Manipur to Close Relief Camps, Launch Three-Phase Rehab Plan
Manipur’s Government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to close some 350 relief camps sheltering internally displaced persons (IDPs) by December. A three-phase rehabilitation initiative, beginning this July, aims to return evacuees to their homes or provide alternate support, backed by central coordination and substantial financial aid.
Phase 1: July – Immediate Returns
Chief Secretary PK Singh announced that the first phase, launching this month, focuses on families eager and able to return promptly. Having decreased the number of displaced from 62,000 to 57,000, several have already started returning—especially in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. Families whose homes were intact but abandoned out of fear are also included in this initial wave.
Phase 2: October – Delayed Rehabilitation
The second phase, scheduled for October, will concentrate on residents whose houses are standing but have deteriorated due to two years of neglect. Approximately 7,000 individuals in this category will receive financial aid to restore their homes.
Phase 3: December – Final Relocation
By year-end, the third phase targets an estimated 8,000–10,000 individuals still unable to return. For them, the government is constructing and allocating prefabricated housing units, with 1,000 additional homes under construction to accommodate this group.
Tiered Financial Assistance
- Destroyed homes: 7,000–8,000 families will receive ₹3 lakh each for rebuilding efforts.
- Dilapidated homes: Around 7,000 families will receive tailored monetary support to restore their residences.
- Unable to return: Those still displaced post-December will be allotted secure prefabricated structures.
Safety and Infrastructure Restored
With President’s Rule in effect since February, both state and central governments are collaborating to reopen highways and ensure safe mobility across Manipur. Enhanced security, especially in vulnerable agricultural zones, has enabled displaced families from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities to resume farming—even sharing water resources—signalling growing ground-level calm. Officials caution that isolated incidents by mischievous elements may occur but expect overall peace to hold.
Broader Humanitarian and Policy Impact
This ambitious rehabilitation plan reflects a determined shift toward normalcy. The coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs underscores the government’s focus on a structured, phased approach—balancing rapid returns with security and economic stability. By year’s end, authorities aim to close all relief camps and restore community life across the conflict-affected regions.
Effective implementation will require sustained funding, infrastructure coordination, and oversight. Success could mark a pivotal turnaround in post-violence recovery—ushering displaced families back home and rebuilding communal resilience in Manipur.
