Manipur CM Khemchand Singh urges end to bribery in nurse regularisation
Synopsis
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh publicly condemned bribery in nurse regularisation at JNIMS, Imphal — where an FIR had already been filed — and pledged government support only through legitimate channels. The remarks put more than 200 contractual nurses on notice while raising wider questions about how pandemic-era healthcare recruits across India are being treated.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 14 September called for an immediate end to bribery in the regularisation of contractual employees.
An FIR had already been lodged over alleged bribery linked to the regularisation of nurses, which had also attracted media coverage.
More than 200 nurses were appointed on a contractual basis in Manipur during the Covid-19 pandemic .
The CM assured that legitimate regularisation claims would be reviewed through due process , but only through proper and transparent channels.
He inaugurated multiple healthcare projects at JNIMS, Porompat , including a Liquid Medical Oxygen Plant , AMRIT Pharmacy , and two Mobile Medical Units for Saikul and Jiribam .
Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur attended the programme alongside other senior officials.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday, 14 September called for an immediate halt to the practice of seeking regularisation of contractual employees through bribery, asserting that genuine service, dedication, and contribution must form the only basis for evaluating such claims. The appeal was made during his address at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Porompat, Imphal, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple healthcare projects.
The Bribery Controversy
The Chief Minister's remarks came directly in response to media reports of alleged bribery linked to the regularisation of nurses, which had resulted in the lodging of an FIR. Khemchand Singh expressed serious concern over the reports, warning that employees who had rendered dedicated service — especially during the Covid-19 pandemic — must not resort to corrupt practices to secure their positions.
He noted that more than 200 nurses had been appointed on a contractual basis in the state, necessitated by the heightened demands of the healthcare sector during the pandemic period. These employees, he stressed, deserved to have their legitimate claims assessed through proper and transparent channels — not through financial inducements.
Government's Position on Regularisation
Khemchand Singh was clear that the state government would stand behind employees who perform their duties with honesty, dedication, and dignity. He assured that legitimate regularisation concerns would be examined through due process, urging contractual staff to approach the government with confidence rather than resorting to unfair means.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged that Manipur has faced economic constraints that led several government departments to rely on contractual hiring arrangements over the years. However, he made clear that using bribery as a shortcut to permanent employment must cease 'from this very day.'
Healthcare Projects Launched at JNIMS
Alongside his address, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a range of infrastructure and digital health projects at JNIMS. These included a Multipurpose Gym, an Autoclave Machine at the CSSD, a C-arm Digital R90 Digital Radiology and Fluoroscopy System, the Cardio Hospital Management Information System under the e-Gov Foundation, the JNIMS-EMS (Employee Management System), SBI Collect, and a Liquid Medical Oxygen Plant under NESIDS (OTRI).
He also laid the foundation stone for a College of Nursing at JNIMS under NESIDS (OTRI) of the Union Ministry of DoNER, and inaugurated the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy, a Unified Health Portal, and two Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) aimed at delivering healthcare to vulnerable and remote populations in Saikul and Jiribam.
What This Signals for Contractual Employees
The Chief Minister's public rebuke of bribery — delivered at a high-profile institutional event — signals that the state government intends to tighten oversight of regularisation processes. Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur and other senior officials were also present at the programme.
This comes amid broader concerns across Indian states about the opacity of contractual-to-permanent employment pathways in the public health sector, where thousands of pandemic-era recruits remain in regulatory limbo. The filing of an FIR in this instance suggests that authorities are willing to act on such allegations, at least under public pressure. How the government balances legitimate service claims with due process will be closely watched by Manipur's contractual healthcare workforce in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Leaving hundreds of healthcare workers in years-long uncertainty. Calling out corrupt practices at a press-covered inauguration is important, but the more substantive question — when and how these contractual workers will be regularised on merit — remains unanswered. With an FIR already in place, the government's credibility now depends on whether the investigation proceeds independently or fades quietly. Manipur is not unique; across India, pandemic-era healthcare recruits have been caught in precisely this trap of informal employment and opaque regularisation pathways.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh speak out against bribery in nurse regularisation?
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh raised the issue after media reports emerged about alleged bribery in connection with the regularisation of contractual nurses, which had led to the filing of an FIR. He used his address at JNIMS, Imphal, on 14 September to urge all contractual employees to seek regularisation only through legitimate and transparent channels.
How many nurses are affected by the contractual regularisation issue in Manipur?
More than 200 nurses were appointed on a contractual basis in Manipur, primarily due to the increased healthcare demands during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their regularisation status remains subject to due process, according to the Chief Minister.
What action has been taken over the alleged bribery in nurse regularisation?
An FIR has been lodged in connection with the alleged bribery for nurse regularisation in Manipur, and the case had also received media coverage prior to the Chief Minister's remarks. The government has not yet publicly detailed the status of the investigation.
What healthcare projects were launched at JNIMS, Imphal on 14 September?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several projects at JNIMS, including a Multipurpose Gym, Liquid Medical Oxygen Plant, C-arm Digital Radiology System, AMRIT Pharmacy, a Unified Health Portal, and two Mobile Medical Units for Saikul and Jiribam. He also laid the foundation stone for a College of Nursing under NESIDS (OTRI).
What did Manipur CM say the government will do for contractual employees with legitimate claims?
CM Khemchand Singh assured that the government would support employees who discharge their duties with honesty and dedication, and that legitimate concerns about regularisation would be examined through due process. He urged contractual staff to approach the government with confidence and dignity rather than resorting to bribery or other unfair means.
