The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has come out with a draft State Action Plan to support children who have been displaced by the ongoing violence in the state. The plan was discussed at a stakeholders’ convergence and review meeting held at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Bishnupur. The session was chaired by MCPCR Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar.
The discussion focused on how the state can better protect Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) children and help them rebuild their lives. Officials reviewed the support systems already in place and also invited suggestions to make the response more child-friendly and effective.
Speaking at the meeting, Pradipkumar said there is a strong need for a coordinated plan to help these children settle into safer and more stable conditions. He urged the Manipur government to introduce a State Transitional Support Plan for displaced families who are now resettling. He also called for the early notification of the Manipur State Policy for Children, saying that these measures would help the state address both immediate and long-term concerns faced by children affected by the conflict.
District-level updates were also shared. Additional District Magistrate T. Opendro informed that 292 households, covering 1,027 persons, have already been resettled in Bishnupur district. Housing support is being extended under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme. Families with partially damaged homes receive ₹70,000, while those who lost their homes completely receive ₹3 lakh. Out of 1,180 applications, 40 houses have already been built so far.
District Child Protection Officer Indrani Devi said that 1,862 children have been recommended for assistance under the Mission Vatsalya Sponsorship Scheme. Another 2,798 displaced children in the district have been officially identified as Children in Need of Care and Protection.
However, several concerns were also raised during the meeting. Participants noted that the current framework of Mission Vatsalya does not fully match the situation in Manipur. They said the support system needs to be more flexible, especially considering the emotional and psychological stress children are going through. The meeting also stressed the need for stronger mental-health support and better coordination between health services, child protection units, juvenile justice bodies, and local community groups.
