K Ranjit dedicates 12.5 acres of land to displaced folks

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 14 : Sugnu Assembly Constituency MLA, K Ranjit has dedicated 5 Paris, approximately 12.5 acres of land for resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced folks of the Constituency.
The 12.5 acres of land, located north of RCC bridge at Serou, will now be home for folks who have no land of their own and those who have lost land in the conflict, said MLA K Ranjit Singh, speaking to The Sangai Express.
The Manipur violence erupted on May 3, 2023. Weeks into the conflict, Sugnu Constituency remained relatively calm. A Peace Committee, initiated by the MLA, was pivotal in maintaining peace in the region.
However, the calm and peace didn't last long when Kuki militants suddenly opened fire and attacked civilians in Sugnu and Serou on May 28, 2023.
The Kuki militants in a span of a few days, burnt around 500 houses--58 in Sugnu and the remaining in Serou.
Then, the hundreds of villagers fled to many parts of the valley districts.
Now, the situation in Serou and Sugnu has improved and around 80 percent of the displaced folks have returned to their villages.
There are many families who were scattered at the foothills--in the fringes of the valley area. Also, many had no land and were living with relatives and in makeshift accommodation. These people can now make the land north of the RCC bridge their home, K Ranjit said.
The MLA said he bought the land in the name of the Sugnu Development Committee about 10 years ago.
This land can now be used to build homes for families who have no land and home. The development committee may use the land for the benefit of the displaced people, Ranjit said.
On Government initiatives for displaced folks, he said, as many as 165 houses are being constructed or reconstructed under the Government's rehabilitation scheme. The funds have been released for the 2nd phase. The houses are being reconstructed, Ranjit said.
The MLA said the people in his Constituency were among the first to avail the Government scheme.
K Ranjit also stated that farmers of the region, under his and the local committee's initiative and under security cover, successfully harvested paddy last year.
The yield (rice) was equally distributed to displaced folks/relief camps, he said. This year also, not a single farmland has been left unattended, he added.
When people were beginning to settle with some ease in Serou and Sugnu, recent firing by Kuki militants on occasions scared the people forcing them to flee again for some days. But, now things have calmed down. People have come back, he said.
There are many security forces including the BSF and IRB stationed in Serou region. The Manipur crisis, he said, requires all to unite and stand strong to protect the land.
He appealed to the displaced folks staying in relief camps in other areas to return home.