Manipur to close relief camps, launch three-phase rehab plan

GUWAHATI: Manipur plans to shut around 350 relief camps sheltering people displaced by ethnic violence since May 2023 and resettle them through a structured, three-phase rehabilitation programme starting this month.

Chief secretary PK Singh said Friday that the northeastern state, under President's rule since ex-CM N Biren Singh stepped down in Feb, was in talks with the ministry of home affairs to start rehabilitating the displaced based on an assessment of how many people were prepared to leave the relief camps immediately.

"The process has already begun. The number of displaced people has dropped from 62,000 to 57,000. As we speak, in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, people have started going back to their homes," he said.

The second phase of rehabilitation is slated to begin by Oct and the third in Dec.

Singh said financial assistance for resettlement would be provided in three categories. Beneficiaries in the first group - 7,000-8,000 people whose houses were destroyed in arson - are eligible for around Rs 3 lakh each to rebuild their homes.

The second category has 7,000 people who fled their villages to escape violence, but whose houses were spared. They will receive financial assistance to start life afresh.

The last group will have people who are unable to return to their villages until Dec. "The number can be anything between 8,000 and 10,000. They will be given prefabricated houses to stay in, for which we are building a thousand more," Singh said.

On whether the situation had improved enough for displaced families to be confident about returning to areas ravaged by violence, he said resumption of farming activity was an encouraging sign. "I am glad to share both sides (Meiteis and Kukis) are farming together. I mean, within eyeball-to-eyeball distance. And they are sharing water."