Retired Army officer empowers Manipur widows, funds education of conflict-affected children

Moved by the devastation caused by ethnic violence in Manipur, retired Lt Col L Manongba has launched a mission to support widows and children affected by the strife. His efforts, under the ‘Wings of Hope’ initiative, have empowered 35 widows with sustainable livelihoods and ensured education for 60 children. In recognition of his contribution, he was honored with the Veteran Achiever award by the Chief of Army Staff.

As ethnic violence continues to grip Manipur, Lt Col L Manongba (retd) has taken significant steps to rebuild lives, helping widows become financially independent and ensuring children affected by the conflict stay in school.

• Honored with the Veteran Achiever award by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi at the Army Day Parade in Pune last month.
• Wings of Hope, a non-profit initiative, has helped 35 widows start small businesses and funds the education of 60 children who lost their fathers in the violence.
• Soft loans and skill development initiatives have enabled widows to start poultry farms, weave silk, and create handmade crafts, which are now sold in markets across India.

Lt Col Manongba, a veteran of the Indian Army’s 56th NDA course, established Wings of Hope after witnessing firsthand the struggles of conflict-affected families in relief camps.

“We saw over 30,000 displaced people in relief camps, with 150 widows and 60 students in urgent need of support. While the government is providing relief, we identified gaps where intervention was needed,” he said.

• Children’s education is funded with ₹95,000 every month, ensuring they don’t drop out of school.
• Widows receive interest-free loans of ₹30,000 to start poultry, weaving, and handicraft businesses, creating sustainable livelihoods.

The initiative has successfully helped many women become self-sufficient. One widow, after receiving funds for poultry farming, was able to generate ₹50,000 in just 45 days. Others have taken up crochet doll-making, incense stick production, and handicrafts that are now being sold in Kolkata’s flea markets.

Lt Col Manongba’s selfless mission continues to transform lives, proving that a single initiative can bring hope to communities devastated by violence.