IMPHAL |  Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday said around 36,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been resettled since the ethnic conflict erupted in the state in May 2023, while nearly 24,000 displaced people continue to live in relief camps.

Replying to a short-duration discussion initiated by Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh in the Manipur Assembly, Khemchand said the government was continuing efforts to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of those still displaced.

The Chief Minister said the resettlement process had progressed through the collective efforts of legislators and other stakeholders. He added that displaced people from both the hills and the valley shared a common desire to return to their homes and rebuild their lives in peace.

Khemchand said his visits to relief camps and conflict-affected areas had given him an opportunity to interact with people from different communities. According to him, the aspirations of displaced families, irrespective of their community, centred on returning to their respective homes and resuming normal life.

The government is also holding consultations with representatives of displaced persons to identify further measures for rehabilitation. Khemchand said he had met representatives of six to seven joint associations of IDPs last month to discuss ways to extend assistance and accelerate the resettlement process.

Despite the return of around 36,000 displaced people, the government is continuing to provide financial assistance to nearly 59,000 IDPs, the Chief Minister said. He explained that several families who have returned home continue to face livelihood and income-related difficulties. As a result, the government has decided to continue monthly financial assistance to support them during the rehabilitation process.

Khemchand, however, acknowledged that financial assistance alone would not be sufficient to address the long-term consequences of a conflict that has continued for more than three years.

“The impact of the conflict is not limited to economic losses,” he said, pointing to the psychological trauma suffered by people affected by the violence. The Health Department is taking steps to address the mental health and psychological impact of the prolonged crisis, he said.

The Chief Minister also said he was consulting the Planning Department on additional measures aimed at strengthening rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities for displaced families.

Among the measures being considered are employment-related initiatives, including labour cards issued through the Labour Department, which could help affected people access work opportunities and rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

Khemchand urged all sections of society to contribute suggestions for resolving the displacement crisis and said the issue should be addressed without political considerations.

“Displaced persons should be viewed primarily as people in need of rehabilitation and support,” he indicated, stressing the need for a collective approach to the crisis.

On restoring connectivity and economic activity, the Chief Minister said the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service had resumed successfully.

He also said the government was working towards reopening the Moreh trade route, a key connectivity and commercial link between Manipur and Myanmar.

Khemchand identified the trust deficit between communities as one of the biggest obstacles to restoring normalcy in the state.

He said the government was working to rebuild trust and create conditions that would allow displaced people to return safely, while also restoring economic and social activities across Manipur.

The Chief Minister’s remarks come as the state continues to grapple with the humanitarian and economic consequences of the violence that erupted in May 2023, which displaced tens of thousands of people and disrupted communities across the hills and valley.

The government now faces the dual challenge of completing the resettlement of those still living in relief camps while ensuring that families who have already returned receive adequate livelihood, financial and psychological support to rebuild their lives.