New Delhi, March 19 -- The Centre is committed to bringing normalcy to ethnic strife-torn Manipur, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, assuring all support for the economic growth of the northeastern state. Stating that inequality in India was on a decline and the extreme poverty has been eliminated, she also dismissed Opposition's criticism of the Modi government's Make in India scheme, saying it has helped boost the economy.

Replying to discussions on four money bills in the Rajya Sabha, the finance minister said the Manipur budget for FY26 has proposed creation of a Rs.500-crore contingency fund for the first time in the state to help in meeting with emerging situations.

Manipur, a border state, has been throug...