IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Wednesday said the prolonged crisis in the state has caused financial and mental hardships to the people, as his government distributed welfare benefits worth over Rs 91.66 crore to more than 2.4 lakh beneficiaries.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Social Welfare Department, Singh said the state had gone through difficult times over the past three years, disrupting the lives of its people.

“The prolonged crisis has caused financial and mental hardships to the common people to a great extent,” he said.

The chief minister said the government had taken several initiatives to address the financial difficulties faced by the people.

“This has been done under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under the guidance of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,” he said.

Expressing confidence, Singh said he hoped that the distribution of these benefits would provide some relief to the people.

He urged people from all communities to consider themselves as Manipuris and contribute towards building a better state.

Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said many families had faced immense hardship in recent years.

“Women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, widows and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have faced the greatest burden,” he said.

He further said it is the shared responsibility of all to ensure that they receive the care, protection, support, and opportunities they deserve and that today’s event reflects the government’s strong commitment to inclusive development, social justice, and the welfare of every section of society.

During the programme, benefits were distributed to nearly 2,40,758 beneficiaries with a total fund outlay of Rs 91,66,50,772.

The beneficiaries received assistance under 17 different schemes of the Social Welfare Department.

Singh also formally launched the Integrated Monthly Pension Processing System to ensure faster, transparent, and more efficient pension services. (Source: PTI)