Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Churachandpur have called on the government to accelerate the disbursement of the promised special education package for their children, with a deadline of January 31. The IDP community expressed deep concerns over the financial difficulties they are facing, which are exacerbated by the lack of income sources and the challenges of securing school admissions for their children in the upcoming academic session.
Hemam Jugindro Meetei, convenor of the Churachandpur Meitei United (CMC), voiced the community’s urgency at a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club. He acknowledged the state government’s decision to provide a special financial package for IDP students, which was agreed upon after consultations with relief committees. However, Meetei emphasized the critical need for the government to release the funds swiftly, as many schools and colleges have set their admission deadlines between January 5 and 15, and most IDP parents are unable to pay the fees on time.
“Most institutions have fixed their admission deadlines between January 5 and 15, but the majority of IDP parents are unable to pay the fees,” Meetei said. “Given this situation, it would greatly benefit the students if the government distributes the package before January 31.”
A survey conducted by the CMC revealed that approximately 1,575 families, totaling around 15,000 individuals, were displaced from Churachandpur, with 1,443 of them being students. While the government has facilitated free education in public schools, many parents prefer enrolling their children in private institutions due to dissatisfaction with the quality of education in government schools.
In light of these challenges, Meetei also appealed to private school authorities to extend their admission deadlines for IDP students, to ease the transition for families. “While we struggle with limited income sources, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our children’s education. We urge schools to cooperate by relaxing admission deadlines, enabling us to secure our children’s future,” he urged.
The CMC, which is an apex body comprising various organizations such as the Meitei Society, Meitei Youth Organisation Churachandpur, Ima Leimarel Apunba Lup, Nupi Samaj, and Churachandpur Meitei Ethnic Clash Victims Committee, reiterated its commitment to advocating for the welfare of IDP families and ensuring their children’s educational aspirations are met.