Lamka Can No Longer Wait: Four Urgent Priorities for a Safer and Better Town

 Editorial

Churachandpur stands at a critical juncture in its urban development. Over the years, the town has grown rapidly in terms of population, commerce, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and administrative importance. Yet, the pace of infrastructure development has not kept up with this growth. The consequences are increasingly visible in the form of traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, poor drainage, and declining public safety.

I believe that four issues require immediate and coordinated attention from the Government, civic authorities, and the people of Churachandpur.

The Scattered Zo Peoples: History, Identity, and Ethnolinguistic Unity

Introduction

The Zo peoples constitute one of the principal ethnolinguistic populations of the Indo-Myanmar frontier, a culturally and linguistically diverse region extending across northeastern India, western Myanmar, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Although these communities are today identified by a variety of ethnonyms - including Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi, Zou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, Gangte, Thadou, and several other cognate groups - comparative historical, linguistic, and anthropological studies consistently demonstrate that they share a common ethnolinguistic heritage and belong to the Kuki-Chin branch of the Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan) language family (Grierson, 1904; Lehman, 1963; VanBik, 2009). While these communities have developed distinct political identities over time, their shared linguistic structures, customary institutions, oral traditions, kinship systems, and cultural practices point to a long history of interconnected development.

Rev. Kamkhosoi: A Brief Biography

Rev. Kamkhosoi was the third son of Upa Ngulzakhup and Nu Mandim. He was born on 29 June 1953 at Tuaitengphai Village in present-day Churachandpur District, Manipur. He had eight siblings - four brothers and four sisters. His family embraced Christianity during his father's generation.

Educational Background

Rev. Kamkhosoi completed his High School Leaving Certificate (Class X) under the Manipur Board of Secondary Education in 1974. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Manipur University in 2001. In theological education, he completed the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) from Cherra Theological College in 1982, the Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) in 1990, and subsequently obtained the Master of Theology (Th.M.) from the Presbyterian Church Theological Seminary, Seoul, South Korea, in 2000.

Manipur "Chief Minister Women Economic Empowerment Scheme" (CMWEES)

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnum Khemchand announced the Chief Minister Women Economic Empowerment Scheme (CMWEES) on 9 March 2026 while presenting the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2026–27 during the Seventh Session of the Twelfth Manipur Legislative Assembly. The scheme seeks to economically empower women through the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement and is expected to benefit approximately 3.5 lakh women across the State.

The Chief Minister stated that the scheme is designed to strengthen women-led SHGs, promote financial independence, and enhance sustainable livelihood opportunities for women. Financial assistance will be extended to eligible beneficiaries over a period of three years. During the first year, each eligible woman will receive ₹10,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). To support the implementation of the scheme, the State Government has earmarked ₹350 crore in the 2026–27 Budget.