Community uplift and social awareness: New Life Foundation’s mission in Manipur

Lamabam Pishak Singh, the founder of New Life Foundation (NLF), has been at the forefront of social initiatives in Manipur for the past 15 years, focusing on sustainable community development, women’s empowerment, and child rights. Established with a vision of fostering a self-reliant economy and advocating for the rights of marginalised groups, NLF collaborates closely with civil society organisations and stakeholders to drive meaningful change. Singh’s journey, which he calls his “true calling,” is grounded in a commitment to uplift people in body, mind, and spirit.

Singh’s early experiences with the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and his tenure with the Ministry of Youth Affairs’ National Cadre gave him insights into the unique vulnerabilities of women and children in rural India. Reflecting on Manipur’s cultural diversity, he said, “Manipur as a state is as diverse as India as a country. People of different tribes, religions and dialects cohabit peacefully. Everyone has their own set of ideologies and their own agenda. But what binds us together is our constitution and our constitutional rights.” His vision is to strengthen democratic values and champion good governance through NLF’s initiatives.

NLF is especially active in tackling human trafficking, a pervasive issue in the region. The foundation’s anti-trafficking work intensified through its collaboration with Impact NGO, led by Hasina Kharbhih. Singh recounted, “I approached Hasina at a social event and requested her to join us in dismantling the human trafficking nexus operating out of Manipur.” Together, NLF and Impact NGO handle cases, provide relief, and organise interventions to raise awareness and action against human trafficking in Manipur.

Leveraging social media, NLF uses platforms like Facebook to disseminate information on human trafficking and its preventive measures. According to Singh, social media plays a crucial role in mobilising support and awareness. “We share short clips and films of our activities, which act as an eye-opener for people in power, media, and the general public. They learn about our rescue strategies and what they can do to help,” he explained. For Singh, social media is instrumental in influencing policy changes and creating visibility for NLF’s ground-level efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought further challenges as trafficking incidents spiked. Singh highlighted the difficulties during the outbreak, saying, “It became increasingly difficult for the government, media, and law enforcement to find out about these cases and prevent it from happening. The elected representatives of those areas were indifferent and did not intervene anyway.” Despite these obstacles, NLF persisted, recognising that the pandemic had made the situation more sensitive. Singh expressed concern that new highway routes and airport expansions in Manipur could worsen the trafficking issue.

NLF’s anti-trafficking protocol includes extensive communication with stakeholders such as child protection authorities, police stations, and transport hubs. The foundation has directed bus and winger counters to report any suspicious activity, enhancing surveillance in high-risk areas. Additionally, NLF collaborates with local networks, government officials, police, the Child and Women’s Commissions, the Border Security Force, and the media to strengthen their preventive efforts.

With a network of committed partners and the relentless drive of its founder, New Life Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to combat human trafficking and promote sustainable livelihoods.

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