world-class scientific research could emerge from Indian soil.
Science in pre-independence India developed under severe institutional and resource constraints, yet it produced work of global significance through the dedication of a few visionary scholars. Colonial policies limited funding, infrastructure and autonomy for advanced research but Indian scientists built a culture of inquiry within universities and laboratories such as the Indian Association for the cultivation of science. In this intellectually vibrant but materially modest environment, C. V. Raman made his landmark discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928, demonstrating that high-quality fundamental research could emerge from India despite colonial limitations. Raman’s work, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics, became a powerful symbol of India’s scientific potential and self-reliance. His discovery not only advanced molecular spectroscopy worldwide but also inspired the growth of indigenous scientific institutions and research traditions that later supported India’s post-independence scientific expansion. The true legacy of the Raman Effect lies beyond physics or chemistry. It represents a mindset curiosity-driven inquiry, independent thinking, and faith in the power of reason. Working in pre-independence India with modest resources, Raman proved that scientific excellence does not begin with infrastructure; it begins with intellectual courage.
This message holds special relevance for Manipur and its emerging universities. As higher education institutions in the state continue to develop amidst financial and infrastructural constraints, National Science Day offers a moment for reflection. The future of universities in Manipur will not be determined solely by the scale of their buildings or laboratories, but by the strength of their scientific temper. Scientific temper, a value enshrined in the Constitution of India, refers to a culture of questioning, rational analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and openness to new ideas. For emerging institutions such as Dhanamanjuri University and other universities/colleges across the state, cultivating this mind set is foundational.
Manipur is widely recognized as a powerhouse of Indian sports. Thanks to our sport players and their outstanding achievements on national and international stages fill us with immense pride. The dedication of players and coaches rightly earns them rousing hero’s welcomes when they return home, often celebrated as true sons and daughters of the soil. This collective enthusiasm reflects the strong public support that sports enjoy in our society. However, a similar culture of recognition has not yet fully developed for achievements in academics and scientific research. Success in education and science is too often viewed as an individual accomplishment rather than a shared societal milestone. If we are to build a strong scientific temper in both universities and the wider community, this mindset must evolve. Universities have a crucial role to play in elevating and publicly celebrating intellectual and research achievements, thereby fostering a culture where excellence in science and education is valued, visible, and collectively owned by society.
In Manipur, a region marked by ecological sensitivity and socio-economic complexity, universities are uniquely positioned to confront real and immediate challenges. Beyond delivering higher education, universities must be guided by a clear vision, mission, and mandate that prioritize region-specific problems while generating solutions with global relevance, truly moving from local to global. Critical concerns such as the conservation of Loktak Lake, sustainable wetland management, climate-resilient agriculture, water quality improvement, renewable energy deployment, and responsible exploration of critical minerals require rigorous scientific inquiry grounded in local realities. Addressing these pressing issues demands not only technical capability but also the nurturing of a strong scientific temper and research culture within universities and across society in Manipur.
It may be noted that emerging universities also possess a distinct advantage; their close proximity to the community. In Manipur, this connection makes the cultivation of a strong scientific temper especially important, as it enables institutions to ground inquiry in evidence, encourage critical thinking, and translate knowledge into practical solutions. By aligning research with local needs, universities can build a robust model of region-focused innovation that is both socially responsive and scientifically rigorous. Efforts such as developing low-cost water purification systems, advancing sustainable agriculture and aquaculture models, designing frugal renewable energy technologies, documenting biodiversity, studying medicinal plants, strengthening water and flood management, earth-quakes studies and creating effective waste management solutions all require a culture that values observation, experimentation, and data-driven decision-making. Importantly, many of these challenges do not require extravagant infrastructure. They require clarity of thought, interdisciplinary collaboration, careful fieldwork, and strong theoretical foundations. When students are trained to ask the right questions and faculty are encouraged to pursue problem-oriented research, even modest laboratories can produce meaningful and impactful work. Building scientific temper within universities and society will ensure that such locally driven research delivers credible, scalable, and impactful outcomes for Manipur while contributing to broader global knowledge.
In the digital age, data-driven knowledge must no longer remain confined to elite centers only. Expanding open-access journals, online databases, computational platforms, and regional research networks is essential to enable young universities to participate meaningfully in the global scientific discourse. In this context, universities in Manipur should take the lead in establishing integrated data centers focused on biodiversity, indigenous knowledge systems, and extreme climate events. Such centers would function as vital repositories for systematically documenting species diversity, traditional ecological practices, and region-specific climate risks, transforming fragmented information into accessible, research-ready datasets. By integrating modern tools such as geospatial mapping, remote sensing, and advanced data analytics [artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)] with community knowledge, universities can generate robust evidence to support conservation planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable resource management. These data hubs would further strengthen interdisciplinary research, inform public policy, and enhance early-warning and resilience planning for floods, droughts, and other climate extremes. Ultimately, developing well-curated and dynamic data centers is essential for nurturing scientific temper, safeguarding indigenous wisdom, and enabling informed, locally grounded decision-making with national and global relevance. What is required, however, is not funding alone but also institutional vision and a vibrant academic culture that recognizes and prioritizes regional importance and relevance based on scientific temper and culture. Building that culture means nurturing intellectual integrity, promoting debate, encouraging student-led research initiatives, and strengthening mentorship. It means valuing ideas over hierarchy and evidence over assumption. It means creating an academic environment where curiosity is rewarded and critical thinking is celebrated.
As Sir C.V. Raman once remarked that the essence of science lies in independent thinking and hard work, not merely in equipment or infrastructure. For universities in Manipur, this insight is profoundly relevant. Resource limitations need not be barriers; they can instead become catalysts for creativity and resilience. On this National Science Day 2026, to become Viksit universities in Manipur we must introspect, and discuss on how to embrace scientific temper as the cornerstone of their growth. By investing in strong foundations, rigorous education, interdisciplinary research, collaborative networks, and community engagement, the state can shape institutions that are intellectually vibrant and socially responsive.
Just as a scattered ray of light once revealed hidden molecular truths, a culture of scientific inquiry can illuminate the path forward for higher scientific education in Manipur. The future of the state’s universities will ultimately depend not only on resources, but on the courage to think independently, question deeply, and innovate responsibly.
The question before us is not whether science is important. It is whether we are prepared to place scientific temper at the center of our educational and developmental vision.
National Science Day is a reminder. The responsibility that follows is ours.
(The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) Manipur and may be contacted at birla_26@yahoo.co.in )
The Special Intensive Revision revives debate over citizenship, infiltration, and the ambiguity surrounding the ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ entry in Manipur’s Scheduled Tribes list. With no clear historical or demographic basis for the 2003 insertion, defining indigeneity under the new nomenclature may prove contentious. By Salam Rajesh India is currently in the process of executing a […]
The Special Intensive Revision revives debate over citizenship, infiltration, and the ambiguity surrounding the ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ entry in Manipur’s Scheduled Tribes list. With no clear historical or demographic basis for the 2003 insertion, defining indigeneity under the new nomenclature may prove contentious.
By Salam Rajesh
India is currently in the process of executing a major task on the identification of its native citizens through a revision in the electoral roll across the country, an exercise that is projected to have hiccups and significant demographic impacts.
The countrywide SIR (Special Intensive Revision) seeks in weeding out the unwanted elements – the unauthorized, illegal entrants to the country via dubious means – infiltration through porous international borders, refugees from ethnic conflicts and wars, illegal immigration, migrant labor, and asylum seekers – all rolled into one.
For a starter, the southern State of Kerala removed a massive 897,211 individuals from its electoral roll, in obviously the process of weeding out unidentified individuals living in the State without authorization.
The Election Commission of India published the final electoral roll for Kerala after the SIR exercise, minus the near nine lakh ‘non-native’ individuals, leaving the actual number of eligible voters in that State at 2,69,53,644 voters, as compared to 2,78,50,855 before the Special Intensive Revision began in October 2025.
In the revised list, male voters numbered 1,31,26,048, while female voters accounted for 1,38,27,319, and transgender voters at 277. The number of overseas voters in the updated roll is 2,23,558, while service voters stand at 54,110.
So, keeping in mind this huge exercise in deleting a chunk of ‘non-native’ electorates from the state’s electoral list, it then comes to the basic question on how Manipur State will fare in this Special Intensive Revision exercise.
For one thing, there are repeated allegations of the unauthorized entry of elements from two neighboring countries – Myanmar and Bangladesh – in all of these years, yet so far failing to do a similar exercise to weed out the undesired elements.
The porous international border with neighboring Myanmar has always been the cited reason for the clandestine entry of illegal immigrants, smugglers, drug runners, armed militants, and so forth. Besides that, the lack of a foolproof mechanism to check entries at Jiribam, Mao Gate and Moreh has also been a factor for the unchecked entry of ‘foreign’ elements into Manipur.
Civil society organizations based in the State have given the call for conducting the NRC (National Register of Citizenship) before proceeding with the SIR exercise in view of the allegations over unaccounted number of ‘non-native’ individuals living in the State without valid documents.
Some time back, too, there was uproar over unreasonable increase in electorates within the Paomata circle in the northern uplands by almost over one hundred thousand individuals, beyond reasons unfathomable.
In the midst of these developments, Union home minister Amit Shah had announced in Guwahati the other day that all undesired elements from the North East region would be identified and kicked out.
This, of course, is better said than done. The northeastern states are well known for the controversies over large number of ‘infiltrators’ living and working in these states without valid reasons.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had issues with the Chakma refugees from Bangladesh. Manipur and Mizoram are infested with war refugees from neighboring Myanmar, plus the Rohingya refugees after genocide in that country, and added with the perpetual problem of the infiltration of drug runners and their henchmen.
The Centre had initiated process to fence the entire stretch of the international border shared by Myanmar with the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, but that again is facing hiccups following objections from the States on the controversial issue of the free movement regime (FMR).
For Manipur, the SIR exercise could be an issue based on the demographic imbalance created by large infiltration particularly from Myanmar, with equal concern on allegations of infiltration from Bangladesh.
The effectiveness of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system had long been in doubt over reports that the modus operandi of ‘officials’ at the entry points, particularly for the land routes, was turning the operation into a money-minting process by issuing ILPs with fake Aadhar cards.
All said and done, given the reason of the recent ethnic conflicts in the State vis-à-vis the dominance of armed militants ruling the roost, it is probable that the SIR exercise is going to face a rough-shod experience with most likely ‘disturbances’ from the armed non-state actors with dubious objectives, as fairly demonstrated at Sinakeithel village on Monday earlier this week.
Kuki groups had said that they will have nothing doing with the Manipur Government unless their demand for ‘separate administration’ is fulfilled. Yet, with the Central Government flatly denying this, it is perhaps going to be a hurdle for the SIR exercise in the ‘Kuki-inhabited’ pockets within Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts.
The issue is further complicated by the inclusion of the terminology ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ as was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 8th January, 2003 (in serial No.33 after Poumai in serial 30, Tarao in serial 31 and Kharam in serial 32) recognizing scheduled tribes for the State, where the contention from various angles was that the terminology was vague and does not specify any known tribe(s) in the State as such.
Incidentally, no other Indian State had such vague naming of tribe or terminology in the Amendment to the Act of 2002, thereby creating room for doubt on manipulation to certain degree with none opposing the inclusion at that time.
This particular terminology was (re)inserted in the country’s The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Gazette of India No.10 of 2003) at a time when the Union Government amended the Act to accord official recognition to few more tribes as Scheduled Tribes of Manipur under the Indian Constitution, and further at a time when a prominent Kuki leader was a minister at the Centre.
The coincidence is reflective of manipulation where the terminology ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ did not feature in the earlier schedule. So, unless this terminology is erased from the scheduled tribes list for Manipur, it is going to make matters complicated at the time of the SIR exercise.
Who would be the ‘Any Kuki Tribes’, and on what basis with reference to the demography and known history of the State, and the population counts all through these years. It will be difficult to name any specific tribe as ‘Indigenous’ under this new nomenclature other than the known tribes already in the scheduled tribes list for the State prior to 2003.
Statistically, Manipur’s total population is seen as rising in every census count. Whereas, this increase is neither re-assessed for validation nor re-confirmed on ground, that is, ground truthing vis-à-vis the allegations of infiltration and establishment of unidentified new villages (some allegedly within Protected Areas such as Reserved Forests and Wildlife Sanctuaries).
In all, the call for NRC exercise prior to SIR exercise sounds reasonable to avoid complicacy in assessing the actual count of heads eligible to cast votes in the State, albeit proxy citizenship and possible forged documents to identify themselves as ‘Indigenous’.
Champu Khangpok fishers turn global biodiversity goals into grassroots action at Loktak Lake. The fishing community makes it a point to organize important annual events highlighting environmental and ecological concerns, sensitizing locals on the objectives of the GBF targets with prioritization on the long-term conservation of the freshwater Loktak Lake and its biological diversity. By Salam […]
Champu Khangpok fishers turn global biodiversity goals into grassroots action at Loktak Lake. The fishing community makes it a point to organize important annual events highlighting environmental and ecological concerns, sensitizing locals on the objectives of the GBF targets with prioritization on the long-term conservation of the freshwater Loktak Lake and its biological diversity.
By Salam Rajesh
In these past several recent years, the fishing community thriving upon the floating island village of Champu Khangpok within Loktak Ramsar site in India’s far flung northeastern State of Manipur had continuously been contributing their mite in achieving locally some of the goals outlined in the targets set under the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that came into force at the CBD Kunming-Montreal convention during 2022 end came up with several goals that primarily aimed at achieving targets addressing biodiversity loss and species decline worldwide.
Much of the CBD’s GBF Targets – 23 targets in all – predominantly focuses on incorporating the active participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in achieving the set goals in both short and long terms.
Fishers staging awareness drive in Loktak Lake.
Keeping this background in perspective, the fishing community of Champu Khangpok floating island village had since set themselves to task in contributing meaningfully towards achieving some of the aspects outlined in the CBD GBF targets in their own humble way, howsoever small their efforts might seem to be.
Champu Khangpok marked the observation of World Wetlands Day 2026 earlier this year with a cleanup drive within the lake and along the waterway of Yangoi Achouba (albeit Nambul River), prioritizing the fact that the lake had since become a dumping ground of urban wastes carried by the river along its flow through Imphal city, a fairly populated urbanized zone.
Champu Khangpok villagers also take upon themselves the task of regulating capture fishery to prevent species population decline within the lake and to restrict random capture of fingerlings during the spawning season, and in preventing unethical fishing methods using LED blubs at nighttime and electrocuting fish using batteries.
The fishing community makes it a point to organize important annual events highlighting environmental and ecological concerns, sensitizing locals on the objectives of the GBF targets with prioritization on the long term conservation of the freshwater Loktak Lake and its biological diversity.
Target 3 of the CBD’s GBF focuses on the conservation of 30 percent of the land, waters and the seas globally to protect life on land and in water. Within this target is an important element to recognize the Indigenous and traditional territories.
The Convention recognizes that ‘Indigenous peoples and local communities often own, occupy and manage areas with unique and significant biodiversity. The appropriate recognition of these areas, therefore, could make important contributions in achieving this target’.
This consideration comes with the perspective that the rights of the Indigenous peoples and local communities must be respected fully, including obtaining their free, prior and informed consent in all matters.
The Convention is convinced that the well-governed, effectively managed and representative protected areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), are a proven method for safeguarding both habitats and populations of species and for delivering important ecosystem services and multiple benefits to people.
The CBD has made it a valid point that ‘local people managed protected areas is a central element of biodiversity conservation strategies at the local, national and global levels’.
This consideration of IPLCs’ contribution in safeguarding biodiversity adds strength in achieving the GBF’s Target 4 which focuses on halting species extinction, protecting genetic diversity, and in managing human-wildlife conflicts.
Target 4 specifically ensures urgent management actions ‘to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, and to significantly reduce extinction risk’.
The goal further is ‘to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable management practices’.
In the same breadth, Target 6 of the GBF looks at addressing the menace of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of plants and animals, seeking the reduction of the introduction of IAS by 50 percent globally within a time frame, and, thereto, minimize their impact on the localized biodiversity.
The objective of Target 6 is broadly outlined as: ‘Eliminate, minimize, reduce and or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services by identifying and managing pathways of the introduction of alien species, preventing the introduction and establishment of priority IAS, reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of other known or potential IAS by at least 50 percent, by 2030, eradicating or controlling IAS especially in priority sites, such as islands’.
This is one of the priority areas that the Loktak fishers have specifically focused upon in all of these years, highlighting time and again on the menace of aquatic plants, and fish, that are alien to the freshwater Loktak Lake and which are proving as nuisance plants, and fish, within the lake.
Another of the issues faced by the Loktak fishers is the level of pollution within the lake, accentuated by the pollutant loads and sewerage discharge from the urban areas. The Nambul River carries maximum pollutant loads from the urbanized Imphal city areas, a factor for high pollution level in the lake.
This issue is reflected in the GBF’s Target 7 which specifically focuses on reducing pollution to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity.
Target 7 specifies on ‘reducing pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources, by 2030, to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, considering its cumulative effects’.
It further seeks in ‘reducing excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half including through more efficient nutrient cycling and use; reducing the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least half including through integrated pest management, based on science, taking into account food security and livelihoods; and also preventing, reducing, and working towards eliminating plastic’.
In a nutshell, achieving these targets might be a herculean task for the marginalized fishing community of Loktak Lake, whereas, the zeal to contribute their mite in the smallest possible ways is there for all to see, visible through their continuous activities in their own humble way.
This is where the state and central authorities can step in to aid the Loktak fishers in their march forward – a tiny step taken yet meaningful in saving, protecting and conserving one of India’s most significant inland freshwater lakes – and, that too, a Ramsar site of international importance.
An assessment of representation, retention and policy frameworks in Northeast India in the context of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. By Dr. Rameshori Yumnam On 11 February 2026, the world observes the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative led by UNESCO and UN Women to promote […]
An assessment of representation, retention and policy frameworks in Northeast India in the context of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
By Dr. Rameshori Yumnam
On 11 February 2026, the world observes the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative led by UNESCO and UN Women to promote full and equal participation of women in science and technology. This day is not merely symbolic, it is a reminder that inclusion in science must extend beyond classrooms into leadership, recognition and sustained opportunity. In Northeast India, enrollment of girls in education is often higher than that of boys. Many young women actively choose science streams, pursue postgraduate studies and complete doctoral research in significant numbers. The region does not lack talent or academic excellence. What it often lacks is continuity, visibility, structural support and proportional recognition.
A telling example appears in Lilavati’s Daughters: The Women Scientists of India, a landmark collection highlighting Indian women scientists. From the entire Northeast region, only one scientist, Prof. Joyanti Chutia of Assam, a distinguished theoretical physicist, is prominently represented. While her achievements are deeply inspiring, the limited representation from a region rich in intellectual potential reflects a broader challenge: visibility and recognition remain uneven.
Gender inequality in science is not new. Even in the early twentieth century, women pursuing scientific careers faced significant barriers. Mileva Mari?, Albert Einstein’s first wife, was a trained physicist and mathematician who studied alongside Einstein at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. She was the only woman in her cohort and studied in the same physics–mathematics program as Einstein. Their surviving letters show that they discussed physics problems together during their student years. However, historians remain divided on the extent of her contribution to Einstein’s early work. There is no definitive documentary evidence proving that she co-authored or formally contributed to the 1905 papers (including the theory of relativity). Most scholars agree that while she was intellectually capable and deeply engaged in physics discussions, the published work was solely credited to Einstein, whose scientific aspirations were curtailed by personal circumstances and societal expectations. Her story reflects a broader historical pattern in which women’s scientific identities were often overshadowed or under-recognized.
Yet history also offers powerful examples of women who broke barriers. Marie Curie remains one of the most inspiring figures in science. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields: Physics and Chemistry. Her legacy extended beyond her own achievements: her daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, also went on to win a Nobel Prize. In a scientific world dominated by men, Marie Curie’s perseverance, brilliance and dedication earned her global recognition, often described as “Scientist of the Millenium”. Her story demonstrates that when given opportunity and support, women not only contribute to science, they redefine it. The contrast between invisibility and recognition underscores an important truth: talent exists everywhere, but acknowledgment does not.
In Northeast India, many women pursue advanced research, yet after doctoral studies, they often face social expectations surrounding marriage, family responsibilities, relocation challenges, limited infrastructure and fewer leadership pathways. Entry into science has improved dramatically, but retention, incentives and representation at high-level decision-making platforms remains a concern. Scientific advisory boards, funding committees, research councils, university leadership positions and policy-making bodies must reflect both gender and regional diversity. Women must not only participate in science, they must shape its direction.
There is a pressing need for region-oriented policies that respond to the unique realities of the Northeast. Such policies must focus on strengthening advanced research infrastructure within the region so that talented scholars do not have to migrate elsewhere to pursue quality scientific work. Targeted fellowships, research grants and financial incentives specifically designed for women scientists are essential to sustain their careers and encourage long-term engagement in research. Equally important is promoting greater visibility through awards, leadership opportunities and meaningful media recognition that highlights regional scientific achievements. Establishing strong mentorship networks and regional innovation platforms can provide guidance, collaboration and professional continuity. Above all, ensuring women’s representation in high-level scientific decision-making bodies is crucial so that policy directions, funding priorities and institutional strategies reflect inclusive and regionally relevant perspectives.
On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026 observed yesterday, the conversation needed to move beyond mere enrollment statistics. The Northeast already has capable, qualified and deeply committed women scientists. What was, and continues to be, essential is the creation of an enabling ecosystem one that actively supports, recognizes, and elevates them into meaningful leadership roles. Science thrives on diversity of thought. But diversity must also be visible, valued and empowered. Recognition fuels aspiration, incentives sustain commitment, and representation transforms systems, these are not optional ideals but essential requirements for building an equitable and progressive scientific community.
When we create more Joyanti Chutias, when we support more Mileva Mari?s to complete their journeys and when we encourage the next generation of Marie Curies from every region, we do more than promote equality, we strengthen the very foundation of scientific progress.
(The author is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, Manipur University. She can be reached at rameshori.yumnam@gmail.com.)
A notice issued by issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden stated that the park will remain closed to visitors throughout the census exercise to ensure smooth and undisturbed operations. FM Report The Government of Manipur has announced the temporary closure of the Keibul Lamjao National […]
A notice issued by issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden stated that the park will remain closed to visitors throughout the census exercise to ensure smooth and undisturbed operations.
FM Report
The Government of Manipur has announced the temporary closure of the Keibul Lamjao National Park from February 20 to February 27, 2026, to facilitate the annual census of the endangered Sangai and other associated wildlife species.
According to a public notice issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, the National Park Management will undertake census operations during the eight-day period to estimate the mean population of the Sangai, also known as the Manipur Brow-Antlered Deer, along with other species inhabiting the park.
The notice stated that the park will remain closed to visitors throughout the census exercise to ensure smooth and undisturbed operations.
The order has been issued under Sections 28(a) and 33(d) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The public notice was issued by Anurag Bajpai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force (HoFF) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Manipur.
Decision marks a major milestone under the Pangolin Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, in collaboration with the forest departments of Manipur and Nagaland TFM report In a significant boost to wildlife conservation efforts in Northeast India, the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), […]
Decision marks a major milestone under the Pangolin Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, in collaboration with the forest departments of Manipur and Nagaland
TFM report
In a significant boost to wildlife conservation efforts in Northeast India, the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), the apex tribal body of the Sangtam Naga community, has passed a resolution imposing a complete ban on the hunting of pangolins within its jurisdiction in Nagaland.
The decision marks a major milestone under the Pangolin Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, in collaboration with the forest departments of Manipur and Nagaland.
Launched in 2023 in Manipur and later expanded to Nagaland, the project focuses on combating the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) of the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). The Indo-Myanmar border region has been identified as a key trafficking corridor for both species.
The Sangtam Naga community, primarily residing in Kiphire and Tuensang districts, inhabits ecologically rich forest landscapes that form part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot. With a strong traditional governance system led by village councils and apex tribal bodies, community resolutions play a critical role in regulating natural resource use and social practices.
Following sustained dialogue and sensitisation initiatives by WTI, the USLP formally adopted the resolution in the presence of Mr. A. Island Peace Yangthsaba and Mr. L. Kipitong Sangtam.
Mr. Chingrisoror, Field Officer, WTI, stated, “The Sangtam community has shown remarkable leadership in recognising the urgency of pangolin conservation. Their support is crucial because when communities take ownership, conservation becomes sustainable.”
The resolution builds upon a similar conservation measure earlier passed by the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL) in Manipur, reflecting growing momentum for community-led wildlife protection across state boundaries in the region.
Mr. L. Kipitong Sangtam, Pumji Chidong, emphasised the importance of traditional institutions in conservation efforts. “Community institutions are the backbone of conservation in Nagaland. With community support, the Pangolin Project is helping build trust and local leadership, ensuring that pangolins are protected through collective commitment,” he said.
With increasing backing from indigenous tribal bodies, conservation efforts to safeguard pangolins in the Northeast continue to gain strength, reinforcing the role of community governance in addressing wildlife crime.
How cane toads, paragrass, carp and hyacinth became ecological disruptors in Australia and Manipur. By Salam Rajesh Earlier this month, Jennifer Geer writing for A-Z Animal.com, provided a descriptive narrative of how an imported and introduced toad species from Hawaii by the Australian Government ultimately became the proverbial Frankenstein in the making. In 1935, Queensland […]
How cane toads, paragrass, carp and hyacinth became ecological disruptors in Australia and Manipur.
By Salam Rajesh
Earlier this month, Jennifer Geer writing for A-Z Animal.com, provided a descriptive narrative of how an imported and introduced toad species from Hawaii by the Australian Government ultimately became the proverbial Frankenstein in the making.
In 1935, Queensland in Australia faced a major crisis in its sugar cane crop production after a native beetle species, Greyback Cane Beetle (Dermolepida albohirtum), commenced wreaking havoc on the sugarcane plants.
The beetle larvae lived in the soil and chewed on sugarcane roots, stunting growth or killing the plants. This incurred major economic losses for the sugarcane farmers. There was a need to find a solution fast enough to prevent further losses.
Seeking a natural solution to kill the grubs, the Australian government imported Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) from Hawaii, with the hope that the toads would eat the grubs and save the sugarcane.
Unfortunately enough, as history proved, the worst-case scenario occurred. The toads did not keep the beetle populations in check. Instead, they became one of Australia’s most destructive (alien) invasive species and an ecological disaster, writes Geer. Today, the toads are considered invasive species in Australia, the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, and Florida.
Cane Toad.
In August 1935, the BSES (Queensland Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations) released 2400 cane toads into sugarcane plantations in Gordonvale, North Queensland. By 1950, the Australian government declared the cane toad an invasive predator.
Dangers from the toads included poisoning animals that prey on them, outcompeting native species for resources, and their voracious appetites. Geer writes that 75 species of Australian crocodiles, lizards, and freshwater turtles were threatened by the toads.
Some of the animals that are in danger of dying after they eat a cane toad include the Australian monitor lizards, quolls, tiger snakes, and freshwater crocodiles. Many of these animals are designated as threatened species in the country.
This story fairly well finds reflection in India, too, with stories of introduced species ultimately becoming monsters in disguise. Like most States in the country, Manipur too is not an exception to such stories of disasters.
In the mid 1970s, the State’s veterinary department reportedly introduced Paragrass (Brachiaria mutica) as fodder for milch cows that, too, were imported from Haryana. It was reported that the cows were housed in a mechanized cattle farm in the Iroishemba area in Imphal West District.
The remains of the feed, that is, the undigested or the uneaten parts of the paragrass soon found their way to the riverbank of Nambul River via its feeder rivulets, either as cow excreta or intentionally dumped as waste. Today, paragrass is one of the major nuisance semi-aquatic plants in most water bodies within the Manipur River basin.
Paragrass (Napi tujombi in the vernacular) is a major headache for Loktak Lake (a Ramsar site) managers as this fast spreading grass had virtually spread its tentacles across the peripheral shoreline, crowded over the floating biomass Phumdi, and literally had become the major reason for depletion of native plants, in particular the edible aquatic, semi-aquatic and semi-terrestrial species of food and medicinal values.
Paragrass in Loktak wetland.
The story of the notorious cane toads of Australia indeed finds a parallel with the notorious paragrass in Manipur, well defined amongst the floating biomass of Loktak Lake. The one is a story of an animal (an amphibian) and the other is of a plant (a grass). Amazing comparison at the best!
It may be recalled here that Target 6 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) re-emphasizes the elimination, minimization, reduction or the mitigation of impacts of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of plants and animals on the biodiversity and ecosystems across the seven continents.
The GBF’s Target 6 specifically seeks the prevention of the introduction and establishment of priority invasive alien species, reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of other known, or potential, IAS plants and animals by at least 50 percent by the target year 2030.
For the Asia and the Pacific CBD Regional Group, 37 member countries including India have set at least one national target to be achieved by year 2030.
On this end, the National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) in 2022 had framed lists of invasive alien species of plants and animals under its Inland Invasive Alien Species of Fishes of India that are of priority for control, reduction and elimination throughout the country by year 2030.
Top on the list of the Inland Invasive Alien Species of Fishes of India according to the NBA is one of the commonest cultured fishes in the country, and in Manipur too, and that is, the Common Carp (Eurasian or European carp, Cyprinus carpio; Puklaobi in the vernacular).
The Common Carp was introduced in Manipur way back in 1964 according to fish expert Professor Waikhom Vishwanath. Interestingly, in India the fish was first introduced in Cuttack in 1939, and in Bangkok in 1957. The fish’s native range covers rivers in Europe and in Asia.
The fish Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus; Tunghanbi in the vernacular) a species originating from East Africa and introduced in India in 1952, finds itself second in the priority list of invasive alien species of fishes to be either controlled or eradicated entirely in India by the target year 2030.
Two very commonly seen aquatic plants in Manipur, namely, Pontederia crassipes (Eichhornia crassipes/Water hyacinth; Kabo-kang) and Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides; Kabo-napi) find themselves listed on the top of the priority IAS plants to be either controlled or eradicated completely by 2030.
The proliferation of Pontederia crassipes in large number across the water body of a wetland endangers it as excessive growth of the plant ‘inhibits the growth of fish and other aquatic organisms due to cut down of light and lack of oxygen’ according to experts.
In fact, at one point of time the plant was known as the ‘Terror of Bengal’ because of its rapid growth and domination across most water bodies in that State, rapidly affecting the fisheries and impacting rural economy drastically.
The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) at one point of time had noted that ‘the gregarious growth of weeds like Brachiaria mutica and Alternanthera philoxeroides unless controlled, may pose a great threat to the biodiversity of the Keibul Lamjao National Park – habitat of the highly threatened Manipur Brow-antlered Deer’.
Defining Invasive Alien Species, Costello et al. (2022) says, “Alien species are organisms which are introduced to regions in which they would not be found naturally, as a result of unintentional or deliberate human action”.
“In the majority of cases, alien species are unable to survive in their new environment without human support. However, a small proportion will manage to adapt to their new surroundings and establish populations in the wild. Some of these alien species have negative impacts on the environment, for example predation or competition for resources with native animals or plants”.
Churachandpur has long been home to multiple identity groups—Kuki, Zo, Paite, Hmar—often spoken of as a single political bloc. During the peak of ethnic strife in Manipur, these groups projected a united front, speaking in one voice across platforms and asserting that they were inseparable, two sides of the same coin. That narrative, however, is […]
Churachandpur has long been home to multiple identity groups—Kuki, Zo, Paite, Hmar—often spoken of as a single political bloc. During the peak of ethnic strife in Manipur, these groups projected a united front, speaking in one voice across platforms and asserting that they were inseparable, two sides of the same coin. That narrative, however, is now visibly unraveling.
By Leichombam Kullajit
Who, in reality, controls Churachandpur today? The question may sound awkward, even misplaced, considering that Manipur now has a newly sworn-in government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. Constitutionally and administratively, the answer should be obvious. Yet, the political atmosphere on the ground suggests a far more complicated reality.
Almost immediately after the swearing-in ceremony—alongside four cabinet colleagues, including former minister Nemcha Kipgen, now elevated to Deputy Chief Minister—waves of resentment began surfacing from sections of Churachandpur district and the wider Kangpokpi region. The anger, largely articulated by groups identifying themselves as Kuki-Zo, is rooted in their outright rejection of the new government. Their position is uncompromising: Kuki-Zo legislators, they insist, should not participate in governance unless the Centre grants their long-standing demand for a “separate administration” or a Union Territory with legislative powers.
If viewed in isolation, such demands could be framed as an attempt—however controversial—to find a political solution to the violence that erupted between the Meiteis and Kukis nearly three years ago. But a closer reading of statements and press releases issued by various organisations in Churachandpur reveals a deeper, more unsettling truth. The conflict, it appears, is no longer merely between communities; it is increasingly internal.
Churachandpur has long been home to multiple identity groups—Kuki, Zo, Paite, Hmar—often spoken of as a single political bloc. During the peak of ethnic strife in Manipur, these groups projected a united front, speaking in one voice across platforms and asserting that they were inseparable, two sides of the same coin. That narrative, however, is now visibly unraveling.
Today, these same groups stand openly opposed to one another, exposing fractures that had long existed beneath the surface. The question of “who controls what” has become central, and with it, the realization that these identities—once portrayed as indivisible—are fundamentally distinct, with competing interests that may never fully converge, regardless of power or circumstance.
This brings the focus squarely back to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. A senior BJP leader with years of political experience, he now faces a test that goes far beyond cabinet management or legislative coordination. The real challenge lies outside the assembly—posed by fractured groups, hardened narratives, and ambitious, often reckless, political actors operating at the margins.
Whether Khemchand can withstand these storms will depend on more than political survival. It will rest on his willingness to assert authority, draw clear lines between negotiation and lawlessness, and demonstrate that peace and normalcy are not slogans but enforceable goals. Accommodation and dialogue are essential—but so are limits.
Allowing unlawful activities to flourish in select pockets of the state risks undermining not only governance but the Chief Minister’s own credibility and judgment. This moment, therefore, is an acid test of leadership.
At the same time, those who speak in the language of defiance must also reckon with reality. History has shown that demands achieved through chaos and confrontation rarely endure. There are paths to negotiation, and there are consequences for pursuing goals that are neither feasible nor constitutional.
Manipur stands at a delicate crossroads. Whether it moves toward reconciliation or deeper fragmentation may well depend on how firmly—and wisely—its new Chief Minister navigates the anger of Churachandpur.
In climate change dialogues, the significance of wetlands as carbon sinks has multiplied manifold, increasingly with new findings on how much of carbon wetlands can sequester, besides the knowledge on green forests serving as important carbon sinks that absorb excess carbon in the atmosphere to help in climate change mitigation. By Salam Rajesh As in […]
In climate change dialogues, the significance of wetlands as carbon sinks has multiplied manifold, increasingly with new findings on how much of carbon wetlands can sequester, besides the knowledge on green forests serving as important carbon sinks that absorb excess carbon in the atmosphere to help in climate change mitigation.
By Salam Rajesh
As in the preceding years, the world community observed with solemnity the pledges to save, protect and conserve wetlands on the occasion of the annual World Wetlands Day ritual of social and environmental commitments, howsoever the mission appear far more than practicable to put words on ‘wetlands conservation’ in actuality.
The second day of February every year is dedicated to wetlands as a continued process of the global effort in raising awareness and commitments to saving much of the world’s fast disappearing water bodies of value to humans, wildlife and to nature itself.
An assessment by Hu et al. (2017, as quoted in Anisha, N.F., Mauroner, A., Lovett, G., Neher, A., Servos, M., Minayeva, T., Schutten, H. & Minelli, L. (2020). Locking Carbon in Wetlands: Enhancing Climate Action by Including Wetlands in NDCs. Corvallis, Oregon and Wageningen, The Netherlands: Alliance for Global Water Adaptation and Wetlands International) indicated that the area of wetland loss across the seven continents through the year 2009 and up to present times is considerably large.
Asia continent led the world in wetland area loss by a massive size of 2,646,100 sq km, followed by South America at a close second with a loss of 2,521,900 sq km. Europe figured with a considerably large loss of 972,200 sq km while North America lost 457,100 sq km, Africa 453,500 sq km and Oceania 181,600 sq km respectively.
This massive loss when counted in their totality can be seen to influence negative impacts on the living world, where even the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) says that currently near around 47,000 species of animals and plants globally are on the verge of extinction from various reasons including negative anthropogenic influences.
Why would then people in general worry for wetlands dying and disappearing ultimately? The reasons are not far to seek, if people do reconsider the numerous ecosystem services rendered by wetlands in their totality.
For instance, wetlands have strong links to ancient traditions, cultures, spiritual values and religious values that establish socio-cultural links of people to their roots, in particular for wetland dependent or wetland-thriving communities. Manipur has a link in the legacy of the Khamba-Thoibi legends.
While it is generally accepted that wetlands supply food through natural resources such as fish and edible aquatic plants and insects, and through agricultural practices in wetland areas, these water bodies play an important role in climate change resilience and carbon storage. They assist in the regulation of greenhouse gases, temperature, precipitation and other climatic processes.
In climate change dialogues, the significance of wetlands as carbon sinks has multiplied manifold, increasingly with new findings on how much of carbon wetlands can sequester, besides the knowledge on green forests serving as important carbon sinks that absorb excess carbon in the atmosphere to help in climate change mitigation.
Compared to tropical rainforests which were thought of to be the best carbon sinks in the natural world, new findings in this aspect throws light on how wetlands can absorb carbon many times more than tropical forests.
For instance, compared to tropical forests storing 200 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in soil, peatlands can store a massive 4700 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in soil. That is a difference by a huge margin.
Similarly, mangroves can store up to 2839 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in soil, seagrass 500 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in soil, and salt marsh up to 917 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in soil, which definitely is quite significant in global discussions on carbon sequestration to meet the deadline on limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius by year 2050.
Tropical forests are estimated to store up to 600 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in their biomass, whereas, in the same measure mangroves are estimated to store as much as 928 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare in their biomass, which accounts for the global thrust on restoring and regenerating mangroves across most coastal belts around the world.
Wetlands play a major role in assisting with the storage and retention of water which helps flow regulation and provides flood and drought protection, and at the same time, wetlands assist in soil formation through sediment retention and accumulation of organic matter.
These, and much more, are the functional properties of wetlands in general, other than these water bodies providing leisure and fun for people seeking respite from the everyday grinding in life.
As in the preceding years, Manipur was not far behind other communities across the globe in observing the day with fervor and solemnity, urging local communities and the State to devout more time and energy in the larger objective of saving whether water bodies of value are left in the wild within the State.
The State’s Directorate of Environment and Climate Change along with other line departments hosted the day at Yaralpat wetland site in Imphal East District, extolling the importance of wetlands to achieve various ecosystem services including groundwater recharge, fisheries and livelihoods, while providing refuge for wildlife such as the wintering migratory water birds.
The day was also observed widely across the State at academic and civil society platforms, individually and with support from the Directorate.
Of significant contribution to the day was the pre-World Wetlands Day 2026 observation on Sunday, 01 February, where the fishing community residing at Champu Khangpok Floating Island Village within Loktak Lake staged a cleanup drive to clear plastics and other domestic wastes along Yangoi Turel Achouba (Nambul River) and its flow up to Birahari Pat within the lake, demonstrating the local community’s responsibility in lake conservation.
Rounding up, it can be well said that a partnership, and workable, model between wetland-dependent local communities and the responsible state agencies can go a long way in shaping the future of wetlands in Manipur, and elsewhere.
In a gazette notification issued on Wednesday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced that President Droupadi Murmu had revoked the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution with immediate effect. TFM Report President’s Rule has been revoked in Manipur nearly a year after it was imposed, clearing the way for the formation of a […]
In a gazette notification issued on Wednesday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced that President Droupadi Murmu had revoked the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution with immediate effect.
TFM Report
President’s Rule has been revoked in Manipur nearly a year after it was imposed, clearing the way for the formation of a new BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state. The revocation came just hours ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of the new council of ministers scheduled for Wednesday evening.
In a gazette notification issued on Wednesday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced that President Droupadi Murmu had revoked the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution with immediate effect.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 356 of the Constitution, I, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, hereby revoke the Proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 13th day of February, 2025, in relation to the State of Manipur with effect from the 4th day of February, 2026,” the order said.
President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of then Chief Minister N Biren Singh. During this period, the Manipur Legislative Assembly remained in suspended animation — neither functioning nor dissolved.
The political crisis had deepened earlier when the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew support from the Biren Singh government in November 2024. Biren resigned on February 9, 2025, after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda, paving the way for central rule.
NDA legislature party leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Manipur at 6 pm on Tuesday at Lok Bhavan. The Manipur BJP confirmed the development in a post on X.
Khemchand Singh belongs to the Meitei community. Nemcha Kipgen from the Kuki community and Losii Dikho from the Naga community will take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Ahead of the ceremony, an NDA delegation led by Khemchand Singh met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Lok Bhavan to stake claim to form the government. The delegation included two MLAs from the Kuki-Zo majority districts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, a conflict that has claimed more than 200 lives. The state was previously governed by a BJP-led administration.
Today, Manipur stands fractured. What is often described as “ethnic violence” between Meiteis and Kukis has stretched into its third year, with no clear end in sight. Highways remain blockaded, normal life is suspended, and an entire generation of young people is growing up amid fear, displacement, and uncertainty. By Leichombam Kullajit Manipur’s present tragedy […]
Today, Manipur stands fractured. What is often described as “ethnic violence” between Meiteis and Kukis has stretched into its third year, with no clear end in sight. Highways remain blockaded, normal life is suspended, and an entire generation of young people is growing up amid fear, displacement, and uncertainty.
By Leichombam Kullajit
Manipur’s present tragedy is not merely a clash of communities; it is the cumulative outcome of years of political manipulation, calculated neglect, and strategic opportunism. What is unfolding today is not an accident of history, but the consequence of choices long made and quietly sustained.
The Government of India is well aware that a significant portion of the Kuki population in Manipur traces its origins to cross-border migration from Myanmar, facilitated by the porous and forested frontiers of Mizoram and Manipur. It is also aware of the harsh realities many of these migrants face—precarious living conditions, economic marginalisation, and the pervasive influence of criminal networks, including drug trafficking, in the region across the eastern border.
Yet, instead of addressing these vulnerabilities through meaningful development, rehabilitation, and integration, the Indian state chose a different path. It identified grievance as an instrument and despair as a resource. These marginalised communities were not uplifted; they were used—deployed as strategic proxies in the state’s long-standing effort to counter insurgencies it perceived as existential threats, particularly those involving Meitei and Naga movements in the northeastern subcontinent.
This reality is not lost on the Kukis themselves. They understand the nature of their exploitation and the unspoken bargain it entailed: compliance in exchange for recognition, protection, and the distant promise of political accommodation. It is within this context that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement of 2008 must be understood.
Many continue to ask how nearly 25 armed Kuki militant organisations—fragmented along clan lines—could suddenly emerge under the banner of defending the Indian Constitution. Unlike Meitei or Naga insurgent groups, which evolved over decades in open defiance of the Indian state, these organisations appeared abruptly, accepted constitutional legitimacy, and entered into SoO arrangements with remarkable ease. Prior to the 1990s, there were no consolidated Kuki militant platforms such as the KNO or UPF, nor were there articulated political demands of comparable scale. This raises an unavoidable question: on what basis did the Indian Army negotiate a Suspension of Operations with groups that posed no direct challenge to the territorial integrity of the country?
The answer, many believe, lies in a strategic calculation. For New Delhi, the principal obstacle was never the Kukis or their armed groups—it was the entrenched political aspirations of the Meiteis and the Nagas. In that equation, the Kukis became a convenient counterweight.
Today, Manipur stands fractured. What is often described as “ethnic violence” between Meiteis and Kukis has stretched into its third year, with no clear end in sight. Highways remain blockaded, normal life is suspended, and an entire generation of young people is growing up amid fear, displacement, and uncertainty. Under these circumstances, it is reasonable to ask whether the crisis has been allowed—perhaps even engineered—to linger, quietly stealing the future of Manipur’s youth and erasing irreplaceable chapters of its history.
Political games may succeed for a time, but they cannot endure indefinitely. If the Government of India genuinely seeks peace, stability, and justice in Manipur, it must abandon short-term tactical thinking and confront the deeper causes of the conflict it helped shape. Otherwise, the burden of this unresolved crisis will not only continue to devastate Manipur—it will return, heavier and more complex, to the very state that once believed it could control the outcome.
( Leichombam Kullajit is a senior jounalist based in Imphal.)
Due to excessive excavation, Lamphelpat’s depth has reportedly reached around 8-10 metres. Such unscientific deepening directly violates basic wetland management principles. It raises a critical question: is Lamphelpat still a natural wetland, or has it been turned into an artificial water reservoir? By Maxstone Irom This article is born out of worry, longing, and deep […]
Due to excessive excavation, Lamphelpat’s depth has reportedly reached around 8-10 metres. Such unscientific deepening directly violates basic wetland management principles. It raises a critical question: is Lamphelpat still a natural wetland, or has it been turned into an artificial water reservoir?
By Maxstone Irom
This article is born out of worry, longing, and deep nostalgia of my childhood days around Lamphelpat. I grew up with this wetland as part of my everyday life. It was not just a landscape, it was a living space where memories were created, relationships were built, and nature quietly shaped who I am today. For me, Lamphelpat was never just water and land.
On February 2 2026, as part of World Wetlands Day, Go Green Group Manipur, a youth collective, initiated a reflection and listening circle called Pat Ki Wari. The idea was simple yet powerful: to reconnect with our wetlands and revisit the memories and meanings attached to them. As part of this initiative, we walked around Lamphelpat, observed its present condition, and shared stories rooted in our personal journeys. While much has changed, the place still holds immense emotional and cultural significance in my life.
Lamphelpat is one of my core memories. It is where I experienced my first boat ride. Every Sunday morning, I would go for a walk with my family to watch Urok (Threskiornis melanocephalus)and other birds, returning home with a bunch of thambal (lotus). During the monsoon, when the pat would flood, I accompanied my father to buy fresh fish. In winter, we went fishing together. Those mornings, with muddy slippers, small fishes in my hands, and my father’s quiet smile beside me, felt richer than anything money could buy. These were not extraordinary moments; they were ordinary days made meaningful by nature.
As I age, Lamphelpat continued to shape my life. During my teenage years, it became my refuge. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, confused, or restless, I would sit by the water for hours, finding peace in silence. With friends, I watched sunsets near the RIMS side of the pat, clicking countless photographs that still remind me of simpler times. Lamphelpat is not just a place; it is a place that raised me, comforted me, and quietly taught me how to breathe in difficult times. But today, I find myself asking: where is my pat?
After nearly three years, I was shocked when I returned. It no longer looked like the wetland I grew up with. Under the so called “Lamphelpat water body Rejuvenation Project,” implemented by the Water Resources Department and funded by the New Development Bank, large portions of the wetland have been dug up. The excavated silt has been piled into artificial hills, permanently altering the natural landscape. What was once a living ecosystem now resembles a construction site.
As an environmental science student, this transformation raises serious concerns. According to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the depth of a wetland should not exceed 6 meters. However, due to excessive excavation, Lamphelpat’s depth has reportedly reached around 8-10 metres. Such unscientific deepening directly violates basic wetland management principles. It raises a critical question: is Lamphelpat still a natural wetland, or has it been turned into an artificial water reservoir?
This seemingly unscientific dredging has also destabilized the surrounding infrastructure. Roads connecting important institutions such as Shija Hospital and the National Institute of Technology have started sinking. To address this, an overbridge had to be constructed, an expensive solution to a problem that could have been avoided with proper planning.
Lamphelpat is also home to Manipur’s famous indigenous pony. The swampy terrain once provided a safe and natural space for grazing and movement. Today, however, due to altered water levels, deep excavated pits, and unstable ground, several ponies have reportedly died after falling into these areas. What was once a natural playground and shelter has now been turned into a death trap created by human negligence and poor planning.
A report on East Mojo has also suggested that parts of nearby villages experienced flooding after the project’s implementation. When a wetland’s natural water-holding and drainage capacity is disrupted, such consequences are inevitable. Instead of reducing disaster risks, this project appears to have increased them.
Equally worrying is the rapid growth of concrete structures around Lamphelpat. Buildings are coming up in every direction, slowly replacing this wetland. In recent years, several new government buildings, hospitals, and offices have also been constructed within and around parts of the wetland. This has led to encroachment and fragmentation of Lamphelpat.. This severely disrupts water flow, wildlife movement, and ecological balance. This unchecked unplanned urbanization further weakens the wetland’s ecological function and isolates it from its natural surroundings. A wetland cannot survive when it is slowly suffocated by cement and divided by unplanned construction.
Overbridge construction in progress at Lamphelpat
Under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, wetlands are meant to be protected from unscientific alteration, encroachment, and ecological degradation. The Manipur State Wetland Authority is responsible for ensuring protection of all the wetland in the state.
Yet, in the case of Lamphelpat, there is little public evidence of strict monitoring, transparent assessment, or community consultation. This reflects a serious failure of governance and accountability.
Let me be clear: development and rejuvenation are necessary. Wetlands do require restoration, maintenance, and protection. But development without ecological understanding is destruction in disguise. True rejuvenation should strengthen a wetland’s natural character, not erase it.
Till today, no comprehensive environmental impact assessment of this project has been made publicly accessible. There is no clear record of meaningful consultation with local communities, ecologists, traditional users, or independent researchers. This lack of transparency raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of the entire project.
Lamphelpat did not need to be dug. It needed protection from encroachment, pollution, and unplanned construction. It needed proper waste management, biodiversity conservation, and community participation. Instead, it received heavy machinery and cosmetic “development” that prioritised appearance over ecology.
What hurts the most is not just the physical transformation, but the emotional loss. A space that once nurtured childhoods, livelihoods, culture, and biodiversity is slowly being stripped of its soul. When a wetland dies, a part of our collective memory dies with it. For many of us, Lamphelpat is not a project site. It is memory, identity, and heritage.
If we truly care about sustainable development, then projects like this must be fundamentally rethought. Policies must respect science, local knowledge, and lived experiences. Youth voices, indigenous knowledge, and environmental expertise should be central, not optional.
This reflection is not just an expression of nostalgia. It is a call to action for authorities to answer, for institutions to take responsibility, and for citizens to demand better. We still have time to correct our mistakes. We still have time to restore Lamphelpat with wisdom, sensitivity, and accountability.
If we cannot save Lamphelpat, a wetland that raised generations of us, what hope do we have of
saving anything at all?
(Maxstone Irom is a writer and poet from Manipur, India, known for his published works in local newspapers and online platforms, often focusing on the social and political issues of his home state.)
#Manipur: Traffic diversion for #Nupi Lal observation
All vehicles coming from Imphal East towards GPO to be diverted towards Moirangkhom; all vehicles coming from Singjamei towards Moirangkhom to be diverted towards Keishamthong from Moirangkhom.
#Manipur: Traffic diversion for #Nupi Lal observation
All vehicles coming from Imphal East towards GPO to be diverted towards Moirangkhom; all vehicles coming from Singjamei towards Moirangkhom to be diverted towards Keishamthong from Moirangkhom.
