IT News
Imphal, March 12:
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has termed the Manipur budget for 2025-26 as “inadequate” in addressing key issues such as ethnic violence, rising inflation, and unemployment, while the Janata Dal (United) said it was “not fully satisfactory.”
On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Manipur budget for the next fiscal and supplementary demands for grants, entailing an additional spending of Rs. 51,463 crore in the current financial year.
CPI state unit secretary Kshetrimayum Shanta criticized the budget, stating that although allocations have increased compared to the last fiscal, they remain insufficient given the ongoing crisis. “How will this budget cater to over 60,000 displaced people who lost their homes? There is no provision for their rehabilitation in areas like Churachandpur, Moreh, and parts of Imphal,” he said.
Shanta also alleged that the budget was prepared without proper discussion or consideration of ground realities. He further pointed out that despite Manipur experiencing one of its worst floods in decades, the budget lacks any reference to relief measures. “We want to know what steps the government is taking to control inflation,” he added.
JD(U) state unit secretary Maisnam Dorendro acknowledged the criticisms regarding the budget’s failure to fully address the needs of internally displaced persons but noted that previous financial assistance had been allocated for them.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the total estimated receipts stand at Rs. 35,368 crore, with an expenditure of Rs. 35,104 crore. She emphasized that financial support for Manipur’s recovery aligns with the assistance extended to Jammu and Kashmir.
A Rs. 500 crore contingency fund has been allocated under the Vote on Account for Manipur, which remains under President’s Rule.
