IMPHAL : The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has presented a Draft State Action Plan aimed at safeguarding and rehabilitating children displaced by the ongoing violence in the state, highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and child-focused interventions.

The draft was placed before stakeholders at a Convergence and Review Meeting held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Bishnupur district. The meeting was chaired by MCPCR Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar and brought together officials from district administration, child protection agencies and allied departments to assess existing measures and identify gaps in support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) children.

Reviewing the situation on the ground, the meeting examined current welfare, protection and rehabilitation initiatives for displaced children and sought detailed inputs from stakeholders to strengthen a rights-based and long-term response.

Underscoring the seriousness of the crisis, Pradipkumar urged the Manipur government to announce a State Transitional Support Plan for IDPs who are in the process of resettlement.

He also pressed for the early notification of the Manipur State Policy for Children, arguing that both steps would significantly improve the state’s capacity to respond to the complex and evolving needs of children affected by displacement.

Providing a district-level overview, Additional District Magistrate T. Opendro said that 292 households, comprising 1,027 persons, have so far been resettled in Bishnupur district. He informed that housing assistance is being extended under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), with financial support of Rs 70,000 for partially damaged houses and Rs 3 lakh for fully damaged houses. Out of 1,180 applications received under the scheme, construction has been completed for 40 houses.

District Child Protection Officer Indrani Devi said that 1,862 children have been recommended for assistance under the Mission Vatsalya Sponsorship Scheme. She added that 2,798 displaced children in Bishnupur district have been identified as Children in Need of Care and Protection, underlining the scale of vulnerability created by the conflict.

Participants, however, raised concerns about the limited reach and rigid framework of Mission Vatsalya when applied to a conflict-driven displacement scenario like Manipur’s. They stressed the need for greater flexibility in policy implementation, sustained monitoring and follow-up, and stronger mental health and psychosocial support services for affected children.

The meeting highlighted the importance of effective convergence among health services, District Child Protection Units, juvenile justice institutions and community-based mechanisms to ensure comprehensive care and protection.

The deliberations concluded with a collective call for a more adaptive, responsive and holistic framework that prioritises the rights, safety and well-being of IDP children across Manipur, particularly as resettlement efforts gather pace.

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