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Imphal: President Droupadi Murmu concluded her two-day visit to strife-torn Manipur. This was her first visit to the northeastern state after becoming the President of India. Her trip came around three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on September 13 for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
On Friday, President Murmu attended the annual Nupi Lan celebrations and another programme in the Naga-dominated Senapati district. Nupi Lan is observed annually to commemorate two historic women-led movements in 1904 and 1939 against British colonial policies.
Several posters and temporary gates were put up at different places where Murmu visited.
Normal life was partially affected in the Imphal Valley due to a bandh called by a conglomeration of banned outfits, the Coordination Committee (CorCom), in protest against Murmu’s visit, from 1 a.m. on Thursday until her departure.
The President’s two-day visit to Manipur—her first since the state descended into ethnic conflict nearly three years ago—has triggered fresh anguish among Kuki Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who allege they were “completely shut out” of all official engagements despite being among the worst-affected communities since May 2023.
Diana Haokip, spokesperson of the Kangpokpi District Internally Displaced Persons Welfare Committee (KDIDPWC), clarified that the Kuki-Zo IDPs “never boycotted” the President’s visit. President Murmu travelled to Senapati district, which borders Kangpokpi—the worst-hit district sheltering thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs.
“The President’s visit was a rare moment of hope, a chance for us to speak directly to the highest moral authority of the Republic. Yet every door was closed to us,” Diana said, calling the experience “a painful continuation of the discrimination we have faced since May 2023.” She added that despite thousands of Kuki-Zo IDPs languishing in relief camps for nearly three years, “no significant progress has been made.”
The KDIDPWC urged the authorities to take urgent action on the pressing concerns of IDPs in Kangpokpi district.
The committee pointed out that the daily relief allowance of Rs. 84 is grossly inadequate amid rising costs and should be raised to Rs. 100. They further alleged that some IDPs’ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments have been abruptly cut off by the Deputy Commissioner, pushing families into deeper distress.
They said the Rs. 1,000 assistance, intended to be disbursed multiple times, has been distributed unevenly — some families received it thrice, while others have not received it at all. The Rs. 25,000 compensation is given only for fully burnt houses, leaving families with partially damaged homes without any relief.
Educational assistance is yet to be provided, and medical support has reached only a small number of IDPs, the committee added. They urged the administration to ensure that every displaced family is properly registered with the DC’s office and receives timely DBT payments.
They further appealed to the authorities to expedite DBT registration for remaining IDPs and compensate all damaged or burnt houses based on assessment forms submitted to the district administration.
The committee warned that if their grievances are not addressed on or before December 18, they will launch a series of agitations from December 19.Their demands include: Immediate establishment of police outposts at sensitive areas.Increase of PMAY housing compensation from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 10–20 lakh.
Permanent rehabilitation plans for displaced Kuki residents of Imphal valley who have no homes to return to. Round-the-clock security on key “lifeline roads”.
Compensation for those who lost plots in the conflict.
The memorandum also paints a bleak picture of camp conditions:Security vacuum: Displaced families say they cannot return home until central forces establish secure outposts.
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