Para-Legal Workshop for Internally Displaced Persons Held at St. Thomas Parish, Singngat, Manipur

Singngat, Manipur, May 12, 2025: Over 65 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from various relief camps participated in a one-day paralegal workshop organised by St. Thomas Parish, Singngat, in collaboration with the CCBI Commission for Migrants, New Delhi. Held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at St. Thomas Parish Hall in Singngat, the workshop aimed to educate participants about their legal rights and provide them with tools to navigate legal challenges amid their displacement.

The event commenced with an opening prayer led by Fr. Mung, Principal of St. Joseph’s School, Singngat. This was followed by welcoming remarks for the participants and the two distinguished resource persons for the day— Advocate Sr. Rani Punnasseril, Coordinator for the CCBI Commission for Migrants, and Senior Advocate George Munluo.

Sr. Rani Punnasseril led the first session of the day, emphasising the significance of understanding one’s constitutional rights in a democratic nation like India. She highlighted the importance of promptly filing First Information Reports (FIRs), gaining awareness of social security schemes, and utilising the legal provisions available to marginalised communities. Drawing a powerful parallel between the hardships faced by the founders of her congregation during the French Revolution and the current struggles of internally displaced persons (IDPs), she urged participants to “Give Hope in Christ”.

Sr. Rani also promoted the "Catholic Connect for Migrants" web portal, encouraging participants to inform family members who have relocated to other cities to register. This will help the Catholic Church track and support migrant populations while connecting them with local parishes.

Following the session, twelve leaders were chosen from among the attendees to assist IDPs within their respective villages who are facing documentation and verification-related issues.

The second resource person for the workshop, Adv. George Munluo, spoke on the topic 'Legal Action That Can Be Used in Our Daily Lives'. In his session, he elaborated on the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and detailed the constitutional provisions for religious freedom under Articles 25 to 28. He stressed that no one should face discrimination based on their background or religion. Adv. George noted that the Constitution of India and British laws bear a strong resemblance to the Bible, attributing this to the significant influence of the Christian community. He also mentioned that it was during the pre-independence era that the British introduced Christianity to India.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Fr. Mung, who expressed gratitude to the CCBI Commission for Migrants and Sr. Rani Punnasseril for their continued support of displaced communities, especially during the ongoing crisis in Manipur

By Tungthang Zou