SIPHRO

Newmai News Network

Aizawl, June 18, 2006: Dr John Pulamte, president of the Manipur-based All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has been reported as saying that the relief package offered for Hmar refugees by the Manipur government for their rehabilitation is too little.

Aizawl`s only evening paper, Evening Post, has quoted Dr.Pulamte as saying that since these refugees had not taken any steps towards jhum cultivation for this year in Manipur, the offer of free rice from the public distribution system for six months and cash offer of Rs 5000 was not enough to see these Hmar refugees through for the year.

“Apart from the students, civil societies feel the relief package offered by the Manipur government towards the rehabilitation of Hmar refugees now currently lodged in Mizoram is inadequate. What needs to be taken into account is that these people who fled their homes and villages did not have the chance to initiate anything towards jhum cultivation which is their mainstay for a living. With planting season now much over, the relief package would hardly see these families through the year,” Pulamte was quoted by the Aizawl based newspaper.

Various newspapers in Aizawl had reported that the Manipur government had given the offer which would be valid till June 30 this year to the Hmar refugees who fled Manipur following alleged atrocities by insurgents against them. This is the second time that the Manipur government had asked its people to come back, reported the newspapers adding, the first request had set the deadline for their return as April 15. That request, however, had not contained any relief package, said the newspapers.

Source: Kanglaonline.com