UMoS for Home Affairs Reviews Central Schemes, Fund Release for IDPs in Manipur

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, reviewed the progress of various Central Schemes and the 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) allocation for Manipur during a meeting held at the Conference Hall, Old Secretariat, Imphal today.

The Minister was briefed on the “Fund Released by the Ministry of Home Affairs for Relief Operations and Resettlement/Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)” and the current status of major development programmes in the State.

During the meeting, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar assessed the implementation of flagship and other Central programmes across key sectors including Health, Education, Transport and Connectivity, Power, Tourism, Rural Development, Housing, Agriculture and Food Processing, Handloom, Handicrafts, and Textiles. State officials also presented time-bound action plans aimed at improving these sectors.

Highlighting the tourism scenario, officials informed the Minister that tourist inflow had dropped significantly from over 1.79 lakh visitors in 2019–20 to around 17,000 in 2024–25. While the decline was mainly attributed to civil unrest, the high cost of air travel was also cited as a major deterrent. Shri Anurag Bajpai, PCCF and Additional Chief Secretary, requested the Minister to take up the matter with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, noting that the State Government had already written to the Ministry on the issue.

The Minister also reviewed projects under the 10% GBS of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and examined expenditure details. Discussions were held on the implementation of the National Oil Palm Mission launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, with State officials outlining the mission’s potential, challenges, and roadmap.

Senior State officials, including Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments, attended the review meeting. Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar assured that the Central Government would extend all possible support to ensure Manipur’s overall development and progress.

Later in the evening, the Union Minister of State called on the Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.