Authorities baffled by tame response to ‘Project Assist’ launched for orphans in Manipur
Imphal: In this insurgency-inflicted state wracked by ongoing communal violence, the state government has appealed to the people to take the benefits of ‘Project Assist’ launched under the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Talking to the newsmen at her office on Friday, Kumanthem Diana, District Commissioner of the Imphal East District, said that ‘Project Assist’ has the provision of providing financial assistance to children rendered orphan or destitute in various communal, castes, ethnic or terrorist violence for their care, education, and training.
Under this provision, Manipur’s Imphal East District has been covered among the 164 Districts in 24 States/Union Territories, Kh Diana said, adding that so far only 15 children from this district have applied for the benefits.
The number of such children would be much higher and she appealed for taking the same benefits in large numbers.
Department of Home, Govt. of Manipur is helping the Foundation in identifying child victims of militancy, terrorism, or ethnic/communal violence in Manipur by coordinating with district authorities.
When asked by a newsman about the eligibility criteria, the District Commissioner said, “A child should be an orphan or destitute i.e. either both parents or the surviving parent or the main breadwinner of the family has died or has become permanently incapacitated due to communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence. The annual income of the victim’s family should not exceed Rs 2 lakh.”
Regarding the amount of assistance, Diana said that an amount of up to Rs. 1,250 per month per child is given up to Class XII; for Graduation/Post Graduation Rs. 1,500/- p.m. per child and for professional courses viz Medical, Engineering, etc. Rs. 1,750/- p.m. per child can be sanctioned.
Notably, in the ongoing communal violence between the Meiteis and Kukis, over 230 individuals lost their lives, 60, 000 people were displaced from their homesteads and 21, 000 children were affected. The violence erupted on May 3, 2023.