The Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam heavily criticized the Union Budget 2024 for neglecting the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur. Dr Akoijam expressed his frustration, highlighting the budget’s omission exclaiming, “Absence thy name is Manipur—that’s what this budget says! There is no mention of flood relief or a rehabilitation package for IDPs in our state”.
The budget did address flood and irrigation issues in states such as Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, with assurances of aid for these regions. However, it failed to address the severe flooding in conflict-ridden Manipur.
The lack of a dedicated package for Manipur’s IDPs in Sitharaman’s seventh consecutive budget has attracted significant criticism. Akoijam, who recently gained attention for his maiden speech in Parliament about the Manipur crisis, expressed his disappointment with the exclusion of Manipur from the budget’s financial aid and rehabilitation plans.
This omission has heightened concerns among Manipur’s affected communities, who continue to struggle with the impacts of flooding and ongoing conflict.