WOMEN’S POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN THOUBAL DISTRICT: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65327/ssh.v12i2.2484Keywords:
Women’s political representation, Thoubal, Manipur, gender equality, elections, Women’s Reservation Bill, Northeast IndiaAbstract
The women of Manipur have played a vital part in shaping the politics of the state. The roles played by women in the Nupi Lan, Meira Paibi group, and the famous all-female Ima Keithel market represent the historical tradition of Manipur. This paper focuses on the status of political representation of women in Thoubal District of Manipur. The Thoubal district of Manipur is the most populated valley district of Manipur. In addition, it has a positive female to male sex ratio of 1002 females per 1000 males. Through an analysis of census statistics, electoral commissions reports, scholarly sources, and public policy studies, the present paper highlights some major barriers to the participation of women in politics in the Thoubal district. However, despite their significant presence in civil society, women are underrepresented in the State Legislature.
Downloads
References
Arambam, S. (2021). Women's empowerment in Manipur. Asian Institute of Research Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 4(1). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3765526
Association for Democratic Reforms. (2022). Analysis of candidates in Manipur assembly elections 2022. ADR India. https://adrindia.org/
BehanBox. (2022, February 25). Why Manipur's women remain underrepresented in electoral politics. https://behanbox.com/2022/02/25/why-manipurs-women-remain-underrepresented-in-electoral-politics/
Census of India. (2011). District census handbook: Thoubal, Manipur. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/856
Chattopadhyay, R., & Duflo, E. (2004). Women as policy makers: Evidence from a randomised policy experiment in India. Econometrica, 72(5), 1409–1443. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0262.2004.00539.x
Economic and Political Weekly. (2023). Historicising women's reservation: Contextualizing the Women's Reservation Bill in India. EPW Engage. https://www.epw.in/engage/article/historicising-womens-reservation-contextualizing
Economic and Political Weekly. (2023). Women's Reservation Act of 2023: A symbolic gesture or a significant stride towards empowerment? EPW Engage. https://www.epw.in/engage/article/womens-reservation-act-2023-symbolic-gesture-or-0
Government of India. (2023). The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.
Government of Manipur. (n.d.). Thoubal district profile. District Administration, Thoubal. https://thoubal.nic.in/
Hussain, M. I., & Parveen, S. (2024). Political participation and empowerment of women: A study on Panchayat Raj Institutions in India from 1993 to 2024. International Journal of Applied Social Science, 6(1e). https://doi.org/10.33545/26646021.2024.v6.i1e.344
India State Districts. (n.d.). Districts of India — Socio-economic statistical data of Thoubal District, Manipur. https://www.indiastatdistricts.com/manipur/thoubal-distric.
Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network. (2024). Supporting women affected by armed violence in Manipur. The Better India. https://thebetterindia.com/changemakers/manipur-women-gun-survivors-network-rebuilding-lives-conflict-11711723
McCulloch, W. (1859). Account of the valley of Munnipore and of the hill tribes. Calcutta: Bengal Printing Company.
MyNeta/ADR. (2022). Manipur 2022 election candidate information. Association for Democratic Reforms. https://myneta.info/manipur2022/
NEDFi. (n.d.). Thoubal District profile. NER Databank, North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. https://databank.nedfi.com/manipur-districts/thoubal-distric
Observer Research Foundation. (2023). Elected women representatives in local rural governments in India: Assessing the impact and challenges. ORF Research. https://www.orfonline.org/research/elected-women-representatives-in-local-rural-governments-in-india-assessing-the-impact-and-challenges
Observer Research Foundation. (2023). Lessons from 30 years of women's reservation in panchayats. ORF Expert Speak. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/lessons-from-30-years-of-women-s-reservation-in-panchayats
OHCHR. (2023, September). India — Passing of Women's Reservation Bill. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2023/09/india-passing-womens-reservation-bill
Outlook India. (2022). The curious case of women in Manipur politics. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-curious-case-of-women-in-manipur-politics--news-184161
Outlook India. (2022). Breadwinner but not leader: Warring identities of women in Manipuri politics. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/-breadwinner-but-not-leader-warring-identities-of-women-in-manipuri-politics-news-75930
Singh, L. B. (2004). Women's role in the 20th century Manipur: A historical study. Akansha Publishing House
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal For Research In Social Science And Humanities
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
In consideration of the journal, Green Publication taking action in reviewing and editing our manuscript, the authors undersigned hereby transfer, assign, or otherwise convey all copyright ownership to the Editorial Office of the Green Publication in the event that such work is published in the journal. Such conveyance covers any product that may derive from the published journal, whether print or electronic. Green Publication shall have the right to register copyright to the Article in its name as claimant, whether separately
or as part of the journal issue or other medium in which the Article is included.
By signing this Agreement, the author(s), and in the case of a Work Made For Hire, the employer, jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere, and is not being considered for publication elsewhere in any form, except as provided herein. Each author’s signature should appear below. The signing author(s) (and, in
