Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Displaced families in Manipur want their homes back. The Meitei Society Churachandpur is pushing the state government to fast-track resettlement before moving forward with the Sangai Festival or reopening border trade at Moreh. The group submitted a formal memorandum to the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Home Minister to demand action.
Promises made during President's Rule remain unkept. Authorities originally committed to a phased return, with the first group moved by December 2025 and everyone else home by March 31, 2026. The current elected government has failed these deadlines. Families remain stuck in relief camps.
General secretary Ningthoujam Ramesh Singh dismissed claims of stability. He pointed to the empty houses and ongoing reliance on state handouts. "Until and unless IDPs are resettled, it is meaningless to say peace has returned in Manipur," Singh said. He warned that hosting the Sangai Festival now invites unnecessary friction between groups.
Movement remains a major sticking point. Singh alleged that while Kuki legislators and activists travel freely into valley districts, residents from the valley face restricted access to hill areas. He demanded equal travel rights across Moreh, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and all National Highways.
The group insists on full rehabilitation before festivities begin. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity made a similar push in September. They argue that government resources should focus on restoring lives, not throwing parties.
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