Ask Onix
Manipur's displaced face uncertainty as relief camps set to close by December
Two years after deadly ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in India's northeastern state of Manipur, nearly 60,000 displaced residents now confront a precarious future as authorities prepare to shut all temporary relief camps by December. The violence, which erupted in May 2023, left at least 260 dead and forced thousands from their homes, with many still unable-or unwilling-to return.
The roots of the crisis
The conflict began after the predominantly Christian Kuki community protested against the majority Hindu Meitei's demand for official tribal status, which would grant them access to government benefits and job quotas reserved for recognized tribes. The ensuing violence became the worst in the region in decades, deepening divisions between the two groups.
Today, Manipur remains starkly segregated: Meiteis occupy the Imphal Valley, while Kukis live in the surrounding hill districts. Security forces patrol buffer zones to prevent interaction between the communities, according to a security official who spoke to BBC Hindi on condition of anonymity. "Our mandate is to ensure Meiteis and Kukis stay in their respective areas and do not mix," the official said.
Government promises, lingering doubts
In July, then-Chief Secretary Prashant Singh announced plans to close all relief camps by December, relocating residents to prefabricated housing-though officials have not specified whether these units will be near the camps or displaced individuals' original homes. The ambiguity has fueled anxiety among those still in limbo.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's September visit to Manipur-his first since the violence began-offered little clarity. He pledged 7,000 new homes for the displaced in "appropriate locations" but provided no further details. Critics argue that resettling people away from their original neighborhoods risks cementing ethnic divisions. "This is not good for a secular, democratic India," said RK Nimai Singh, a former secretary to the Manipur governor. "Resettling them in their original homes is most critical."
"If we leave these camps and move into temporary housing, we may never return home."
RK Nimai Singh, former secretary to the Manipur governor
Fears of permanent displacement
For many Kukis, returning to their former homes is fraught with danger. Hatnu Haokip, a 22-year-old living in a relief camp in Churachandpur, said her village in the Imphal Valley is now surrounded by Meitei residents. "I want to go back, but that can't happen," she told BBC Hindi. Haokip and others in her community advocate for a federally administered Kuki territory, believing autonomy would offer greater security.
Meitei displaced persons, however, express a stronger desire to return. Irom Abung, a former water supply business owner now living near a buffer zone, insists he will never abandon his land. "My home remains. I will never sell it because I know I will return one day," he said. "Efforts must be made to bridge the gap between our communities so people can rebuild their lives."
Healthcare and livelihoods in collapse
Prolonged displacement has exacerbated health and economic crises. Nemhoichong Lhungdim, a single mother in a relief camp, said her 11-year-old son lost sight in one eye after government doctors failed to treat his injury. Private care would cost 300,000 rupees ($3,400; £2,600)-an impossible sum for her. "The government organizes health camps, but they've never helped my son," she said. BBC Hindi has sought comment from officials.
Mental health support has also dwindled. Salam Monika, 25, said her uncle died by suicide last year after losing hope amid joblessness. "Mental health workers visited a few times in 2023, but none have come this year," she added.
Resettlement efforts fall short
While some displaced families have moved into temporary housing, livelihoods remain unstable. Chingakham Radha, a former homemaker, now earns meager income from selling crochet dolls-a skill she learned in the camp. "The money is barely enough to survive," she said. Her husband's sporadic labor work offers little relief. "I want to return to Churachandpur, but that hope is fading."
Government officials insist progress is being made. "From about 290 camps initially, we've reduced the number to around 260," a senior official told BBC Hindi, adding that the goal is to resettle people in their original areas "once they feel safe." Yet with December's deadline looming, skepticism persists over whether the plan will address the deeper fractures in Manipur's social fabric.
