Imphal, Nov 3 (NationPress) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar reassured state officials that the Central government will offer comprehensive support aimed at fostering the overall development and advancement of Manipur.

During a high-level meeting at the Old Secretariat in Imphal on Monday, MoS Kumar assessed various Central schemes and the 10 percent Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).

A senior official disclosed that the Union Minister, who arrived in Imphal on the same day, received updates on the “Fund Released by MHA” for relief operations, as well as for the resettlement and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by ethnic violence.

In the course of the meeting, Kumar evaluated numerous programs and policies from various Central Ministries, Departments, and Organizations (including MHA), aimed at the prompt execution of flagship and other initiatives.

He scrutinized the status of differing programs facilitated by various departments under the state government across multiple sectors, such as Health, Education, Transport and Connectivity, Power, Tourism, Rural Development, Housing, Agriculture and Food Processing, Handloom, Handicrafts, and Textiles.

The Minister was informed about “Action Plans” designed to enhance these sectors within a specified timeline. When inquiring about tourism figures, he learned that the influx of visitors to the state plummeted from over 179,000 (comprising 167,000 domestic and 12,000 foreign) in 2019-20 to roughly 17,000 (with 15,700 domestic and 1,300 foreign) in 2024-25.

The official noted that this decline is largely attributed to civil ethnic unrest, compounded by soaring airfare as a significant deterrent for tourists.

Anurag Bajpai, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and additional Chief Secretary, urged the visiting minister to address this issue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, mentioning that the state has previously communicated its concerns to the Ministry.

The Union Minister also examined projects initiated under the 10 percent Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), alongside the expenditures incurred thus far during the meeting. Moreover, he reviewed the progress of the National Oil Palm Mission, which was recently launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare.

State government officials elaborated on the potential, challenges, and action plan concerning this Mission. Various flagship schemes of the Central government and initiatives introduced by the state government were discussed during the meeting, attended by administrative Secretaries from various state Departments, heads of departments, and other senior officials.

Later that evening, Kumar visited Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.