A newly established centre in Ukhrul is beginning to consolidate its work on policy, governance and development in the North East. Across the region, debates on development remain shaped by uneven infrastructure, gaps in public services and a continuing need for policy insight rooted in lived experience. Recent developments in Manipur have further underscored the importance of district specific research that can support balanced and informed decision making. As the state navigates complex administrative and developmental priorities, the demand for structured, locally grounded analysis has become increasingly clear. In this broader landscape, a research initiative emerging from Ukhrul carries significance not only for the district but for Manipur’s wider development trajectory. Positioned close to frontier corridors and shaped by a distinctive social fabric, Ukhrul offers an important vantage point for examining the region’s evolving challenges. In one of the remotest and often inaccessible parts of the North East, St Joseph’s College has taken up a role seldom assumed by institutions in similar contexts: establishing a research centre firmly rooted in ground realities.
For many years, the absence of reliable data in Ukhrul has restricted effective planning, leaving institutions to operate with limited analytical support. Communities have consistently sought platforms capable of documenting their experiences with rigour and transparency. As these gaps became increasingly visible, they converged into a shared recognition that meaningful development would require institutions capable of generating dependable evidence and strengthening governance processes. It is precisely in response to this need that the Centre for North East Development and Policy Research at St Joseph College, Ukhrul, has emerged as a timely and necessary intervention.
The Centre represents a shift from informal observation to structured inquiry. From its inception, it was designed to fill a long standing void: the absence of an organised space equipped to engage with the region’s political, social and developmental complexities. Reflecting on this intent, Dr Mungreishang Horam notes, “The Northeast region does not lack insight or experience; it lacks structured spaces where these experiences can be converted into knowledge that informs decision making. Our intention was to create such a space.”
The composition of the founding team further clarifies how the Centre intends to function. Its creators are academicians whose work has been shaped by the social and developmental realities of the region. The Centre is the brainchild of Dr Mungreishang Horam, Director, Dr Aniruddha Babar, Deputy Director, Ms Jessica Raleng, Assistant Director, and Mr William Gonmei, Research Officer cum Outreach Programme Coordinator, of the Department of Political Science, St Joseph’s College. Their combined academic engagement forms the foundation upon which the Centre is being built.
Each member brings distinct strengths to the initiative. Dr Horam’s work in International Relations, particularly on the Act East Policy, helps situate local concerns within broader regional and geopolitical contexts. His research on Traditional Tribal Governance, especially Tangkhul Naga customary institutions, provides important insight into how indigenous structures continue to influence contemporary governance. Complementing his work, Dr Aniruddha Babar brings a strong grounding in Law, Governance and Public Policy, shaped by a decade of research along the Indo Myanmar border. His deep engagement with the Constitution of India and the Constitution of Myanmar enables him to interpret frontier governance and administrative processes with clarity. Emphasising the wider purpose of the Centre, he observes, “CNEDPR will be an asset for the people of Northeast India, and for the state of Manipur in particular, by providing a data driven approach that aligns with the region’s governance requirements.”
Alongside these contributions, Jessica Raleng brings an essential gender equity perspective. Currently pursuing her doctorate on womens rights, her work is firmly rooted in the cultural and social contexts of Naga society. Her engagement with women across villages allows her to ensure that gender related questions are interpreted through lived experience rather than generalised assumptions. Her interests in political change, tribal identity and socio cultural transformation further expand the Centre’s thematic reach. Meanwhile, William Gonmei, with academic training in Political Science, Economics and South East Asian Studies, adds multidisciplinary depth and widens the Centre’s analytical capacity.
Together, the team emphasises relevance, clarity and public usefulness over scale or projection. This approach shapes the Centre’s Vision: “To develop into a distinguished centre of scholarship that produces high quality evidence and strategic insight to inform equitable, sustainable and inclusive development pathways across North East India.” Its Mission focuses on generating reliable datasets, well reasoned policy briefs and field grounded insights that can support governance and guide context specific interventions, particularly in frontier, tribal and underserved regions. Both statements place knowledge creation in direct service of social justice and public interest.
The structural arrangement of the Centre supports clarity during its formative stage, while its location in Ukhrul reinforces the importance of remaining grounded in everyday realities. In keeping with this commitment, the Centre adopts an interdisciplinary approach drawing from public policy, sociology, anthropology, development studies and environmental studies. Early themes of engagement include governance capacity, livelihood patterns, youth transitions, environmental pressures and the shifting dynamics of borderland societies. Through sustained field interactions and preliminary data collection, the Centre is assembling material that reflects local conditions with precision and authenticity.
Initial outputs such as district level observations, thematic notes and preliminary assessments suggest an emerging body of accessible knowledge that can support planning agencies, administrators and civil society organisations. As this foundation grows, it will pave the way for more detailed research and deeper institutional engagement.
The institutional culture of St Joseph’s College plays an essential role in enabling the Centre’s growth. The College’s emphasis on socially relevant education and community engagement has encouraged students to participate in fieldwork, documentation and village level interactions. The initiative has also received steady encouragement from “Father (Dr) Parvis John”, Principal of St Joseph College, Ukhrul whose strong support has strengthened the institution’s commitment to research and community engagement. St Joseph College, together with this Centre, stands as a social asset for Ukhrul and the wider region, strengthening the role of education in public life. By establishing a research institution rooted in community realities, it sets an ideal example of how academic spaces can meaningfully contribute to development and governance. These engagements continue to refine the Centre’s research priorities and ensure that its work remains responsive to local expectations.
Alongside these efforts, the Centre is establishing academic linkages with universities, research bodies and policy institutions. These partnerships are expected to strengthen methodological foundations, situate the Centre within wider academic conversations and expand the region’s engagement with evidence based dialogue. They also reinforce the Centre’s commitment to public policy relevance and socio economic upliftment.
As CNEDPR moves through its formative phase, it remains anchored in the clarity of its Vision and Mission. Its establishment marks an important moment for Ukhrul and for the wider region, signaling a commitment to research driven engagement and grounded public purpose. Through its work, the Centre is helping build a deeper, more informed understanding of the North East, one attentive to local realities, shaped by evidence and aligned with the broader public interest. In doing so, it is beginning to influence developmental conversations that will shape the region’s long term trajectory.
The writers are freelance writers and social activists
