President Droupadi Murmu's Two-Day Visit to Manipur: Nupi Lal Day Participation and Development Initiatives

President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a two-day visit to Manipur on December 11-12, where she will participate in the 86th Nupi Lal Day observance at the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex in Imphal, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Intensive preparations are currently in progress across Imphal for President Murmu's visit starting Thursday, with various government departments and agencies working in close coordination to ensure the success of this high-profile event.

Upon her arrival in Imphal on Thursday, the President will receive a guard of honour before visiting the historic Imphal Polo Ground (Mapal Kangjeibung) to observe a polo exhibition match. This venue is recognized as one of the world's oldest polo grounds and recently hosted the seven-day 15th Manipur International Polo Tournament last month.

Thursday evening's schedule includes a civic reception hosted by the Manipur government in President Murmu's honour at the City Convention Centre in Imphal. During this event, she will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various development projects, highlighting the Central government's commitment to regional development.

On December 12, the President will visit the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex to pay tribute to Manipur's courageous women warriors. She will later address a public gathering in Senapati, a predominantly Naga district, where she will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for additional district projects.

As part of the preparations, authorities are renovating and decorating the 7-kilometer stretch from Imphal's Bir Tikendrajit International Airport to the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex. The route is being repaired, repainted, and adorned with colorful flags and decorative materials. Welcome banners have also been installed along the airport route to greet the presidential convoy.

Nupi Lal Day, commemorated annually on December 12, honors two significant women-led movements from 1904 and 1939 that protested British colonial policies and advocated for the rights and dignity of Manipuri women.

This presidential visit marks the second high-profile visit to Manipur in three months, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on September 13.

During his recent visit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the Union government is consistently working toward Manipur's development, stating that "Viksit Bharat" will be strengthened by "Viksit Manipur." Speaking from the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, the Prime Minister inaugurated 17 infrastructure projects representing a total investment of Rs 1,200 crore.

The Prime Minister noted that any violence in Manipur is unfortunate, given the state's rich historical traditions of opposing injustice. The projects he virtually inaugurated include Manipur Bhawan facilities in New Delhi's Dwarka and Kolkata's Salt Lake City, the Civil Secretariat, the new Police Headquarters, the Special Economic Zone building at Mantripukhri in Imphal West district, and Ima Markets (women-run markets) at four locations: Tengnoupal, Noney, Pallel, and Moirang.

Additionally, the Prime Minister laid foundation stones for 19 development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore across various parts of Manipur from the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, a tribal district in the state's hill areas.