In a major administrative reform to bring in transparency and efficiency in the management of relief, the Government of Manipur has introduced DBT system for IDPs affected by ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3, 2023, and thereafter with effect from November 1, 2025.
This new structure, circulated through an Office Memorandum issued by Chief Secretary Dr. P. K. Goel, replaces the existing system of providing relief materials in kind with direct monetary assistance to each displaced family. The new initiative, starting November 1, 2025, becomes a landmark shift in the way relief measures are handled in the scores of relief camps.
As per the revised guidelines, supply of relief items like rice, dal, water, and other minimum household requirement materials being carried out by the District Administrations will stop from October 31, 2025, and from the following day, November 1, financial assistance will be paid directly into the bank accounts of the head of each displaced family at the rate of Rs. 84 per person per day.
The decision is to ensure that the entire process of relief distribution is more transparent, accountable, and flexible, while at the same time allowing freedom of choice for necessary purchases to the displaced families themselves. This switch will facilitate smoothness in the process and reduce administrative delays/discrepancies in the relief delivery mechanism.
The District Administrations are directed to prepare a digitized list of all camp inhabitants. It needs to be verified by Aadhaar, Voter ID, or any other government-issued ID with validity. All beneficiaries are encouraged to have bank accounts that may preferably be linked with the Aadhaar number. Those not having bank accounts would be facilitated with special account-opening camps that district authorities will arrange in coordination with banks inside the camps and nearby areas.
It further lays down that the bank account details of the eligible IDPs will be collected and maintained by the Deputy Commissioners of each district, and monetary transfers are to be made within the first week of every month, starting from November 2025. The money so provided is to be utilised by the IDPs themselves in buying items of daily consumption such as rice, pulses, vegetables, cooking oil, spices, firewood or gas, milk or milk powder, eggs, and hygiene products.
With the new system, IDPs will have the responsibility of purchasing essentials, while District Administrations will continue to manage basic camp infrastructure, maintenance of electricity and sanitation, among other emergency needs. The SDOs in the areas housing relief camps will also serve as Grievance Redressal Officers for any complaints or problems raised by the displaced persons with regards to the implementation of the new system.
This memorandum further elucidates that Internally Displaced Persons who have been receiving assistance under District Administration up to September 2025 are also eligible under the DBT scheme. It also states that NFSA cardholders living in relief camps will be provided with their entitled quota of rice, as hitherto, through the concerned District Supply Officers.