WOMEN’S HEALTH RESILIENCE: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF CONFLICT ON HEALTH PRACTICES IN MANIPUR AND NEIGHBOURING REGION

Abstract [English]

Manipur, a state in Northeast India, has experienced various conflicts that have significantly affected its residents' lives. Women, in particular, face unique challenges due to their roles within families and communities. Though geopolitically acknowledged as an important land link to the ASEAN countries, this time too, the state has been in turbulence for more than a year due to unresolved ethnic conflict. Manipur occupies a vital position in Northeast India, which could facilitate cultural, economic, and strategic interactions with Southeast Asia. It serves as a gateway for India’s Act East Policy to enhance economic ties with ASEAN countries through initiatives to boost trade, investment, and connectivity. The proximity to Myanmar and Southeast Asia influences socio-economic dynamics, including migration patterns, cultural exchanges, and regional cooperation initiatives. However, due to the current ethnic conflict in the state, hundreds have been killed, thousands have been displaced (60,000s), and many hundreds of houses have been burnt down to cinders. Indigenous people are seeking refuge in their land due to internal displacement, out of which more than half of the population are women and children. This study aims to explore how the ongoing conflict affects the health practices among women in Manipur, drawing comparisons with similar scenarios in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. To state a few here, the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has led to blockades, restricting access to healthcare facilities, especially during the initial intense phase. In CHT also, during their conflict (insurgency and subsequent unrest from the late 1970s – 1997), travel restrictions and insecurity had restricted healthcare access. Women in particular are prone to gender-based violence, which is increased many times during conflict times. And this has been witnessed in both Manipur and the CHT. In Manipur, the counterparts are two communities, whereas in the CHT, there were multiple indigenous communities involved against Bengali settlers and the government. The healthcare infrastructures in Manipur, though interrupted, include both government and private healthcare providers. Though there are problems with access and distribution during conflict, they are more developed compared to the CHT. Health care infrastructures were highly limited, and there was a reliance on traditional healers. While the context differs, in both Manipur in Northeastern India and the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, the impact overall on women’s health reveals common patterns that would help in developing support systems and health interventions in conflict-affected areas. And, despite challenges, resilient practices such as community support networks and adaptive coping mechanisms are evident in Imphal Valley, Manipur.