IMPHAL — Even though the state government began handing over the pre-fabricated temporary shelter houses to the violence-affected displaced families, many families, who are taking shelter at relief camps, have expressed their desire to return to their respective villages.
Leimakhong Chingmang Village Development and Protection Committee’s advisor, Ph Jeeban, said they want to return to their village and protect the land instead of staying in the relief camps.
“How long we can stay in camps? So we’re requesting to provide state forces or create a village defence force etc. so that we can resettle in our places," he said.
More than 1000 villagers of Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang, Ex-Servicemen Colony and Kanto Premnagar under Imphal West district, which were located close to 57th Mountain division headquarters of the Indian army at Leimakhong, are taking shelter at relief camps after the violence broke out in the early part of May this year.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]“It’s more than three months. However, we’re not allowed to return to our villages for security reasons,” he said.
Similarly, the violence affected displaced families of Imphal East district, when contacted, informed that they also wanted to return to their villages instead of staying in the government shelter homes.
“We also want to return to our places as soon as possible,” Sh Premika, mother of two children from Ekou village in Imphal East district said.
Like Premika, many displaced families from Imphal East district, who are presently taking shelter at relief camps, also shared a similar sentiment.
On August 23, the state chief minister, N Biren Singh, accompanied by ministers, MLAs and officials formally inaugurated pre-fabricated temporary shelter houses at Sajiwa jail premises, about 8 km north-east of Imphal to accommodate nearly 400 displaced families of violence.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Each temporary shelter house has two bedrooms, one washroom, a common kitchen and a common dining hall. The houses are being constructed by Manipur Police Housing Corporation Ltd at a cost of INR 149 crores in eight places.
Similar temporary shelter houses would also be constructed in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.