Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh revealed a staggering Rs 1,200 crore drop in state GST revenue between 2023 and 2026. The ongoing ethnic conflict fueled this decline. Frequent bandhs and blockades crippled local business activity.
Speaking on September 16 at the 52nd Foundation Day of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union in Imphal, Khemchand urged civil society groups to abandon protest blockades. He stated, “Prolonged conflict in the state had resulted in a decline of more than Rs 1,200 crore in GST revenue from 2023 to 2026, putting considerable pressure on Manipur's economy.” The violence between Meitei and Kuki communities has killed at least 306 people. Thousands remain displaced. Another 49 individuals are still missing.
Economic recovery efforts remain the priority. Khemchand also addressed the welfare of the press. He pledged to raise monthly journalist pensions from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Family pension payments will climb from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. He plans to submit these increases to the state Cabinet for approval.
The administration also cleared Rs 1 crore in pending advertisement bills. Journalists affected by the crisis will receive a one-time relaxation to reactivate lapsed accounts in the DIPR Pension Scheme. Attendees at the Manipur Press Club event included MLA Khongbantabam Ibomcha and AMWJU president Asem Bhakta Singh. The program started with tributes at the memorial pillar.
Updated at 16th September 2026 at 9:53pm
Beyond the immediate payments, the government plans to tackle the broader backlog of advertisement debt. Khemchand set a follow-up meeting with all heads of departments for September 25 to further audit and clear outstanding claims.
Critics point out that the current welfare plan leaves a gap in the state's support structure. The proposed changes do not cover journalists working for digital-first or independent online news outlets, meaning a growing segment of the local media remains excluded from pension benefits.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 1:48am
The proposed pension hikes and the one-time relaxation for inactive accounts are not set in stone. Khemchand confirmed these measures require formal approval from the state Cabinet before they take effect.
Official records from the DIPR Journalist Pension Scheme show the state currently supports 29 beneficiaries: 11 regular retirees and 18 family pensioners. The scheme holds 268 active working journalists, including 86 who joined in 2023. While the government eyes future pension liabilities, historical participation remains hit-or-miss, with some professionals quitting due to health woes or job changes that trigger only partial contribution withdrawals.
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