The ongoing conflict that began since 3rd May 2023 created profound and far reaching impacts on the people of the state, affecting every aspect of their lives. Many lives have been lost and missing and thousands of families have been displaced. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), face significant challenges and uncertainties. Among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), women and children are more sufferers. But the New Year 2025 brings opportunities for renewed hope and progress. They have expectations focusing on hope, stability and improved living conditions. Moreover they wish for peace and safety to prevent further displacement and suffering.
On interacting with some of the women IDPs, they expressed their New Year wishes and expectations. Mrs. Moirangthem Bina (64yrs) who hails from Churachandpur D. Phailien village presently staying at Game Village expressed in grief how they struggle for their livelihood after 3rd May 2023. Bina and her husband were working at a private school at Churachandpur and running a private hostel. Lives were smooth when they were at their home but it is now hard to run her family with a small earning from her husband as a private school teacher at Imphal, Bina expressed. She could not find appropriate words to express her hardships. Even the auto fare for her sons for going to college is also a burden for Bina and her husband. Sometimes, she felt so distress that even she felt of committing suicide. But with courage she is surviving for her three children. They compromise everything except for fooding and educational purposes. ‘As our children are the only hope for us we will try our best to make fulfill their career aspirations’, Bina says. She wishes that this New Year brings peace, joy and comfort of returning home.
Another inmate from Churachandpur Thingkangphai, Pukhrambam Kolabati Devi (42yrs) presently staying at Mekola Relief Camp expressed that she have been crying for more than one year as she did not have any means to relief her sufferings rather crying herself. They were rearing more than 30 cattle and running a grocery at Churachandpur. They could earn enough money before 3rd May 2023. Now they find hard to make an earning at Imphal. She asked herself who is all responsible for making her fate misfortune? How long will this misfortune be with her family? and many more. Sometimes, she felt herself telling all her miserable stories to any media and at the same time she felt like not telling any thing as there is no hope of bringing any changes in the state for the last 20 months. With many months of misfortune she never lost her hope, she put all her efforts and encourages her children to pursue academic excellence. Telling her stories on how difficult it was for her in getting the health card for her fourth operation, she appealed the concerned authorities to extend more help in providing all necessary documents and other related help especially for IDPs. As the New Year 2025 steps in she wish if all her family could live together as before as all her 34 members of her family are staying at different places.
“It is deeply disheartening to witness how my aged parent and in-law enduring the harsh chill of winter without the warmth of a fire and sitting quietly with mental distress’, expressed Khongkham Nandibala from Moreh Ward Number7 Heinoumakhong. She is now staying with father, mother-in-law, sons, daughters and grandchildren at Game Village Zone 3. It is very hard to survive for her 14 member family without a permanent job. Before the ongoing conflict situation, they lead a happy and fulfilling live at Moreh, but now they are living their lives with only two meals only. They are not in a position to purchase any new thing rather than in investing in food items, medicines and educational purposes. The dresses they wear are the ones that were gifted by some philanthropists. She could not find even an answer for many questions asked by her small grandchildren regarding their return at Moreh and many more. She asked the Almighty to restore peace and normalcy without further delay as a New Year gift.
Irengbam Ongbi Mitkhubi (45 yrs) from Moreh Khunou now residing at Urup relief Camp expressed that as they could not find a proper means of earning it is very hard to run her family. Her husband works as a unskilled part time labourer, sometimes Rs 300 and Rs 350 a day. Her family members were making candles, dishwash and other items to support her family. As everyone faces financial problems because of the unrest situation in the state, it is hard to make sells their product. And moreover it’s more expensive to go at the public vehicle to sell the products, so they stop producing their products. “I want my daughter who is a Karate player to be an International player but it is beyond our capacity to bear all her expenses including diet, traveling fares and other expenses” she told IRAP. She wishes if someone could support all expenses of her daughter in making her daughter’s dream cones true. By making dolls at leisure time her daughter earns a little which support her education. Remembering all those words uttered by her children mentioning about their aims in life, she felt so confused whether they will be able to support them fully if they continue to live in this pathetic condition. As New Year gift she prays God to make them stay at their own place at Moreh and resume a life filled with happiness, peace and fulfillment. She also want the concerned authorities to support the players who are taking shelter at different relief camps which will help them in bringing more laurels for the state.
The pertinent question is –Will the concerned authorities be able to fulfill the dreams and expectations of the IDPS and When? A multi-pronged approach with strong political will, community cooperation and sustained effort will help improved the living conditions, security and stability, opportunities for resettlement or return, economic opportunities of the IDPs making their dreams come true. With a firm believe that this New Year will be a year of peace, healing and new beginnings that brings an ends to hardships, restore safety and stability, and pave the way for rebuilding lives with hope and dignity, Wishing you strength, resilience and renewed hope in 2025.
