The Union Health Minister’s reply to Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 284, raised by MP K. Vanlalvena on August 19, 2025, has once again brought into sharp focus the widening gap between official claims and the ground reality of Churachandpur Medical College. While the Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda, informed Parliament that the institution—upgraded from Churachandpur District Hospital—was established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 325 crore, the situation on the ground tells a far different story.
Everyone in Manipur is aware that the medical college, though sanctioned with an intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats, exists more in name than in practice since the outbreak of the Kuki-Meitei crisis on May 3, 2023. The prolonged conflict has not only disrupted law and order but has directly impacted academic and institutional functioning in the state. Churachandpur Medical College is perhaps one of the starkest examples of this disruption.
A significant portion of its students—including those from the Meitei community and other communities—have been compelled to continue their studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal (under special arrangement). This arrangement reflects the inability of the college to provide a conducive academic environment in Churachandpur. More alarmingly, many faculties, laboratory technicians, and hospital staff belonging to the Meitei community have been unable to remain stationed at the college due to security concerns. Even the Director of the medical college has reportedly not been able to visit the institution since the crisis erupted.
Yet, in his reply to Parliament, the Union Health Minister’s words created the impression that the college is functioning smoothly, as if insulated from the harsh realities of the ongoing conflict. The Minister’s statement that the college was approved in 2020 under Phase-III of the CSS, with the Centre bearing the entire cost under the 90:10 funding pattern for the North East, is factually correct. The financial details provided— Rs.242.5 crore released so far, of which the State has reported utilisation of Rs.113.92 crore—are also accurate. But these figures, while impressive, do not change the fact that the college has ceased to function in any meaningful sense since May 2023.
This disconnect between official narratives and ground truth is deeply concerning. Institutions of higher learning, particularly in medicine, cannot simply be measured in crores sanctioned or spent. They must be assessed in terms of their ability to provide quality education, reliable healthcare, and a secure working environment for students and staff alike. On all these counts, Churachandpur Medical College has failed—not due to lack of funds, but because of the political and ethnic crisis that has paralysed its operations.
The Union Ministry’s reply, therefore, raises a critical question: should parliamentary answers confine themselves only to financial and administrative data, or should they also acknowledge the operational realities shaped by extraordinary circumstances? While one may argue that law and order fall under the State’s jurisdiction, it is equally important for the Centre to present a truthful picture to Parliament. Glossing over the fact that the college is practically non-functional not only misleads the House but also trivialises the struggles of the students and staff caught in the conflict.
The State Government, too, cannot absolve itself of responsibility. Planning, execution, and commissioning of the project lies with it, as the Minister rightly pointed out. Yet, little effort seems to have been made to address the plight of students displaced from Churachandpur. Their future remains uncertain, and the silence of the authorities adds to their frustration.
At a broader level, the situation reflects the tragic reality of how conflict undermines development. Projects worth hundreds of crores can be sanctioned and monitored, but unless peace and security are ensured, such institutions will remain mere showpieces. For the people of Manipur, especially the youth aspiring to pursue medicine, this is a cruel betrayal of their dreams.
The Union Government must acknowledge the extraordinary circumstances preventing Churachandpur Medical College from functioning and work with the State to find a viable solution—be it temporary relocation, special academic provisions, or enhanced security arrangements. Anything less will amount to nothing more than numbers on paper, while an entire generation of medical students pays the price.