CHRONICLE NEWS SERVICE

IMPHAL: Chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday urged people, particularly students and teachers, to work together to bridge the trust deficit among communities and restore peace in Manipur, while distributing one-time grants to internally displaced students under the Chief Minister’s College Students Rehabilitation Scheme (CMCSRS).

The programme, organised by the Department of Higher and Technical Education at Imphal College, saw distribution of Rs 10,000 each through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 754 internally displaced college students for the 2025-26 academic session.

Addressing the gathering, the chief minister acknowledged that unable to return to one’s own home and birthplace is one of the most painful experiences for any individual.

Assuring that the government has been making efforts to rehabilitate displaced families and fill various gaps by providing essential support, although the affected families continue to face hard ships, he noted with regret that the unrest and instability in the state have severely affected students.

While appealing to the younger generation and teachers to collectively shoulder the responsibility of restoring harmony among communities, the CM also confided that the government had taken seriously a suggestion made by an IDP student regarding implementation of skill development programmes alongside general education.

Discussions have already been held with various companies to provide skill development training along with job placement opportunities for students, he said, expressing hope that the proposal would receive approval soon.

He maintained that colleges already possess records of IDP students and that efforts would be made to identify students’ talents and skills for future training programmes.

Higher and Technical Education commissioner N Geoffrey, who delivered the keynote address, said that CMCSRS was launched for students displaced by the violence that began in Manipur in 2023, with total of 934 students already benefited under the scheme during 2023-24, 449 students covered in 2024 25 and 754 students selected for the current academic session.

He further stated that the scheme has two major com ponents, including free ad mission for displaced students in colleges of their choice and waiver of semester examination fees in collaboration with Manipur University.

The programme was presided over by Thanga MLA T Robindro and attended by commissioner (home) Ashok Kumar, Imphal West DC M Rajkumar and higher and technical education director Laishram Radhakanta.

After the programme, the CM visited Kangchup Chingkhong village in Imphal West district and interacted with internally displaced families.

Assuring them of safe return to their homes, he said that adequate security arrangements would be provided and informed them that a permanent structure to house security personnel would be constructed in the area.

He said that the trust deficit among communities could be resolved through dialogue and cited Jiribam district as an example where different communities are living peacefully.

He also assured that the government would examine demands for enhanced financial assistance for reconstruction of houses destroyed during the violence.

During the visit, the CM informed villagers that Rs 1.2 crore had been sanctioned for strengthening the inter-village road and Rs 1.94 crore for construction of a water supply scheme. He also announced that a market shed would be constructed in the village.

The CM also visited injured Tangkhul Naga villagers un dergoing treatment at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after a recent attack in Ukhrul district and later met two injured Chiru Naga civilians at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute.

He assured that the government would bear all medical expenses of the injured civilians.