Jiribam: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday visited internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jiribam district, bordering southern Assam. This marks his first trip outside Imphal since assuming office last week.
The Chief Minister began his visit at the Jiribam Higher Secondary School relief camp, which houses Meitei IDPs. He interacted with the inmates and urged everyone to work towards removing the trust deficit. The Chief Minister presented a wheelchair to an elderly woman under Palliative Care Scheme.
“Jiribam is the gateway to Manipur and has a potential to become a business hub. Like Mumbai is India’s business capital, Jiribam can be Manipur’s Mumbai. For the business to flourish, peace has to come first,” he said.
CM Khemchand then visited the Kalinagar relief camp housing the Hmar tribal IDPs. The Hmar tribe belongs to the Kuki-Zo community.
Addressing the residents, he said, “Let us consider the last two years was a nightmare, let us forget it and have the courage to move forward towards peace and development.
As the Hmar IDPs were all Christians, Khemchand said that Christianity teaches forgiveness and fostering love for neighbours and even enemies.
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The Chief Minister then visited Jarolpokpi Hmar village, which had witnessed violence during 2023.
“I feel someone is trying to destroy the concept of Manipuri. First, we are Indian and then we are Manipuri. We can be Manipuri Naga, Manipuri Kuki and Manipuri Meitei. We need to rebuild the concept of Manipuri,” he said.
The Hmar villagers expressed support to the government and urged him to take care of the needs of the tribal village, particularly the school building.
At Mongbung Meitei village, Khemchand addressed villagers’ concerns regarding the village road and assured that development works would commence while encouraging dialogue between communities to restore trust.
On IDP resettlement process, Khemchand noted that efforts had already begun during the President’s Rule in Manipur. He indicated that while it is still early in his tenure to announce specific timelines or methods for resolution, his government is dedicated to addressing these challenges.
This is the second time that Khemchand visited Kuki-Zo villages since December 8 last when he visited a Kuki hamlet at Litan Saraikhong in the Ukhrul district and interacted with IDPs belonging to Kukis.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister stressed upon his commitment to a unified Manipur, free from caste and community lines.
He said, “Since I took oath as chief minister last week, my trip to Jiribam is the first one outside Imphal. I feel Jiribam is the most important place in Manipur and has the potential to become a business centre. For Jiribam to become a business hub, peace is essential.”
The Chief Minister also laid the Foundation Stone of the IRB Barracks at the 87-Bn CRPF HQ.
