In a direct effort to heal social divisions and promote reconciliation across ethnic boundaries, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged citizens to leave behind past hostilities and focus on restoring mutual trust for the sake of coming generations during his visit to Kangpokpi district on Friday.
Calls for Reconciliation and Mutual Harmony
Addressing a gathering at the Christian Centre Church in Leimakhong, the Chief Minister emphasized that lasting peace requires shared dedication and unity across all societal groups. Expressing sorrow over the prolonged violence that has kept thousands displaced from their ancestral homes, he noted that internally displaced persons (IDPs) from both Meitei and Kuki communities share the same deep wish to return to their native places. Khemchand Singh observed that the ongoing civil strife has inflicted equal suffering and trauma upon members of both ethnic groups.
Advocating for a path of forgiveness and mutual understanding, the Chief Minister called upon citizens to overcome recent animosities and actively bridge the underlying trust deficit. Pointing to shared spiritual values, he urged communities to refrain from harming one another. He stated, "We are all under the guidance of God and must, therefore, strive to live in harmony and refrain from causing hardship and suffering to one another."
Infrastructure Inspection and Public Utilities Restoration
Alongside his public dialogue, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh evaluated critical infrastructure work in the region by inspecting a local water supply initiative at L. Champhai village. During this field review, he assessed progress on fixing a major water supply pipeline intended to deliver clean drinking water to Thangmeiband in Imphal. The vital pipeline had sustained severe damage during the height of ethnic violence in May 2023.
Senior officials from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) briefed the Chief Minister during the site inspection, assuring him that repair work would be fully finalized within one month. Once completed, normal supply of safe drinking water will be successfully restored to nearby local communities and affected urban neighborhoods.
Administrative Support and Relocation Efforts
To ensure smooth execution of the repair operations, the Chief Minister was accompanied by MLAs Haokholet Kipgen, Heikham Dingo Singh, and Kh. Joykisan Singh. He promised departmental officials all necessary administrative backing as well as security forces protection to facilitate uninterrupted progress. Furthermore, he requested Thangkhomang, the Chairman of L. Champhai Village, to extend complete local cooperation to the engineering teams.
This initiative takes place amid ongoing rehabilitation efforts across the state, where approximately 36,000 internally displaced persons have already been resettled, while around 24,000 displaced individuals continue to reside inside temporary relief facilities.
