In a noteworthy event following the ethnic violence that began on May 23, 2023, the Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, engaged with internally displaced persons (IDPs) from both hill and valley districts through a video conferencing program. This initiative, part of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, released around ₹33 crore to assist IDPs at the Alternate Housing Complex in Imphal West.
For the first time since the violence, the Chief Minister interacted with Meitei and Kuki-Zo IDPs, facilitating a joint program that connected those from Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Imphal West. The emotional exchanges highlighted the hardships faced by the IDPs over the past three years, with individual distressing accounts brought forth, including a plea from a young Kuki girl for support in her postgraduate studies and a request from a Meitei woman to return to her home in Moreh.
In response to their grievances, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to easing the return of IDPs and rebuilding trust among communities. He emphasized ongoing efforts to ensure security for Kuki-Zo individuals seeking medical treatment and acknowledged the educational challenges faced by nearly 8,000 affected students, proposing special plans for those studying outside the state.
Financial aid provisions include ₹2,420 per person for essential items and ₹1 lakh assistance for families whose homes were destroyed, with monetary aid already distributed to many households. The Chief Minister urged collaboration among civil society organizations from both communities to foster peace. The gathering included various government officials and was part of a larger effort to support IDPs across multiple districts in Manipur.
