Imphal: The All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) has urged the Centre and the Manipur government to introduce financial relief measures for businesses and ease the economic hardship faced by people, while strongly condemning blockades and counter-blockades that continue to disrupt the state’s economy.
In a statement, the organisation said restrictions on movement along highways, the existence of buffer zones, and recurring economic blockades since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, have severely affected public life and pushed many small-scale industries and businesses into crisis.
Describing blockades as “dangerous instruments of war”, AMUCO alleged that they are increasingly being used to target entire communities and press political demands, rather than merely restricting movement. The organisation warned that such actions have deepened social divisions while inflicting heavy economic losses.
AMUCO said the continued disruptions have undermined livelihoods across the state, with local traders, entrepreneurs and small businesses bearing the brunt of the prolonged conflict. It cautioned that retaliatory counter-blockades only aggravate the situation by intensifying economic distress and widening the divide between communities.
Drawing parallels with international conflicts where blockades have crippled economies, the organisation said similar tactics in Manipur are having a devastating impact on the state’s fragile economy and ordinary citizens.
Calling for urgent government intervention, AMUCO urged the authorities to announce financial assistance for small-scale industries and businesses, provide economic relief to affected people, and take measures to revive local trade.
The organisation also appealed to the government to prevent banks from initiating recovery proceedings against borrowers affected by the conflict, seek financial relief from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), consider tax concessions, and introduce special economic revival packages to help businesses recover.