Forgotten Voices: The Plight of Manipur’s Displaced Women and Children

For nearly two years, Manipur has been grappling with an unresolved humanitarian crisis, leaving over 60,000 people, including 25,000 children, homeless in their own land. What once drew attention and sympathy has now faded into obscurity, not just from the minds of the people but from the priorities of the government. The plight of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) continues unabated, with thousands struggling each day for survival. As time passes, their suffering has been normalized, their presence barely acknowledged, and their rights increasingly ignored.
On the streets of Manipur, under the merciless sun, women, children, and the elderly sit with handmade goods, pleading with passersby to buy something, anything, to help them survive another day. Their voices, tired yet persistent, echo through the bustling roads as they attempt to draw attention to their struggle. Some stop, offering a few rupees; others walk past, indifferent to their silent suffering. Relief, which once trickled in during the early days of the crisis, has now stopped altogether. She laments how they have been forgotten, how the names of her sons were even erased from the relief camp’s records simply because they ventured out to earn a living.
Even as children are often termed the future of a nation, there remains a glaring lack of a child-centric approach in addressing their welfare during Manipur’s ongoing crisis. Keisham Pradipkumar, Chairperson of the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), recently spoke out about the deteriorating safety and well-being of children in relief camps. He recalled a recent tragic incident where a minor girl was abducted from a relief camp in Churachandpur and later found murdered. He also highlighted the Jiribam incident where six individuals, including three minors, were abducted and brutally killed by armed miscreants. Additionally, a teenage boy remains missing from the Joujangtek area, the same location where two teenagers—a boy and a girl—went missing and were later presumed dead.
Nearly two years into the conflict, approximately 25,000 children continue to live in relief camps under deplorable conditions. They are neither spared from the violence nor adequately protected. Their education remains severely disrupted, and they suffer from malnutrition, inadequate healthcare, and poor sanitation. The hygiene standards in these camps are appalling, with no separate toilet facilities for boys and girls, posing serious concerns, particularly for adolescent girls. The absence of proper sanitation not only affects their dignity but also increases the risk of diseases, further compounding their misery. The psychological trauma inflicted on these displaced children remains largely unaddressed, and there is no designated nodal officer to coordinate mental health support, regular health check-ups, or food supply for them. These children, already victims of a crisis they did not create, are being further subjected to systemic neglect.
The lack of justice for crimes committed against displaced children is another alarming issue. Despite numerous FIRs being filed, no significant action has been taken against perpetrators. Reports of IDP names being removed from relief camp records without explanation continue to surface, stripping families of their access to already meager assistance. The government’s failure to uphold even the basic rights of displaced women and children paints a grim picture of the state’s priorities. It raises serious questions about the accountability of those in power and their commitment to addressing the crisis.
The situation demands urgent intervention, not just from the government but from civil society, humanitarian agencies, and the public. The rights of displaced women and children cannot continue to be ignored. They deserve security, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives. The government must ensure that relief efforts are not just temporary band-aids but part of a comprehensive, long-term rehabilitation strategy. Special focus must be placed on restoring education for displaced children, providing proper healthcare, and ensuring that women-led households are supported financially and socially. The bureaucratic hurdles preventing aid from reaching those who need it the most must be removed, and stringent measures should be implemented to protect the vulnerable from further exploitation and harm.
As the world moves on, the displaced in Manipur remain trapped in their suffering, unseen and unheard. Their stories must be told, their voices must be amplified, and their rights must be defended. A society that fails to protect its most vulnerable is a society that has lost its moral compass. It is time to act before the wounds of displacement become permanent scars on the conscience of the nation. The resilience of these women and children should not be a justification for their continued neglect; rather, it should be the reason why urgent action is needed. Their survival should not be left to the mercy of an indifferent system but should be ensured by a state that values every life within its borders.