Manipur - one of the states among the seven sisters in North Eastern Region and a land of rich cultural heritage, traditions, festivals and expressive dance forms. However, over the course of years and decades, the state has faced many hurdles and challenges - ranging from socio-economic disparities to clashes between different ethnic groups of the very region. There have been numerous instances in past which called for timely interventions and subsequent actions to alleviate the pain but as odd as it may sound, previous government took no note of it and did absolutely nothing to change the precarious situations for the better.
Last 10 years however have been a gamechanger as PM Modi led government initiated an overhaul of the entire state. The last decade has seen some of the biggest transformational changes when it comes to infrastructure – be it in the sector of health, education, sports, transportation or logistics; none of the sectors have been left behind. PM Modi led government saw the potential in the region which none of the previous governments ever did. Because of PM Modi’s visionary policies and strategically devised outreach programs, today the region has been witnessing all-round developments. The state of Manipur since last decade has received government’s unprecedented attention and support.
However, the state has found itself in ethnic clashes which drew whole nation’s attention towards it. There have been various daunting issues which since decades have been arresting region’s overall growth.
The violent clashes between two ethnic groups namely Kuki and Meiti tribes which occurred in May 2023. Though the root cause of the clash lies in an over 10-year-old demand by the Meitei community for a Scheduled Tribe tag, the immediate reason behind the clash can be attributed to one of the High Court’s orders on the provision of ST status to the Meitei community which basically attributed to the fact that out of Naga, Kuki and Meitei people, neither would exclusively receive benefits, which left both the communities aggrieved. Consequently, violent clashes erupted between the communities with a suddenness.
The clashes between Naga and Kuki groups in Manipur are not new. They have developed over decades and the previous governments by neglecting North East’s development, has pushed entire generations of people from North East into violence and neglect. Several ethnic clashes over the course of years have taken place in the region leaving it burning. To name a few - The Naga-Kuki clash of 1993 leading to more than 350 Kuki/Naga villages to be uprooted with around 1000 reported deaths , Meitei-Pangal clash in the same year of 1993 killing more than 100 people, the Kuki-Tamil conflict of 1995 in Moreh resulting in Tamilians fleeing from the state of Manipur and the Kuki-Paite clash of 1997-1998 leaving 352 people dead, along with displacing 13,000 people while destroying more than 50 villages.
During previous governments’ rule, the state of Manipur suffered immensely and gained nothing in return. Manipur was placed under President’s rule in the wake of continued Naga-Kuki clashes, resulting in about 1,000 deaths. Previous governments have also been alleged to have been involved in Horse trading of MLA’s .
During the government's tenure between 2004-2014, Manipur became infamous for blockades. The worse came when during these blockades, the prices of petrol and LPG soared up to Rs. 240 and Rs. 1,900 per liter, respectively, causing a severe humanitarian crisis. In 2011, Manipur experienced one of the worst blockades lasting for 123 days.
However, PM Modi led government in the wake of the March 2023 incidents took prompt actions. The government also wasted no time in announcing a financial package of more than Rs. 101 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the people living in shelter camps. For the court proceedings to be impartial and unaffected by anti-social elements, the central government has also put forth a request in front of supreme Court to allow the trial to be moved out of the state to Assam.
Along with the deployment of the machinery and the stern political actions, PM Modi led government has taken several welfare measures which have taken the state towards the path of development. The government has increased the tax devolution by around 495% in the 10 years of the NDA Govt (till Feb 2024) as compared to 10 years of previous government. The Grants-in-aid have also been increased by 90% in the 10 years of this government compared to the 10 years of previous government.
Further, Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI – 2024) has been approved by the union cabinet in March, 2024 for a period of 10 years for development of industries and generation of employment in North East Region at a total cost of Rs.10,037 crore. In order to harness the potential of the youth, the government has been taking transformative steps by leaps and bounds. PM Modi led government has set up India’s first-ever national-level sports university and IIIT in Manipur in 2018and 2020 respectively. Also, Imphal has been selected under Smart Cities Mission to develop overall cityscape in terms of infrastructure and basic services being offered to the residents.
When it comes to infrastructure, over 1633 km of National Highways have been constructed in Manipur till FY 2023. Under Bharatmala Pariyojana, development of 635 km of National Highway corridors with tentative total capital cost of Rs 11,102 crore have been approved in Manipur. In 2022, the first Goods Train reached Rani Gaidinliu railway station, Tamenglong in Manipur. The government is all set to redevelop Imphal railway station under Amrit Bharat Scheme. Additionally, to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products, Imphal airport has been covered under Krishi Udan Scheme. The government believes that the region holds immense potential in tourism and to harness the same, Rs 117 crore has been sanctioned for development of North-East Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Manipur. In recent developments, in March 2024, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than Rs 3400 crore in Manipur.
In conclusion, PM Modi led government has shown a commitment to solving the peculiar difficulties faced by Manipur by taking proactive decisions through strategic initiatives that focus on infrastructure development, connectivity enhancement, and socio-economic empowerment. Through fostering a conducive environment for increasing investment and building infrastructure, forging regional cooperation, and prioritizing the welfare of the local population as a top priority, the government has established a strong basis for sustainable development in Manipur.
