President’s visit : Kuki IDPs cry foul against being kept out
|
Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Dec 12: President Droupadi Murmu’s two-day visit to Manipur — her first since the State descended into violent conflict almost 3 years ago — has triggered fresh anguish among Kuki Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who allege they were “completely shut out” of all official engagements despite being affected by the conflict.
The displaced Kuki-Zo families living in relief camps across Kangpokpi and neighbouring hill districts have said they were not granted even a basic opportunity to submit a memorandum outlining their urgent security and rehabilitation needs.
Diana Haokip, spokesperson of the Kangpokpi District Internally Displaced Persons Welfare Committee (KDIDPWC), clarified that the Kuki-Zo IDPs “never boycotted” the President’s visit.
“Instead,” she said, “we condemned the visit because it hurt us deeply. We were left completely unattended.”
President Murmu travelled to Senapati district — which borders Kangpokpi, a district sheltering thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs — but no visit to the relief camps was scheduled. Nor was any channel provided to even submit a memorandum, she said.
“The President’s visit was a rare moment of hope — a chance for us to speak directly to the highest moral authority of the Republic. Yet every door was closed to us,” Diana said.
She added that despite thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs languishing in relief camps for nearly three years, “no significant progress has been made. Even during the Presidential visit, we were ignored.”
The KDIDPWC has meanwhile urged authorities to take urgent action on the pressing concerns of IDPs in Kangpokpi district.
The committee pointed out that the daily relief allowance of Rs 84 is grossly inadequate amid rising costs and should be raised to Rs 100. It further alleged that some IDPs’ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments have been abruptly cut off by the Deputy Commissioner, pushing families into deeper distress.
The committee said that the Rs 1,000 assistance, intended to be disbursed multiple times, has been distributed unevenly. While some families have received it thrice, others have not received it at all. Also, Rs 25,000 compensation is being given only for fully burnt houses, leaving families with partially damaged homes without any relief, it added.
Educational assistance is yet to be provided, and medical support has reached only a small number of IDPs, the committee continued, urging the administration to ensure that every displaced family is properly registered with the DC’s office and receives timely DBT payments.
If the grievances are not addressed on or before December 18, the committee said the IDPs may launch a series of agitations from December 19.
A memorandum, which the committee prepared to submit to the President, urged the Government to immediately establish police outposts at Aigijang, Thomjang, Phailengkot, Kamuching and other sensitive areas.
It urged the Government to increase PMAY housing compensation from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10–20 lakh.
It demanded permanent rehabilitation plans for displaced Kuki residents of Imphal valley.
It asked for round-the-clock security on key “lifeline roads” to ensure the movement of essential goods, and sought separate compensation for families who owned land plots but lost them in the conflict.
KANGPOKPI, Dec 12: President Droupadi Murmu’s two-day visit to Manipur — her first since the State descended into violent conflict almost 3 years ago — has triggered fresh anguish among Kuki Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who allege they were “completely shut out” of all official engagements despite being affected by the conflict.
The displaced Kuki-Zo families living in relief camps across Kangpokpi and neighbouring hill districts have said they were not granted even a basic opportunity to submit a memorandum outlining their urgent security and rehabilitation needs.
Diana Haokip, spokesperson of the Kangpokpi District Internally Displaced Persons Welfare Committee (KDIDPWC), clarified that the Kuki-Zo IDPs “never boycotted” the President’s visit.
“Instead,” she said, “we condemned the visit because it hurt us deeply. We were left completely unattended.”
President Murmu travelled to Senapati district — which borders Kangpokpi, a district sheltering thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs — but no visit to the relief camps was scheduled. Nor was any channel provided to even submit a memorandum, she said.
“The President’s visit was a rare moment of hope — a chance for us to speak directly to the highest moral authority of the Republic. Yet every door was closed to us,” Diana said.
She added that despite thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs languishing in relief camps for nearly three years, “no significant progress has been made. Even during the Presidential visit, we were ignored.”
The KDIDPWC has meanwhile urged authorities to take urgent action on the pressing concerns of IDPs in Kangpokpi district.
The committee pointed out that the daily relief allowance of Rs 84 is grossly inadequate amid rising costs and should be raised to Rs 100. It further alleged that some IDPs’ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments have been abruptly cut off by the Deputy Commissioner, pushing families into deeper distress.
The committee said that the Rs 1,000 assistance, intended to be disbursed multiple times, has been distributed unevenly. While some families have received it thrice, others have not received it at all. Also, Rs 25,000 compensation is being given only for fully burnt houses, leaving families with partially damaged homes without any relief, it added.
Educational assistance is yet to be provided, and medical support has reached only a small number of IDPs, the committee continued, urging the administration to ensure that every displaced family is properly registered with the DC’s office and receives timely DBT payments.
If the grievances are not addressed on or before December 18, the committee said the IDPs may launch a series of agitations from December 19.
A memorandum, which the committee prepared to submit to the President, urged the Government to immediately establish police outposts at Aigijang, Thomjang, Phailengkot, Kamuching and other sensitive areas.
It urged the Government to increase PMAY housing compensation from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10–20 lakh.
It demanded permanent rehabilitation plans for displaced Kuki residents of Imphal valley.
It asked for round-the-clock security on key “lifeline roads” to ensure the movement of essential goods, and sought separate compensation for families who owned land plots but lost them in the conflict.