Twelve experts in the fields of medicine, healthcare, social work and law have been appointed by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Gita Mittal committee to help it provide for the basic needs of the thousands of victims of violence in the conflict-torn state of Manipur. However, no Manipuri was included in the list of experts because the committee feared it might result in partisan accusations from rival ethnic groups.
Speaking to the media, Justice Mittal, former chief justice of J&K HC, said, “The first priority of the committee is to ensure that the state administration and machinery reaches out to the victims of violence, with focus on the vulnerable and weak, with basic needs and compensation.” 'Meiteilon' is the main language of Manipur (a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by 54% of population), followed by Thadou/Kuki (7.8%), Tangkhul (6.4%) and Mao (3.1%).
“The Committee will be involving local specialists as and when the appointed experts commence their work. We will be visiting the state shortly to take firsthand knowledge of the extent of destabilisation of lives due to the violence and enlist assistance from all communities in the state, which is essential, meaningful and productive,” Justice Mittal said.
The committee's meeting on August 16 focused on to the expeditious payment of compensation, and it established the following broad themes for that purpose: work identifying the families of those who lost their lives in the ethnic clashes by Manipur Legal Services Authority for payment of compensation within six weeks; Direction to Manipur government to settle compensation for violence caused damages to moveable and immoveable properties; Monitoring measures to protect witnesses and payment of compensation.