A Long Road Home — beyond shelters, towards justice and restoration

The recent announcement by the Chief Secretary of Manipur, assuring that the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) will be completed in three phases by December this year, has brought a glimmer of hope to thousands still languishing in relief camps. However, the assurance has not been without criticism. The President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly questioned the intent and depth of the government’s promise, stating that the plan merely seeks to shift IDPs from temporary relief camps to prefabricated houses—not to their original homes. He further pointed out the lack of a concrete roadmap for genuine resettlement and restoration of peace in the conflict-ridden state.
At the heart of this issue is a basic human truth: displacement robs people not only of their homes but of their dignity, identity, and security. Since the eruption of violence in Manipur in May 2023, tens of thousands have been uprooted from their native villages, forced to seek shelter in overcrowded and poorly equipped relief camps. Over a year later, the pain of dislocation still haunts them. The promise to complete resettlement by December, therefore, carries immense weight—but only if it is truly about returning people to where they belong, not just moving them around on paper.
The Chief Secretary’s assurance, made during a high-level review meeting, envisions a phased process—no doubt a logistical necessity given the scale of displacement. But as the MPCC president rightly pointed out, shifting IDPs to prefabricated structures is not the same as enabling them to return to their original villages. Prefabs may provide improved shelter and a semblance of privacy, but they remain temporary solutions. What the people demand—and deserve—is a permanent return to their ancestral lands, complete with security, infrastructure, and assurance of non-recurrence of violence.
More troubling is the absence of a clear and transparent roadmap. Resettlement, especially in a conflict-sensitive environment like Manipur, cannot be undertaken as an administrative exercise alone. It must be rooted in reconciliation, justice, and the restoration of trust between communities. For many, returning home is not merely a logistical issue but an emotional and psychological challenge. The fear of renewed violence, lack of security guarantees, and broken inter-community ties are real obstacles. Until these are addressed meaningfully, the process will remain incomplete.
The state government must therefore go beyond mere infrastructure. It must engage deeply with both displaced populations and host communities, involve civil society, and initiate open dialogues aimed at healing. A transparent roadmap must include details on security arrangements, compensation for destroyed homes, rehabilitation of livelihoods, and mechanisms for long-term peacebuilding.
Furthermore, the role of the central government must not be passive. Given the ethnic complexities and history of the conflict, intervention and support from New Delhi are essential—not only in terms of funds and logistics but also in guiding a political process that promotes dialogue and reconciliation.
The MPCC president’s criticism, far from being mere political posturing, raises pertinent questions that need urgent answers. What mechanisms are in place to ensure safe and voluntary return? How are the original homes and properties of IDPs being protected or restored? What steps are being taken to bring about justice for victims and accountability for the violence that led to their displacement?
It is time the government recognizes that prefabricated homes are not a destination, but a stop along the way. The ultimate goal must be to bring every displaced family back to their rightful home, with dignity and security, and to restore a Manipur where all communities can coexist in peace.
Only then can we truly say that resettlement has been completed—not just by December, but in spirit and substance.