The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned a combined Rs 947.36 crore for the relief and rehabilitation of victims displaced by Manipur's ethnic violence, with Rs 424.36 crore allocated for running state-operated relief camps and Rs 523 crore earmarked for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), according to officials in Imphal on April 26, 2025. The disclosures emerged through an RTI (Right to Information) response filed by senior Manipur Congress leader Hareshwar Goshwami.

Scale of Displacement and Casualties

The Manipur Home Department confirmed that 58,881 people have been uprooted from their homes and villages since the violence erupted on May 3, 2023, through March 30, 2026. As of March 10, 2026, 174 relief camps remained operational across the state, a significant reduction from the initial 300-plus camps that sheltered nearly 60,000 displaced men, women, and children in the early months of the conflict.

The human toll has been severe. The department recorded 217 deaths linked to the violence, a figure derived from ex gratia payments made to the next of kin. This number, however, reflects only officially compensated fatalities and may not capture the full extent of lives lost.

Property destruction has been equally devastating. Since May 3, 2023, 7,894 permanent houses have been completely razed, while an additional 2,646 homes sustained partial damage — a combined blow to thousands of families already stripped of their livelihoods and sense of security.

Temporary Housing and Infrastructure Response

To address the immediate shelter crisis, the Manipur Police Housing Corporation Ltd has constructed 3,000 pre-fabricated houses as transitional accommodation for displaced residents. While this represents a tangible step, the gap between 58,881 displaced persons and 3,000 temporary units underscores the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge still unfolding in the state.

The gradual improvement in ground conditions has allowed a portion of displaced residents to return to their villages. However, thousands remain in relief camps, dependent on state and central government support for basic sustenance, healthcare, and security.

Government Priorities and Budget Allocations

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has publicly committed to making the rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs a top government priority. He acknowledged the Centre's substantial support in constructing permanent housing, compensating losses of personal belongings and movable assets, and aiding in the repair of partially damaged homes.

Reinforcing this commitment, the 2026-27 State Budget includes a dedicated allocation of Rs 734 crore to accelerate rehabilitation and resettlement efforts — signalling that the government anticipates the recovery process will extend well into the next fiscal year.

Roots of the Conflict and Community Fault Lines

The ethnic violence was triggered on May 3, 2023, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts turned violent. The march was organised to oppose the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status — a demand that hill-based tribal groups feared would erode their constitutional protections and land rights.

The Meitei community constitutes approximately 53 per cent of Manipur's population and predominantly inhabits the Imphal Valley across five to six districts. In contrast, tribal communities — including Nagas and Kuki-Zo groups — account for roughly 40 per cent of the population and are concentrated across the state's eleven hill districts. This geographic and demographic divide has deepened the complexity of achieving a lasting peace.

Deeper Implications: What the Numbers Don't Fully Reveal

The RTI-driven disclosure is itself significant. The fact that critical humanitarian data — including the number of displaced persons, deaths, and central funding — had to be extracted through a formal information request rather than proactive government communication raises accountability questions. Hareshwar Goshwami's RTI query has effectively placed on public record figures that the government had not voluntarily published in consolidated form.

Notably, the combined central and state financial commitment now exceeds Rs 1,681 crore when the Rs 734 crore budget allocation is factored in alongside the Rs 947 crore MHA sanction. Yet critics argue that financial outlays alone cannot substitute for a durable political solution to the underlying ethnic grievances that ignited the crisis nearly two years ago.

With the 2026-27 rehabilitation budget now in place and the MHA funds disbursed, the focus will sharpen on whether displaced families can actually return to their original villages — or whether the de facto territorial separation between communities becomes a permanent reality on the ground.