Manipur Youth League Questions Government's Failure to Distribute Financial Assistance to Women

: The Manipur Youth League (MAYOL) has questioned the state government’s failure to distribute the promised Rs 10,000 financial assistance to 3.5 lakh women before Ningol Chakouba . The organisation alleged that the Rs 350-crore scheme could be turned into a political tool ahead of the next Assembly election. In a press statement, MAYOL Publicity Secretary Konjengbam Samananda expressed concern that the government might announce another deadline, possibly promising the payment before Christmas, without ensuring its actual implementation. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had announced the one-time financial grant under the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) while presenting the 2026-27 State Budget on March 8, 2026. MAYOL pointed to the absence of clear information regarding beneficiary selection, the department responsible for implementing the scheme, the payment schedule and whether the assistance would be released in a single instalment. The organisation also sought clarification on whether women who are not members of Self-Help Groups would qualify for the benefit. It called on the government to disclose the eligibility conditions and the criteria for including or excluding applicants. Raising concerns over the possible politicisation of the scheme, MAYOL alleged that ruling party MLAs could influence the selection of beneficiaries through women’s workers at the constituency level to gain electoral support. Samananda stressed that the Rs 350-crore allocation came from public tax revenue and was not party funding. He called for transparency and accountability in the selection and distribution process. Questioning the government’s failure to meet its commitment of disbursing the assistance before Ningol Chakouba , the youth organisation urged the concerned departments to explain when and how the money would reach eligible women. MAYOL warned that further delays and a lack of clear communication could weaken public confidence in the administration.