Over 14,000 school children have found themselves uprooted from their educational journey due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, as per the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education on August 2, 2023.
In the wake of the disturbing situation, the Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, revealed that an alarming number of 14,763 school-going children have been displaced. However, there is a silver lining amid this bleak scenario -- over 93 per cent of these affected students being promptly accommodated in the closest viable schools, all without any financial burden on their families.
Annapurna Devi assured the Rajya Sabha that the government has taken swift action to appoint nodal officers at every relief camp to facilitate the smooth admission process for these displaced students. The priority has been to ensure that their education doesn't suffer amidst the chaos.
The Ministry of Education disclosed the district-wise figures of displaced students. Churachandpur district bore the brunt with 4,099 displaced students, followed by 2,822 in Kangpokpi and 2,063 in Bishnupur.
The ethnic strife in Manipur has been a devastating ordeal for its people. Since May 3, 2023, the state has been engulfed in violence, leading to the loss of at least 160 lives, and forcing nearly 50,000 individuals to flee their homes and seek safer grounds.
The education ministry’s efforts to provide education for these displaced children will play a crucial role in helping them rebuild their lives amidst the turmoil they have endured.