Last Updated on May 24, 2025 by SPN Editor
When President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, it was presented as a necessary measure to quell the ethnic violence that has scarred the state since May 2023. The central government’s intervention promised stability, security, and a path toward reconciliation. Yet, for the Meitei farmers of Thinungei in Bishnupur District, this constitutional mechanism has failed to deliver. Prohibited by Central security forces from tilling their fields yesterday, these Meitei farmers face not only economic devastation but also a profound erosion of their dignity and livelihood. This situation casts a troubling shadow over the efficacy of President’s Rule and raises questions about the central government’s commitment to restoring normalcy for Manipuri farmers.
The Meitei farmers of Thinungei, like many in Manipur’s violence-prone foothills, have been ensnared in the attack by Kuki terrorists since May 3, 2023. Fertile fields, particularly those abutting the hills, have become contested spaces, with reports of Kuki “village defense volunteers” allegedly firing on farmers to prevent cultivation.
Meitei farmers must have gone to their farms as the State Police have said there are no such buffer zones in the State now. For a state where agriculture sustains the majority of livelihoods, this enforced idleness has been catastrophic. A 2023 report by Loumee Shinmee Apunba Lup estimated that paddy crops on 9,719 hectares in violence-affected areas, including Bishnupur, faced failure due to restricted access, resulting in an income loss of Rs 226.5 crore. For families already grappling with displacement and loss, this economic blow is devastating.
The imposition of President’s Rule was intended to provide a neutral administration capable of addressing such crises. However, the continued restrictions on Thinungei’s farmers suggest a troubling disconnect between policy and ground reality. Security forces, tasked with restoring order, appear to prioritize containment over enabling livelihoods. Meitei farmers report being granted only fleeting windows—sometimes a single day—to tend vast tracts of land, a measure that is woefully inadequate. The central government’s ₹38.6 crore relief package, announced in December 2023, offers little solace when farmers are denied access to their primary source of income: their fields. This raises a critical question: if President’s Rule cannot facilitate the resumption of essential economic activities, what purpose does it serve?
The plight of Thinungei’s farmers reflects a broader failure to address the human cost of Manipur’s conflict. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasized measures such as recovering looted weapons and restoring damaged religious sites, there is little evidence of a comprehensive strategy to secure agricultural lands. Meitei farmers perceive the restrictions on tilling their fields as discriminatory, while Kuki groups argue their volunteers are protecting their interests. This impasse, compounded by the state’s inability to disarm Kuki militant groups or address external influences from across the Myanmar border, has transformed fertile fields into no-go zones.
For President’s Rule to fulfill its mandate, it must prioritize tangible solutions over temporary measures. Securing agricultural lands requires more than military presence; it demands dialogue to rebuild trust between communities. Before PR in Manipur, there were instances where the Central Paramilitary Forces and state police actively assisted Meitei farmers in harvesting their paddy, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding agricultural activities. Their involvement not only ensured the farmers’ safety but also provided much-needed support in times of uncertainty. Initiatives such as joint patrols, community-led peace committees, and transparent grievance redressal mechanisms could pave the way for farmers to return to their fields safely. Additionally, the administration must bolster economic support through expedited compensation, crop insurance, and infrastructure investments like irrigation projects to revive Manipur’s agrarian economy.
It has been reported that farmers have been appealing to the authorities for permission to cultivate their own land since March. Additionally, the assurance given by Superintendent of Police Bishnupur, Kshtrimayum Ravikumar, to provide security for the farmers by 26 May offers a measure of relief to them. Furthermore, there have been incidents in which farmers were fatally attacked by Kuki militants in August 2023. The central government must demonstrate that President’s Rule is not a mere political expedient but a genuine commitment to healing Manipur’s wounds. Until Meitei farmers can work their lands without fear, the promise of stability will remain unfulfilled!
