Stranded Manipuri students want Government to evacuate them
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 15 2020:
With many Manipuri students studying and working in different parts of India stranded due to lockdown, Manipuri Students' Association of Delhi (MSAD) and many students have individually sought assistance of the State Government to evacuate them.
Speaking to The Sangai Express on telephone, MSAD president Chingkhei Saikhom expressed deep concerned that Manipuri students stranded in different cities are facing immense difficulties and hardship.
Many students have contacted him and informed about their conditions amid the prevailing situation.
They have urged him to exert pressure and request the Manipur Government to arrange special flights or surface transport to evacuate them, he said.
Informing that the students who contacted him include ones from Dehradun, Chandigarh and Bangalore among other places, Chingkhei said that most of them claimed that they have exhausted money and are yet to receive the State Government's financial aid as of now.
In addition, many of the students who lack expertise have also complained that they are facing problem while registering themselves in the dedicated website for Manipur Government's financial assistance.
"Some of the students who called me claimed that they cannot fulfil the enquiry process being done in the registration for State Government's financial assistance", he said.
Meanwhile, students whom The Sangai Express contacted have also aired their woes and urged the State Government to take up special measures to alleviate their condition and hopefully evacuate them to Manipur.
Khundrakpam Bhoken, a Delhi University student who is staying in a rented room at South Ashram, Delhi with few other Manipuri students asserted that they are suffering extremely due to lack of money, support during the lockdown.
"We do not have enough money...We are facing immense difficulty in buying food, other daily essential items and medicines as there is very limited shops open here during the lockdown," he said.
Some of his friends said that they have not enough money to survive till May 3 .
"We do not have enough money to survive till May 3 .
As much as we need money, it is of no use if there is no shop available to purchase," they said adding they are hopeful that the State Government would organise special flights to evacuate them.
They also appealed that the Manipur Government should open a dedicated helpline number which would give quick response and support to the stranded students.
Another student staying at Christian Colony, Patel Chest who identified himself as Apollo decried that price hike in essential commodities and other items in his area has added woes to the already hit hard Manipuri students.
Even as many do not have money, some rent owners have started asking rent fees, he said adding they are facing problem withdrawing money from the banks and ATMs amidst the lockdown.
"Back home, our parents are not able to go to bank to send us money and here we are facing similar problem in withdrawing the money from our accounts," he said.
He further expressed concern that female students studying in Delhi are feeling insecure due to the ever increasing racial attacks against them.
They are afraid to go out and fall victims to such attacks, he added.
Students staying at rented rooms in Santanagar Burari, Delhi have asserted that they are facing immense hardship due to the lockdown.
"We are urging Manipur Government to make special arrangement to evacuate us," they said.
However, they claimed that students at Santanagar Burari are "little safer" while comparing to other students staying in other parts of Delhi.
"A helpline for North East people under the aegis of Robin Hibu has been providing assistance to the North East students staying at Santanagar Burari since the past many days", they said.
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