Imphal: Around 25,000 children have been displaced by the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) said, describing the situation as a grave violation of child rights.
According to a report by The Sangai Express, MCPCR chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar said that thousands of children, who should have been living with their families, continue to remain homeless nearly two years and eight months after the conflict began. He said the prolonged displacement has exposed them to severe physical and psychological distress, with many still living in relief camps and temporary shelters.
Pradipkumar said the scale of displacement recalled earlier traumatic phases in Manipur’s history, including the Seven Years’ Devastation (1819–1826), the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and the Second World War. He added that the ongoing conflict has caused widespread suffering across communities.
Despite restrictions on movement in hill areas, the MCPCR addressed several cases involving children from Kuki-Zo and Naga communities and delivered relief through institutional mechanisms, he said.
In collaboration with UNICEF, the MCPCR organised 13 mental health and psychosocial support clinics across six districts, including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Chandel. The clinics, which used art-based therapy, reached 483 children living in 49 relief camps. Assessments found that nearly 30–35 per cent of displaced children suffered from severe mental health issues, while about 10 per cent required specialised treatment. UNICEF-supported interventions also assessed the education, health and protection needs of 4,537 children, he added.
Pradipkumar expressed concern over delays in implementing the Manipur State Policy for Children, calling it critical at a time when displaced children need institutional support the most.
He said the authorities submitted the draft policy in 2017 and issued a gazette notification in 2020 inviting public feedback, but the state cabinet has yet to approve it. A state-level committee submitted a revised final draft in April 2025. He urged the government to notify the policy by January 2026.
The MCPCR chairperson also flagged a rise in child trafficking and recruitment of child soldiers since the outbreak of violence, stressing that child soldiering constitutes trafficking and requires collective action by all sections of society to prevent it.
He said the commission held camp sittings in Jiribam following the killing of six women and children, and later organised a similar outreach in Bishnupur. In recent months, four children, including two internally displaced minors, died by suicide, while several children from both communities lost their lives during the violence. He also alleged that security forces used excessive force against children protesting for peace, terming such actions unlawful.
While acknowledging the government’s resettlement initiatives, Pradipkumar called for a structured “transitional support” plan to ensure sustainable rehabilitation. He said the MCPCR identified and recommended 776 displaced children for benefits under Mission Vatsalya between August and December this year. Of them, 32 have started receiving a monthly assistance of Rs 4,000.
All displaced children in Manipur below 18 years are eligible for Mission Vatsalya, he said, urging authorities to ensure universal coverage. He added that the MCPCR would soon recommend its State Action Plan for the Protection of Internally Displaced Children to the government and sought cooperation from all stakeholders to implement it effectively.