Six student organisations of the state have urged all schools and educational authorities in Manipur to ensure that from the 2026–27 academic session, students wear phaneks and other uniform fabrics made strictly from raw materials produced within the state.
Speaking to the media, a spokesperson said that although phanek has long replaced skirts in schools and is now an established part of valley school uniforms, an increasing volume of finished phaneks is being imported from outside the state.
The student groups said that prioritising locally sourced yarn, dyes and weaving would directly benefit the state’s economy.
The bodies have appealed to all the authorities concerned to adopt a formal policy mandating locally produced fabric for phaneks and other school dress materials, noting that even a uniform-level change could generate steady demand for local handloom units, strengthen rural livelihoods and help revive the state’s textile economy.
