Imphal: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday met a delegation of the Eta Northeast Women’s Network at the state secretariat and assured support for ongoing rehabilitation and relief initiatives for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the state.
The delegation was led by N. Kunjarani Devi, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee and a prominent sports figure from Manipur. Eta, a platform bringing together women from the Northeast — particularly those living away from their home states for education, work or family reasons, has been involved in community outreach and support initiatives in the region.
After the meeting, the Chief Minister said women-led organisations have played an important role in strengthening rehabilitation efforts for displaced communities. He added that the issues raised during the interaction would be examined seriously to ensure positive outcomes and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive development in Manipur.
The meeting came two days after Eta expanded its livelihood support initiatives for resettled IDPs at Wathalambi village in Bishnupur district.
As part of the initiative, Rs 50,000 was provided as house construction assistance to Chirom Sanahanbi. The support was extended by Eta chairperson Sophia Rajkumari in memory of her mother under the Jibanlata Memorial Trust. Sanahanbi had reportedly been unable to begin construction of her house after the first instalment received from the deputy commissioner’s office was lost by a person entrusted with the funds.
The organisation also distributed two sewing machines along with yarn to displaced families at Wathalambi to help them rebuild their livelihoods.
Wathalambi in Bishnupur district, had witnessed armed clashes in November 2024. According to an FIR filed with Manipur police, suspected militant attacks involving gunfire and explosives had forced villagers and security personnel to flee the area, leaving several families displaced.
Eta said its interventions in the village were aimed at supporting rehabilitation efforts and encouraging community resilience among those affected by the conflict.