Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Keisham Meghachandra Singh on Tuesday stated that the allocation of Rs 734 crore for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Budget Estimates for 2026–27 is inadequate to address the losses suffered by those affected by the violence in the state.
Raising the issue during the discussion on the state budget in the ongoing session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Meghachandra Singh said the amount earmarked for IDPs was too small considering the scale of damage and displacement caused by the conflict.
He told the House that thousands of people had lost their homes, properties, vehicles and sources of livelihood during the violence and were still living in relief camps or temporary shelters. In this context, he said, the allocation of Rs 734 crore should not be seen as adequate to meet the needs of the affected families.
Stating that the rehabilitation of displaced people remains a major humanitarian challenge, Meghachandra Singh maintained that both the state and the Centre have a responsibility to ensure proper compensation and assistance to those who suffered losses during the unrest.
The CLP leader also raised questions regarding the proposed women empowerment scheme mentioned in the budget, under which Rs 350 crore has been earmarked for around 3.5 lakh women in the state. He sought clarification from the government on the modalities of the scheme and asked how the funds would be distributed among the beneficiaries.
Responding to the queries, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh acknowledged that the allocation for IDPs might not be sufficient but pointed out that financial assistance had been extended for the displaced people continuously over the past three financial years.
The Chief Minister informed the House that support for IDPs had been provided since the financial years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26. He added that the government is in the process of issuing a notification regarding the women empowerment scheme, after which further details on its implementation will be made available.
The issue of relief, rehabilitation and compensation for internally displaced persons has remained a key concern during discussions in the Assembly, with members raising questions on the adequacy of support measures and the long-term rehabilitation of those affected by the conflict in the state.