Displaced from Moreh, man battles poverty, illness

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 27 : For a man displaced from Moreh by the ongoing crisis in Manipur, life in a relief camp has become a struggle against both illness and poverty.
Suffering from kidney disease, Ningthoujam Yaiskul (73), who is currently taking refuge at Wangjing Kodompokpi Relief Camp along with his son and wife, is struggling to afford the medicines he needs.
Displacement has deprived him of the comfort of his home, while his illness has added to his already difficult circumstances.
His greatest wish is to return to his native village in Moreh, where he hopes to spend whatever time he has left.
"Before I die, I want to return to my village,", Yaiskul said speaking to The Sangai Express.
He said that he fled his home at Moreh Ward no 9 along with his wife and son following the outbreak of the crisis on May 3, 2023.
Stating that his house and all his properties in Moreh have been reduced to ashes, Yaiskul said that he had been enduring hardships at the relief camp ever since.
Adding to his misfortune, Yaiskul said that he was diagnosed with a kidney ailment on October 3, 2023.
Saying that inmates of relief camps are provided Rs 100 per day for their expenses, he added that many internally displaced persons (IDPs) are engaged in menial jobs to ensure two square meals a day.
Yaiskul said that his kidney ailment has aggravated his mental distress.
Stating that he sought assistance from the then Thoubal Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), he added that the Government had provided assistance for his medication for around two years.
However, he said that the assistance was discontinued after the new DC and CMO took over.
Saying that he had requested the Government to continue the assistance, Yaiskul added that a senior staff member told him it was not possible as IDPs had rejected the proposal to deduct Rs 16 each from the Rs 100 they receive daily for emergencies.
Yaiskul said that the Government's response amounted to asking IDPs to survive on less than Rs 100 a day.
He said that he visits a nearby primary health centre whenever he feels unwell, expressing concern that he might die before he can go back to his home.