The Manipur Youth League (MAYOL) has questioned whether the State Government’s newly announced “Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Women through SHGs” could be used as a political tool ahead of the forthcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly elections.
In a statement, MAYOL said there is growing public speculation that the scheme may be linked to electoral considerations, alleging that elected representatives are already identifying beneficiaries through party workers.
The organisation stressed that if the scheme is genuinely intended to promote the economic empowerment and welfare of women, the government should clearly explain its objectives, implementation process and beneficiary selection criteria to the public.
MAYOL noted that the scheme was announced by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh during the presentation of the 2026–27 State Budget in the Assembly, under which financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each would be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to around 3.5 lakh women in the first year. The organisation pointed out that the proposed allocation of Rs 350 crore comes from public funds and not from any political party, making transparency and accountability essential.
MAYOL demanded that the government clarify the basis for selecting beneficiaries, the agency responsible for identifying them, and the timeline for disbursement of funds. It also sought clarification on whether women who are not members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) would be eligible for the scheme and what criteria would determine eligibility.
Referring to reports that the assistance may be distributed before Ningol Chakouba, MAYOL urged the government to publicly disclose whether the benefits would be provided to all 3.5 lakh beneficiaries at once or in phases, and to ensure that complete information about the scheme is made available to the public.