Manipur relief camp students get free education at Dehradun school
Synopsis
More than two years after ethnic violence uprooted tribal communities in Manipur, five displaced children from relief camps in Imphal are heading to Dehradun for fully sponsored schooling — their travel, tuition, boarding, and uniforms all covered. It is a small but tangible intervention in a humanitarian crisis that has largely faded from national headlines.
Key Takeaways
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla met five relief camp students at Raj Bhavan, Imphal on 22 June .
The students are sponsored for education up to Class 10 at Doon Sanskriti School, Dehradun , fully free of cost.
The sponsorship covers tuition, boarding, lodging, uniforms, and travel expenses — with travel funded by the Assam Rifles .
Students are from Moreh and Churachandpur , displaced by Manipur ethnic violence that began in May 2023 .
Selection was conducted under the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) from among IDP children.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday, 22 June met with five students from relief camps in Imphal who have been selected for fully sponsored education at Doon Sanskriti School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The students, displaced by the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023, will receive free schooling up to Class 10 under a joint initiative by the Information Technology Institute for the Tribes of India and the school.
What the Sponsorship Covers
The package is comprehensive: tuition, boarding, lodging, uniforms, and all essential facilities are fully covered under the sponsorship. Travel costs from Imphal to Dehradun will be borne by the Assam Rifles, ensuring no financial burden falls on the displaced families.
Who the Students Are
The five students hail from Moreh and Churachandpur — both tribal-inhabited districts in Manipur — and have been living in relief camps in Imphal since the ethnic violence displaced them. They were identified and selected under the aegis of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) from among children classified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Governor Bhalla's Message to the Students
During the interaction at Raj Bhavan, Governor Bhalla — a former Union Home Secretary — described the educational opportunity as 'a significant step towards a brighter future.' He urged the students to pursue their studies with dedication and to develop their talents fully, wishing them success in their academic journey and beyond.
Assam Rifles' Role Acknowledged
Governor Bhalla also commended the Assam Rifles for its sustained efforts in supporting displaced children and helping them access educational pathways. Major General Gaurav Sharma, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), and Brigadier Pratyush Kumar, Commander of 9 Sector Assam Rifles, attended the programme alongside other officials.
The initiative marks one of the more concrete steps taken to address the long-term welfare of Manipur's displaced tribal children, more than two years after violence first uprooted communities across the state.
Point of View
Yet the scale underscores how far formal rehabilitation remains from the ground reality. With no political resolution in sight, initiatives like this risk becoming the primary welfare response to what is fundamentally a governance failure. The real question is whether such sponsorships can be systematised and scaled, or whether they remain one-off acts of goodwill in a crisis that demands structural answers.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which school will the Manipur relief camp students attend?
The five students will attend Doon Sanskriti School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand , where they will receive free education up to Class 10. The programme is a joint initiative of the Information Technology Institute for the Tribes of India and the school.
Who is funding the education of these displaced Manipur students?
The sponsorship — covering tuition, boarding, lodging, and uniforms — is provided by the Information Technology Institute for the Tribes of India in collaboration with Doon Sanskriti School . Travel costs from Imphal to Dehradun are being borne by the Assam Rifles .
Why are these children living in relief camps in Manipur?
The students were displaced by the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023 , which uprooted communities across tribal-dominated districts including Moreh and Churachandpur . They have been living as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps in Imphal since then.
What role did Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla play?
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla met the five students and their guardians at Raj Bhavan on 22 June , encouraging them to pursue their studies with dedication. A former Union Home Secretary, he also acknowledged the Assam Rifles' efforts in supporting displaced children through educational opportunities.
How were the students selected for this programme?
The students were selected under the aegis of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) from among children displaced by the Manipur ethnic violence. The selection focused on IDP children currently residing in relief camps in Imphal.
