Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen has urged Kuki and Naga communities to reject violence, overcome divisions and strengthen peaceful coexistence during an outreach programme covering nine Naga-dominated villages in her Kangpokpi Assembly constituency.
The programme, held at Yaikongpao, a Thangal Naga-dominated village, marked the concluding event of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026, organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public service. It combined appeals for inter-community harmony with welfare assistance and awareness initiatives on women’s empowerment and livelihood generation.
Residents from Daili, Phyapou, Yaikongpao, Tumnoupokpi, Liyai, Kalapahar, Liyai Kongpao, Thanamba and Mahika attended the programme, which focused on dialogue and mutual cooperation amid strained relations between Kuki and Naga communities in parts of Manipur.
Addressing the gathering, Kipgen called on people to rise above community divisions and refrain from actions that could aggravate tensions. Invoking her Christian faith, she stressed that peace, forgiveness and compassion were essential to reconciliation.
“If we cannot live peacefully on earth, how can we expect to live peacefully in heaven?” she asked, urging residents to consider the consequences of violence and hatred for families and future generations.
Kipgen said continued interaction between communities in her constituency offered hope for peaceful coexistence. She cited residents’ ability to travel to Kangpokpi district headquarters and shop together peacefully as an example of communities maintaining normal relations despite differences.
She urged the people of Kangpokpi to demonstrate that communities with distinct identities could live together harmoniously and assured them of continued efforts to promote development in the constituency and the district.
The programme also saw the distribution of water storage tanks and housing-related assistance, including galvanised iron (G.I.) sheets, to beneficiaries. Awareness sessions were conducted on women’s entrepreneurship, the Lakhpati Didi initiative and the Manipur Women Empowerment Scheme, with emphasis on economic participation and sustainable livelihoods.
Village chiefs and khullakpas, along with leaders and workers of the BJP’s Sadar Hills and Kangpokpi mandals, attended the programme.
A Naga community leader welcomed the direct interaction with Kipgen, saying it provided villagers an opportunity to raise grievances and development-related concerns with their elected representative.
Appealing for unity, the leader urged residents to abandon divisions based on community identity and work collectively for the region’s welfare.
“Let us abandon the mindset of ‘you are Kuki’ and ‘you are Naga’. Such divisions will only distance us from one another,” he said, calling for mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
He expressed hope that continued engagement between the Deputy Chief Minister and village communities would improve communication, address local concerns and help rebuild trust.