Death of a woman inside a relief centre MCPCR concerned with mental health of IDPs

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 8 : The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has expressed concern regarding the mental health and well being of inmates of relief camps a day after a displaced woman committed suicide.
A 20-year-old woman, identified as Sukham Chanu , committed suicide at a relief camp set up at Mekola Higher Secondary School yesterday (January 7).
It is reported that Chanu originally from Singhat in Churachandpur got married to Sukham James only a few months back and the couple had been staying at the Mekola Higher Secondary School relief camp.
Chanu was found hanging in her room at around  4 pm yesterday.
This is not the first case of an inmate committing suicide.
Angom Prem Kumar (36), a resident of Bijang village in Churachandpur, had also committed suicide at a relief camp at Kwakta in July last year.
MCPCR, meanwhile, expressed grave concern over the increasing trend of suicide among relief camp inmates.
In a statement, the Commission said that its members md Habibur Rahman and Chabungbam Anita visited the Mekola relief camp following the tragic suicide of Chanu and assessed the  living condition of women and children in the camp.
According to MCPCR, many internally displaced people (IDPs) are struggling with depression, fuelled  by feelings of insecurity, hopelessness and a monotonous lifestyle due to prolonged displacement.
The mental strain combined with the harsh realities  of being unable to return home has pushed some individuals to take drastic steps, it observed.
The Commission emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent further loss of life by providing psychosocial support, imparting life skills and livelihood education and improving the overall living condition of inmates in relief camps.
There is a dire need for systematic intervention to support displaced individuals and bring forth a path towards recovery and rehabilitation, it added.