Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network ) Chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday informed the assembly that out of the total 6746 illegal Myanmar immigrants detected in Manipur since the ongoing ethnic conflict unfolded in the state on May 3, 2023 till February 27 last, 259 were pushed back to their country after recording their biometrics details.
Answering to posers raised during question hour on the fourth day of the 5th session of 12th state assembly, Biren said the rest are kept at temporary shelter homes.
Security measures have been taken up there to ensure that the immigrants are not mixed with the local people, added the leader of the house.
On other queries, the CM responded that 213 persons died owing to the ongoing violence, and out of them, 198 were identified as civilians, including 20 women and 8 children .
Ex-gratia amount has been giving to the next of kin of 114 deceased and the remaining are in the process, and will be distributed after verification, he said, adding that weapons used by the militants are trying to be identified by the government.
On the challenges faced by the internally displaced persons (IDPs) owing to the ongoing conflict, Biren told the house that there are 320 relief camps set up for them.
By the month of May 2024, the IDPs who are putting up in community halls would be shifted to other proper places or either the halls would be converted into proper staying places by giving partitions to maintain their privacy.
Due to the security reasons, it may take some time for the IDPs to get back to their respective places, but many have returned to their places to resume their lives, added Biren, who also holds the home portfolio.
Health cards such as CMHT and PMJAY were given to the IDPs and many of them have benefited from these schemes, the CM said, adding that the state government is also working to give provisions on the various illness which couldn’t be provided by these health cards.
During the short discussion raised by legislators Th Lokeshwar Singh and Keisham Meghachandra of the opposition Congress, Biren stated that for the children who are affected from this crisis, the government schools have been provided with free school dresses and text books, and school fees have also been exempted.
Under the labour department, Rs 5000 each were also provided as assistance to every household who are affected by the violence to assist their livings for the time being, he said.
