Manipur govt appoints nodal officers for issuing identity cards to people displaced by violence

Imphal, Jul 11 (PTI) The Manipur government on Friday said it has appointed 12 nodal officers to expedite the process of providing identity cards and residence-related documents to people displaced by ethnic violence in the state.
    The officers were appointed in 10 districts following "inordinate delay and occasional rejections" by a section of government employees in issuing those documents, an official statement said.
    Manipur, which witnessed the killing of at least 260 people in ethnic violence since May 2023, is currently under President’s rule. The strife between the Meitei and Kuki communities also rendered thousands of people homeless, forcing them to stay in relief camps.
    "The state government acknowledges the genuine grievances received from displaced persons, particularly with respect to inordinate delays and occasional rejections in the issuance of essential identity and residence-related documents such as birth, domicile, caste and income certificates in each affected district," the home department said in the statement.
    "These delays were exacerbated by unresponsive or cooperative behaviour of certain officials at issuing authorities," it said.
    To address the issue, the Home Department has initiated corrective steps.
    Nodal officers were appointed in each affected district to ensure timely and efficient public service delivery, the statement said.
    These officers will specifically facilitate and oversee the documentation process for displaced persons and serve as points of contact for related grievances, it said.
    The 12 officers have been appointed for Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Ukhrul districts.
    The government urged all officials concerned to adopt a compassionate and responsive approach in dealing with the documentation process of the internally displaced persons.
    The deputy secretary (home) has been appointed as the nodal officer at the state level.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)