More than 800 people, who have been displaced by the ethnic violence in Manipur, are staring at a bleak future as no relief and humanitarian support have been extended here in Shillong.
President of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Shillong, Dr. Jangkhohao Hangshing said the data of persons maintained by them was till first week of June. He said if students are counted, the numbers would be a thousand.
He lamented that the Meghalaya government has not done much to help the displaced people from Manipur. “Honestly, I was expecting something from Meghalaya being our fellow Christians just like we got assistance from Mizoram, Nagaland. But everywhere I go and every authority I approached they would only give their verbal concerns and assurances to help us but did nothing,” he rue.
Hangshing said that when the dorbar shnongs decided not to allow the house owners to give the displaced people from Manipur their house on rent, he was hopeful that the government and various organizations would come for the temporary assistance but to his utter disappointment nothing was done.
“I understand the concerns the headmen have because of the environment and everything happening, but our request to the authority concern like the district administration, the Chief Minister’s Office to at least provide us a temporary solution,” he said, adding, “Our people are not going to stay here forever but it is just for the time being till situation in Manipur subsides.”
Informing that some displaced people are staying in rented houses, hostels, relatives’ house, and the only relief camp at Lapalang, Hangshing said, the situation has become very difficult especially for students who have come to study here.
“Some parents have come here as they want the education for their children to continue… but since they are not permitted to rent a house they have to go and find education for their children in Guwahati, Calcutta, Delhi, etc. Some of them are there in the private hostel but are worried as they don’t know for how long they will be able to sustain themselves,” he said.
The KSO president said he had gone to the DC and the CM offices with the list of displaced persons with a request for a two-three month relief till things get back to normal in Manipur. “The authorities could have served us with a timeline or agreement of some kind since it’s an immediate requirement and everything could have been sorted out, but there was no real intention of helping us,” he said.
He said Manipur leaders in Shillong have ensured that many people should not come to Shillong especially those with no jobs or businesses.
“I have all the lists of whoever comes from Manipur and I also submitted the list. My expectation was that if I give it to the authority concern our people will be placed somewhere till things get better and it will also be easier to pick them up. But what can we do? We no longer know whom to approach,” he lamented.
