In 2022, the then Chief Minister unveiled the Rs. 46 crore Shirui Heritage Village blueprint at the fourth festival, promising a ropeway from Mahedev to Shirui Peak. Social media posts showcased sleek designs, invoking “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.
TFM Special Report
As the fifth edition of Manipur’s State-Level Shirui Lily Festival approaches, the air in Ukhrul’s Shirui village is thick with disillusionment. What was once a symbol of hope—a Rs. 46 crore heritage village project—now epitomizes broken political pledges, bureaucratic apathy, and a deepening chasm between hill communities and the state.
From Blossom to Backlash: A Timeline of Betrayal
The Shirui Lily, a rare pink-blossomed flower found only on Kashong Peak, became Manipur’s state flower in 1989. Its annual festival, launched in 2017, aimed to boost eco-tourism and preserve the endangered species. But promises to uplift the region have repeatedly wilted.
- 2017: Then-CM N. Biren Singh vowed to build a permanent heritage site during the festival’s inaugural edition. The proposal included a stage, roads, and tourist amenities. By 2019, villagers reported no progress, with even reimbursements for a temporary stage stalled.
- 2022: N, Biren unveiled the Rs. 46 crore Shirui Heritage Village blueprint at the fourth festival, promising a ropeway from Mahedev to Shirui Peak. Social media posts showcased sleek designs, invoking “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.
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- 2023: Ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted, displacing over 50,000 and diverting state resources. Projects in hill districts like Ukhrul were as good as shelved.
- 2025: Villagers allege zero progress. “No funds, no surveys, no ropeway. Only lies,” is being echoed by villagers.
The BJP’s Go to Hills campaign, launched in 2017 to address development disparities in Manipur’s hill districts, is now dismissed as a “political gimmick” by locals. Despite allocating Rs. 200 crore annually for hill development in state budgets, audits reveal only 30-40% utilization as per Manipur Economic Review, 2024.
Festival 2025: Culture Amid Cynicism
The BJP’s Go to Hills campaign, launched in 2017 to address development disparities in Manipur’s hill districts, is now dismissed as a “political gimmick” by locals. Despite allocating Rs. 200 crore annually for hill development in state budgets, audits reveal only 30-40% utilization as per Manipur Economic Review, 2024.
This year’s festival, themed “Preserve the Lily, Protect Our Heritage,” includes ShiRock 2025, a music event headlined by Manipuri bands. Organizers hope to attract 20,000 visitors, but locals are sceptical.
A villager, on condition of anonymity, said that many villages still lack sewage systems and reliable electricity—amenities promised under the great heritage project. However, some villagers also feel that the delays in implementing the proposed projects are due to post-conflict recovery. They hope that development will resume soon.