Meetei Council Moreh urges Manipur and Centre to resettle displaced families by 2026-end and reconsider the Sangai Festival amid continued displacement.
Imphal, Oct. 9: The Meetei Council, Moreh (MCM), has urged the governments of Manipur and India to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their respective homes before the end of 2026, while asking the state government to reconsider holding the Sangai Festival until displaced families can return home.
In a press release dated October 9, MCM Publicity and Information Secretary Soibam Mithun Meitei called for security arrangements, reconstruction of damaged houses, compensation for lost property and financial assistance to help displaced families rebuild their lives.
The council called for the resettlement of Meitei IDPs from Moreh, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and other foothill areas. It also appealed for displaced Kuki, Paite, Hmar, Zou and other communities who fled the valley to be enabled to return to their homes before Christmas 2026.
The statement stressed the need to restore peaceful relations among communities and revive Moreh's former role as a commercial centre along the India-Myanmar border. It also expressed concern that holding the Sangai Festival amid continued displacement and unrest could adversely affect Manipur's tourism image.
The statement described Moreh as a strategically located town on the India-Myanmar border, adjacent to Tamu, with considerable potential for trade and commerce. It recalled a period when people from different communities lived together and participated in one another’s festivals, cultural programmes and sporting events.
According to the council, communal tensions and conflicts since 1992 disrupted this social environment and affected Moreh’s economic development. The statement said the town had once served as an important source of livelihood for its residents and people from other parts of Manipur.
MCM said Moreh would struggle to regain stability and economic activity without the return of Meiteis who previously lived there and efforts to rebuild relationships among communities. It urged the Manipur government to prepare a comprehensive reconstruction plan and restore the town as a sustainable place to live and work.
The council called for the return of displaced Meitei residents, action against those involved in killings and abductions, and the removal of non-government armed groups from Moreh. It also sought stronger security deployment, particularly by state security forces, to protect residents and prevent further incidents.
The demands included the early reconstruction of destroyed houses, timely compensation for damaged or lost property, and financial assistance to help displaced families restart their lives.
The press release said many Meitei IDPs from Moreh had depended on trade, business and related occupations before their displacement and were finding it difficult to adapt to life in the valley.
It added that continuing unrest had constrained employment and business opportunities, while starting a new venture required capital that many displaced families lacked.
MCM argued that resettlement would reduce the government’s continuing burden of providing monthly financial assistance to IDPs while allowing families to rebuild independent livelihoods. It said displaced Meiteis in Moreh, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and other foothill areas faced similar hardships.
The council warned that a prolonged absence of a clear path home could worsen the distress of displaced people, including elderly residents and young people. It appealed to the state and central governments to take steps to enable returns before the end of 2026.
The council also urged the Manipur government to reconsider organising the Sangai Festival this year, arguing that the event’s tourism and cultural objectives could be undermined while displacement and unrest continue.
The statement said the festival is intended to showcase the cultures, traditions, music, dance, clothing, cuisine, trade and tourism of Manipur’s communities. It expressed concern that visitors could encounter limited representation from some communities, IDPs still living in relief camps, and reports of killings, abductions, bandhs and blockades.
MCM said holding the festival under these circumstances could damage the state’s tourism image rather than promote it. It asked the government to defer the event until displaced people are able to return to their homes.
The council concluded with an appeal to communities across Manipur to work towards peace, mutual respect and a stable future for the state. The demands and assessments in the release represent the position of the Meetei Council, Moreh.
