Manipur Teachers' Award 2026 Raises Concern Over Bias

Districts Selected for State Teachers' Award 2026

Bishnupur: Oinam Ranjit Singh, Science Graduate Teacher, Oinam Government Girls Hr. Sec. School

Imphal West: Salam Sunita Devi, Hindi Graduate Teacher & Head Mistress (i/c), Keishamthong High School

Imphal West: R. K. Badal Singh, Arts Graduate Teacher, Sagolband Popular Upper Primary School

Imphal West: Hanjabam Sangeeta Devi, Science Graduate Teacher, Taobungkhok Upper Primary School

Kamjong: Phelim Keishing, Lecturer (History) & Principal (i/c), Kamjong Hr. School

Thoubal: Kakchingtabam Pramodini Devi, Lecturer (Manipuri), Chaoyama Higher Sec. School

Tengnoupal: M Mangkhoneng Haokip, Science Graduate Teacher, Tengnoupal Government High School

Glaring Regional Disparity Across 16 Districts Out of Manipur’s 16 total administrative districts, the selection panel has restricted awards to merely five -- Bishnupur, Imphal West, Kamjong, Thoubal, and Tengnoupal -- leaving 11 whole districts completely unrepresented. Imphal West alone secured three of the seven awards, while major hill and valley districts alike were ignored.

Selective Representation Sparks Accusations of Division Questions are rapidly emerging regarding the criteria behind this distribution. While a Kuki-Zo dominant district like Tengnoupal (represented by M Mangkhoneng Haokip) and a Naga district like Kamjong (represented by Phelim Keishing) were included alongside valley areas, several major districts -- including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, Senapati, and Ukhrul-- were entirely overlooked.

Critiques of the Manipur government's decision highlight a severe perception of bias and tokenism. Rather than ensuring equitable statewide recognition across all 16 districts, allocating nearly half of the total awards to a single district (Imphal West) while tokenizing selective hill areas deepens regional and community fault lines. In a state requiring balanced governance and equal institutional support, this stark concentration of awards clearly reinforces existing structural divisions instead of bridging them.

~ KV NEWS