Chassad: In a fresh development highlighting the continuing humanitarian concerns in Manipur’s hill districts, the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Kamjong District has issued an urgent appeal seeking intervention over what it describes as a prolonged economic embargo and denial of healthcare services in the district.
In its press release Ref. No. 05/2026/KSO(KD)/PR-05 dated August 12, 2026, the student body stated that an economic embargo has allegedly been in force against Kuki civilians in Kamjong District for more than five months. The organisation claimed that the situation has severely affected the lives and livelihood of the general public, particularly patients and vulnerable sections.
The KSO further alleged that the District Hospital, Kamjong, which it described as the only hospital serving Kamjong Block, has become inaccessible to the Kuki community. According to the statement, the compounding effect of the embargo and lack of hospital access has created a grave humanitarian crisis in the area.
Outlining its stand, the organisation stated that a hospital is meant to serve all patients and not any particular or majority community. It contended that denial of medical services on communal lines, if true, would violate the basic right to health and the Constitution of India. The claims remain those of the organisation and are yet to be independently verified by district health authorities.
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As an immediate measure, the KSO has demanded that the State Government establish a separate hospital for the Kuki population at Chassad, citing that the District Hospital is the sole medical facility for Kamjong Block and that Kuki people are allegedly being denied access to it. The demand for a separate facility at Chassad was presented as an interim solution to ensure healthcare delivery.
The organisation also raised concerns over immunization and maternal-child health, alleging that even newborn children have been unable to receive essential vaccinations due to the ongoing embargo and denial of access to the hospital. It stated that this has put the lives of infants and other vulnerable patients at serious risk.
In its statement, the KSO said it holds the State Government solely responsible for any loss of life that may result from denial of medical treatment and from the continued economic embargo. It appealed to the District Administration and the Government of Manipur to intervene with urgency.
The two-point appeal listed by the organisation includes, first, immediate lifting of the economic embargo that it claims has been in place for over five months, and second, ensuring non-discriminatory and equal access to healthcare for all citizens at District Hospital, Kamjong.
The press release has been marked to the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, the Director of Health Services, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamjong District, the Superintendent of Police, Kamjong District, the Chief Medical Officer, Kamjong District, and to media houses for publication. The organisation said it trusts the competent authority will act to uphold the Right to Life, Health, and Dignity of all communities.
In terms of latest developments, the statement dated August 12 comes at a time when Kamjong District continues to face challenges in connectivity, supply of essential commodities, and functioning of public health institutions since the ethnic conflict that erupted in Manipur in 2023. Similar appeals regarding access to healthcare have been raised by civil society groups from different communities in various districts over the past two years.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Deputy Commissioner, Kamjong or the Directorate of Health Services to the specific allegations made in the latest KSO release. Verification of ground conditions at District Hospital, Kamjong and the status of movement of goods and patients along key routes remains awaited from the district administration.
