Imphal: To encourage and support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) seeking refuge at various relief camps, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East District, distributed Mobility Support (Bicycles) to Internally Displaced students and looms with accessories to Internally Displaced women weavers of Imphal East District today.
The distribution programme was organised under the CSR initiative of POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited, which is a Government of India Enterprise and National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The event was held at Panchayat Bhavan, DC Office Complex, Porompat.
Gracing the programme as Chief Guest, Prashant Kumar Singh, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, acknowledged the hardships faced by the IDPs, who have been enduring the ongoing conflict for nearly two years, with lack of basic amenities. He asserted that ongoing initiatives would be made more efficient and transparent to provide better support for the IDPs.
He commended the officers, civil officers, staff of DC Imphal East and police personnel for their exceptional dedication and efforts beyond the call of duty. The Chief Secretary also expressed admiration for the courage and resilience of those displaced from their homes in enduring the situation.
Noting the delay of funds and assistance in the past, he assured time delivery henceforth and all-out support from the Government. He further wished a safer, free from fear and self-reliant future for the displaced. The Chief Secretary also thanked POWERGRID and Weavers Service Centre for their assistance through the CSR initiative.
Speaking at the event, Khumanthem Diana Devi, Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East district, briefed that the district currently hosts 3,500 IDPs across 17 relief camps and 400 units of prefabricated houses accommodating 1,394 IDPs from 359 families. She mentioned that over 293 families have returned to their villages with the improvement of law and order situation.
She further highlighted the financial assistance provided to the IDPs under the Permanent Housing Scheme of the Government of Manipur. She emphasised that the event aimed to ease the transportation costs of the students and promote sustainable livelihoods for the IDP families. The Deputy Commissioner hoped for restoration of normalcy in the district and the state as a whole in the near future, given the rigorous initiatives of the Government under the leadership of the Chief Secretary.
N. Ashok Kumar, IAS, Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur; M.S Dutt, Chief General Manager, POWERGRID, Regional HQ, Shillong; Priyadarshi Daripa, Deputy Director, Weavers Service Centre; Rakesh Balwal, SP Imphal East; N. Johnson Meetei, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East and many IDPs from various relief camps in the district were present at the programme.
A total of 146 looms with accessories, provided by the Weavers Service Centre under the National Handloom Development Programme, Ministry of Textiles, were distributed to internally displaced women weavers. Additionally, on the occasion, POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited provided 300 bicycles for displaced students and 150 looms with accessories for displaced women weavers of the district.
