Kuki displaced families say Presidential visit offered ‘no access’ as key concerns remain unresolved

President Droupadi Murmu’s two-day tour of Manipur, her first since the state’s ethnic violence erupted nearly three years ago, has drawn criticism from Kuki internally displaced persons who say they were excluded from all official interactions despite facing some of the heaviest losses since 2023.

 

Although the President held meetings with displaced families from the valley in Imphal, Kuki-Zo residents living in camps across Kangpokpi and nearby hill districts report that they were not given a formal avenue to present their concerns or submit a memorandum outlining urgent needs on security and rehabilitation.

 

The Kangpokpi District Internally Displaced Persons Welfare Committee (KDIDPWC) said the community did not boycott the visit, clarifying that frustration stemmed from being left without representation.

 

Spokesperson Diana Haokip noted that the President’s stop in Senapati district — adjacent to Kangpokpi, which houses thousands of displaced Kuki-Zo families — did not include any camp visits nor arrangements for communication.

 

Haokip said the absence of outreach reflected a broader pattern: “For nearly three years, there has been little progress for our community, and this visit did not change that.”

 

The KDIDPWC listed a series of unresolved issues affecting IDPs in Kangpokpi:

1. The daily relief allowance of Rs 84 is described as inadequate, with a request to raise it to Rs 100.

2. Several families reportedly saw their Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments stopped by the district administration.

3. The Rs 1,000 instalment intended for recurring disbursement has reached some families multiple times, while others have received none.

4. Compensation of Rs 25,000 is available only for houses fully burnt, excluding those with partial damage.

5. Educational and medical support remains inconsistent, with gaps in registration for DBT eligibility.

 

The committee has asked authorities to resolve these issues by December 18, warning that it will begin protest actions the following day if no steps are taken.

 

According to the KDIDPWC, a detailed memorandum was ready ahead of the President’s visit, but there was no designated channel through which it could be submitted.

 

Key points in the memorandum include:

1. Establishment of police outposts in Aigijang, Thomjang, Phailengkot, Kamuching and other vulnerable locations.

2. Increasing housing compensation under PMAY from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10–20 lakh in view of the complete destruction of homes and higher construction costs in hill regions.

3. Long-term rehabilitation measures for Kuki families displaced from Imphal valley who have no homes to return to.

4. Security on key supply routes to prevent disruption of essential goods.

5. Compensation for families who lost land in the conflict.

 

The memorandum also outlines ongoing camp challenges: a lack of secure outposts preventing safe return, insufficient housing assistance, severe property losses in the valley, and continued reliance on food support due to the collapse of livelihoods.

 

IDP representatives say the absence of engagement during the President’s visit has reinforced concerns that their situation remains insufficiently addressed as the displacement crisis approaches its third year.