Imphal, Feb 6: Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh on February 5 said resolving the hardships faced by people displaced by ethnic violence would be the foremost priority of his government, signalling a renewed focus on rehabilitation and return of affected families.
Speaking to reporters shortly after assuming office, Singh said the state administration is preparing a comprehensive roadmap to facilitate the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons to their homes in both hill and valley regions. He acknowledged that the prolonged inability of displaced families to go back to their villages and localities remains the most pressing humanitarian challenge confronting the state.
“Our first priority will be to look after the problems of IDPs in both the hills and the valley. The biggest issue is that they are not able to return to their homes. The government will formulate a roadmap very soon,” the chief minister said, underlining the urgency of the task.
Singh took oath as the chief minister on February 4, taking charge of a state that has been grappling with sustained ethnic unrest for months. The violence has uprooted thousands of people, forcing them to seek refuge in relief camps across multiple districts, where concerns over security, livelihoods and long-term rehabilitation persist.
The chief minister’s remarks indicate that the new government intends to place the return and resettlement of displaced families at the centre of its governance agenda, as Manipur continues efforts to restore normalcy and rebuild trust across communities affected by the unrest.
