Gifting of Emagi Phanek a shot in the arm for Manipur’s Nupi Maanbi

Imphal: In a move that is both significant and emotional, a group of 34 young transgender women in Manipur were gifted ‘Emagi Phanek’ or mother’s phanek (a wraparound skirt) on the occasion of International Transgender Day of Visibility, in Imphal on Thursday.

In Manipur, transgender women are popularly known as Nupi Maanbi.

Organised by All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association (AMANA), the apex body of the transgender community in the state, the distribution of phaneks worn by several mothers and collected by different allies for the transgender women is a symbol of encouragement as well as acceptance.