President Droupadi Murmu interacted with members of the Maram tribe in Senapati district on December 12, where representatives of Manipur’s only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group spoke about the positive impact of government welfare initiatives on their lives. Community members told the President that schemes such as PM-JANMAN and the National Health Mission had significantly improved access to healthcare and basic support, helping raise living standards in the remote hill region.
The President praised the Maram community for safeguarding its cultural heritage while adopting traditional agricultural practices and making steady progress in education. She said their growth and participation were vital for the inclusive development of Manipur and the country, emphasising that the advancement of vulnerable tribal groups was integral to national progress.
However, the visit also unfolded against a backdrop of protest, with major civil society organisations representing the Kuki-Zo community boycotting all official reception programmes. Five prominent groups issued a joint statement a day earlier, expressing strong dissatisfaction over what they described as the complete omission of the displacement crisis from the President’s itinerary.
The organisations said nearly 50,000 Kuki-Zo people continue to live in overcrowded relief camps in Kangpokpi district following ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023. More than 200 people have been killed in the conflict, while thousands were forced to flee their homes in and around Imphal. According to the groups, prolonged displacement has worsened living conditions and deepened trauma among affected families.
They said the President’s schedule did not include any interaction with internally displaced persons, calling the absence of even a symbolic acknowledgement “deeply regrettable”. In protest, the organisations confirmed they would stay away from all welcoming events during the visit and renewed their appeal to the Union government to prioritise humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and long-term stability for displaced Kuki-Zo communities.
