Broken Trust: The Unfulfilled Promises to IDPs Students in Manipur by concerned authorities

Konthoujam (K) Premchandra
Contd. of 27th April 2025 (Article) and 29th April 2025 (Article Correction)
Meanwhile, on 26th June 2024, the Secretariat: Higher & Technical Education Department, Government of Manipur, approved Letter No. DUHE-19/2/2023–DUHE–DU & HE dated 22nd June 2024, regarding the following key points:
(i) Continuation of the Chief Minister’s College Students’ Rehabilitation Scheme (CMCSRS), 2023.
(ii) Exemption of Admission and Examination Fees for internally displaced students enrolled in undergraduate programs across Government and Government-Aided Colleges in Manipur.
As stated in earlier notification, the continuation of the scheme in subsequent years is subject to the Government’s discretion; however, its provisions remain consistent with that notification.
On the same day, the Directorate of University and Higher Education issued a circular (Letter No. UHE–5/1/2023–HTE–DHTE) instructing all Principals of Government and Government-Aided Colleges to immediately implement the CMCSRS scheme as re-approved by the Directorate of University and Higher Education Department.
However, despite these official directives, actual implementation at the institutional level remains highly questionable.
Although the responsibility now lies with the individual colleges, many displaced students report that colleges have failed to fulfill their roles, especially concerning fee exemptions for admission and form fill-up. There have also been cases where some IDP students were exempted from fees in certain semesters, while many others were charged in the same college. It appears that a few extroverted students, who were confident and assertive in claiming their rights, received exemptions. Meanwhile, introverted students, who may not have voiced their concerns as strongly, were left to bear the fees. Is this system practised by the concerned college authorities FAIR?
Shockingly, some college authorities claim that the one-time rehabilitation grant of Rs. 10,000, meant for essential academic needs like books, stationery, uniforms, and other items, must be returned to the college after being credited to the students’ accounts. They insisted that this amount should cover the very fees that were supposed to be exempted by the Government.
As a result of this ongoing negligence, many Internally Displaced Students (IDPs) have been unable to continue their education, struggling to afford basic expenses such as travel fares, admission fees, and form fill-up charges.
Representing the IDPs of Manipur University, some of us have personally met college principals to urge the implementation of the CMCSRS scheme. However, many college heads have either deliberately ignored or failed to properly execute the scheme, even in the face of issued government orders.
Despite our continuous efforts, moving from one authority to another, we have faced refusal from some college principals unwilling to exempt displaced students from fees. Worse still, some have discouraged students from seeking help outside the college, pressuring them to resolve all issues internally.
At a time when our state is undergoing such a critical phase, we cannot afford the collapse of our education system. As the saying goes, “A nation that fails to educate its children builds its downfall.”
If the authorities remain unable or unwilling to ensure that the CMCSRS scheme reaches its rightful beneficiaries, what kind of future are we building for our displaced youths in the next 10 to 15 years? I believe that the lack of education and skills among internally displaced students will not only creates a gap at the individual level but will also poses a long-term challenge to the overall development and security of the state. One wise thinker said, “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”
Many students who approached college authorities directly for fee waivers were being told that the CMCSRS scheme existed without receiving the benefits it promised, as reported. Eventually, we, the IDP students of Manipur University, intervened to resolve the issue by consulting directly with the Directorate of University and Higher Education.
This raises a critical question: Are IDP students expected to run from one authority to another every semester to secure admission and form fill-up fee exemptions, despite a clear government directive? It is deeply concerning that college authorities neglect their responsibilities, even after official orders have been issued which heightened frustration and stress to the students.
We urge the concerned authorities to take immediate and concrete action to ensure that no displaced student is left behind in their educational journey due to the financial hardship caused by the ongoing conflict.
On 16th December 2024, the Directorate of University and Higher Education reaffirmed its commitment to continue the CMCSRS scheme for the academic year 2024–25. A directive was issued to:
1. Registrar, Manipur University
2. Registrar, Dhanamanjuri University
3. Registrar, Manipur Technical University
4. Registrar, Manipur University of Culture
5. Principals of all Government and Government-Aided Colleges in Manipur
They were instructed to submit details of internally displaced students enrolled in UG/PG programs for the 2024–25 session by 10th January 2025, including:
(i) A verified list of newly admitted (1st semester) displaced students, filled application forms, displacement certificates from competent authorities, and self-operating bank account details.
(ii) A verified list of students who received CMCSRS benefits in 2023–24 and are continuing their studies.
(iii) A verified list of displaced students in other semesters who did not receive CMCSRS benefits in 2023–24, with the required documentation.
In early January 2025, during a meeting with the Director of University and Higher Education, we received assurances that CMCSRS benefits would be disbursed before the end of the financial year i.e., by 31st March 2025. The Director shared us the plans to distribute tablets to those internally displaced students who have maintained at least 75% overall class attendance, although this is still pending as of now.
We also raised concerns regarding benefits for differently-abled students as the authorities shared about the estimated budget allocated and the funds available under the scheme. We were informed that such eligible students could receive at least Rs. 10,000 and a tablet. Encouraged by the authorities, we assisted approximately 48 differently-abled college and university students from various institutions and orphanages in submitting their documents and eligibility proof.
Due to limited access to conflict-affected hill regions, we were directed to inform the displaced college students in the valley areas about the scheme. Many students missed out the benefits provided by the CMCSRS Scheme the previous year due to a lack of awareness or delayed applications, as reported.
To facilitate information sharing, we created some WhatsApp groups for the ccolleges under Manipur University and Affiliated colleges of Dhanamanjuri University, led by IDP students of Manipur University. These groups aimed to provide timely updates and to ensure genuine beneficiaries to access CMCSRS benefits, especially, since we could not reach every college in person.
Despite all our coordinated efforts and the initial reassurances from government authorities, the lack of follow-through from the concerned authority has left us disheartened and deeply disappointed. This brings us to a crucial question: Of the six objectives outlined in the CMCSRS Scheme 2023, how many have actually been fulfilled? Has the scheme truly lived up to its promises, or do the gaps between intent and implementation remain unresolved?
(The writer is a Internally Displaced Student of National Security Studies, Manipur University)