IDPs see red over Rs 3 lakh for house reconstruction

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 29 : Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kangchup Chingkhong have strongly condemned the Govt’s aid package of Rs 3 lakh for reconstruction of their houses, terming it “an insult” to their suffering.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club today, Thingujam Deben, an IDP, stated that the amount is grossly inadequate to rebuild even a basic house.
He announced that the displaced families  will return the first instalment of Rs 85,000 credited to their accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the Government.
The previous Government (before President’s Rule) had  fixed Rs 5 lakh for rebuilding a kutcha house, Rs 7 lakh for a semi-pucca house and Rs 10 lakh for a pucca house, he said and added that the present administration, however, issued an order on November 7 slashing the assistance to Rs 3 lakh per house.
He also said that the Government transferred Rs 85,000 each to the accounts of 14 displaced families through DBT for reconstruction of their houses despite stiff opposition to the reduction of the financial assistance.
Asking how a person can rebuild a house which has either been flattened or reduced to ashes with Rs 3 lakh, he said that they will return the credited amount to  the Government.
The previous rates (Rs 5 lakh for a kutcha house, Rs 7 lakh for a semi-pucca house, and Rs 10 lakh for a pucca house) fixed by the Government were also insufficient for house reconstruction, but the IDPs had accepted them, he said and added that slashing the amount to Rs 3 lakh, however, is an insult to them.