TYCM seeks relook into Shirui Lily fest budget
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 06 2025:
Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), General Headquarters, has reportedly submitted a representation to the chief secretary urging for immediate revision of the approved budget for the 5th State Level Shirui Lily Festival 2025 .
The council called for the inclusion of essential event components and the urgent construction of necessary infrastructure at Shirui Peak to ensure the festival is more inclusive and development-oriented.
Speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday flanked by functionaries of Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs Manipur (FATYCM), TYCM general secretary Robert Gon-mei informed that the representation submitted on Tuesday referred to the 1st executive committee meeting for the festival, held on April 24 under the chairmanship of chief secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, approving a total budget allocation of Rs 6.30 crore for various activities related to the tourism-promotional event.
While acknowledging the state government's substantial investment, the secretary emphasised that the festival should not be viewed merely as an entertainment spectacle.
Instead, it must act as a vehicle for socio-economic progress, especially for the people of hill areas, and promote local entrepreneurs, youth initiatives, and indigenous farmers, he stressed.
Describing the Shirui Lily Festival as a significant cultural event that aids in the preservation of the endemic Shirui Lily and the promotion of eco-tourism, secretary Robert expressed concern that the approved budget lacks provisions for promoting local entrepreneurship and fails to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The council has proposed the introduction of competitions and exhibitions of organic and indigenous products by local entrepreneurs and farmers, as well as disability-inclusive events to ensure participation from all communities, he maintained.
The council also raised grave concerns regarding the inadequate infrastructure along the route from Shirui village to Shirui Peak.
The trail, approximately 1.5 km long, currently has only one rest house, a water tank, and two public toilets at the peak.
There are no public facilities such as rest houses or toilets along the route, and the existing staircase railing is reportedly in a dilapidated condition, elaborated the secretary.
To address these issues, TYCM proposed the construction of an alternative route with a staircase railing to ease congestion and improve safety, with separate routes designated for climbing and descending.
Other suggestions, according to Robert Gonmei, included construction of public toilets and rest houses at intermediate points along the route and at the peak, as well as renovation of the existing pathway infrastructure.
In addition to these recommendations, TYCM also flagged several budget items as over-budgeted or unjustified, including Rs 283.30 lakh for the organisation of SHIROCK, Rs 20 lakh for the Miss Shirui Lily beauty pageant, Rs 40 lakh for a drone show on the opening day, and Rs 20 lakh for a fireworks extravaganza on the closing day.
The council further questioned the Rs 25 lakh allocated for national media partnership, Rs 20 lakh listed under miscellaneous expenses, Rs 16 lakh for security and traffic management, and Rs 5.25 lakh for public transportation between Imphal and Ukhrul.
According to the council, these allocations are unnecessary given the existing resources of the state government.
The Transport Department has a fleet of its own buses and should be able to manage public transportation logistics without additional expenses.
Similarly, the police department and traffic police personnel are salaried public servants whose mandated duties include maintaining law and order and regulating traffic during public functions, explained the general secretary.
As such, he argued that the allocation for security and traffic management is redundant.
The Shirui Lily Festival, being a government-organised and government-funded event, should prioritise genuine and essential components instead of extravagant or avoidable items, he pointed out and urged the government to revise the budget accordingly and redirect resources toward infrastructure development and inclusive programming that aligns with the larger goals of cultural promotion, youth empowerment, and hill area development.
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