In Manipur, where cycles of violence have shaped everyday life for decades, loss is not an isolated event. It lingers — in disrupted households, uncertain incomes, and the quiet restructuring of daily routines. For many families in conflict-affected areas, the aftermath of violence extends far beyond the moment it occurs.

Women are often at the centre of this aftermath.

Across communities, widows, mothers, and daughters frequently take on the responsibility of rebuilding lives — managing households, securing income, and holding together support systems in the absence of those lost. The burden is both emotional and economic, unfolding over months and years rather than in immediate response.

It is within this reality that the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network (MWGSN) has been working for over two decades — supporting women affected by armed violence through livelihood training, counselling, and community-based care.

From a single incident to a sustained response

The network traces its beginnings to 24 December 2004, when activist Binalakshmi Nepram witnessed the aftermath of the killing of 27-year-old Buddhi Moirangthem in Thoubal district. The incident highlighted a gap that would go on to shape MWGSN’s work: the absence of structured,........

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