Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Manipur is hemorrhaging cash. Frequent bandhs and blockades cost the state treasury 25 to 30 crore rupees every single day. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh revealed the grim figures on September 25 during a Seva Sankalp Abhiyan event at the Indian National Army Martyr's Memorial Complex Hall in Bishnupur. The ongoing crisis, which began in 2023, continues to cripple the local economy.
Singh pressed for peace. He urged protesters to use dialogue instead of disruptive agitations that paralyze daily life. "Frequent bandhs and blockades called in the state have resulted in a loss of around Rs 25 to Rs 30 crore per day in tax revenue to the state government," he said. He also challenged advocates to visit the hill areas themselves rather than relying on hearsay.
Families relying on daily wages suffered the most. The government plans to pay 10,000 rupees to each of the 300,050 families hit by the financial fallout. Officials have already set aside the budget to fund this relief. Beyond the cash handouts, the state will launch a financial assistance scheme for women street vendors. This rollout happens before the November Ningol Chakouba festival. Unregistered vendors should contact their local legislators to sign up.
These initiatives coincide with the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. The campaign celebrates Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaching 25 years of public service.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 5:48pm
The decision to distribute financial aid to families emerged directly from discussions held during the recently concluded eighth session of the state Assembly. While the vendor support program aims to hit the streets before the Ningol Chakouba festival, officials have specifically set that goal for the 2026 edition.
Khemchand Singh also challenged the public to weigh the credibility of various activists, suggesting that anyone unwilling to personally visit the hill areas should not be blindly followed based on their rhetoric alone. He called on all factions to set aside grievances and focus on the state's unity and integrity.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 6:01pm
The Chief Minister identified the official name of his office as Yumnam Khemchand Singh. He explicitly directed the public to judge activists based on their actions, specifically noting that those who refuse to travel to the hills lack the standing to demand followings based on rhetoric alone.
Regarding the upcoming rollout, the financial aid program for women street vendors is specifically targeting the 2026 edition of the Ningol Chakouba festival. The government confirmed this support is designed to help these women cover their families' day to day expenses.
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