IMPHAL, March 10 -- Six Manipur legislators out of the nine belonging to the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community attended the budget session of assembly virtually on Monday, in a development hailed by chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh as a positive step towards normalising the situation in the ethnic strife-torn state. Khemchand Singh, who also holds finance portfolio, presented the 2026-27 budget estimates, which has earmarked Rs.734 crore for rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur. The ethnic violence, which started on May 3, 2023, had physically separated the Meiteis of valley districts and the Kukis of the surrounding hill districts in the northeastern state, with members of both communities avoiding each other's areas. Since the violence erupted, Kuki-Zo legislators have been demanding separate administration in the form of a Union territory with legislators for the hill districts. Six of nine Kuki-Zo-Hmar legislators - deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen (BJP), Ngursanglur Sanate (BJP), Letzamang Haokip (BJP), LM Khaute (BJP), Kimneo Haokip Hangshing of Kuki People's Alliance, and Haokholet Kipgen (independent) - attended the budget session virtually. They could be seen on a TV screen inside the House. "Attendance of the assembly session by the Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs is a positive step towards the normalisation of the current situation in the state. This is a good beginning, and everyone should encourage it," the chief minister said. Presenting the budget estimates in the assembly, the CM said the Rs.734-crore allocation is aimed at expediting rehabilitation efforts for those displaced by the ethnic unrest in Manipur. "For the financial year 2026-27, special emphasis has been placed on connectivity, skill development, women entrepreneurship, tourism promotion, drinking water supply, irrigation systems, and infrastructure development in urban and district headquarters," he said. Presenting the Revised Estimates for 2025-26, Singh said total receipts are estimated at Rs.32,366 crore, comprising revenue receipts of Rs.22,835 crore and capital receipts of Rs.9,237 crore. Total expenditure for 2025-26 has been proposed at Rs.32,436 crore, including revenue expenditure of Rs.20,767 crore and capital outlay of Rs.4,761 crore. The fiscal deficit for the year is estimated at 5.4% of GSDP, while outstanding debt is pegged at 40% of GSDP....