Special Correspondent
Moved by the hardships faced by victims of the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, retired Lieutenant Colonel L Manongba has embarked on a mission to empower widows and fund the education of children affected by the conflict.
In recognition of his humanitarian efforts, Lt Col Manongba (retd) received the prestigious Veteran Achiever Award from Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi at the Army Day Parade held in Pune last month.
His commendable initiatives have enabled 35 widows to establish small enterprises for sustainable livelihoods and provided educational support to 60 children who lost their fathers in the violence-torn state.
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic unrest since May 2023, resulting in hundreds of casualties and widespread suffering.
Lt Col Manongba, a cadet from the 56th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune (1979), dedicated his post-retirement years to supporting ex-servicemen and their families in Manipur. He later founded Wings of Hope, a charitable non-profit organization with the support of his batchmates and friends, focusing on uplifting widows and children impacted by the strife.
“After retiring from the Army and spending some years in the corporate sector, I returned to Imphal as the in-charge of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). During this time, I built a network of ex-servicemen living in the challenging hilly terrain of Manipur to provide assistance through a veterans’ association,” he shared.
By April 2023, his association had successfully extended aid to ex-servicemen in remote regions, offering much-needed support to those navigating difficult circumstances. Lt Col Manongba’s relentless efforts continue to bring hope and dignity to those affected by violence in the region.
