A significant step towards recovery has been taken in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, where the first Kuki village, Khodang, has been resettled after a three-year hiatus due to ethnic conflict.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities broke out on May 3, 2023, leading to the displacement of approximately 62,000 people and resulting in over 260 fatalities. Khodang village, situated near the buffer zone separating the Meitei-majority valley from the Kuki-dominated hills, was among the severely affected areas.
Resettlement Efforts
With the assistance of the district administration, the village has been rebuilt, and a ceremony was held to mark its re-inhabitation. Paolienlal Haokip, the local MLA, officially inaugurated the village by cutting a ribbon. The government provided ₹1.7 lakh to each of the 45 families to rebuild their homes.
According to M. Sonsei Haokip, the village secretary, only male members of a few families have returned to their newly constructed homes, while the rest, including women and children, will return gradually. The village is slowly coming back to life, with the male residents taking the first steps towards rebuilding their community.
- The district administration played a crucial role in facilitating the resettlement process.
- The government’s financial assistance enabled the villagers to rebuild their homes.
- The return of male residents marks the beginning of the village’s recovery.
While this development brings a sense of hope, many internally displaced persons, mostly from villages near the buffer zone, continue to live in relief camps, awaiting their turn to return home.
Source: Original Article
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