The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) today demanded the immediate restoration of financial assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) living outside government relief camps, terming the reported suspension of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-based aid as “unjustified” while thousands of families remain displaced.
The demand comes a day after scores of non-camp IDPs gathered at Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) offices in different parts of the state, seeking the release of their pending financial assistance for July. The affected families alleged that they had not received the monthly DBT assistance, raising concerns over their ability to meet basic household expenses.
Addressing to media at the COCOMI office in Lamphel, attended by IDPs, COCOMI volunteers and representatives of affected communities, COCOMI leaders said relief measures should continue until all displaced families are permanently rehabilitated.
They maintained that thousands of families uprooted by the ethnic violence of May 2023 continue to depend on government assistance for their daily survival and that withdrawing financial support before rehabilitation would place an unbearable burden on already vulnerable households.
IDP representative L. Gojendro Meitei said the issue primarily affects displaced families residing outside government-recognised relief camps. According to him, while inmates of designated relief camps continue to receive assistance, non-camp IDPs have not received DBT payments since July.
He said the government had been providing financial assistance of around Rs 100 per person per day, enabling displaced families living in rented houses or with relatives to meet essential food and household expenses.
Speaking at the press conference, Subhachandra, Co-Convenor of the Churachandpur Meitei United Committee, warned that displaced families would launch an agitation if the pending financial assistance was not credited by July 31.
“If the assistance is not transferred by July 31, IDPs will begin democratic protests from the very next day,” he said.
The speakers urged the Manipur Government to immediately restore the assistance, asserting that relief should continue until every displaced family is able to return home safely or is permanently rehabilitated.