SENAPATI, May 9: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) has expressed strong disapproval of the recently approved budget for the 5th State Level Shirui Lily Festival 2025, calling the allocation disproportionate and exclusionary. In a detailed representation submitted to the Chief Secretary of Manipur on May 6, the council urged an immediate revision of the Rs. 6.30 crore budget approved during an Executive Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh on April 24.
TYCM, which comprises 17 civil society organizations, argued that the festival’s budget overly prioritizes entertainment and superficial attractions while neglecting key areas such as infrastructure, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and support for local entrepreneurs and indigenous farmers. They emphasized that the festival, being fully funded by the government, should focus on socio-economic development for the people of the hill districts rather than being reduced to a mere spectacle.
The council expressed particular concern over the absence of provisions for promoting local entrepreneurship and ensuring inclusivity for persons with disabilities. They pointed out the inadequate infrastructure along the 1.5-kilometer trail from Shirui Village to Shirui Peak, which currently offers only one rest house, a water tank, and two public toilets at the peak, with the trail itself lacking essential amenities like rest stops, stair railings, and toilets. TYCM has called for the construction of an alternative route to ease congestion and the addition of public toilets and rest houses at key points between the village and the peak.
TYCM also criticized several aspects of the festival’s budget, deeming them excessive and misaligned with the core objectives of the event. They questioned the allocation of Rs. 2.83 crore for the SHiROCK music event, Rs. 40 lakh for a drone show, Rs. 20 lakh for a beauty pageant, and another Rs. 20 lakh for fireworks on the closing day. The council also found the Rs. 5.25 lakh earmarked for public transportation between Imphal and Ukhrul unnecessary, as the state’s Transport Department already manages a fleet of buses. Similarly, they called the Rs. 16 lakh set aside for security and traffic management unjustified, as these responsibilities fall within the normal duties of the Police and Traffic Departments, which are already funded by public resources.
Additionally, TYCM urged the inclusion of Langdang Village in the festival’s planning and budgetary framework. Langdang serves as an important access point to Shirui Peak and surrounding tourist sites. The council recommended the development of areas like Phangrei Zero Point and proposed support for roadside shops, temporary amenities, and essential facilities within Langdang Village to promote local economic activity.
In their appeal, TYCM called for unity and cooperation among government departments and festival planners to ensure the event benefits all stakeholders. They stressed that, as a government-organized and government-financed event, the festival must align with public priorities. TYCM believes that by revising the budget and incorporating practical improvements, the Shirui Lily Festival can become a platform for both celebration and sustainable development.
