The Manipur Youth League (MAYOL) has questioned the state government over its failure to implement the promised Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Rs. 10,000 to 3.5 lakh women before Ningol Chakouba, alleging that the scheme could be used as a political tool ahead of the next Assembly election.
In a press statement, MAYOL Publicity Secretary Konjengbam Samananda said the government might once again announce a fresh deadline, possibly promising to release the financial assistance before Christmas, without ensuring its actual implementation.
He said the government had earlier announced the scheme as part of the 2026-27 State Budget, presented by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh during the seventh session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 8. Under the proposed Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), 3.5 lakh women were promised financial assistance of Rs.10,000 each through DBT as a one-time benefit for the first year, involving an estimated allocation of ¹ 350 crore.
MAYOL questioned the absence of clarity on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, the department responsible for implementation, the disbursement schedule and whether all 3.5 lakh women would receive the amount in a single instalment.
The organisation also expressed concern that the scheme could be politicised ahead of the Assembly election, alleging that MLAs might influence the selection of beneficiaries through their respective constituency-level women’s workers to secure electoral support.
Samananda said the government must clearly explain whether women who are not members of SHGs would also be eligible and specify the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of beneficiaries.
He further stressed that the proposed allocation was public money collected through taxes and other government revenues, not funds belonging to any political party, and therefore demanded transparency and accountability in its utilisation.
Questioning the government’s earlier assurance that the amount would be transferred before Ningol Chakouba, MAYOL demanded a clear explanation from the concerned departments on when and how the promised financial assistance would reach the beneficiaries.
The organisation warned that failure to provide transparent information and implement the scheme would further erode public confidence in the government.