Rs 523 cr Rehab Drive in Manipur for 60K IDPs
Agartala/Imphal, Jan 15: The Manipur government has set in motion a ₹523-crore rehabilitation and resettlement programme for nearly 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by ethnic violence, even as displaced families continue to press for firm security guarantees and a clear roadmap for their return.
The rehabilitation package, announced in the Manipur Budget for 2025–26, is being implemented in a phased manner, officials said. The initiative comes against the backdrop of sustained public anxiety, with hundreds of IDPs staging a protest rally in Imphal on January 12 demanding decisive intervention by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to facilitate their safe resettlement.
The demonstration, supported by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), highlighted concerns over safety, livelihood security and the absence of definitive timelines. A joint delegation of IDP representatives and COCOMI leaders later met Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel and subsequently held discussions with the Governor at Lok Bhavan. Officials said the delegation raised issues related to security deployment, rehabilitation planning and arrangements in sensitive areas bordering the Valley and Hill districts.
According to a Lok Bhavan official, Governor Bhalla assured the delegation that steps towards resettlement and rehabilitation are already underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring a safe, orderly and gradual return of displaced families. He also emphasised that the process must be aligned with prevailing ground conditions to prevent further instability.
Senior Home Department officials said the Rs 523-crore package follows a three-phase rehabilitation framework. The first phase will prioritise families whose homes suffered partial damage during the violence. The second phase will focus on providing permanent housing support under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (Special Package) within respective districts. The third phase will address cases requiring inter-district relocation between Valley and Hill areas, which will involve enhanced coordination, infrastructure development and strengthened security arrangements.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February last year. In this context, the Lok Sabha passed the Manipur Budget for 2025–26 on August 7, authorising an expenditure of ₹30,969.44 crore. The budget was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman under Article 356 of the Constitution.
In a communication addressed to IDP representatives and COCOMI, Special Secretary (Home) A. Subhash Singh reiterated that rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons remains the state’s foremost humanitarian priority. The letter clarified that resettlement is contingent upon multiple factors, including the security situation, readiness of rehabilitation sites, land availability, flow of funds, weather conditions and livelihood feasibility. As a result, the process is being carried out in a phased and flexible manner rather than being bound to rigid deadlines.
At present, over 300 relief camps continue to operate across the Imphal Valley and hill districts, sheltering more than 60,000 men, women and children displaced since violence erupted in May 2023. While the rehabilitation package has raised cautious optimism, many displaced families say lasting peace, adequate security and sustainable livelihoods will be key to determining the success of Manipur’s resettlement efforts. (With inputs from IANS)