IDPs raise demands
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 06 2025: Internally Displaced Persons staying Lamding Higher Secondary School and Kodompokpi Sports Complex Relief Camp staged a sit-in protest today demanding payment of daily allowance to inmates of the two camps instead of rations such as rice and lentils.

The protesters urged Deputy Commissioner Thoubal to fulfil their demand within three-days (from today), failing which they have threatened to return to their original homes.

The demonstration was held in front of Kodompokpi Sports Complex Relief Camp.

Notably, the IDPs of the two relief camps, who were displaced from Moreh and Churachandpur, have demanded equal treatment for all IDPs and daily allowance like their counterparts seeking shelter in Imphal West and Imphal East relief camps.

Speaking on the sideline of the protest, Ningthoujam Angou from Moreh Ward No 9 Khunou Leikai and currently staying at Kodompokpi Sports Complex said that on September 10, the Relief Camp Committee and IDPs went to meet DC Thoubal after being summoned.

During the meeting, the DC allegedly assured to give daily allowances to the IDPs instead of rations from October 1 onwards in view of their day-to-day challenges.

This was because the authorities had already procured rations for them for the month of September, according to the DC.

However, on October 3 they were summoned once again by the DC and informed that the administration will be unable to give them daily allowance from October and delayed it to November.

Under such circumstances, the IDPs of the two relief camps decided to stage the sit-in protest, said Angou.

He urged the DC, Thoubal to address their demand within three days while underscoring their inability to pay for their basic needs.

"I cannot use Government given rations to treat my family when they fall sick or pay for my children's school fees", he remarked.

Thus, he appealed to the authorities to hand out daily allowances to the IDPs instead of keeping them caged in relief camps with rice and lentils.

Further, Angou claimed that some individuals allegedly sent by the previous DC threatened the IDPs when they raised the demand for daily allowance in the past.

Another protester from Moreh, Leishangthem Tamem, accused the Government of neglecting their plight.

Urging equal treatment for all IDPs, he also demanded daily allowance for the displaced folks of the two relief camps who cannot even afford to pay for an OPD ticket in times of sickness.

The protesters at the demonstration raised many slogans and held placards with messages such as "Treat us equally like the IDPs in Imphal West and Imphal East relief camps", "Thoubal DC keep your word", "Ensure our safe return home" among others.

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