Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has welcomed the initiative to offer essential commodities at affordable rates to the common people of the state through the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars (KPKB).
The initiative, aimed at benefiting the common people, opened for common people from September 17, 2024 in the 21 existing bhandars in the state.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shah announced that KPKB outlets will open across 21 existing locations in Manipur, with an additional 16 outlets to be established.
Of these, eight new outlets will serve the valley, and another eight will be located in the hill areas of the state.
It may be mentioned that Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) is a welfare scheme launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2006 to benefit serving and retired police personnel and their families
The announcement coincided with the launch of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 campaign in Manipur, held at the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal.
During the event the chief minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for supporting the state through this initiative.
Speaking about the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, CM Biren emphasised that the inspiration for this effort comes from the people’s desire to live with dignity in a clean and prosperous India and Manipur.
He voiced his hope that with renewed determination each year, the Swachh Bharat campaign would continue to strengthen both the state and the nation.
The chief minister also outlined the five key components of the campaign which includes the Cleanliness Target Units also known as Black Spot, Public Participation, Awareness and Advocacy, Preventive Health Checkups and Social Security Coverage, Mass Scale Cleanliness Drive-Voluntary Contribution and Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 on Gandhi Jayanti.
He explained that under the Cleanliness Target Units initiative, areas in need of regular cleaning would be identified and targets set for their maintenance.
Public participation is crucial to the campaign’s success, Biren added, urging citizens to view the cleanliness drive as a shared responsibility.
Additionally, the campaign aims to support frontline workers with free health checkups and provide them with PPE kits, he said stressing that overcoming differences and uniting for the cause of cleanliness would greatly contribute to a cleaner and stronger state.
The event was attended by cabinet ministers, MP Sanajaoba, MLAs, and officials. However, the absence of MAHUD Minister Y Khemchand, whose department organised the event, raised some speculation.
KPKB Centre opened at Churachandpur
While the supply of food and other essential commodities had been in short supply, a central government initiative, Kendriya Police Kalyan Bandhar (KPKB), centre was inaugurated at the old SP office canteen by SP of Churachandpur, Shaik Mohammad Zaib Zakir who cut the inaugural ribbon.
The Central government initiative was to be made effective in various locations all over the state. The centre in Churachandpur district was inaugurated by the SP who assured that essential commodities like soap, detergent powder, toothpaste and brush, shampoo, milk powder will be available to the residents of Churachandpur by Wednesday at reasonable prices.
BSF establishes new KPKB centres for civil in Manipur
The Border Security Force (BSF) has extended the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) facility to the civil population in Manipur, with the establishment of 10 new subsidiary Bhandar/Distribution Centres.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aims to provide essential commodities to the people of Manipur at affordable prices, said the PRO HQ Special DG (EC), BSF in a release.
It said, as of Tuesday these centres, which include three existing and seven newly opened outlets, are now functional across seven districts of Manipur.
The BSF KPKB centres are located at 131 Bn HQrs BSF (PS Sugnu, Kakching), 107 Bn BSF DC Complex in Kakching, 10 Bn BSF Wangjing Tekcham Leikai in Thoubal, 29 Bn BSF Lamlai PS in Imphal East, 93 Bn BSF Leikun in Chandel, 10 Bn BSF KPKB Centre at Loktak in Bishnupur, 40 Bn BSF Mahadev (PS Litan) in Ukhrul, 29 Bn BSF KPKB in Koirengei, Imphal East, STC BSF Churachandpur, and BSF KPKB in Moreh, Tengnoupal, it mentioned.
These centres will offer a range of essential items, including groceries, clothing, and household goods, all at reasonable prices, contributing to the welfare of the people in Manipur, the release added.
