Manipur's OBC, SC and Minority Affairs Department highlighted scholarships, skill development, hostels, PM-AJAY, PMJVK and welfare schemes benefiting students, minority communities and internally displaced persons.
Imphal, August 3: The Manipur Government is expanding its welfare programmes for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), minority communities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through scholarships, skill development, educational infrastructure and community development initiatives, officials of the Directorate of OBC, SC and Minority Affairs said during the ninth edition of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations' (DIPR) "Meet the Press" programme on Tuesday.
The department outlined a range of Central and State-funded schemes aimed at improving educational access, enhancing employability and strengthening infrastructure for socially and economically disadvantaged communities across the state. The briefing was led by Director Dr. Yumnam Suraj Singh, accompanied by Joint Directors Smt. Linda Ningombam and Md. Salaudin Khan, along with Field Inspectors Shri K. Ricky Sharma and Smt. M. Ranjita.
Scholarships Reach More Than 1.28 Lakh OBC and SC Students
Addressing journalists, Dr. Suraj Singh said the Directorate is implementing several Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment alongside State Plan programmes to promote socio-economic and educational development.
He said financial assistance is being provided to eligible OBC and SC students through the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes, covering education from school level up to Ph.D. studies under a 90:10 Centre-State funding pattern. The annual family income ceiling for beneficiaries is Rs 2.50 lakh.
During the last four academic years, the Directorate awarded:
771 OBC Pre-Matric Scholarships
98,631 OBC Post-Matric Scholarships
3,445 SC Pre-Matric Scholarships
25,406 SC Post-Matric Scholarships
Online applications for the 2026-27 academic session are currently being accepted through the National Scholarship Portal until September 30, 2026.
New Hostels Near Completion
To improve residential facilities for students, the department is constructing two 100-bedded OBC Boys' Hostels at Sainik School, Imphal.
Each hostel is being built at a cost of Rs 3.50 crore and is nearing completion. The officials said the facilities are expected to improve access to quality education by providing accommodation for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
PM-AJAY Supporting Village Development and Livelihoods
Dr. Suraj Singh highlighted the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), which focuses on improving the socio-economic condition of Scheduled Castes through village development, infrastructure creation, livelihood promotion and skill development.
Under the scheme's Adarsh Gram Component, 20 of the 21 selected SC-majority villages in Manipur have been declared Adarsh Grams since 2018-19.
The department has also received approval for a Perspective Plan worth Rs 2,195.25 lakh covering the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 under the Grants-in-Aid component. The plan aims to benefit 2,880 people through infrastructure support, skill training and income-generating activities.
For 2026-27, an Annual Action Plan worth Rs 2,284.73 lakh has been submitted to the Government of India.
Under the hostel component of PM-AJAY, eight 100-bedded hostels for Scheduled Caste students are under construction with full Central funding, and five of them are nearing completion.
Skill Development Programmes Expanded
The Directorate is also implementing the State-funded Economic Skill Development Programme (ESDP), which offers National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)-compliant training along with toolkits for successful trainees.
During 2025-26, the programme aims to train 1,363 beneficiaries drawn from General, OBC, SC communities and Internally Displaced Persons, with a project cost of Rs 135.89 lakh.
Officials said the initiative is intended to improve employability and create livelihood opportunities through market-oriented vocational training.
Free Coaching for School Students
Educational support is also being extended through the Chief Minister's Lairik Heiminnashi Programme, which provides six months of free remedial coaching for OBC and SC students studying in Classes VIII to XII.
For 2025-26, the programme has received an allocation of Rs 60 lakh to operate 10 coaching centres covering 1,040 students across the state.
Special Focus on Internally Displaced Persons
Dr. Suraj Singh said the Directorate has accorded special priority to Internally Displaced Persons affected by the ongoing ethnic conflict.
Under the Economic Skill Development Programme, 771 OBC and SC IDPs received skill training during 2023-24, while another 509 beneficiaries were covered during 2024-25. The department has proposed skill training for 681 more OBC and SC IDPs during 2025-26.
Additionally, under the PM-AJAY Grants-in-Aid component, 1,440 Scheduled Caste IDPs have been proposed for skill training during the 2023-24 to 2025-26 period.
Overall, 3,401 OBC and SC IDPs are expected to benefit under these initiatives with a cumulative financial outlay of Rs 10.59 crore.
Minority Affairs Department Highlights Infrastructure Growth
Turning to the Minority Affairs Department, Dr. Suraj Singh said several Central and State-funded schemes are being implemented to strengthen education, infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and welfare services for minority communities.
He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), which supports community infrastructure in areas with more than 25 per cent minority population within a 15-kilometre radius.
Since the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, a total of 650 projects involving 17,799 units have been approved in Manipur under PMJVK at an estimated cost of Rs 1,183.63 crore.
According to the department, 17,755 units have already been completed, while 41 remain under implementation and three have been dropped.
During 2026-27, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the State Government have released Rs 50.56 crore for PMJVK projects, of which Rs 13.51 crore has already been utilised.
Officials also said that 11 projects worth Rs 69.07 crore have been inaugurated during 2025-26 and 2026-27, while another eight projects valued at Rs 31.25 crore are ready for inauguration.
Major infrastructure projects include the development of Tamenglong College, Pettigrew College in Ukhrul, ten Working Women Hostels, thirteen Model Residential Schools and several public infrastructure projects in minority concentration areas.
Skill Development and Cultural Preservation
The department is also implementing the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme, which seeks to enhance skill development among minority youth while preserving traditional arts and cultural heritage.
Under the scheme, 26 projects worth Rs 298.39 crore have been submitted to the Ministry of Minority Affairs for approval during 2025-26.
In addition, the Minority Affairs Department's Economic and Skill Development Programme will provide NSQF-compliant training and toolkits to 1,069 beneficiaries during 2025-26. Half of the beneficiaries will be drawn from minority communities and the remaining half from Internally Displaced Persons.
The programme has an approved project cost of Rs 1.07 crore, with applications currently being received through the departmental portal.
Coaching and Skill Support for Minority Students and IDPs
Under the Chief Minister's Lairik Heiminnashi Programme, free remedial coaching was conducted at 12 centres during 2024-25, benefiting 1,342 minority students.
For 2025-26, the programme has been allocated Rs 60 lakh to operate nine coaching centres targeting 920 students.
The department also reported that 753 minority IDPs received skill training during 2023-24. Another 391 beneficiaries have been proposed for training during 2024-25 and 535 during 2025-26.
Altogether, 1,679 minority IDPs are expected to benefit under the programme with a cumulative outlay of Rs 2.25 crore.
Concluding the briefing, Dr. Suraj Singh said both the OBC, SC and Minority Affairs Directorates remain committed to promoting inclusive development through expanded educational opportunities, skill development, infrastructure creation, cultural preservation and targeted support for vulnerable communities across Manipur.
