Manipur Cabinet approves Rs 10 lakh each for families of 49 persons missing since the 2023 violence, with Rs 4.90 crore to be paid from State funds.
Imphal, Oct. 1: The Manipur Cabinet has approved a one-time ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of 49 persons who have remained missing since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, citing the prolonged hardship faced by their families despite sustained efforts to trace them.
The Cabinet approved the Home Department's proposal as a special humanitarian measure, with the total financial implication of Rs 4.90 crore to be met from State Government funds. The decision covers persons who have remained untraced despite sustained search efforts.
Under the law, a missing person is presumed dead only after seven years. As that period has not been completed in these cases, documents such as death certificates and post-mortem reports required under the Central scheme for assistance to families of deceased victims are not available.
The Cabinet noted that the families of the 49 missing persons have suffered hardship comparable to that of families whose members were killed in the violence. Families of deceased victims had earlier been provided Rs 10 lakh each in ex-gratia assistance.
The approved payment will provide financial assistance to the affected families without requiring them to wait for the statutory seven-year period. The entire expenditure of Rs 4.90 crore will be borne by the State Government.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to enhance ex-gratia assistance for Army and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel killed or injured in extremist violence or related actions while operating in Manipur.
The existing rates, fixed in 2006, provide Rs 2 lakh in the event of death and Rs 10,000 for injury. These will be brought on par with the rates applicable to State Police personnel.
Under the revised rates, the assistance will be 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 expenditure will be borne by the State Government.
The Cabinet further approved the constitution of the Fifth Manipur State Finance Commission for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The commission will review the finances of Panchayats, Autonomous District Councils and Municipalities and recommend the sharing of State taxes and grants-in-aid with these local bodies.
The award period of the Fourth State Finance Commission will continue until the action taken report of the Fifth Commission is notified.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Information and Public Relations Department to enhance pension benefits for retired journalists under the Manipur Working Journalists' Pension Rules, 1996.
Under the approved revision, the monthly pension for retired journalists will increase from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, while the family pension for families of deceased journalists will rise from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.
The rates were last revised in 2020. The rules will be amended to give effect to the revised pension rates. With 20 beneficiaries in each category, the annual financial requirement will increase from Rs 31.20 lakh to Rs 40.80 lakh.
