Moreh: Civil Society Organisations of Tengnoupal District have declared a 48-hour National Highway total bandh from 24th August, 2026, escalating their long-pending demand for proper functioning of key medical institutions in the border district. The decision was formally announced through a Joint Press Statement issued on 19th August, jointly signed by five major bodies of the district. The organisations stated that the extreme step was taken as a follow-up effort to ensure that the Primary Health Centre Tengnoupal, Primary Health Centre Moreh and the Sub-Divisional Hospital Moreh function with adequate medical staff as mandated.
The proposed agitation is directly linked to the alleged non-compliance of the Governor’s order regarding transfer and posting of doctors at their respective places of posting. According to the CSOs, despite official orders being issued, the doctors concerned have not been stationed at these crucial health centres, leaving the healthcare system in the district in a fragile state. The organisations argued that such non-implementation has severely affected public health services, particularly for residents of remote villages and the international border town of Moreh who depend entirely on these government-run facilities for emergency and routine care.
The press statement recalled its previous release dated 16th August, 2026, wherein the CSOs had set a one-week deadline for the government to act. In that communication, they had highlighted the alarming public health situation prevailing in the district, describing it as a present pandemic-like situation driven by a surge in vector-borne and communicable diseases. The statement specifically mentioned the sharp increase in cases of Dengue, Typhoid, Malaria and other communicable diseases, which has placed an unprecedented burden on the already understaffed health centres. The demand made then was for the government to ensure stationing of the designated doctors within a week, ending on 23rd August.
Following the expiry of the initial ultimatum period without any tangible response from the authorities, a District level meeting of all Civil Society Organisations was convened on 18th August, 2026 at the District Headquarter. After detailed deliberation on the deteriorating health scenario and the continued absence of doctors, the meeting unanimously resolved to proceed with the 48-hour National Highway total bandh as a democratic form of protest. The bandh will come into effect from 24th August, 2026, immediately after the conclusion of the one-week grace period that spans from 17th August to 23rd August, 2026. The leaders present at the meeting reiterated that the move is not intended to cause hardship but to draw urgent attention to a humanitarian crisis.
The Joint Press Statement was endorsed by prominent civil bodies representing the district. These include LS Seikhojang Baite, President of Kuki Chiefs Association, Tengnoupal District, S Phalneikim Mate, President of Kuki Women Union Human Rights Tengnoupal District, Manipur, Sonpao Haokip, Chairman of Molnoi Area Welfare Council Tengnoupal District, Manipur, Jacky Touthang, General Secretary of Hill Tribal Council Moreh, and Thangboi Lhungdim, President of Kuki Students Organisation Tengnoupal District. Their collective endorsement signifies a united stand by traditional chiefs, women leaders, youth and student bodies and area welfare councils on the issue of public health.
In their appeal to the general public, the signatories requested full cooperation and understanding for the proposed bandh, terming it a long-standing humanitarian demand that affects every household in the district. They stated that the agitation is aimed at securing the basic right to healthcare and ensuring that government orders are respected and implemented on the ground. Simultaneously, they made a final earnest appeal to the government authority and the Health Department to initiate immediate corrective action and ensure that doctors join their places of posting before the bandh begins, so that any possible inconvenience to commuters, traders and the general public can be avoided.
The organisations further cautioned that if the government fails to act within the stipulated time, it shall be held fully responsible for all outcomes and inconveniences arising out of the bandh. They maintained that the responsibility for disruption of highway traffic, which serves as a lifeline for Manipur, will rest solely with the administration for its inaction on a critical public health matter. The coming days leading up to 23rd August will be crucial, as public attention remains focused on whether the state government will intervene and ensure compliance with the Governor’s order to avert the highway shutdown.
