IDPs ask Govt to fulfil resettlement promise

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 1: Appealing to the PR administration to fulfil its assurance of resettling displaced people in three phases within the month of December 2025, IDPs have warned that they would be constrained to launch strong agitation if the Government fails to fulfil its assurance.
Meanwhile, the IDPs of Ekou and Dolaithabi today submitted a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Secretary  reminding them of the Government’s assurance that IDPs would be resettled within the month of December.
Pointing out that the Government had committed to completing the resettlement process in December, the memorandum endorsed by the COCOMI asserted that today marks the first day of the countdown to the 31 days set for resettlement.
Saying that the people of Manipur have begun monitoring this timeline closely, the memorandum asserted that a clear schedule and immediate steps for safe return, rehabilitation and security arrangements are urgently required.
It also urged the Government and the Chief Secretary to ensure the fulfilment of the promised December resettlement and restore normalcy and dignity to the displaced families.
On the other hand, a large group of IDPs and people from different walks of life today staged a sit-in-protest at Lamboi Khongnangkhong.
Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest demonstration, one Okram Bidyashwori, a displaced person, said that the Government, by holding Manipur Sangai Festival, was conveying a message that there is peace and normalcy in the State.
If this is the case, why is the Government preventing IDPs from resettling at their homes, she asked.
Even though the Manipur Sangai Festival was held forcibly amid strong opposition and vehement protest, the PR administration has not yet taken up any tangible step for the resettlement of IDPs, Bidyashwori decried.
Recalling the assurance given by the PR administration earlier that the IDPs will be resettled in three phases within the current month, she urged the Government to ensure that resettlement of IDPs begins within the first week of December. IDPs are prepared to launch different modes of intense agitation if the Government fails to fulfil its promise of resettling the IDPs within December 2025. “We are staging a protest demonstration today to wake up the Government to its own assurance and start acting on the same assurance”, she added. She also appealed to the Government not to invite public unrest and strong protest from IDPs.