Manipur CM Khemchand Singh urges unity for economic revival, vows open dialogue
Synopsis
Manipur's Chief Minister has put a number to the cost of the state's ethnic crisis — ₹1,300 crore in revenue losses over three years and a ₹475 crore GST shortfall in a single year — while invoking Singapore as a model and calling for dialogue over bandhs. The appeal reflects how far the state still has to travel on the road to normalcy.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh called for collective economic efforts at the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan event in Imphal on 22 September 2026 .
Ethnic violence since 3 May 2023 has caused a revenue loss of approximately ₹1,300 crore over three years and a GST shortfall of around ₹475 crore in FY 2023-24.
The CM appealed to residents to avoid bandhs and blockades, stressing that 'the government's doors remain open for dialogue.' The Census-2027 exercise was deferred in Manipur after the state government raised concerns with the Centre; the Inner Line Permit (ILP) was extended to the state in 2019 .
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan runs from 17 September to 17 October 2026 , marking PM Modi's 25 years of public service.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, called for collective efforts to revive the state's battered economy and reaffirmed that the government remained open to dialogue on any issue. He was speaking at the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programme organised by the Imphal West District Administration at Khoyathong Multipurpose Community Hall in Imphal.
Economic Toll of the Ethnic Crisis
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister directly acknowledged the economic damage wrought by the ethnic violence that erupted on 3 May 2023. He said the unprecedented situation had caused a loss of approximately ₹475 crore in GST collection during the financial year 2023-24, and an overall revenue loss of around ₹1,300 crore over the past three years. Bandhs and blockades, he stressed, had particularly hurt daily wage earners and those dependent on routine economic activity.
Khemchand Singh appealed to residents to refrain from bandhs and blockades and instead channel grievances through their respective MLAs or directly to the government. "The government's doors remain open for dialogue," he said, adding that problems could be resolved through discussion.
Singapore as a Model for Unity
Drawing an international parallel, the Chief Minister cited Singapore as an example of a small, multi-community nation that had achieved a high level of economic development through collective resolve. He noted that despite its diversity, Singapore's people identify as Singaporeans first and work together toward national progress. He urged the people of Manipur to adopt a similar spirit and contribute to the realisation of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
Census Deferment and Inner Line Permit
Khemchand Singh also addressed the recent deferment of the Census-2027 exercise in Manipur, stating that the state government had taken up the concerns of its people with the Centre, which subsequently deferred the census in view of local aspirations. He additionally highlighted that the Centre had extended the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to Manipur in 2019 to safeguard the interests of indigenous communities.
Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and Last-Mile Delivery
The event was part of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, a national observance that began on 17 September — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday — marking 25 years of his public service. The programme will continue until 17 October 2026 and is being conducted across Assembly constituencies to assess whether government schemes have reached intended beneficiaries. Wherever gaps are identified, the Chief Minister said, the government would take corrective steps to ensure last-mile delivery. During the event, Khemchand Singh visited more than 30 service counters and stalls showcasing schemes and services of various departments.
As Manipur looks to rebuild, the Chief Minister's appeal for unity and structured dialogue signals that the state government is actively seeking to restore economic normalcy, even as deep social fractures from the ethnic conflict remain unresolved.
Point of View
300 crore in revenue losses is notable for its candour, but it also underlines how little economic ground Manipur has recovered more than three years after the ethnic violence began. Invoking Singapore is aspirational; the harder question is whether a state still divided along ethnic lines can replicate that model's precondition — a shared civic identity. The appeal to channel grievances through MLAs rather than bandhs is sound governance advice, but its effectiveness depends on whether those very MLAs command cross-community trust. The deferment of Census-2027 may reassure some, yet it postpones a reckoning with demographic data that will eventually be unavoidable.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What economic losses has Manipur suffered due to the ethnic violence?
According to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Manipur suffered a GST collection loss of approximately ₹475 crore in FY 2023-24 and an overall revenue loss of around ₹1,300 crore over the three years since ethnic violence erupted on 3 May 2023. These figures were cited at the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programme in Imphal on 22 September 2026.
Why has the Census-2027 exercise been deferred in Manipur?
The Centre deferred the Census-2027 exercise in Manipur after the state government conveyed the concerns and aspirations of its people to the Central government, according to Chief Minister Khemchand Singh. The deferment is seen as a response to anxieties among indigenous communities about demographic enumeration in a conflict-affected state.
What is the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and why is it being held?
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan is a month-long national programme running from 17 September to 17 October 2026, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of public service. It is being organised across Assembly constituencies to assess whether government schemes have reached eligible beneficiaries and to improve last-mile delivery.
What did Manipur CM Khemchand Singh say about bandhs and blockades?
The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Manipur to refrain from bandhs and blockades, arguing they harm daily wage earners and common citizens the most. He urged residents to raise grievances through their MLAs or directly with the government, stating that 'the government's doors remain open for dialogue.'
What is the Inner Line Permit system in Manipur?
The Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a travel document required for non-indigenous Indian citizens to enter certain protected states. The Centre extended the ILP system to Manipur in 2019 to safeguard the interests of the state's indigenous communities from demographic change.
