UKHRUL: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), Council Headquarters, has filed a complaint before the Chairperson of the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST) on Tuesday (January 6), seeking directions to the Tribal Affairs & Hills Department, Government of Manipur, for the immediate commencement of the Tribal Girls’ Hostel at Old Lambulane, Imphal.
The complaint states that the Tribal Girls’ Hostel at Old Lambulane had been occupied by paramilitary forces since May 3, 2023, following the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state. TYCM had repeatedly demanded the vacation of the premises to allow the hostel to resume its intended function. Subsequently, the Government of Manipur vacated the paramilitary forces from the hostel premises on September 29, 2025.
Despite the evacuation, TYCM alleged that the hostel has remained non-functional. The TYCM Women & Child Wing submitted representations to the Director, Tribal Affairs & Hills Department, on October 28, 2025, and later to the Additional Chief Secretary of the department on December 19, 2025, urging the authorities to commence the functioning of the hostel. However, no action has been taken so far, the complaint noted.
Also Read | Poumai Thounii 2026 Observed at PNU Office
According to TYCM, the continued delay has adversely affected tribal girl students from far-flung and remote areas of Manipur, many of whom are currently staying in rented accommodations in Imphal. The organisation highlighted that parents are facing financial strain in supporting their children’s education while managing livelihoods primarily dependent on paddy cultivation.
With the new academic session approaching, TYCM expressed concern that students would continue to face financial and logistical hardships if the hostel remains closed. The organisation stated that the non-commencement of the hostel undermines the purpose for which it was established and amounts to a violation of the right to education of tribal girl students.
Also Read | Paramilitary Force Vacates Tribal Girls’ Hostel in Old Lambulane Imphal