A call for dignified resettlement and peace IDPs

More than two years into the devastating ethnic conflict that has torn apart the social fabric of Manipur, tens of thousands of people remain internally displaced, living in temporary shelters, relief camps, or scattered across districts far from their homes. Among them are Meitei and Kuki families who once lived side by side but are now divided by walls of mistrust, fear, and political inertia. As the wounds of violence linger, the state must prioritize one fundamental humanitarian goal — the dignified resettlement and peaceful rehabilitation of all internally displaced persons (IDPs), irrespective of their community.
When the violence first erupted in May 2023, both Meitei and Kuki households were forced to flee their homes in fear of their lives. Homes were burned, villages destroyed, places of worship desecrated. Children were torn from schools, livelihoods disrupted, and communities fractured. While the immediate shock has faded from headlines, the reality remains that thousands still live in conditions far from normal — in relief camps with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and proper education for their children.
In June 2025, the Chief Secretary of Manipur, Dr. Vineet Joshi (now replaced by P.K. Singh), had assured that resettlement of IDPs was a top priority for the state government. More recently, Chief Secretary P.K. Singh reiterated that the state would soon begin processes to rehabilitate displaced persons, build pre-fabricated houses, and restore a sense of normalcy. While such assurances are welcomed, they must now be matched by swift, transparent, and inclusive action.
The process of resettlement must be guided by compassion, justice, and impartiality. The state must first ensure that the camps where IDPs currently live are improved with adequate sanitation, nutrition, mental health support, and education. Simultaneously, planning for their return or relocation must be done in consultation with the affected families — not as a top-down bureaucratic directive but with genuine community engagement. Each displaced individual deserves a voice in decisions that will affect their future.
One cannot ignore the political and communal sensitivity involved in resettling IDPs in conflict zones. But avoiding the issue will only allow wounds to fester. Resettlement must be done in a manner that does not reignite tensions — through neutral monitoring, coordination with civil society, and the establishment of buffer zones and peace committees in volatile areas. Special care must be taken for women, children, the elderly, and the differently-abled among the displaced.
The Manipur government must also acknowledge that rebuilding lives means more than constructing houses. It includes restoring trust, livelihoods, and dignity. Peace education, reconciliation efforts, inter-community dialogues, and trauma healing must accompany the physical act of rebuilding homes. The future of Manipur’s stability depends not only on roads and structures but also on healing broken relationships.
Both the Meitei and Kuki communities have suffered deep and irreversible losses. The state must not play the role of a distant observer, but as an active agent of reconciliation. The responsibility lies not only with the government but also with elected representatives, tribal and valley-based civil bodies, and every citizen who desires peace in this land.
At this critical juncture, the state government must draw up a concrete and time-bound rehabilitation plan and make it public. The process must be equitable, devoid of favouritism or bias, and rooted in constitutional values. A monitoring body with representation from all affected communities and neutral observers could ensure accountability.
For Manipur to truly heal, its displaced citizens must be returned to safe homes, their sense of belonging restored, and the promise of peaceful coexistence rekindled. Let the resettlement of IDPs not become another forgotten chapter in Manipur’s troubled history but a turning point toward lasting peace.