Manipur CM launches aid of Rs 1,000 per head for displaced people

way2barak, June 28 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday launched the ‘Onetime Financial Assistance (OFA)’ of Rs 1,000 per head for clothing and personnel belonging to those living in relief camps after being displaced from their homes and villages due to the ethnic violence, which broke out on May 3.

The Chief Minister on Tuesday visited relief camps at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak in Imphal East district and at Lamphel in Imphal West District and started distribution of the financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per head to those persons taking shelter in the camps.

Expressing his sadness over the ‘sudden occurrence of unfortunate incidents in the state’ from May 3, Singh said that the troubles had made many people flee their respective homes.

During his brief speech before the inmates of the relief camp at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak, he maintained that the Government had been taking all possible steps to provide shelters and temporary housing facilities to the displaced people.

Informing that temporary housing facilities are being constructed at different suitable places for relocating displaced people, the Chief Minister said that they would stay at the temporary housing facilities till the law-and-order situation improved and after the improvement of the situation all the people would return to their respective homes.

The Chief Minister appreciated civil society organisations (CSOs), women and government officials of the state for remaining alert and preventing occurrence of many untoward incidents, thereby saving lives of people.

Regarding the financial assistance, he said that the Government, after considering the hardship faced by displaced people, had taken the decision to provide Rs 1000 to each person taking shelters at relief camps as one-time financial assistance.

The financial assistance would be provided through the respective Deputy Commissioners of different districts.

“The Government had been putting in every effort to restore peace and normalcy in the state by using its various machineries. The security forces had been deployed for guarding places at periphery areas and the people,” the Chief Minister said and urged the public to not believe in rumours and also to stay calm.

He also expressed appreciation to the women of the state for their support in bringing the state towards normalcy.

The Chief Minister later tweeted : “Visited the Relief Camp at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. The State Government is committed to assisting the affected people and providing basic needs to the victims.

Extended financial aid and assistance as a part of the ongoing measures to provide relief and rehabilitation to the displaced persons.”

In view of the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3, over 50,000 people displaced from their homes and took shelter in 350 relief camps in the state while another 15,000 men, women and children took shelter in the neighbouring Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam.