The Central government will open 16 new Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars in violence-hit Manipur to provide essential commodities to the common people at reasonable prices. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced the extension of the scheme for the state which has been facing ethnic clashes since May 2023.
Of the 16 such stores, eight will be in the valley and the remaining eight in the hills. These bhandars will be opened for the common people from Tuesday in addition to the existing 21 such stores.
In a post on 'X', Shah said, "In line with PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's commitment, the MHA is launching an initiative to provide commodities to the people of Manipur at reasonable prices. Now the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars will be open for common people from September 17, 2024. In addition to 21 existing Bhandars, 16 new ones will be opened. Among the 16 new centres, eight will be in the valley, and the remaining eight in the hills."
Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since then, over 220 people belonging to both Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the continuing violence.
(With PTI inputs)
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