Guwahati: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday said the prolonged conflict in the state had caused a decline of more than Rs 1,200 crore in GST revenue between 2023 and 2026, putting considerable pressure on the state’s economy.Khemchand, who also holds the finance portfolio, made the statement while attending the 52nd Foundation Day celebration of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union in Imphal.The chief minister also appealed to civil society organisations not to resort to bandhs and blockades, saying such actions had affected economic activity and development. He called for collective efforts to create an environment conducive to economic recovery.The claim comes against the backdrop of govt data placed before the state assembly last week showing a sharp deterioration in the state’s fiscal position since 2022-23. The data showed that the state’s outstanding liabilities rose by nearly 54% between 2021-22 and 2025-26, while total interest payments increased by 71%.Interest on internal debt rose by about 90% during the period and accounted for nearly 90% of Manipur’s total interest bill in 2025-26.Market borrowings have emerged as the main driver of the increase in internal debt. They accounted for nearly 95% of the state’s internal debt in 2025-26, compared with around 84% five years earlier.Debt growth accelerated after 2022-23. It stood at around 10% in 2023-24, rose to about 10.5% in 2024-25 and reached 13% in 2025-26—the highest annual increase since 2021-22.Loans and advances from the Centre increased more than sixfold over the five-year period. In contrast, Ways and Means Advances from Reserve Bank of India and special securities issued to National Small Savings Fund declined, while loans from financial institutions more than halved.For 2026-27, govt has made a budgetary provision for debt servicing that is 6.3% higher than the revised interest liability for 2025-26, indicating that servicing the accumulated debt will remain a major recurring commitment.The figures point to a fiscal trajectory marked by rising liabilities, increased reliance on market borrowing and a faster increase in the cost of servicing debt. The chief minister’s GST claim adds another dimension to the economic impact of the prolonged crisis, although the year-wise basis of the Rs 1,200-crore estimate was not immediately available.Pension relief for journalistsAt the event, Khemchand announced that the monthly pension for journalists would be increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, while family pension would rise from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.He said journalists who could not make contributions to DIPR Journalist Pension Scheme during the conflict would be given a one-time relaxation to reactivate their pension accounts. The proposals will be placed before the state cabinet for consideration.The chief minister also said pending advertisement bills amounting to around Rs 1 crore had been disbursed. A follow-up meeting with heads of departments has been scheduled for Sept 25 to discuss the remaining issues.Khemchand paid floral tribute at AMWJU Memorial Stone in memory of journalists who had died.
