In a significant administrative move aimed at restoring normalcy and fostering social cohesion, the Governor of Manipur has officially constituted District-Level Peace Committees across all districts of the state, with each panel to be chaired by the respective District Magistrate. According to an official notification issued on Tuesday, this strategic initiative is designed to substantially improve the prevailing law and order situation by strengthening peacebuilding mechanisms through sustained dialogue, active community engagement, and targeted confidence-building measures. The creation of these localized bodies follows a specific inquiry by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the establishment of a unified framework for communal harmony, which subsequently prompted Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s announcement on October 24 regarding plans to build an all-inclusive representative body encompassing all 36 communities residing within the state. To ensure broad-based participation and genuine local representation, each district committee will feature a wide-ranging membership that includes Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional Officers, Sub-Deputy Collectors, and other key administration officials. Beyond government functionaries, the committees will incorporate local community leaders, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, media representatives, retired civil servants, healthcare professionals, academicians, and additional respected stakeholders as deemed appropriate by the committee chairman. The newly formed committees have been assigned 13 comprehensive Terms of Reference along with 4 core functions aimed at addressing grassroots tensions, countering misinformation, and promoting inter-community trust. To maintain operational momentum and ensure proactive governance, the committees are officially mandated to convene at least once every fortnight, with the flexibility to hold more frequent meetings based on the dynamic security requirements of each district. By institutionalizing structured dialogue at the district level, the Manipur state government seeks to bridge social divides, mitigate potential conflict points, and establish a durable baseline for long-term peace and stability across the region.
Manipur Advances Peacebuilding Effort with Multi-Community District Committees
