Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday struck a note of reassurance in violence-hit Manipur, telling tribal communities in Churachandpur that peace was the only path forward and pledging the Centre’s continued support in restoring normalcy, rebuilding lives of the displaced and pushing development in the hill districts.
“This land of Manipur is the land of hope and aspirations. But, unfortunately, violence took over this magnificent region,” Modi said. “I met those victims a few moments ago, who are living in camps. After talking to them, I can say that the new dawn of hope and belief is knocking on the doors of Manipur.”
He underlined that development could only take root in an atmosphere of calm. “At any place, peace is imperative for development. In the past 11 years, decades-old disputes in the Northeast have been resolved. People have chosen the path of peace. They have given priority to development,” the PM said.
This is the PM’s first visit to the strife torn state after it was plunged into ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, which has killed more than 250 people and displaced tens of thousands of the state’s residents.
The PM arrived at Churachandpur at around 1 pm by road from state capital Imphal as his chopper could not take off due to inclement weather. Before starting his address, the PM first met people displaced during the two-year-long ethnic conflict in the state and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 7,000 crore for hills districts of Manipur. He is scheduled to make another address at Kangla Fort in the Imphal valley.
Modi pointed to recent dialogue processes initiated with various groups in both the hills and the valley as evidence of the Centre’s intent to restore trust. “This is part of the government’s efforts, in which giving importance to dialogue, respect and mutual understanding, work is being done to establish peace. I appeal to all organisations that moving on the path of peace will realise your dreams. Ensure the future of your children. And I promise you today: I am with you. The Government of India is with you, with the people of Manipur,” he said.
Rehabilitation of displaced families
The PM said his government was making “all efforts” to bring back normalcy to Manipur and announced new measures for families uprooted by the recent ethnic violence.
“The government is providing assistance to build 7,000 homes for the displaced. Recently, we have approved a special package of Rs 3,000 crore. To help the displaced, Rs 500 crore have been specially provisioned,” he said, stressing that the Centre was acutely aware of the “dreams and struggles of the tribal youth of Manipur.”
Modi also said strengthening local body governance and arranging funds for their development were part of the larger strategy to empower tribal communities.
Focus on hill districts
Addressing concerns long voiced by hill populations about access to healthcare and education, the PM listed projects being rolled out to bridge gaps. “Tribal hill districts would earlier dream of good hospitals and colleges. Today, Churachandpur has a medical college. New doctors are coming out and healthcare has improved. We have given medical colleges to the hills,” he said.
Under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme, modern healthcare is being developed in five hill districts, he added. “Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the government gives free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. In Manipur, 5 lakh people have availed of the scheme. If this scheme was not there, the poor in Manipur would have had to spend Rs 350 crore from their pocket. It is our priority to take care of the problems of the poor,” he said.
Education too was a priority, Modi said, with 18 Eklavya Model Residential Schools sanctioned for tribal areas of the state. A programme called Dharti Aba Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is also being implemented to spur development in more than 500 villages across Manipur.
“Manipur’s culture has been one to promote women power. Our government too is engaged in empowering women. The government is also building working women hostels,” he said, adding that his government’s goal was to make Manipur “a symbol of peace, prosperity and progress.”
Connectivity and infrastructure push
Alongside rehabilitation and social development, the PM highlighted major infrastructure investments in the state. He inaugurated projects worth Rs 7,000 crore, which he said would improve facilities in health and education, while also creating new economic opportunities.
Connectivity, he acknowledged, had long been a challenge for the border state. “Because of the paucity of good roads, people have faced problems. After 2014, I have laid emphasis that work is done on Manipur’s connectivity. We have spent Rs 3,700 crore on national highways here. Another Rs 8,700 crore are being spent on new national highways,” Modi said.
The Jiribam-Imphal railway line, with an outlay of Rs 22,000 crore, would soon connect the state capital to the national rail network. The Rs 400-crore modernisation of the Imphal airport was giving “new heights to air connectivity,” he added.
Welfare schemes reach remote households
Modi also claimed that flagship welfare schemes had reached tribal households in significant numbers. “As many as 60,000 houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana here. Now, 1 lakh families have been given free power connection. In Manipur, only 25-30,000 people had water connection. Now 3.5 lakh households have it. I am sure every household will get it in time,” he said.
The PM concluded by congratulating the people on the projects inaugurated and reaffirmed his government’s resolve. “I assure you that for the development of Manipur, to rehabilitate the displaced, for establishing peace, the Government of India will keep cooperating with the Manipur government,” he said.