The Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking phased establishment of nine priority colleges and specialized institutions to support economic recovery, livelihood restoration, and skills rebuilding amid the continuing fallout of the violence that began on May 3, 2023. Proposal submitted to the Chief Minister seeks veterinary, agronomy, fisheries, horticulture, apiculture, floriculture, herbal medicine, renewable energy and mithun research institutions. The memorandum was signed and submitted by AIMS President Mayanglambam Khelendro Singh, Directors N. Ratan (Kapu) Meetei, and Dr. Atom Sunil Singh. According to AIMS, Manipur’s economy has suffered prolonged disruption—affecting jobs, household incomes, small businesses, education continuity and rural livelihoods—with many families facing displacement and homelessness. It also pointed to continuing mobility and supply-chain disruptions, including constraints on safe and predictable movement along key routes, which increase costs for ordinary people.
In many cases, AIMS said, air travel becomes the most viable option for long-distance movement, but it is unaffordable for a large section of the population, especially poor households and students. “Manipur’s recovery needs an education-led livelihood strategy—skills, jobs and lawful income pathways—so that families can return to normal life and youth can rebuild their future inside Manipur,” the AIMS signatories said. It proposed phased establishment of priority institutions – Veterinary College; Agronomy College; Fishery College; Horticulture College; Apiculture (Honeybee Research/Training); Floriculture Institute; Centre of Excellence in Herbal & Traditional Medicine; Renewable Energy College; and National Mithun Research Centre.
AIMS said that these institutions would directly contribute to recovery by creating local employment and skilled manpower; strengthening agriculture and allied sectors that absorb large numbers of workers; reducing the need for students to leave Manipur for professional education, and improving rural incomes through stronger services, research, training and value-chain development. AIMS requested the government to consider a time-bound roadmap, including a multi-department Task Group within 30 days to finalize phasing, sites and implementation models, and to link training programmes with measurable job and enterprise outcomes, with priority support for displaced and crisis-affected youth.
