As part of the Manipur Human Rights Commission’s efforts to address human rights concerns and ensure adequate support and resources are provided to those affected by the ongoing strife in Manipur, the chairperson of the commission, Utpalendu Bikas Saha, made a maiden visit to Kangpokpi District Headquarters on Friday.
This visit is a significant step in the MHRC’s commitment to directly assess the conditions in relief camps and engage with displaced individuals and local leaders to understand their challenges and needs.
During his visit, Saha met with local leaders, students, lawyers, residents, CSO leaders, human rights activists, and District Level Officers led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shokhongam Baite at the conference hall of DC Kangpokpi. He interacted with them to gather firsthand information about their living conditions and the challenges they faced.
Later, UB Saha also visited relief camps within the district headquarters where Internally Displaced Persons are residing. He interacted with the camp residents to understand their situation better and distributed eatables and sweets to the children to bring some joy to their lives.
While interacting with the media persons, Saha said that he has come to Kangpokpi to see whether the human rights of the people in Kangpokpi district are being violated and to observe how the IDPs are living.
He stated he also came to talk with the local people, social workers, civil society organisations, and others about how to overcome the current situation in Manipur and achieve peace.
“Without peace, nobody will benefit, and Manipur will not be able to survive,” a concerned MHRC chief asserted.
“If we fight each other in the name of the community, then none of the communities will benefit, and the poor people will suffer”, he added.
He also conveyed his concern to ensure that the poor people survive and that their lives, liberties, and human rights are protected while urging human rights activists and social workers to assist the poor and work towards overcoming the current situation in Manipur.
UB Saha, speaking on the willingness of the IDPs to return to their villages, said that unless the ongoing active problem is resolved, we cannot send the IDPs back to their original homes.
“Relief camps cannot be the solution. Home is home, and only the IDPs can understand what home and a relief camp mean,” he added.
The MHRC chairperson fervently appealed to the intellectuals from all communities, including the two warring groups, to assist the IDPs in returning to their homes and urged all parties to live together to ensure the survival of Manipur and all.
