TMB Report
Imphal: Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee has launched a relief helpline (Phone Number: +91 76691 09606) on Thursday at a solemn function held at Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. The programme was graced by Ningthoujam Raghumani Singh (Retd. Group Captain, IAF) as Chief Guest. BN Sharma (Retd. Group Captain IAF), Hijam Rajen (Retd. Scientice DRDO) Ruchida Sharma, and Bjientimala Hirom graced the programme as Guests of Honour.
The helpline is meant to establish meaningful communication with Meetei victims who have been enduring the hardships of ethnic cleansing in the State since May 3. It hopes to facilitate the victims in their journey, offering guidance and resources wherever possible. The helpline is dedicated to engage with compassion, assess needs, collaborate with partners, and empower individuals.
It also aims to provide counselling, legal advice, guidance to employment opportunities, facilitate academic access to educational institutes, and to raise awareness and combat human trafficking.
The programme hosted by Kareena Angom, started at 5 pm and continued till 7 pm.
Lourembam Girija welcome the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, media and invitees. In his keynote address, Oliver Oinam, who has initiated and took charge of the Relief Helpline said, “For the first time in Delhi, the credit of organising a relief helpline for Meetei victim of ethnic cleansing goes to DMCC. This relief helpline hopes to help and empower the displaced persons. We are inviting regular volunteers to give them training towards efficiency in service delivery.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ningthoujam Raghumani congratulated DMCC for the noble initiative and remarked, “Unity, sincerity, innovative and hard work among Meeteis are very important.”
BN Sharma was hopeful that many such important initiatives would be taken up by DMCC to protect and develop Meeteis. Ruchida Sharma, Bjitentimala Hirom, and Hijam Rajen appreciated the efforts of Oliver Oinam and the team for making the helpline possible.
In his closing remark, Convenor of DMCC Dr. Seram Rojesh said, “It is a big dream come true for DMCC and the professional theme.” He thanked DMCC member organisation World Meetei Council for supporting the helpline’s registration process.
He also thanked Global Manipuri Foundation for initial financial support. DMCC thanked all the volunteers who are taking care of this noble initiative.
Meanwhile, the committee has categorically clarified that any misunderstanding or circulation of rumours about DMCC hiding from the activism or suffering of those from Manipur who came to Delhi to raise democratic issues is unfounded and it reflects malicious intention.
DMCC said that the committee is a collective platform of Delhi based Meetei organisations, formed to provide support to the needs of the Meeteis living in Delhi and take responsibility, in its own capacity, in the issues concerning Manipur.
When individuals or organisations from Manipur arrived in Delhi to raise issues concerning Meetei and Manipur, DMCC either jointly worked with them or provided support as long as they were in Delhi, if the matters were informed in advance and reached consensus after a thorough discussion.
While DMCC emphasised on discussion on the nature of joint activism or providing support by tabling the proposals of individuals or organisations, the committee had never run away from any of them. DMCC has respected the decision of some individuals or organisations who do not want open joint activism with or open support of DMCC, it said.
