Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur faces a fresh wave of unrest. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and representatives for six IDP organizations warned of mass agitation starting August 1. The group demands the state government drop its plan to slash Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) assistance for displaced families living outside official relief camps. COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren declared that the government must not discriminate between those in camps and those living with relatives or in rented homes.
"The people did not choose to become internally displaced, nor are they responsible for the crisis," Dhiren said during a press conference in Lamphel. Thousands remain unable to return home since the violence began May 3, 2023. Families currently receive a daily allowance of Rs 84 per person. This money covers food, medicine, and school fees.
Tensions hit a boiling point in Churachandpur. Displaced residents gathered Thursday at the local Mini Secretariat to protest the potential funding cutoff. They delivered a memorandum to Chief Secretary P. K. Goel via Deputy Commissioner Krishna Kumar. Roughly 18,000 of the 33,000 IDPs in Churachandpur live outside official camps to escape overcrowding and poor sanitation. These families argue that leaving a camp does not mean they have regained their livelihoods.
IDP representatives including Naba Ningthoujam pointed out that the Governor, Chief Minister, and Chief Secretary all previously promised support until full rehabilitation. Now, that promise feels hollow. The groups demand payment of all pending July funds by July 31. Without the cash, they pledge to launch a large-scale movement across the state the very next day. They insist the government must either pay everyone or move the thousands of non-camp residents back into formal facilities.
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