Imphal: Manipur Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur on Saturday visited three internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Thoubal district to assess rehabilitation efforts and review the living conditions of families affected by the prolonged ethnic crisis.
During the visit, the Chief Secretary interacted with displaced residents and took stock of the socioeconomic challenges they continue to face. Many of the families said they had lost their homes to arson in conflict-affected areas, including Moreh, Serou, Sugnu and Churachandpur. They also spoke about the difficulties of living in temporary shelters, with normal life remaining disrupted since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023.
The delegation inspected temporary accommodation facilities at the Wangjing Sports Complex, Lamding Higher Secondary School and the Rice Research Station in Khangabok. Special Secretary (Home) Ahanthem Subash, Thoubal Deputy Commissioner Yumnam Robita, Superintendent of Police Manoj Prabhakar and other senior district officials accompanied the Chief Secretary.
Thakur also reviewed livelihood initiatives undertaken by displaced residents to improve their financial independence. These included small-scale vocational activities such as craft weaving and candle-making, which are intended to provide income-generating opportunities for families facing prolonged displacement.
The delegation also discussed the impact of displacement on students. Young people and their guardians raised concerns over interruptions to their education and a lack of adequate resources in the temporary shelters, which they said continued to affect their academic progress.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Chief Secretary directed the Thoubal Deputy Commissioner and concerned departmental officials to speed up grievance redressal and address the problems raised by camp residents. He also called for improvements to basic facilities and prompt administrative action to resolve the logistical difficulties faced by internally displaced families.