Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on November 9 said the state government was working to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes but remained concerned about the possibility of fresh violence.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the Manipur International Textile Expo, Konthoujam said the government understood the difficulties faced by displaced families and was making sustained efforts to help them return to their original homes. However, he said their safety remained a key concern.
“The state government knows about the hardship of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and empathises with their difficulties. It is making relentless efforts to send them back to their original homes. But it is also apprehensive of fresh violence upon their return,” he said.
The minister also said the government wanted displaced families to celebrate Ningol Chakouba, a major festival of the Meitei community, and would extend assistance to them.
“We want the IDPs to celebrate Ningol Chakouba like others. The government will try its best to assist them,” he said.
Ningol Chakouba celebrates the bond between married women and their paternal families, with family gatherings and traditional feasts forming a key part of the occasion.
Ahead of Diwali and Ningol Chakouba, the state government released Rs 5.88 crore from the State Emergency Fund as special festive assistance for 58,863 eligible IDPs. The funds were transferred to designated accounts of deputy commissioners in 10 districts: Imphal West, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Bishnupur.
Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities since May 2023. The conflict has claimed at least 306 lives, while several people remain missing. Separately, clashes between Kuki and Naga communities have reportedly claimed around 50 lives in the state since February this year.
In April, the state government said 58,821 people had been displaced by the ethnic violence.
