Manipur Cabinet approves relief for families of 49 missing persons

The Manipur Cabinet has approved a one-time special humanitarian measure to provide Rs 10 lakh in financial assistance to the next of kin of 49 persons reported missing during the ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023. Although legal norms typically presume a person dead only after seven years, the state government decided to relax these rules to address the hardships faced by the families of those who remain untraced.

The total expenditure for this aid is estimated at Rs 4.90 crore, to be funded by the state. This compensation brings the families of the missing on par with the families of deceased victims, who have already received similar payments.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved an enhancement of ex-gratia payments for Army and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel killed or injured during operations in Manipur. The new rates will match state police compensation: Rs 10 lakh for death, Rs 2 lakh for permanent disability, Rs 1 lakh for grievous injury, and Rs 20,000 for simple injury. The Cabinet also approved the constitution of the fifth Manipur State Finance Commission for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 and an increase in pensions for retired journalists.