Manipur’s National Highways 02 and 37, its vital lifelines, are being paralyzed. Ethnic unrest since May 2023 has sparked relentless blockades, protests, and barricades, cutting off food, fuel, and medical supplies. As supply chains crumble, prices soar and hospitals, schools, and livelihoods are highly affected. Locals and observers label these blockades unlawful, and the human cost is growing daily.
00:00National highways 2 and 37 are more than roads. They are money-post lifelines connecting the
00:09landlocked state to the rest of the country and ensuring the flow of essential supplies
00:15like food, medicine, fuel and relief aid. Since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023,
00:25these key routes have been severely disrupted. Barricades, protests and blockades have brought
00:33movement to a halt, deepening the humanitarian and economic crisis. Prolonged highway blockades
00:42amid ongoing ethnic tensions are taking a serious toll on ordinary citizens.
00:47If we are not able to travel on the surface from Imphal to Dimapur, from Imphal to Bodertown,
00:58then how this Southeast Asian countries gateway of India to Southeast Asian nations, how this trilateral
01:09highway, how this trans-Asian national highway, how this AGX policy will be implemented if this
01:15road transport is not functioning properly.
01:19The impact is widespread across Manipur. Small businesses are shutting down, supply chains
01:29are broken and prices of essentials have soared. Families face uncertainty, hospitals struggle
01:37with delays and students miss out on education. Legal and economic experts have called these
01:44blockades unlawful and highly disruptive.
01:47Sometimes when there is economic blockade on the national highway, there is shortage of essential
01:55commodities. Sometimes security guarded the vehicles, good laden trucks, then they arrive at Imphal.
02:02But sometimes these supplies did not come in time, so people are suffering. The economic activities,
02:08it has gone down so much that Manipur has the highest inflation in the country. Per capita income is around 7,000. Whereas in the rest of the countries, it is sometimes even to 25,000. So after the violence, the per capita income has decreased, inflation has increased. People are now living almost hand to mouth. Law and order has to be implemented strictly in the valley and in the hill areas without any prejudice and without
02:38any hesitation. Otherwise, some people feel that they are above the low.
02:47Experts and citizens alike agree. Restoring law, order and free movement in Manipur is vital,
02:54not just for peace, but for progress. Only then can the state realize its vision as India's
