Lamka (Churachandpur), January 20: The Zomi Council has expressed strong resentment over the exclusion of Churachandpur (Lamka) District Hospital from the list of district hospitals selected for upgradation into Super Specialty Hospitals under the PM-DevINE scheme.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Zomi Council said the decision to upgrade district hospitals in Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Jiribam, while leaving out Churachandpur, exposes what it termed as “systematic neglect” of the largest tribal-populated district in Manipur. The omission, it said, has caused deep resentment among the people of the district.
Highlighting the district’s healthcare needs, the Council pointed out that Churachandpur caters to several remote and hard-to-reach hill settlements, yet continues to be ignored in major healthcare decisions. It noted that the district neither has a Multi-Specialty Hospital nor has its district hospital been included in recent upgradation plans, placing residents at a serious disadvantage.
The statement further recalled that Churachandpur was the only hill district in Manipur that fulfilled all conditions laid down by the Government of India for a medical college. Churachandpur Medical College, inaugurated in January 2022, admits 100 MBBS students annually. However, the Council said the absence of adequate hospital infrastructure, specialist departments and modern equipment has severely limited the institution’s ability to meet public healthcare needs.
Referring to the ongoing crisis, the Zomi Council said many residents have been unable to access specialised treatment in Imphal and other referral centres, resulting in avoidable suffering and loss of lives. It described the upgradation of Churachandpur District Hospital into a Multi-Specialty Hospital as an urgent and basic necessity.
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The Council warned that continued neglect and repeated denial of essential services has strengthened demands for “total separation with legislative powers,” arguing that the present system has failed to address the aspirations of the people. It called upon the Ministry of Home Affairs to take note of the situation and address the demand for separation within the constitutional framework to ensure governance and development are no longer denied.
The statement was issued by the Zomi Council’s Secretary for Information and Publicity from its headquarters in Lamka.
