📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Oinam Premchand
Politics
Manipur hills see rise in villages as 1990s Naga‑Kuki conflict displacement continues, says MLA
✍️ Deccan Herald
🗓 22 Aug 2026, 05:53 PM
👁 6
An MLA says the number of villages in Manipur's hill districts has risen due to people displaced by the Naga‑Kuki clashes of the 1990s.
Manipur's hill districts have recorded an increase in the count of villages, according to a state legislator who linked the growth to displacement caused by the Naga‑Kuki conflict of the early 1990s. The MLA, speaking to Deccan Herald, noted that families forced to flee the valley belt during the ethnic clashes sought refuge in the hills, establishing new settlements that were later classified as villages.
Official records show a measurable rise in the number of recognized villages over the past three decades, reflecting the long‑term demographic shift triggered by the violence. While the conflict subsided decades ago, its legacy continues to shape settlement patterns and administrative maps in the region.
Local authorities are now grappling with the implications of the expanded village list, including the need for additional infrastructure, public services, and representation in local governance bodies. The MLA urged the state government to address these emerging challenges to ensure that the displaced communities receive adequate support.
The report underscores how historical ethnic strife can have enduring effects on population distribution, even years after hostilities have ended, and highlights the importance of targeted policy responses in post‑conflict areas.
Official records show a measurable rise in the number of recognized villages over the past three decades, reflecting the long‑term demographic shift triggered by the violence. While the conflict subsided decades ago, its legacy continues to shape settlement patterns and administrative maps in the region.
Local authorities are now grappling with the implications of the expanded village list, including the need for additional infrastructure, public services, and representation in local governance bodies. The MLA urged the state government to address these emerging challenges to ensure that the displaced communities receive adequate support.
The report underscores how historical ethnic strife can have enduring effects on population distribution, even years after hostilities have ended, and highlights the importance of targeted policy responses in post‑conflict areas.