IMPHAL: As Manipur grapples with six months of ethnic unrest, with tribal bodies demanding accountability from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Biren Singh has turned his focus to aiding the victims now sheltered in relief camps.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Singh informed that a substantial allocation of Rs 6.138 crore towards the rehabilitation of the internally displaced citizens, currently housed in numerous relief camps scattered across the state, have been released.
Detailing the plan on a popular micro-blogging platform, Singh shared, “An assistance of Rs 1,000 per head was disbursed to all displaced individuals in the relief camps on Monday, through the district commissioners. These payments are aimed at providing the displaced people some assistance to purchase clothing and personal belongings as winter approaches in the state.”
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Chief minister Singh further explained that this fund is designed to support 61,387 people presently sheltered in the state’s relief camps. Highlighting the inclusivity of this aid, Singh added, “The state government will remain steadfast in its commitment to support every affected individual, irrespective of their community affiliations.”
Earlier in the week, marking a significant stride in rehabilitating the displaced, the government completed a series of prefabricated homes in Yaithibi Khunou, located in Thoubal district.
Dr Vineet Joshi, Manipur’s Chief Secretary, who visited the camp on Monday along with officials from the Public Health and Engineer Department (PHED), assessed the construction’s progress.
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Offering reassurances on the facility’s readiness, an official statement mentioned, “Upon the water supply system becoming operational, the shelter, designed to house 400 families, will be inaugurated within the next two weeks.”
Since the eruption of violence on May 3, reports suggest that over 60,000 individuals have sought refuge in 351 relief camps spanning both valley and hill districts.
Several families have recently relocated to new prefabricated accommodations in areas including Sajiwa and Sawombung in Imphal East district, Sekmai in Imphal West, and Kwakta in Bishnupur district.
Reports in local press further detailed the infrastructure at Yaithibi, stating each of the 40 units will accommodate 10 families, and every household within a unit will comprise two rooms and an attached bathroom, all earmarked for a single family.
