Imphal, July 17 2010: The state Government has provided rehabilitation package amounting to over Rs 50.80 lakhs to 508 families who were victims of ethnic clashes in Senapati and Ukhrul district during the early part of nineties.

Another Rs.3.64 lakh had also been spent on providing relief to around 800 Zeme refugees who had taken shelter in the relief camps opened in Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district during the year, an official source today.

According to an official source from the directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation, a total of 508 families displaced during the ethnic clash (Naga-Kuki clash of 1990s) were given financial assistance at the rate of Rs 10,000 per family for Rehabilitation in two districts of Senapati and Ukhrul.

The families were left out while providing assistances in the previous years, the source said.

Under the scheme of Relief and Re-settlement a sum of Rs 3,64,685 was released through the Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong district for maintenance of Zemes refugees who are taking shelter at Tousem sub-divisional headquarters of the district, the official source said.

Hundreds of Zemes from Haplong of Assam took refuge when conflict between the Dimasas and the Zeme Nagas in North Cachar Hills district of Assam was worsen following series of attacks to the Zemes by burning down their houses by armed militants of Dimasas started around March of 2009 and went on till June of the same year.

An approximately 140 houses of six Zeme Naga villages viz.

Taklauram, Guilong Christian, Guilong Hindu, Boro Chenum, Michidui, Boroneu burnt down during the clash and around 800 villagers took shelter at various relief camps open at Tousem area of the state.

In addition to it, a sum of Rs 15,11,089 was also spent in the maintenance of relief camps for non-Manipuris at Moreh, Tamenglong, Dharmasala, Thangal Bazar, Imphal, the source maintained.

A total amount of Rs 10 lakh was also spent in the payment of ex-gratia/relief to victims who get killed or injured at the hands of the undergrounds and security forces taken by the directorate of Relief and Rehabilitation through the district administration.

Manipur government is also running a refugees camp at Leikhun of Chandel district under the supervision of the deputy commissioner, Chandel and a sum of Rs 7,15,914 was spent in maintenance of the refugees camp there during the year 2009 .

In the meantime, state government has instructed the directorate for formulating a vocational training programme for the surrendered underground cadres under the revised rehabilitation package of the Central government, the source said.

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