The first rays of dawn touched the battered rooftops of Leimaram Waroiching, a village in Manipur's Bishnupur district that is slowly stirring back to life. The scene is one of both hope and hardship, as more than 250 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from 64 households have finally returned to their ancestral homes. They arrived just days ago, ending an exile of over two years spent in crowded relief camps.
A Long-Awaited Homecoming Under the Full Moon
The villagers chose a day of deep significance for their return. Sarat Leichombam, a 43-year-old returnee, described the emotional moment. "We came back on a full moon night, which is considered highly auspicious in the Meitei tradition," he shared. "Moonlight streamed through the broken walls and the damaged roof. It was a cold night, but the chill was comforting because I was finally home. I could not hold back my tears of joy."
For many, the departure during the peak of unrest had been frantic, with people grabbing only what they could carry. Their homes, left to the mercy of the elements and time, have suffered greatly. While the structures in Leimaram Waroiching were not burnt down, most are now in severe disrepair after years of abandonment. Sarat, like his neighbours, is now faced with the immense task of renovation, running his hands over crumbling mud walls as he plans the rebuild.
The Daunting Challenge of Reconstruction
The return, however, is merely the first step on a difficult road. The central challenge now is reconstruction, both of physical homes and shattered livelihoods. The administration has promised financial aid of Rs 75,000 per family for house repairs. However, residents fear this amount is insufficient.
"We are overjoyed to be home, but rebuilding will take years," Sarat explained. "The Rs 75,000 will not be enough to properly fix our houses. More critically, we lost our means of earning a living during the conflict. We urgently need long-term rehabilitation and livelihood support from the authorities." His words underscore that the mission is about more than bricks and mortar; it is about restoring dignity, identity, and a way of life violently disrupted.
Security, Hope, and a Long Road Ahead
The path to normalcy remains guarded. Security posts have been established in the periphery areas of the village. While the families have resettled, their movement beyond certain points is still restricted for security reasons, a reminder of the fragile peace.
The resettlement of these few hundred IDPs is a small but symbolic beginning. It has ignited a flame of hope in the community. Yet, it also highlights the scale of the crisis, with over 50,000 people still displaced across the state. The journey of Sarat and his fellow villagers in Leimaram Waroiching represents the first, tentative steps of a much larger and complex process of healing and return for Manipur.
