25,000 Children Affected by Displacement Amid Manipur Violence

Around 25,000 children have been displaced by the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, a situation the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has described as a serious violation of child rights.

According to MCPCR chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar, thousands of children who should have been living with their families remain homeless nearly two years and eight months after the conflict began. Many of them continue to stay in relief camps and temporary shelters, exposing them to prolonged physical hardship and psychological trauma.

Pradipkumar said the scale of displacement evokes some of the most painful chapters in Manipur’s history, including the Seven Years’ Devastation (1819–1826), the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and the Second World War. He noted that the ongoing violence has caused widespread suffering across communities.

Despite restrictions on movement in hill areas, the MCPCR addressed several cases involving children from Kuki-Zo and Naga communities and ensured relief through institutional mechanisms. In collaboration with UNICEF, the commission organised 13 mental health and psychosocial support clinics across six districts, including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Chandel. Using art-based therapy, these clinics reached 483 children living in 49 relief camps.

Assessments revealed that nearly 30–35 per cent of displaced children were suffering from severe mental health issues, while around 10 per cent required specialised care. UNICEF-supported interventions also assessed the education, health and protection needs of 4,537 children.

The MCPCR chairperson expressed concern over delays in the implementation of the Manipur State Policy for Children, calling it crucial at a time when displaced children urgently need institutional support. He said the draft policy was first submitted in 2017 and a gazette notification inviting public feedback was issued in 2020, but the policy is yet to receive cabinet approval. A revised final draft was submitted in April 2025, and he urged the government to notify it by January 2026.

Pradipkumar also raised alarm over an increase in child trafficking and the recruitment of child soldiers since the violence began, stressing that child soldiering amounts to trafficking and requires collective action to prevent it. He alleged that security forces had used excessive force against children protesting for peace, describing such actions as unlawful.

While acknowledging government resettlement efforts, he called for a structured “transitional support” plan to ensure sustainable rehabilitation. Between August and December this year, the MCPCR identified and recommended 776 displaced children for benefits under Mission Vatsalya, of whom 32 have begun receiving a monthly assistance of Rs 4,000.

He reiterated that all displaced children in Manipur below the age of 18 are eligible for Mission Vatsalya and urged authorities to ensure universal coverage. He added that the MCPCR would soon submit its State Action Plan for the Protection of Internally Displaced Children to the government and sought cooperation from all stakeholders for its effective implementation.