The Mizoram government is still waiting for financial assistance from the Central government to provide shelter to over 12,600 people from ethnic strife-torn Manipur, news agency PTI reported, citing a senior official. Mizoram Home Commissioner and Secretary H Lalengmawia stated that earlier in May, Chief Minister Zoramthanga had sought Rs 10 crore as an immediate relief package for those displaced people.


"We have not received any assistance from the Centre so far. The state government has raised funds on its own to provide relief to internally displaced people from Manipur," Lalengmawia told PTI on Sunday. He expected that the Centre would soon sanction funds for these people, who have taken shelter in Mizoram after the ethnic violence broke out in the neighbouring state on May 3.


Lalengmawia further stated the Mizoram administration has solicited donations from legislators, government employees, bankers and others. "We have completed the collection and I am yet to receive a report of the total collected amount," he said, as quoted by PTI. According to the Mizoram home department, altogether 12,611 people from Manipur have taken shelter in the state till Friday. Of them, 4,440 took shelter in Kolasib district, 4,265 in Aizawl and 2,951 in Saitual, it said.


The remaining 955 are residing in Champhai, Mamit, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Serchhip, Khawzawl and Hnahthial districts. The government and village authorities have set up 38 relief camps in Aizawl, Kolasib and Saitual. The state government, NGOs, churches and villagers provided food and other basic items to the displaced people.


Clashes first broke out in early May in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.


Meanwhile, a delegation of 20 MPs from the Opposition bloc went on a two-day visit to violence-hit Manipur on Saturday. The delegation took stock of the ground situation and would make recommendations to the government and the Parliament for a solution. "We have got permission from the state government to visit the affected areas as also the relief camps. We have also got permission to meet the governor, who has allowed time to the delegation on Sunday," Congress MP Naseer Hussian said ahead of the visit on Saturday. 


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