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{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}

'''Laibi Oinam''' ({{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯥꯏꯕꯤ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥꯝ}}, also known as ''Eche Laibi Oinam''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Laibi Oinam Lady Auto Driver with a golden heart By Ringo Pebam|url=https://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Laibi_Oinam_Lady_Auto_Driver_with_a_golden_heart_By_Ringo_Pebam.html..|access-date=2025-11-03|website=e-pao.net}}</ref>) is an auto-rickshaw driver from [[Imphal]], [[Manipur]], India. She is known as the first woman auto driver in [[Manipur]]. She became widely recognized during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020 for driving a recovered patient from Imphal to [[Kamjong district]] when no other driver was willing to do so.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Bahn|first=Divya|date=2020-06-12|title=Lady auto driver's 8-hour night trip to ferry nurse wins laurels, Rs 1 lakh|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2020/Jun/12/lady-auto-drivers-8-hour-night-trip-to-ferry-nurse-wins-laurels-rs-1-lakh-2155788.html|access-date=2025-11-03|website=The New Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and family ==

Laibi Oinam lives in Pangei Bazaar, [[Imphal East]], Manipur. She is married to Oinam Rajendro Singh, who suffers from diabetes, and they have two sons. Laibi became the sole breadwinner of her family after her husband's illness.
Before driving an auto-rickshaw, she worked as a laborer in a [[Brick#Kilns|brick kiln]] and sold vegetables and smoked fish to earn a living.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2025-01-28|title=Imphal police replaces auto hood for Manipur's first woman driver|url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/imphal-police-replaces-auto-hood-for-manipurs-first-woman-driver-1162169-2025-01-28|access-date=2025-11-03|website=India Today NE|language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

=== Career as an auto driver ===

Laibi became Manipur's first woman commercial auto driver. Her entry into this male-dominated profession faced ridicule and criticism, but she continued her work to support her family.
She drives passengers around Imphal city and nearby areas and is known for her dedication and hard work.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

=== COVID-19 incident ===

On the night of May 31, 2020, Laibi volunteered to drive Somichon Chithung, a young nurse who had recovered from COVID-19, from the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences]] (JNIMS) in Imphal to her home in Kamjong district, about 140 km away.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=A Covid-19 Trip That Turned Manipur's First Female Autorickshaw Driver Into A Hero|work=NDTV.com|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/a-covid-19-trip-that-turned-manipurs-first-female-autorickshaw-driver-into-a-hero-2347155|access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

The hospital ambulance service had refused to take the nurse home because it was outside their district. Many taxi drivers were also unwilling to travel because of the fear of infection. Seeing the woman in distress, Laibi offered help and decided to make the journey in her own auto-rickshaw, accompanied by her husband.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

The journey lasted for about eight hours, from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., through hilly terrain and cold weather. After reaching [[Kamjong]], the couple were placed in quarantine as a safety measure.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

== Recognition and awards ==

[[Manipur Chief Minister]] [[N. Biren Singh]] awarded Laibi Oinam a cash prize of ₹1,10,000 for her service, along with a traditional Manipuri muffler. The award money was contributed by Manipuri entrepreneurs and expatriates from countries such as [[Meitei people in the United States|the United States]], [[Meitei people in the United Kingdom|the United Kingdom]], [[Meitei people in Canada|Canada]], and Singapore.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-06|title=140 km, 8 hours… how a woman drove a Covid-19 survivor home when no one else would|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/facebook-stories-of-strength-2020/covid-19-fighters/woman-auto-driver-covid-19-survivor-manipur-6492563/|access-date=2025-11-03|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Manipur Woman Auto Driver Awarded For Ferrying COVID-19 Survivor|language=en|work=www.ndtv.com|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-india-manipur-woman-auto-driver-laibi-oinam-awarded-for-ferrying-covid-19-survivor-2244833|access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref>

The Chief Minister praised her for her example of "service above self." The Imphal East Traffic Officer-in-Charge also fulfilled a promise to replace the hood of her auto-rickshaw as a gesture of appreciation.<ref name=":3" />

An NGO, Little Drops of Ukhrul, gave her an additional ₹5,000 as a token of gratitude.<ref name=":5" />

Her act received wide praise from the public, including musicians, filmmakers, and social media users. Many people across Manipur described her as a symbol of compassion, courage, and women's empowerment.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== Documentary film ==

A documentary film titled ''[[Auto Driver (2015 film)|Auto Driver]]'', directed by [[Meena Longjam]], is based on Laibi Oinam's life. The film won the Best Social Issue Film (non-feature category) at the [[63rd National Film Awards]] in 2015 and the Best Short Documentary (Audience Choice) at the 2017 Women's Voices Now Film Festival.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sun|first=The Indian|date=2023-12-14|title=Meena Longjam: Bringing Manipur's untold stories to the forefront|url=https://www.theindiansun.com.au/2023/12/15/meena-longjam-bringing-manipurs-untold-stories-to-the-forefront/|access-date=2025-11-03|website=The Indian Sun|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=S|first=Vangamla Salle K.|date=2020-06-03|title=Meet the Manipur woman auto driver with heart of 'Jhansi ki Rani'|url=http://eastmojo.com/news/2020/06/03/meet-the-manipur-woman-auto-driver-with-heart-of-jhansi-ki-rani/|access-date=2025-11-03|website=EastMojo|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

The film portrays Laibi's struggles and achievements as Manipur's first woman auto driver.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />

== Legacy ==

Laibi Oinam is regarded as a symbol of resilience and women's empowerment in Manipur. Her courage during the COVID-19 pandemic brought her national attention.
Her story continues to inspire others to break social barriers and pursue their dreams despite hardships.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />

== Related pages ==
* [[Oinam family]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oinam, Laibi}}
[[Category:Meitei people]]
[[Category:People from Manipur]]
[[Category:Carriage drivers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Laibi Oinam - Revision history

KevinArden: Put up the page initial version.