Manipur CM Unites Warring Communities, Distributes ₹33 Cr to IDPs
Manipur CM Unites Warring Communities, Distributes ₹33 Cr to IDPs
Manipur's CM pledges security for Kuki-Zo, distributes ₹33 crore relief to IDPs, urging trust as Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities begin a joint outreach.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh told a gathering in Imphal that he could not predict when the Kuki-Zo and Meitei displaced by years of ethnic violence would return home, but his government is working to bridge the gap between the communities.
During a programme to distribute ₹33 crore as direct benefits to IDPs, the CM said peace and goodwill have been the state's priority since the end of President’s Rule, and that the interaction with IDPs was held both physically and virtually. The state has seen more than 260 people killed and about 62,000 displaced since the violence began on May 3, 2023, with geography dividing the two communities.
A Kuki girl from Kangpokpi district asked to be treated as his own daughter and spoke of difficulties in pursuing postgraduate studies; a Meitei woman said she hoped to return to Moreh, a Kuki-majority town near the Myanmar border. Another relief camp resident highlighted the challenges of accessing medical treatment in the period of crisis. The CM called for the revival of insaniyat (humanity) and said his government would leave no stone unturned to ensure security for patients seeking medical care in Imphal while also supporting Kuki-Zo students facing disruptions to their studies.
This outreach was described as the first joint platform bringing Kukis and Meiteis on one platform since the violence, signaling a practical push to rebuild trust and enable IDPs to rebuild their lives.
