NGO working for tribal welfare launches massive housing drive in Manipur

In a bold humanitarian intervention, HRDS India—a leading NGO working for tribal welfare—is launching its flagship Satgraha Housing Project in Manipur, aimed at providing safe and dignified shelter to thousands of tribal families displaced by ongoing ethnic violence.

Spearheading the initiative is Swami Atma Nambi, President of HRDS India, who visited Manipur on July 23 along with a four-member delegation to assess ground conditions and survey construction sites. Their visit was facilitated by Haokholet Kipgen, MLA of Saitu Assembly Constituency and Chairman of FEEDS KVK Hengbung, under whose guidance the first phase will begin in Kangpokpi district with the construction of 2,000 houses.

Swamiji was warmly welcomed by community leaders and representatives of the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, reflecting widespread support for the housing initiative among tribal groups in the region. During their visit, the team toured relief camps and identified key locations across Saitu ST Assembly Constituency, where large numbers of families remain displaced.

“This is not just about building homes—this is about restoring dignity and the right to a better life,” Swamiji said during a media interaction. He emphasised that refugee-style living is unacceptable in a country that aspires to inclusive development.

The Satgraha project, already active in Odisha and Rajasthan, has set a historic goal of constructing 60,000 homes across Manipur, making it one of the largest civil society-led post-conflict housing initiatives in the region. HRDS India’s track record includes building 10,000 homes in Odisha in collaboration with the state government, offering a model of what coordinated action can achieve.

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“Our work is rooted in tribal service. I’ve lived among tribal communities in Attapadi, Kerala, and I see the same strength and pain in Manipur. They are resilient—but they deserve more than sympathy. They deserve justice,” Swamiji said.

HRDS India’s broader development model includes five key verticals:

Satgraha: Tribal housing for the displaced

Jwalamukhi: Women empowerment through microcredit and SHGs

Ekagrah: Skill development under the DDU-GKY scheme

Niramaya: Revival of traditional healing systems like Ayurveda and Yoga

Karshaka: Livelihood promotion through organic and medicinal farming

Swamiji affirmed that these programs would also be implemented in Manipur alongside the housing project, aiming to create self-sustaining communities rather than mere beneficiaries.

Pointing to Odisha’s success, Swamiji urged the Manipur government to actively support the mission. He also mentioned that international humanitarian organizations have expressed readiness to collaborate, given Manipur’s crisis has drawn global concern.

“Let the people know—we are not here with speeches, but with solutions. This is not charity. This is duty,” Swamiji concluded, assuring the tribal people of Manipur that HRDS India would stand by them until their homes, and lives, are rebuilt.

This landmark initiative marks a significant turning point in tribal rehabilitation and sets a precedent for civil society's role in conflict recovery and inclusive nation-building.