Reaching Out to the People: The Role of Leikai Club in the State of Manipur (India) in Achieving the MDGs

Abstract

Mobilising neighbourhoods for implementing government programmes and well-being of people is not a new phenomenon in governance strategies across the world. The burden and the challenge of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of United Nation has emphasised it further in a more convinced manner. The role of community participation as a partnership model for achieving MDGs by 2015 has brought to surface one best practice from the state of Manipur. This chapter explores the role of leikai-clubs (neighbourhood organisations) as one such organisation in the state of Manipur which has taken many initiatives which make access to MDGs much easier. MDGs. Historiography reveals these leikai-clubs were known for active participation in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the state which is now part of their lived world. This chapter also argues how achieving the goals of the MDGs remains a challenge without true participation and urges the need to utilise the potential of community for a better society.