UKHRUL: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, at Lok Bhavan in Imphal on January 6, 2026.
The memorandum urged the portfolio of Minister-in-Charge of the Minor Irrigation Department be allotted to a member of the Council of Ministers instead of the Chief Minister once a popular government is formed in the State.
TYCM pointed out that under previous governments—both during the Congress and BJP regimes—the Minor Irrigation portfolio was held by the Chief Minister. During these periods, developmental programmes and works undertaken by the department failed to adequately reach the tribal and hill areas of Manipur.
The organisation attributed this to limited direct engagement with tribal communities, inadequate understanding of their grievances, minimal field interaction, and a lack of transparency.
The council further stated that over the years, key schemes such as the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) through NABARD, and other projects under the Minor Irrigation Department have not been effectively implemented in the hill districts.
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According to TYCM, the heavy responsibilities and demanding schedule of the Chief Minister made it difficult for people from remote and far-flung tribal areas to access the Chief Minister regularly to raise issues related to minor irrigation works and programmes. As a result, the genuine needs and concerns of tribal communities remained largely unaddressed.
TYCM maintained that assigning the Minor Irrigation portfolio to a member of the Council of Ministers would ensure better accessibility, regular interaction, and effective communication with tribal communities.
This, the council said, would help in accurately identifying local needs and ensuring the effective implementation of minor irrigation schemes, leading to much-needed development in Manipur’s hill areas.