Imphal, Aug 02: A large number of the displaced Hmar villagers who were taking shelter at Sakawrdai relief camp in Mizoram have returned home with 560 displaced villagers arriving on July 29.These villagers are now looking forward to a new and settled live here in their own ancestral homesteads.

About 1000 villagers of Lunghtulien, Parbung, Tulbung and Mawlia areas of Churachandpur district fled to Mizoram following conflicts between the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Hmar Peoples' Convention (D) and the subsequent gun fight between security forces and the combined force of UNLF and KCP in January and February this year.

With considerable improvement in the security situation of the district, the State Government brought back 140 displaced villagers from Sakawrdai camp in July this year while another 560 were brought back on July 29, informed an official source.

On their return, the State Government has provided Rs 5000 and four months ration to each family.

However, leaders of Hmar civil organisations are not satisfied with the relief package provided by the State Government.

President of Hmar Women's Association (HWA) Joute Lal Sawmi observed, "Rs 5000 and four months ration package is too little for the 125 returned families to start their lives anew after their six months stay at relief camps.

This is insufficient as they have to repair their abandoned houses and procure the essential basic amenities." Disclosing that they had already appealed to Chief Minister O Ibobi to increase the cash grant to Rs 20,000 and ration for a year or till the harvesting time, she noted that there has been no response from the State Government till date.

Still about 300 Hmar villagers are putting up either at their relatives' houses or in rented rooms, mostly at Aizawl, informed Joute Lal Sawmi while adding that they have been requesting them to return to their respective villages.

Vice-president of Hmar Students' Association (HSA) Joseph R Hmar said that the State Government would be urged to extend the same relief package to the 300 Hmars still reluctant to come back to Manipur.

The North East India Church Organization has also provided a large quantity of ration to the displaced villagers, he added.

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