Imphal, June 11, 2020 (DIPR): Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh handed over a cash amount of Rs 1,10,000/- to Smt. Laibi Oinam, a street vendor cum auto driver who volunteered to drop a recovered COVID-19 patient from JNIMS, Imphal East to Kamjong district covering 8 hours of journey on the intervening night of 31st May and 1st June 2020.
The cash reward was sponsored by some entrepreneurs from Manipur along with Manipuri Diasporas from US, UK, Canada and Singapore as an encouragement to her for her humane and heroic act and service.
Mentioned may be made that Smt. Laibi Oinam, a resident of Pangei Bazaar, Imphal East, is a mother of two sons and is the sole breadwinner of the family. A documentary film based on her life entitled “AUTO DRIVER” won many accolades including best social issue film in the non-feature category at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015 and Best Short Documentary in the Audience Choice category at the 2017 Women’s Voices Now Film Festival. Apart from this, a number of articles have been published about her in many national and local newspapers and journals for breaking the gender stereotypes and glass ceiling.
Chairman LDA Shri L. Susindro, Chairman of Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board Shri H. Dingo, MLA of Yaiskhul A/C Shri Th. Satyabrata, filmmaker Meena Longjam who directed the documentary film “AUTO DRIVER” and sponsors of the cash incentive were present during the program.