IMPHAL, March 27: Nearly 500 families have been sanctioned for resettlement at Serou in Manipur’s Kakching district, with more than 250 houses currently under construction in the Sugnu area, according to Deputy Commissioner Rohit Anand of Kakching district.
Highlighting the steps taken by the district administration, Anand spoke at a camp sitting organized by the Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) in collaboration with the Kakching district administration. The event, held at the conference hall of the DC Kakching office complex on Wednesday, aimed to assess the living conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and related victims.
As part of the rehabilitation process, 484 families have been sanctioned for resettlement in Serou and Sugnu, with 276 houses currently under construction. Most of these houses are nearing completion, allowing displaced families to gradually return to their homes. The DC also mentioned that those previously staying in relief camps in Kakching Headquarters are now returning to Serou, either to their own houses or to their relatives’ homes, while awaiting financial assistance for reconstruction.
MSCW Chairperson Thumlip Tiningpham Monsang presided over the meeting, accompanied by MSCW members N Dayabati Devi and Sophia Moyon. The Additional District Magistrate, AC to DC, and Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) of Kakching and Waikhong were also in attendance.
Over the past two months, the number of camp residents has significantly decreased, with approximately 800 individuals successfully relocating. Expressing gratitude to all the concerned departments for their tireless relief and rehabilitation efforts over the past two years, DC Rohit emphasized their role in helping displaced individuals return to normalcy.
The district administration continues to oversee the welfare of camp inmates, with the Health Department visiting biweekly to provide medical assistance. A special mental health initiative has also been introduced to address any psychological distress or trauma. The DC further informed the MSCW team that the ‘One Stop Centre and Child Welfare Committee’ are actively monitoring the safety and well-being of women and children in the camps.
Reassuring that no cases of mental or physical trauma have been reported so far, the DC emphasized coordination between officials, volunteers, and the police department to address such situations and prevent any untoward incidents.
Regarding sanitation, the DC commended the Municipal Council for its proactive role in maintaining cleanliness over the past 1.5 years. Despite jurisdictional limitations, the council has been instrumental in ensuring timely waste disposal and the maintenance of septic tanks and toilets within the camps. Additionally, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has been consistently supplying water to ensure that essential services remain uninterrupted.
A significant development highlighted during the meeting was the district administration’s plan to establish a sanitary pad manufacturing unit in Serou. Sponsored by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, this initiative will provide machines for IDPs to operate, with the produced sanitary pads being procured by the Kakching district administration for distribution to relief camps.
The MSCW team interacted with officials from various departments, including Social Welfare, Kakching Police, One Stop Centre, and representatives from relief camps. They commended the efforts of these departments and urged all involved to continue their work in providing maximum support to IDPs.
