Manipur conflict turned one year on May 3 but not seen visible sign of returning to normalcy. However, people staying in relief camps managed to stabilise their life with all-out effort. Sadly, amongst them people living with chronic diseases are compelled to battle for their life.
The violence that unfolded in Manipur last year has completely jeopardize life, property and economy in the state. Almost every section of society directly or indirectly affected by this crisis. Thousands of people are forced to leave their native village in search of safer place, many people have lost their life and have gone missing. Families of missing victims during the crisis still eagerly waiting for their loved ones, displaced people yearning to go back to their home and families of people who have killed are waiting for justice.
People of the state have been facing the brunt of violence with self-contemplation that how long they will endure the pain and agonies of crisis. But government which is the responsible person is still unable to clear the doubt of the people. Several civil society organizations had also expressed strong condemnation over government both state and central for not taking any concrete steps to resolve it.
The state government has taken up some welfare activities for displaced people like providing skill training and financial assistance etc. Above this, NGOs and benevolent people also extended support. However, that temporary relief is not sufficient for them. With the determination to normalize their miserable life and own their own feet, displaced people have started engaging in available odds job.
On the other hand, people suffering with chronic diseases are battling for their survival as they couldn’t afford the treatment despite the fact that there is health scheme.
Committee members of a relief camp opened at Langol under Imphal West district said that it was a great challenging task to run relief camp during the early phase of crisis. Till the month of September last year, they struggled a lot due to fund crunches though state government provided financial aid. But now it is better as generous people also sometimes came out to provide assistance and state government fund also release on time.
Stating that there are around 450 people in their relief camp, he informed that the state government is providing Rs 115 per head for food. They managed to provide good service to the inmates with sanctioned amount. However, it is biggest challenge for them to provide proper health care service for those suffering from chronic disease.
“There is a government health scheme. Despite of it, inmate suffering from cancer, diabetes etc. are facing lot of challenges to get proper treatment as they have to spent at least some amount of money from their own pocket. Sometime inmate needs emergency health care like operation. In such situation, they do fund drive and seek support from capable people. I feel that state government need extra effort to provide good health care service,” he added.
He also said that during this one-year period, as many as three women gave birth to baby safely. People staying in the camp also give them proper care and love. 70 per cent of the children are enrolled in nearby government school and rest in private schools. Most of the parents want their children to send in good school but because of their financial condition, they have to send it in government school.
One of the displaced persons staying in relief camp opened at Langol under Imphal West, Oinam Ningthem said that somehow most of the inmate staying in relief camp has managed to earn at least some income by doing available job. In the early phase of crisis, they were completely traumatized and don’t know what to do. However, thinking about their children, they used to support each other and developed courage to encounter all the sufferings.
“I was forced to displaced from Churachandpur because of present crisis with my wife and three children. I do business before but now I have become a labor losing all my properties worth lakh of Rupees. Seeing my present income, I don’t think that I can give bright future to my children,” he added while expressing his desire of early restoration of peace and normalcy by addressing the conflict by both state and central government.
A displaced lady from Moreh staying at Ideal Girl College Relief Camp said that as they cannot live just eating food provided by government. They are no longer able to just stay idle at relief camp. As such they start doing micro business by making dish wash, soap, detergent, incense stick etc. They use to sell those things by going door to door and sometime standing at the roadside under this scorching heat. That amount of income is not sufficient yet they are compelled to do it as they don’t have any other option.
Another lady staying at relief camp opened at Langol said that she has skill of tailoring from before. With the swing machine given by one of the NGOs, along with some of her inmates, they stitch cloths, bag etc. They even got order for making such items. Sometime civil society organization extended support for selling their stitched products. With this little bit of earning, they get some sigh of relief in their life.
It may be mentioned that since the onset of crisis on May 3, over 50,000 people were forced to displaced their native village in search of safer side. The state government had constructed prefabricated houses as temporary settlement. However, many are still staying in relief camp. Visiting most of relief camp, it has come to notice that they are trying their best to lead a normal life amid waiting for long term solution and peace in the state.
The writer is an award winning reporter
