In Imphal on Monday, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar told Manipur officials that the central government will keep backing the state’s growth and progress. The meeting, held at the old Secretariat, covered several key initiatives and financial support plans.
Kumar reviewed the 10 % Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) that the central government offers and discussed broad schemes from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER). He was briefed on funds released to help internally displaced people (IDPs) recover from the recent ethnic violence.
The minister examined how state programs in health, education, transport, power, tourism, rural development, housing, agriculture, handloom, and textiles are moving forward. He asked for updated action plans to push these projects along on time.
Tourism figures were a point of concern. In 2019‑20, more than 179,000 people visited Manipur (about 167,000 from India and 12,000 foreign tourists). By 2024‑25, that number fell to roughly 17,000 (15,700 domestic, 1,300 foreign). The drop is mainly blamed on civil unrest, but high airfare also plays a role. Anurag Bajpai, the state’s additional chief secretary, asked the minister to raise the flight‑fare issue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Kumar also looked at DoNER’s GBS projects, spending to date, and the newly launched National Oil Palm Mission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare. State officials shared the mission’s potential, challenges, and action plans.
The meeting was attended by senior secretaries and heads of various state departments. Later in the evening, the minister met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.
The central government signals its commitment to help Manipur rebuild and grow, focusing on infrastructure, tourism, and security for displaced people.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
