Centre approves 5000 houses to rehabilitate displaced families in Manipur

The Centre has approved the construction of 5,000 houses to rehabilitate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur.

The approval was granted by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh in the national capital on Monday evening. The meeting was also attended by the state’s two deputy chief ministers, Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho.

According to officials, the houses will be built under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) in the financial year 2025–26 to rehabilitate IDPs affected by the law and order crisis (ethnic violence). Chouhan assured all support to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. The Manipur government had submitted the proposal earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the Union Rural Development Ministry has approved a special window of the Awass+ 2024 household survey to capture details of eligible affected households. The state government has also been permitted to continue registering eligible beneficiaries under the special PMAY-G project.

The houses will be constructed in line with the provisions of the FFI of PMAY-G. The state has also been allowed to sanction houses for eligible beneficiaries under the special project who had earlier received one or more PMAY-G instalments but whose homes were destroyed during the ethnic violence.

At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. In January, the Manipur government said it aims to resettle 10,000 internally displaced families by March 31, adding that 16,500 IDPs have already been resettled.