Addressing a gathering in Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur in Manipur Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi foregrounded peace as the precondition for Manipur’s progress. He did so while unveiling a mix of rehabilitation measures for the displaced, big-ticket connectivity projects, and various social sector initiatives in the hill districts.
PM Modi’s speech combined an appeal for dialogue and reconciliation with announcements on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and welfare schemes. This was aimed at signalling the Centre’s commitment to rebuilding lives and bridging the valley–hill divide in Manipur.
This marked the PM’s first visit to the strife-torn state since May 2023, when ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities erupted.
By pitching for various projects in the hills, Modi’s speech aimed at addressing long-standing complaints of neglect by the tribal communities of Manipur. This was perceived as politically significant in the context of Churachandpur, which had seen intense mobilisation during the strife.
Here are the six key takeaways from the PM’s speech:
‘Peace is imperative for development’
In his address, PM Modi acknowledged the violence that has rocked Manipur for a couple of years. He stressed that without peace, development initiatives cannot take root.
“This land of Manipur is the land of hope and aspirations. But, unfortunately, violence took over this magnificent region… After talking to victims in camps I can say that the new dawn of hope and belief is knocking the doors of Manipur,” he said.
By framing peace as the foundation of progress, the PM signalled that the Centre’s priority remains restoring stability in the strife-torn state. He also stressed on dialogues with hill and valley groups as part of the reconciliation efforts.
Rehabilitation package for displaced
Over 60,000 people remain displaced in relief camps due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The PM announced targeted financial support for rebuilding their homes.
“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 has been specially provisioned,” he said.
The focus on rehabilitation underscores the scale of the humanitarian challenge still facing Manipur. The package also allows the Centre to demonstrate that relief and reconstruction are being backed by specific budgetary allocations.
Empowering local governance
Hill councils in Manipur have long complained of being sidelined, with little financial or administrative power.
Their perceived disempowerment under a Meitei-dominated polity has fuelled resentment in the hills and is understood to have sown early seeds of demands for “separate administration”. The PM appeared to obliquely address this issue.
“It is the government’s effort that local body governance is strengthened. Appropriate funds are being arranged for the development of local bodies. The development of every tribal community is a priority for the country,” he said.
By promising to strengthen local body governance and ensure funds for it, Modi sought to address a core grievance of tribal groups — lack of autonomy and resources at the grassroots. While the assurance indicates recognition of this long-standing demand, the real test will lie in whether structural changes are made to empower hill institutions beyond financial provisioning.
Connectivity push
Manipur’s border location and difficult terrains have made connectivity a long-standing grievance of the people of the state. The PM sought to highlight the Centre’s investment in roads, rail and air projects.
“We have spent Rs 3,700 crore on national highways here. Another Rs 8,700 crores are being spent on new national highways… Jiribam–Imphal railway line will soon connect Imphal to the national rail network,” he said.
The PM’s emphasis on infrastructure fits the Centre’s broader Northeast policy — reducing isolation to integrate the region economically and strategically. The stress on rail and airport upgrades points to both security and trade considerations, given Manipur’s proximity to Myanmar.
Expansion of healthcare, education
Healthcare and higher education have historically been concentrated in the valley, fuelling resentment in the hills. Modi highlighted medical colleges, Ayushman Bharat benefits, and 18 new Eklavya residential schools for tribal areas.
“Tribal hill districts would earlier dream of good hospitals and colleges. Today, Churachandpur has a medical college… Under the PM DevINE scheme, modern healthcare is being developed in five hill districts,” he said.
Women empowerment
The PM listed schemes like Dharti Aba Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in 500 villages and working women’s hostels alongside welfare benefits such as free power connections, water and housing.
“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.
The references to women’s empowerment and targeted tribal schemes sought to position the Centre as attentive to the state’s social fabric. At a time when trust deficit between communities remains high, such messaging reinforces the government’s outreach to marginalised constituencies.