Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has called upon NITI Aayog to take a leading role in the state's economic recovery, peace-building, and long-term development, asserting that progress is the most effective means to combat insurgency.
During an interaction with NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers of North Eastern States, Singh highlighted the significant economic, social, and developmental setbacks Manipur has faced. He specifically requested NITI Aayog's assistance in planning economic recovery, coordinating efforts across various ministries, and fostering engagement with international partners.
Connectivity was identified as a critical sector requiring substantial investment, with the Chief Minister emphasizing the early completion of projects such as the railway connection to Imphal, national highway projects, and airport terminal expansion. He also proposed the Imphal Ring Road Project and an elevated highway in Imphal.
Singh noted that Manipur's potential as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy is hindered by implementation gaps due to cross-border political instability. He proposed the establishment of a high-level "Act Fast Implementation Unit" to mitigate localized disruptions to critical cross-border logistics infrastructure. Additionally, he suggested an 'Act East Regional Coordination Cell' to synchronize border, logistics, and security policies among Northeastern states.
The Chief Minister also pointed to the potential for modernizing medical colleges like RIMS and JNIMS to serve patients from Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar. He requested NITI Aayog's coordination with the Ministry of Health to develop a Super-Specialty Tertiary Care Expansion Framework, aiming to make Manipur a medical tourism hub.
Singh further addressed the impact of internal security challenges and civil friction on private investment, leading to inflated project costs. He sought NITI Aayog's support in designing a special fiscal incentive framework, including Vulnerability Gap Funding (VGF), for infrastructure projects affected by security concerns.
He observed that financial allocations under central schemes yield less physical infrastructure in the Northeast compared to other regions due to the difficult terrain. Singh suggested NITI Aayog could help formulate a 'Terrain-Weighted Cost Index Matrix' to provide Northeastern states with a 20-30% fiscal premium for central fund distributions.
Given Manipur's heavy reliance on central grants, with its own tax revenue comprising only about 10% of receipts, Singh requested NITI Aayog's assistance in preparing a roadmap to enhance the state's fiscal capacity. This includes interventions like a Fiscal Stabilisation Grant, flexibility in central scheme funding, and leveraging support from multilateral development banks.