Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, joined by Union Minister for Communications and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, chaired a high‑level meeting at Raj Bhavan’s conference hall on Thursday, a Raj Bhavan statement reported. Scindia and senior MDoNER officials presented a comprehensive status review of ongoing development projects across Manipur.

During the session, Scindia underscored the urgency of bolstering key economic and social sectors. He identified handicrafts and handloom, sports, tourism, international trade and agriculture—particularly palm oil cultivation—as priority areas. He further urged officials to expedite crucial infrastructure schemes, including the establishment of new universities, the Manipur IT‑SEZ, a mental health hospital and a maternity and child care facility.

In the afternoon, Governor Bhalla and Minister Scindia co‑chaired the inaugural meeting of the High‑Level Task Force on Sports for the North Eastern Region. Chief Minister of Mizoram, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, the Additional Chief Secretary of Meghalaya and the Joint Secretary of the Department of Sports participated via video conference. Discussions focused on talent identification, training and coaching programmes, the creation of regional coaching centres, and the promotion of public‑private partnerships to develop sporting infrastructure. Minister Scindia also emphasized the need for targeted initiatives to increase women’s participation in sports across the northeastern states.

The gatherings underscored the Centre’s commitment to accelerating Manipur’s development trajectory and harnessing the region’s sporting potential through collaborative governance and timely execution of priority projects.