Sunday, September 20, 2026

Beyond Relief Camps: The Unseen Struggle of Kuki-Zo IDPs

WHEN violent ethnic conflict erupted in May 2023, the Kuki-Zo community suffered devastating losses: over 300 lives lost, more than 200 villages burned, 7,000 homes destroyed, over 360 places of worship razed, and more than 41,000 individuals internally displaced. Behind these painful statistics lies a deeply troubling administrative failure in how state relief is distributed. Out of a total sanction of ₹3.33 crore released to ten Deputy Commissioners across the state for purchasing television sets for relief camps, a staggering ₹1.17 crore: more than a third of the entire allocation, was earmarked for Churachandpur alone. Compare this to districts such as Jiribam and Thoubal, which received a mere ₹3 lakh each, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul with ₹12 lakh apiece, Imphal East with ₹23 lakh, Imphal West with ₹28 lakh, Kakching with ₹30 lakh, Bishnupur with ₹47 lakh, and Kangpokpi with ₹58 lakh, and the disparity becomes impossible to ignore. Yet on the ground, displaced families such as a mother who received a single payment of ₹17,000 before leaving her camp for a rented room report receiving no further assistance whatsoever. Desperate for basic fairness, the Joint IDPs organised a peaceful sit-in protest at the Tuibuong Wall of Remembrance on 27 August 2026, demanding the immediate implementation of the High Court order dated 11 June 2026, proper relief for non-camped victims, and the continuation of Direct Benefit Transfers for camped IDPs until a final settlement is reached.

Displacement is never a voluntary decision, nor does leaving an official camp mean a family has recovered. Overcrowded shelters, poor sanitary conditions, and medical or educational needs forced many families into rented rooms, often at the encouragement of local authorities seeking to relieve pressure on state facilities. Stripping these families of continuous support or penalising them for securing alternative shelter ignores the harsh reality of their situation. Spending over a crore on entertainment infrastructure while displaced families struggle to pay rent or buy daily provisions represents a profound misuse of public funds. One is left asking: how many television sets does ₹1.17 crore actually buy, and where have they ended up? Are they genuinely still sitting in relief camps bringing some small comfort to displaced families, or has “TV sets for IDPs” become a convenient label under which funds quietly disappear? Despite desperate calls under slogans of “No Discrimination, No Exclusion, Justice for All IDPs,” their voices remain ignored. Why are those suffering not being heard, and who is responsible for withholding their entitled relief? It is high time that civil society organisations and student bodies step up to investigate this matter thoroughly and expose the true culprits who have siphoned off funds meant for human survival.

A compassionate government must ensure that financial aid follows the person, not the physical camp. The local administration must provide complete transparency regarding how relief funds are spent, verify submitted lists of uncounted families, and audit every sanctioned rupee to ensure full accountability. Classifying displaced victims as non-campers and cutting off aid creates an unfair administrative technicality that penalises families for trying to survive under dreadful circumstances. True recovery for Manipur requires an inclusive, honest, and accountable relief effort; one that measures hardship by human suffering and destruction rather than bureaucratic paperwork or superficial camp amenities.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 20.09.2026

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Read more on IDPS

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