Imphal:

When the clock struck 4 am in Manipur’s capital Imphal, a team of five people took one last look at the boxes they had loaded the night before in their SUV, and drove out towards a medicine collection point.

The boxes contained hundreds of packets of oral rehydration solution (ORS), cartons of multivitamin syrup, and common over-the-counter medicines that people in relief camps would need.

The members of the Delhi Meitei Forum (DMF), an independent civil society group of Manipur’s Meitei community living in the national capital, donated the medicines to be sent to Heirok in Thoubal district, and Jiribam district, bordering Assam, where violence broke out in the last two weeks.

Jiribam had been peaceful for more than a year until the recent flare-up, despite ethnic tensions between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes in other parts of the state.

After giving the medicines, the DMF members headed out to a designated distribution spot, where they took out cartons of school bags that they had bought with funds donated by DMF members, who are from all walks of life and professions, many of whom have been recognised for public service.

Many students and their parents who are living in different relief camps came to the spot and met the DMF members, who handed over the school bags and notebooks.

All the students are residents of Khumujamba Meitei Leikai in Churachandpur district, from where they fled when the violence began. They are now staying at relief camps in areas including Mekola, Moirang, and the Imphal-based non-profit TAKDO.

“Some of the students are in government schools, some in private schools in Imphal and Hiyangthang,” a key DMF member told NDTV.

The member said in the spirit of the ‘Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat’ theme, they bought the bags from the local company Romi Bag Industries, and notebooks from Sucheta Book Store in Imphal.

The DMF members had contributed whatever they could, from Rs 100, Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, to buy the items and medicines.

Despite the hardships, 93 per cent students in Manipur passed the class 10 board exams in May – the highest in the last 10 years. The Manipur Board of Secondary Education had announced that over 37,000 students gave the test, and many living in relief camps passed. The pass percentage in 2022 was 76 per cent, and in 2023 it was 82 per cent.

On its social media pages, the DMF says it is a group of “law-abiding Meitei citizens of India living in Delhi. The group is not affiliated to any other organisation or body. It’s a completely independent group working for the well-being of the Meitei community.”

DMF members say they have been carrying out activities frequently to help internally displaced people in Manipur.

Imphal:

A Delhi-based top civil society group of the Meitei community from Manipur has embarked on a huge drive to donate school bags to children living in relief camps in the ethnic violence-hit state.

The members of the Delhi Meitei Forum (DMF) have contributed whatever they could, from Rs 100, Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, to buy the school bags for children in relief camps, a DMF member said.

“We don’t have much, but will get as many school bags as possible,” the member said. “Many students living in relief camps need books, stationery, clothes and resources are limited. We should do what we can,” said the member.

Despite the hardships, 93 per cent students in Manipur passed the class 10 board exams in May – the highest in the last 10 years. The Manipur Board of Secondary Education had announced that over 37,000 students gave the test, and many living in relief camps passed. The pass percentage in 2022 was 76 per cent, and in 2023 it was 82 per cent.

On its social media pages, the DMF says it is a group of “law-abiding Meitei citizens of India living in Delhi. The group is not affiliated to any other organisation or body. It’s a completely independent group working for the well-being of the Meitei community.”

DMF members say they have been carrying out activities frequently to help internally displaced people in Manipur.

While other civil society groups also do similar activities, the DMF is known for its independent working process, say its members, who are from all walks of life and professions, many of whom have been recognised for public service.

New Delhi:

A civil society group based in Delhi and run by working professionals from Manipur has appealed to people from the crisis-hit state who are living across the country to return home, if they can, to participate in the electoral process in the world’s largest democracy.

Manipur has two Lok Sabha seats – Inner Manipur, and a reserved seat, Outer Manipur. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in the state that’s recovering from ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo tribes and the Meiteis, and where over 45,000 people are still living in relief camps.

“We would like to appeal to everyone from Manipur, from all communities, who are living outside the state to go to Manipur and cast their vote in this Lok Sabha election,” the civil society group Delhi Meitei Forum (DMF) said in a statement.

“Travel to Manipur is expensive, so we understand that’s a roadblock. However, whoever can afford to go to Manipur should participate in the electoral process in the world’s largest democracy,” said the DMF, which has been proving aid and other humanitarian relief to internally displaced people in Manipur.

“Choosing a good leader is the need of the hour more than ever, a leader who can solve the Manipur crisis and bring peace for all communities,” a key member of the DMF said.

The DMF said it is a “completely independent group” working for the well-being of the Meitei community, and asked other civil society groups not to include its name as a partner or a member in their activities. DMF sources said they have seen some groups using the DMF name as a partner in their communication to the authorities, which should not be done to avoid legal issues.

Another group, the Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee (DMCC), had in a statement said it has written to the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, and other constitutional authorities to defer the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur. The DMCC had mentioned the DMF is part of the DMCC “conglomeration”, which DMF sources said is simply wrong.

The Inner Manipur constituency will see a massive electoral battle among candidates who all have wide acceptance among the public, leaving voters spoilt for choices.

The BJP has fielded Manipur Education Minister and former Indian Police Service officer Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, and the Congress has fielded Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who is a professor in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. This would be Mr Akoijam’s first electoral contest. Maheshwar Thounaojam of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) is also giving a spirited fight.

The BJP is not contesting in Outer Manipur, but supporting Kachui Timothy Zimik, a candidate of the BJP’s ally Naga People’s Front (NPF). The Congress has fielded Alfred Kanngam S Arthur in this constituency.

The entire Inner Manipur constituency and some areas under Outer Manipur will vote on April 19. The remaining areas under Outer Manipur will vote on April 26. Votes will be counted on June 4.