Khemchand flags influx at NEC plenary session

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, Jun 4 : Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today took part in the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) chaired by Union Home Minister and NEC Chairman Amit Shah in Shillong, Meghalaya.
The session was also attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)  Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Governors and Chief Ministers of all North East States, said a press release issued by  the CM's Secretariat.
Khemchand Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their 'continued support' to the North Eastern region 'in promoting peace, progress, and prosperity.'
The Assam Tribune reported that Khemchand urged the Centre to expedite the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, describing the situation along the frontier as one of the most pressing security and humanitarian challenges confronting the region.
Khemchand said the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has triggered a significant influx of people into Manipur's border districts, creating multifaceted challenges for the state.
“The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has caused a large influx of persons into our border districts, placing enormous pressure on local resources, altering the demographic balance, and creating serious administrative and law enforcement challenges,” reported the Assam Tribune while quoting the Chief Minister of Manipur.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the misuse of the porous international border by transnational criminal networks.
According to him, the border has been exploited by drug traffickers, arms smugglers supplying weapons to non-State actors, and groups involved in human trafficking and other illegal activities.
Welcoming the Ministry of Home Affairs' initiative to construct a fence along the Indo-Myanmar border, Singh termed the project a long-awaited and critical step toward strengthening border security.
“This is an essential, long-overdue measure, and I urge that the fencing be completed on priority, covering the entire Manipur-Myanmar border,” he told the gathering.
He further called for enhanced focus on the Indo-Myanmar frontier through a combination of security measures and development initiatives.
These include regulated border crossings, modern surveillance infrastructure, additional border outposts, improved road connectivity and targeted border area development programmes.
“Such a regularised border regime is essential to ensure security and stability along our frontier,” he said.
Referring to the situation within Manipur, Singh said his Government inherited a difficult environment when it assumed office earlier this year and has since been working to restore normalcy, rebuild trust among communities and promote reconciliation.
He highlighted his visits to relief camps in Jiribam and Imphal, where he interacted with displaced families and community leaders.
“Jiribam has given us hope. It is the first district in Manipur where Meitei, Kuki, Paite and Hmar communities have come together on a common peace platform. This is the model we seek to replicate across the State,” he said.
During the session, the Chief Minister placed before the Council the steps taken up by the State with the help of DoNER and NEC including completion of 167 projects worth nearly Rs 1,792 crore under various schemes.
As Manipur steps forward with a renewed resolve after the May 2023 violence, the State requires enhancement of the State’s normative allocation under the DoNER Ministry and the NEC, he said. The Chief Minister further informed the session that the State Government has consistently maintained that dialogue is the only viable path forward.
He said the Government's approach is centred on ensuring justice, promoting economic inclusion, and fostering patient reconciliation among all communities.
Other reports placed by the State Government includes free treatment of 1.4 lakh beneficiaries worth more than Rs 181 crore under Ayushman Bharat and the Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang scheme, need for creation of a dedicated North East Climate Resilience Fund, and inclusion of more districts and blocks under the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programmes among others.