Two Years On: Health Rights Activists Urge President Murmu to Intervene in Manipur’s Public Health Crisis

New Delhi: Even as the national spotlight has shifted elsewhere, the violence that erupted in Manipur two years ago continues to impact the lives of lakhs across the state. On the second anniversary of the unrest, leading health rights activists, legal professionals, and social movements across India have come together to demand immediate action to address the crumbling healthcare system in Manipur.

Over a hundred signatories—including public health experts, lawyers, and human rights defenders—have addressed President Droupadi Murmu in a detailed petition. They call for urgent interventions to strengthen healthcare delivery in the valley, hill districts, and relief camps across the state. The appeal gains significance as Manipur remains under President’s Rule.

The effort was jointly spearheaded by the National Health Rights Alliance, All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), and National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR), all part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM). The signatories emphasised that the right to health is intrinsic to the right to life with dignity, especially in a region ravaged by conflict.

The petition underlines how the violent conflict since 2023 has devastated essential services, with healthcare and education bearing the brunt. Damage to hospitals and clinics, threats to healthcare workers, and displacement of communities into overcrowded relief camps have resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis. Limited medical access and poor sanitation have made the camps vulnerable to disease outbreaks, while an already fragile health system has reached the brink of collapse.

“Women, children, students, and the elderly have suffered disproportionately,” the petition notes, stressing the need for inclusive and equitable health interventions. Despite Imphal having some functional infrastructure, the rest of the districts remain critically underserved, lacking hospitals, medical personnel, and basic health services.

The petition is signed by noted public health experts, including Dr. Vandana Prasad, Dr. Veena Shatrugna, Dr. Mira Shiva, Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, Dr. Ritu Priya, Dr. Mohan Rao, Dr. Narendra Gupta, Dr. Suhas Kolhekar, and Dr. Fuad Halim.

Legal professionals such as Adv Albertina, Adv Vanaja, Adv Shubham, Adv Afsar Jahan, Adv Shalu Nigam, Adv Seilenmang Haokip, and others also endorsed the letter. Social and feminist activists including Kalyani Menon Sen, Hechin Haokip, John Dayal, Manshi Asher, Sagari Ramdas, Sujata Gothoskar, and Meera Sanghamitra added their voices to the call for justice.

The signatories put forth a 10-point charter of demands requiring both immediate and long-term action:
1. Constitute a Special Task Force with cabinet-rank powers to assess the health crisis and recommend action within two months.
2. Form a committee of regional public health experts to ensure plans are locally relevant and culturally sensitive.
3. Fill all vacant medical posts urgently — including doctors, nurses, and support staff.
4. Increase central funding for Manipur’s public health, beyond current levels, due to the recurring conflict.
5. Ensure inter-departmental coordination across health, disaster management, food, women and child development, and social welfare.
6. Prepare for monsoon-related health challenges, especially in relief camps.
7. Ensure non-discriminatory access to healthcare regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
8. Build a decentralised health infrastructure, including functional community health centres in Lamka’s Tuibuang and Sangaikot.
9. Stop privatisation of district hospitals; regulate private providers; ensure free quality medicines; integrate mental health services at the primary level.
10. Enact a comprehensive Right to Health law in Manipur to secure universal healthcare.

The petition concludes with a request to the President to visit Manipur at the earliest, meet with all affected communities, and initiate measures to protect their right to health, life, safety, and dignity.

“True peace cannot be built on broken systems. The health rights of Manipur’s people must be prioritised if the state is to recover and heal,” the signatories said.

The full letter, complete with signatories, has been sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, urging constitutional and political will to respond meaningfully to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Manipur.