Correspondent
IMPHAL, AUG 11 (NPN): A cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday gave in‑principle approval for setting up a government medical college in Senapati district, fulfilling a long‑pending demand of the people of the hill district.
The meeting, held at the new secretariat block, Mantripukhri, also decided to recommend the Governor to summon the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on September 2.
According to official sources, the cabinet approved eight agendas, including the establishment of the medical college with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students. The district hospital at Senapati headquarters will be upgraded to meet requirements of the college.
Formal discussions on the project began last month, with the Directorate of Health Services convening a high‑level meeting on July 23. The people of Senapati have long pressed for a medical college to improve access to medical education and strengthen healthcare services in the hill districts and northern region of Manipur.
Once operational, this will be the second medical college in Manipur’s hill districts, after Churachandpur Medical College, established in 2022 with an intake of 100 MBBS students.
The cabinet also approved enhanced cash incentives for Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medalists and participants. Incentives for Commonwealth Games athletes were revised to Rs. 20 lakh for gold, Rs. 15 lakh for silver, Rs. 10 lakh for bronze and Rs. 4 lakh for participants.
Other decisions included appointment of Olympian and Arjuna Awardee K. Chinglensana Singh as Deputy Director (Sports Promotion), promotion of international judoka L. Shushila Devi as DSP (Sports), and formation of the Manipur Sports Development Foundation under Section 8 of the Companies Act to mobilize CSR funds for sports development.