Manipur

Surviving a series of tragedies, Sadam Hanjabam created a safe haven for Manipur’s LGBTQ+ community through his organisation ‘Ya_All’.

Moirangthem Muktamani Devi, a resident of Kakching in Manipur, makes shoes out of woollen yarn - a necessity that she has turned into a major business. She even won a Padma Shri this year, for her outstanding contributions.

Manipur-based Maidem Deben Singh’s innovative biomass smokeless stove can cook and dry meat and vegetables, saving hundreds of lives

Hanjabam Shubhra Devi started Meira Foods, a small packaged foods venture, from her kitchen in Bamon Leikai, Imphal East. They sell 45 different items, including a variety of candies, pickles and salted dry fruit.

Tuingam Louzhi runs Secrets Cosmetics, inspired by her grandmother's traditional methods. In particular, she sells the Perilla Seeds Face Oil, and her skincare products are natural and eco-friendly.

Konsam Ibomcha Singh from Imphal adopted his father’s craft of doll-making for which he was awarded the Manipur State Award. Replacing rags with dried grass, every doll is handmade by him and dressed by his wife, Chandrima Konsam.

How Recognize Rise and Empower Association (RREA), a non-profit in Manipur, delivers quality education and is ending clash of the clans through sports. Their Sports for Social Development programme in Kamjong district is significantly improving students' attendance, too.

In March 1994, Colonel (Retd.) DPK Pillay, a Shaurya Chakra Awardee, saved the lives of two young kids during a gunfight with militants in Manipur’s Longdi Pabram village. But he didn’t stop at that, going on to uplift the village in several ways.

40-year-old Laibi Oinam took up the job of an auto driver to support her children and bedridden husband. In 2015, filmmaker Meena Longjam made a documentary on her, which won a National Award in the non-feature category. Laibi also recently made headlines when she ferried a nurse who had recovered from COVID-19 for 140 km, when everyone else refused to do so.

Manipuri company makes superior herbal tea by employing 2000 underprivileged persons for the growing, packaging and selling process.