Imphal: The Manipur Cabinet on Friday approved the implementation of the Women Empowerment (WE) – Manipur scheme, a state initiative that the Government says will benefit 3.5 lakh women who are members of recognised self‑help groups (SHGs), an official statement said.
Scheme design and staged support
According to the statement, the scheme provides each beneficiary with a one‑time grant of ₹10,000 in the first year. The measure further envisages the provision of interest‑free loans in the second and third years, as part of a phased support package intended to strengthen micro‑enterprise and livelihood activities among SHG members.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen participated via video conference. Other attendees included Deputy Chief Minister Loshii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel and various departmental officials, the statement said.
Complementary legislative measures cleared for Assembly
In addition to the WE‑Manipur scheme, the Cabinet approved placement of several bills in the upcoming Assembly session. Those include the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (10th Amendment) Bill, 2026, a sixth amendment to the Manipur Town and Country Planning Act, 1975, and the Indian Stamp (Manipur Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Town and Country Planning amendment is described as facilitating construction activity during the period in which master plans are being prepared, an initiative officials linked to national deregulation and Ease of Doing Business reforms. The proposed changes to the Indian Stamp Act seek to revise stamp duty rates which, the statement said, have remained unchanged for decades and would help mobilise additional revenue for the state.
Recruitment measure for sportspersons
The Cabinet also granted in‑principle approval to the Manipur Police Special Recruitment Scheme for Meritorious Sportspersons, 2026. The scheme, as outlined in the statement, is intended to create a structured mechanism for recruitment, development, retention and deployment of meritorious sportspersons, utilising the existing 5 per cent reservation for sportspersons in direct recruitment to Group C and Group D posts.
What the scheme means locally
If implemented as described, the WE‑Manipur package will deliver an immediate cash injection to SHG members in the form of a grant, followed by credit support intended to be interest‑free for two years. State officials framed the arrangement as a combination of welfare and livelihood promotion targeted at women organised through recognised SHGs.
Self‑help groups play a visible role across Manipur’s rural and peri‑urban economy, often acting as platforms for savings, microcredit and small enterprise activity. The Cabinet statement did not specify the quantum of the interest‑free loans or the administrative agency that will disburse or monitor the scheme; implementation design, eligibility verification and timeline are likely to be set out in subsequent government orders or scheme guidelines.
Quick summary
- Beneficiaries: 3.5 lakh women members of recognised SHGs
- Year 1: One‑time grant of ₹10,000 per beneficiary
- Years 2–3: Interest‑free loans (details to be notified)
- Other approvals: GST (10th Amendment) Bill, Town & Country Planning Act (Sixth Amendment) Bill, Indian Stamp (Manipur Amendment) Bill, and in‑principle approval for police recruitment scheme for sportspersons
| Measure | Key element |
|---|---|
| WE‑Manipur scheme | ₹10,000 grant in year 1; interest‑free loans in years 2 and 3 for 3.5 lakh SHG members |
| Town & Country Planning (Sixth Amendment) | Allow construction during master‑plan preparation; aligned with Ease of Doing Business |
| Indian Stamp (Manipur Amendment) | Revise stamp duty rates to raise state revenue |
| Police Special Recruitment Scheme | Structured recruitment and deployment for meritorious sportspersons under 5% reservation |
Next steps and outstanding details
The Cabinet cleared the measures for placement in the Assembly and gave in‑principle approvals where indicated. Operationalisation of the WE‑Manipur scheme will depend on the issuance of detailed guidelines specifying eligibility, the mechanism for grant disbursal, the issuance and terms of interest‑free loans, and monitoring arrangements. The statement did not specify funding sources or the projected fiscal outlay for the scheme.
As the bills move to the legislative calendar, lawmakers are likely to scrutinise the proposed changes to taxation, stamp duties and planning rules in the forthcoming Assembly session.
All information above is taken from the official Cabinet statement released after the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
