Day: August 29, 2012

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Aug 28: There are reports that Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) have been using Myanmar territory for safe sanctuary. Manipur based insurgent groups like People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK); Naga insurgent group like National Socialist Council of Nagaland/ Khaplang (NSCN/K) and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) Anti-talk faction and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have their camps / hideouts in Myanmar Naga Hills (MNH).
The presence of IIGs in Myanmar has been the single most important security issue for India at every bilateral negotiations, i.e. National Level Meeting (NLM) at Home Secretary Level and Sectoral Level Meeting (SLM) at Joint Secretary Level held every year in pursuance of 1994 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar. Myanmar has always been assuring India that they will not allow their soil to be used by IIGs to carry out activities inimical to India. IIGs continue to use Myanmar territory notwithstanding Myanmar’s repeated assurances not to allow its territory for activities inimical to India.
In the recently held NLM between India and Myanmar at Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) in January, 2012 and SLM held at Kolkata in June 2012, the issue of continued presence of IIG groups in Myanmar was raised again and it has been assured by Myanmar to co-operate closely to address the Indian concerns.
As a result of regular National Level and Sectoral Level Meetings and follow-up of deliberations of NLM and SLM, Myanmar authorities have shown willingness to act against these militant groups and have started some operations against IIGs in Myanmar in recent times.
This was stated by Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
There are reports that the United Liberation Front of Asom/Anti-talk (ULFA/AT) faction continues to consolidate organizationally and strengthen its military capability for carrying out violent activities in different parts of Assam, with a view to maintain its dominance as well as create fear psychosis to facilitate extortion. State Government has been advised to alert the security forces to control the activities of ULFA(AT).
This was stated by Mullappally Ramachandran, MoS Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Tarachand Bhagora in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/manipur-naga-militants-operating-from-myanmar-ramachandran/

New Delhi , Aug 28 (ANI): Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that the Central Government is keen on giving utmost priority to restore peace in violence-hit Assam , where recent ethnic clashes have claimed at least 90 lives.
Shinde, who met a delegation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) here on Monday, emphasised that irrespective of any community’s faith, language or cultural heritage, the law and order will not be compromised at any cost.
“I have directed that a coordination committee should be set up. I have also told that whether it is Bodo tribes or Muslims, the law and order will not be compromised . The culprits will be arrested. The need of the hour is to restore peace in the region and urge people in relief camps to go back to their homes;. This is what I have told them , “ said Shinde
He also mentioned that the officials in the state had been directed to institute a coordination committee to review the prevailing and prospective scenario in the troubled regions of Assam .
Shinde said that he had told the delegation that maintaining amity should be given to priority. “The issue needs to be dealt with utmost seriousness and such incidents are bringing a bad name for the country.,” he said.
Violent clashes erupted in Assam in July after unidentified men killed four Bodo youths. In retaliation, armed Bodos – who dominate Kokrajhar and Chirang districts – attacked minority groups, suspecting them of being behind the deaths.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/shinde-priority-is-to-restore-peace-in-assam/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Aug 28: Based on the estimates of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it is estimated that there are about 28 lakh cancer patients at any point of time (prevalence) in the country. A total of 5.41 lakh AIDS patients were provided free anti-retroviral treatment at 355 Anti Retroviral Treatment centres across the country as on 31st May 2012 under the National AIDS Control Programme by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
Government of India had launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) in 100 districts across 21 States during 2010-2012 of the 11th Five Year Plan. The district hospitals have been funded to provide chemotherapy drugs required for cancer patients to treat 100 patients per district @ Rs. 1.00 lakh per patient.
The programme also envisages strengthening Government Medical College Hospitals and erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres (RCC) across the country as Tertiary Cancer Centre (TCC) for providing comprehensive Cancer care services. These institutions are eligible for financial assistance upto Rs. 6.00 crore (Rs. 4.80 crore from Central Government and Rs. 1.20 crore from State Government). In the Government health care delivery system, the treatment of diseases is either free or subsidized for the poor and needy patients.
Financial assistance is also provided to the patients who are living below the poverty line and suffering from major life threatening diseases including Cancer and AIDS from the ‘Health Minister’s Discretionary Grants (HMDG)’ and ‘Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)’.
The above information was given by the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/free-treatment-for-cancer-and-aids-patients/