Manipur releases ₹5.88 crore for 58,863 IDPs ahead of Diwali and Ningol Chakouba
Synopsis
More than 58,000 conflict-hit families sheltering in Manipur's relief camps received ₹1,000 each from the State Emergency Fund just before Diwali and Ningol Chakouba — a small but symbolically significant gesture in a crisis that has entered its fourth year with tens of thousands still displaced since the ethnic violence of May 2023.
Key Takeaways
The Manipur government released ₹5.88 crore from the State Emergency Fund on 8 November 2026 .
58,863 eligible IDPs received ₹1,000 each via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ahead of Diwali and Ningol Chakouba .
Funds were routed through Deputy Commissioners in 10 districts , including Imphal West, Imphal East, and Churachandpur.
Ethnic violence first erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023 , displacing an estimated 60,000 people across 16 districts .
36,000 IDPs have reportedly been resettled; around 59,000 continue to receive state assistance.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called on citizens to reaffirm commitment to peace and prosperity in Manipur.
The Manipur government on Sunday, 8 November 2026, released more than ₹5.88 crore from the State Emergency Fund to provide festive financial assistance to 58,863 eligible internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by ethnic violence. The funds, disbursed ahead of Diwali and the traditional Ningol Chakouba festival, reach conflict-hit families currently sheltering in relief camps across 10 districts of the state.
How the funds were disbursed
A senior official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed that a special assistance of ₹1,000 each was transferred to all 58,863 eligible beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on Sunday. The amounts were routed to the designated accounts of Deputy Commissioners across Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts. Deputy Commissioners were directed to ensure timely disbursement following due verification of eligible beneficiaries.
Background: Ethnic violence since May 2023
The displacement crisis in Manipur traces back to ethnic clashes that erupted on 3 May 2023, triggering one of the most protracted internal displacement situations in recent Indian history. At its peak, the conflict uprooted an estimated 60,000 people across 16 districts. While 36,000 IDPs have reportedly been resettled, around 59,000 of the original 60,000 continue to receive state financial assistance — a figure that reflects both the scale of the crisis and the ongoing complexity of returns.
What is Ningol Chakouba
Ningol Chakouba is a cherished traditional festival of the Meitei community in Manipur that honours the bond between married women and their paternal families. Celebrated with communal meals and family reunions, the festival carries particular emotional weight this year for families separated by violence and displacement. The government's decision to time the disbursal ahead of this festival was widely noted by the IDP community.
Chief Minister's message and IDP response
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh extended warm greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of Diwali, expressing hope that 'the light of Diwali illuminate lives with peace and positivity.' He called upon the people to reaffirm their commitment to peace, progress, and prosperity in Manipur. The IDP community conveyed its appreciation to the state government for the timely festive disbursement. This comes amid continued uncertainty over when the broader political and ethnic reconciliation process will yield durable resettlement for the remaining displaced population.
Point of View
000 transfer is a humanitarian gesture, not a solution — and the numbers reveal the scale of the problem Manipur has yet to solve. With roughly 59,000 of an estimated 60,000 displaced persons still on state assistance more than three years after the May 2023 violence, the pace of durable resettlement remains strikingly slow. The festive disbursement keeps a floor under survival needs, but the political work of ethnic reconciliation and safe returns has barely begun. Until that changes, State Emergency Fund releases will remain a recurring line item rather than a closing chapter.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Manipur government release ₹5.88 crore for IDPs?
The Manipur government released ₹5.88 crore from the State Emergency Fund to provide festive financial relief to 58,863 IDPs displaced by ethnic violence, ahead of Diwali and the Meitei festival Ningol Chakouba. Each eligible beneficiary received ₹1,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer.
Who are the IDPs receiving the Manipur government's festive assistance?
The beneficiaries are internally displaced persons affected by the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023. They are currently living in relief camps spread across 10 of the state's 16 districts, including Imphal West, Churachandpur, and Jiribam.
What is Ningol Chakouba and why is it significant?
Ningol Chakouba is a traditional festival of the Meitei community in Manipur that celebrates the bond between married women and their paternal families, typically marked by family reunions and communal meals. Its significance is especially poignant this year for displaced families separated by ongoing ethnic conflict.
How many IDPs remain displaced in Manipur as of November 2026?
Approximately 59,000 of an estimated 60,000 IDPs displaced by the May 2023 ethnic violence continue to receive state financial assistance. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has stated that around 36,000 IDPs have been resettled, but a large population remains in relief camps.
How were the ₹5.88 crore funds disbursed across Manipur?
The funds were transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the designated accounts of Deputy Commissioners in 10 districts — Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur. Deputy Commissioners were instructed to disburse to eligible beneficiaries after due verification.
