Cabinet okays Rs 10 lakh aid to each family of missing persons
Hiked pension of retired scribes gets nod
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 01 2026: The State Cabinet has approved a Home Department proposal to pay Rs 10 lakh each, as a one-time special humanitarian measure, to the next of kin of 49 persons reported missing in connection with the violence since May 3, 2023 .

With Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand in the chair, a Cabinet meeting was held today at the Civil Secretariat, Mantripukhri at 5 pm today.

Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Government spokesman Dr Sapam Ranjan said that all these 49 individuals could not be traced till date despite sustained search efforts.

Cabinet okays Rs 10 lakh aid to each family of missing persons

Their families have suffered hardship to the same degree as families of deceased victims who have been paid Rs 10 lakh each.

By law, a missing person is presumed dead only after seven years but the State Government, considering the plight of the family members, has decided to give Rs 10 lakh each as a one-time special humanitarian measure to the families.

The total amount of Rs 4.90 crore needed for paying the one-time financial assistance to the next of kin of the 49 missing persons will be met from State funds.

The State cabinet has also approved a proposal of the Information and Public Relations Department to enhance pension under the Manipur Working Journalists' Pension Rules 1996 .

The monthly pension for retired journalists will be raised from Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000 and the family pension for families of deceased journalists Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 .

Rules will be amended for this purpose, the Government spokesman said.

The State Cabinet has also approved a Finance Department proposal to constitute the Fifth Manipur State Finance Commission for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 .

As per Articles 243-I and 243-Y of the Constitution, a State Finance Commission should be constituted every five years to review the finances of Panchayats and Municipalities.

The Commission will have a Chairman, a Secretary and other Members who have experience in public affairs.

It will recommend the sharing of State taxes and grants-in-aid with Pancha-yats, Autonomous District Councils and Municipalities.

The award period of the Fourth Finance Commission will continue until the Fifth Finance Commission's action taken report is notified.

Another proposal made by the Home Department to enhance the ex-gratia payable to army and CAPF personnel killed or injured in extremist violence or actions while operating in Manipur has also been approved by the State Cabinet.

The present rates of Rs two lakh for death and Rs 10,000 for injury were fixed in 2006 and these rates have become outdated, Dr Ranjan said.

As proposed by the Home Department, the rates will be brought at par with those of State Police personnel, that is; Rs 10 lakh for death, Rs two lakh for permanent disability, Rs one lakh for grievous injury and Rs 20,000 for simple injury, he said.

These rates were last revised in 2020 and no longer match the present cost of living, he added.

Dr Sapam Ranjan further informed that the Chief Minister has directed heads of departments to clear all advertisement bills owed to print and electronic media by October 31, 2026 .

The other Government spokesman, Dr Thokchom Radheshyam was also present at the press briefing.