The visit of Manipur Human Rights Commission chairperson UB Shah to Churachandpur district on Wednesday, along with three media persons, has revealed the unhygienic and pathetic conditions of the relief camps in the district besides the lack of essential materials such as medicines, blankets and sanitary pads.
Several new mothers staying at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School relief camp and other relief camps are even facing issues in breastfeeding their new-borns as the lack of nutritional food has made lactation difficult; in one case, it even led to the death of a baby, informed a woman at a relief camp.
While entering Don Bosco School relief camp, children of 3-6 years were seen painting under the guidance of women volunteers from an NGO. A woman (teacher) told the media that they came every day to teach children to help them divert their minds from conflict’s nightmare.
The Nodal officer of the Churachandpur relief camps informed that there are 2081 displaced people from Kangpokpi district as they feel safe here. The officer further informed that Churachandpur district has a population of over 2 lakhs with over 2000 displaced people added to it. There are also 102 relief camps in the district, she informed.
Officers who were there to guide the team said that all essential commodities from Imphal have been blocked, thereby not reaching Churachandpur. However, the essential commodities are coming from Aizawl, they said, adding that there is a lack of specialist doctors. One doctor is taking charge of eight relief camps, they informed.
The visiting team learned that displaced people staying at relief camps in Churachandpur want to return to their villages and shelter. They complain of no means of earning, not able to provide for their children and schooling of their children.
Medical students who are enrolled at RIMS and JNIMS in Imphal are also demanding the transfer of 150 medical students to appropriate institutes. They submitted a memorandum to RIMS and JNIMS for migration but no response has come, they said.
MHRC chairperson UB Shah interacted with ITLF representatives and students where the Legal Cell of ITLF l submitted a memorandum to the chairperson regarding human rights violations.
It may be mentioned that while travelling from Helipad to 27th sector of AR, the team crossed a Meitei village called Thenggra which was completely levelled with nothing left.
MHRC chairperson called on the deputy commissioner of Churachandpur for protection of Meitei villages and appealed to the people of Churachandpur for bringing peace stating that it is the poor, children, women and displaced people that suffer the most.
He also asked people of Churachandpur to file complaints through the National Human Rights Commission portal for any human rights violation issue.
It may be noted that the chairperson was planning to visit Churachandpur and then Bishnupur on Wednesday but due to prevailing conditions at Bishnupur side, the visit to relief camps in Bishnupur was cancelled by the state government.
However, the chairperson visited a relief camp at Ideal College located at Akampat. The displaced people from Churachandpur and Moreh informed the chairperson about the lack of hygiene and their want to resettle in their own villages.
