Sheikh Abdul Hakim, director of the Manipur government's social welfare department, visited the Churachandpur district on Thursday as part of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's administrative outreach initiative.
The visit aimed to enhance coordination with elected representatives and improve the delivery of welfare schemes to the hill areas.
Guided by the Chief Minister’s vision, the social welfare department has intensified efforts to implement welfare programmes across the hill districts. During his visit, the director met with several MLAs, including Letzamang Haokip of Henglep Assembly Constituency, Chinlunthang Manlun of Singhat (ST), and LM Khaute of Churachandpur. He also paid homage to Late Vungzagin Valte and expressed his condolences.
The visit was conducted in the context of challenges faced in administrative outreach following the outbreak of violence in May 2023. Sheikh Abdul Hakim travelled personally to bridge gaps and engage directly with stakeholders.
He interacted with Anganwadi workers, helpers, supervisors, and departmental staff, listening attentively to their grievances and operational challenges. He assured them their concerns would be addressed promptly and effectively. The Churachandpur Anganwadi Workers’ Association expressed gratitude for the director’s visit and appreciated his effort to hear their issues firsthand.
As part of the tour, the director also visited the One Stop Centre (OSC) and the District Social Welfare Office in Churachandpur district to assess their functioning and service delivery.
Speaking to the media earlier, Sheikh Abdul Hakim said, “Under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister, the Social Welfare Department is actively engaging with MLAs to strengthen welfare delivery across the state.” He added that the department remains committed to addressing public grievances efficiently through coordinated efforts.
He informed that six months of pending old age pension funds will be released by April, providing significant relief to beneficiaries. The director also emphasised that strong coordination between MLAs and departmental offices is being ensured to deliver welfare schemes at the grassroots level.
He stated that comprehensive beneficiary data across constituencies has been compiled to enhance transparency and effective implementation. Efforts are underway to guarantee last-mile delivery of all welfare schemes without delay.
The department is accelerating its mission to effect tangible change on the ground, ensuring no eligible citizen is left behind. The visit signifies a renewed effort by the Social Welfare Department to restore administrative outreach and strengthen service delivery in the hill districts.