Saikot MLA says rise in villages linked to 1990s displacement and paper fraud under MGNREGA, not illegal influx; urges ground verification before drawing conclusions on Manipur’s demography
Edited by: St. Ginth Haokip, Kukiland Express Desk
Songpi, June 6, 2026
Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip on Friday dismissed former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s repeated claims about illegal immigration altering Manipur’s demography, calling the argument “hogwash at best” and a narrative “built with ill intent.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Environment Day programme at Siden Village, Churachandpur, Paolienlal responded directly to a recent social media post by N. Biren Singh that flagged what Singh described as a sharp proliferation of new settlements in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts.
Narrative Built With Ill Intent
Paolienlal said the claim about a disproportionate increase in the number of villages in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur is often raised by the former Chief Minister, but the framing misrepresents ground realities.
He explained that there had been some increase following the 1992 Kuki-Naga conflict. “Many Kuki villages from the interior areas of Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts either established new settlements in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur or relocated there. That is one factor contributing to the increase in the number of villages in the two districts,” Paolienlal said.
Paper Villages and Misuse of Schemes
The MLA said a second factor was the misuse of Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAMG), formerly known as MGNREGA. He alleged that, in collusion with officials, unscrupulous individuals created villages on paper to siphon off funds meant for the scheme.
“Those are not substantive villages. Those are not actual settlements, but villages that exist only on paper. It was because of weaknesses in the government system that such issues cropped up,” he stated.
Context of Demographic Debate
The demographic composition of Manipur’s hill districts has been a politically charged issue, particularly after ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023. Former CM N. Biren Singh has repeatedly cited satellite imagery and revenue records to argue that unchecked immigration has led to unnatural growth of villages in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.
Paolienlal countered that using “paper trails” without verifying habitation on the ground creates a distorted picture. He said the debate must account for internal displacement caused by past conflicts, administrative irregularities, and the failure to conduct proper physical verification before updating revenue records.
Call for Ground Verification
The Saikot MLA urged the state and central governments to carry out joint physical verification of villages before drawing conclusions about demographic change. “If there are irregularities, punish the officials and individuals who created paper villages. Don’t criminalize an entire community based on flawed data,” he said.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of settlement patterns in the hills following the June 5 attack on Loibol Khullen village in Kangpokpi, which left three civilians dead and seven houses burnt.
Background
The 1992-1997 Kuki-Naga conflict displaced over 100,000 Kukis from interior Naga-dominated districts, according to Kuki organizations. Many resettled in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur. VB-GRAMG, a centrally sponsored rural employment scheme, requires job card holders to be linked to recognized villages. Administrative lapses in updating village lists have been flagged by multiple audit reports in the past.
Paolienlal maintained that conflating displacement, administrative fraud, and illegal immigration serves only to deepen mistrust. “Manipur needs truth, not narratives,” he said.
