State celebrates statehood day 2025

Imphal: Manipur celebrated its Statehood Day 2025 with a solemn function held at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles Parade Ground today with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh as the Chief Guest.The celebration was also attended by Ministers, Member of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, Director General of Police and senior civil and police officials among others.

The main highlight of the celebration was the taking of the General Salute and inspection of Parade by the Chief Minister. March Past by 12 contingents and performance of Combined Band Platoons form an attention-grabbing part of the celebration. The Parade Commander of the contingents was Superintendent of Police, Sports Smt. L. Sarita Devi.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stated that everyone knows the current situation of Manipur and as such, we have been standing together facing the challenges.

Speaking on the General Knowledge book named ‘Know Manipur’ which was released today, the Chief Minister mentioned that the State has 33 to 34 recognised tribes and people belonging to one tribe hardly knows about the culture and traditions of others. He continued that people of the State acquired certain knowledge of mainland India through different books. However, lack of knowledge on the unique culture, tradition, history, geography, flora and faunas of our own State can be seen among our youths, due to the lack of proper general knowledge books on Manipur. As such, the book had been released on the occasion of the Statehood Day considering its significance.

N Biren Singh stressed the need to make the book available in every school and to organise regular competitions based on the general knowledge of the State.

Highlighting some welfare schemes implemented by the State Government, the Chief Minister maintained Manipur could march faster towards development, only when its people could live their life with dignity. As such, the State Government had been giving utmost priority to improve the living standard of its people, he added.

The Chief Minister continued that the present Government, in its first term, had introduced the ‘War on Drugs’ Campaign to save the future generations, considering the serious impact of drug addiction among the youths. He added that drastic changes could be seen in the State after the introduction of the campaign, informing that drugs worth around Rs. 70,000 crore had been confiscated so far. Many drug factories had been busted, arresting persons involved. He informed that more than 30,000 hectares of poppy plantation had been destroyed so far.

He expressed the need to collectively take a pledge to stand together to eradicate drug menace from the State, facing all the challenges and barriers ahead.

N Biren Singh mentioned that the Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) scheme had earlier provided benefits for cashless treatment cover up to Rs. 2 lakhs. However, upon improvement of economic condition of the State, the cover amount had been increased to Rs. 5 lakhs. He informed that the scheme had benefitted more than 2 lakhs people, expending more than Rs. 280 crores so far from the State’s exchequer. Apart from this, around 3 lakhs people had been benefitted under Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY), he added.

He further stated that the Health For all scheme which provides door-to-door health screening for primary health care and chronic disease management had covered around 300 villages so far. He spoke on the welfare schemes in the education sector including School Fagathansi Mission, STAR Education, College Fagathansi Mission, Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Civil Services Coaching and others. He also mentioned other schemes initiated for development of other sectors.

The Chief Minister also informed that RCC retaining walls had been constructed in most river banks with a cost of around Rs. 460 crores, to mitigate flooding in nearby areas. He also mentioned the Chief Minister’s Green Manipur Mission, Lamphelpat Waterbody Rejuvenation Project, Loktak Rejuvenation Project and other initiatives to develop a ring road around the Loktak Lake to avoid encroachment.

He informed the Government had come up with the Imphal River Project with an estimated cost of around Rs. 80 crores. He further informed that the agreement for the construction of concrete road in Imphal areas with a cost of Rs. 3,300 crores would be hopefully signed during this month. The concrete road would last for around 30 to 40 years and wouldn’t require frequent repairing.

N Biren Singh also informed that around Rs. 100 crores had been sanctioned for development of healthcare facilities in hill districts including Chandel, Ukhrul, Jiribam, Senapati, and Tamenglong. The healthcare facilities will have access to advanced medical facilities like CT scan, MRI, ICU services, and super-specialty care, he added.

He expressed thankfulness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, under whose supervision, the three major bridges namely Makru, Barak, and Irang along the National Highway-37 had been constructed, making them pliable all throughout the year.

He maintained that the State Government doesn’t differentiate hills and valleys in its development works, stating that the Government is committed to bring equal development across the State.

He informed that the Government is coming up with a solar power project worth Rs. 34 crores with a capacity of 6.5 MW at Thoubal Project Waterbody. He added that certain development projects had been taken up in other sectors as well.

Speaking on the barriers faced in implementing various development projects, he urged not to play politics in carrying out development projects.

The Chief Minister further informed that he had sent a letter to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to include a provision for making available the question papers too, for Manipur literature optional paper in both Bengali and Meitei Mayek scripts in the Civil Service (Main) Examination. He expressed hopefulness that the Minister will acknowledge its importance.

He raised concern on the influx of illegal migrants and appealed to the public to remain vigil and alert. Speaking on the many instances of arrest of defaulters of ILP norms, he asked the concerned authorities to be sincere in performing their duties.

He asked the police personnel to perform their duties with sincerity and dedication. He appealed to all the Government officials to possess the sense of responsibility and ownership and not to be reluctant in going to their place of posting. He continued that only a disciplined society could march forward towards development, appealing to all to contribute their part in making a stronger Manipur and India.

During the celebration, Ratan Thiyam, renowned Indian playwright and theatre director, was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the field of art and culture. Commendation Certificates were also distributed to 9 (nine) police officers of Assam Government, including the Director General of Police, Assam for their support and assistance in providing training to new recruit constables (MR/ IRBn) of Manipur Police at the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy, Dergaon, Assam.

Apart from this, Commendation Certificates were also given to the Superintendent of Police of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur District and SDPO (late) Chingtham Anandkumar. Late Chingtham Anandkumar’s mother and wife received the commendation on his behalf.

A general knowledge book named ‘Know Manipur Vol-1’ was also released by the Chief Minister on the occasion.