Day: March 25, 2013

The post Meitei Manipuris in Tripura: lost moorings and old ties appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

By Okram Bimol
IMPHAL, March 25: The Meitei Manipuri population residing in Tripura is facing problems due to their dwindling numbers, making them a minority group in the state. In light of the other majority communities in the state, Meitei Tripuris are in a struggle of sorts for the survival of the group in terms of its identity, social and cultural status and condition.

During an interaction with visiting journalists of the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU), Meitei Tripuris talked of how it was not an easy task for the community  to make Tripura their homeland and to keep alive their own cultural heritage. 

One Meitei Tripuri told the group that most of the Meitei Manipuri people in Tripura have sold out their land and other properties and shifted to other states like Assam and Manipur.

Adding that a majority of the Meitei Manipuris in Tripura are engaged as daily wage earners who take up various odd jobs like construction of houses, farm labour , auto driver etc., he further added that Manipuris in the state are included under the OBC category in Tripura.

Manipuris in Tripura are further not able to read Manipuri language properly because the language in Bengali script is taught in schools only from class 1 to 5 or 6 and because no examinations are conducted using the language. Additionally, Meitei Manipuris in Tripura speak Bengali fluently.

Many Meitei villages in Tripura are also gradually being replaced by different communities and the names of Meitei inhabited villages are changing. An example of this change can be seen in Mekhli Paar, a village not very far from Agartala which was once settled by Meiteis but which is now being occupied by Bengalis and turned into a tea state. But old ties still linger as evident from a pond called “Chandrabali Pukhri” which is reportedly named after a Meitei queen Chandrabali by the King in 1898. The pond still exists till date.

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The post Trespassing at CAU girls hostel appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

IMPHAL, March 25: Students of Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba has called a college strike today protesting against alleged trespassing by unknown individuals at the girls hostel of the college repeatedly.

Speaking to the media, a girl student studying in her 4th Semester at the college, said two hostellers saw an unknown person roaming inside the girls hostel today morning at around 12:10 am following which, the two informed other students in the hostel through SMS.

After sometime, the hostellers saw a man coming out from a bathroom of the hostel and heading towards four students who were standing at the corridor of the hostel building. The girls ran inside their rooms and locked themselves after seeing the man. The man even tried to force one of the doors, the student said.  

When the students tried to inform Warden Rk Tombisana, her phone was switched off, the student said.

While complaining that this same case had earlier happened on February 14 last, a hosteller said that college authorities stopped them from taking up the matter to the police saying it will bring a bad reputation to the college.

The hostellers said that yesterday, there were three people who were trespassing inside the girls’ hostel and that on another occasion on March 14, there were five people.

Clothes of the hostellers which had been stolen on March 14 were brought back and left  today, which proves that  the same people are trespassing repeatedly, the hostellers said.

One of the trespassers today was seen wearing a black jumper when the hostellers first saw him but later, he went inside the bathroom and came out wearing women’s attire. He was also wearing eye liner and was heading towards the new campus construction site, a hosteller said. 

Another hosteller said that the trespassers stole only ladies inner garments and nothing else was stolen, adding that the clothes which were stolen last time were brought back and left at the hostel this time.

Following the student agitation today, police picked up four workers who are engaged in the construction works of the hostel building for interrogation in regard with the incident.

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The post Locals protest against proposed surrenders rehabilitation center at Chothea village appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

IMPHAL, March 25: Locals of the Laalahchupi Chothea and surrounding villages today staged a sit in protest at Bishnupur bazaar against the proposal of the State government to set up a rehabilitation center at the village. The protest was organized by the women subcommittee against the proposed surrender rehabilitation center in the area.

Speaking to the media, one woman protestor said that the state government had proposed the use of the place where a post of the village defense force (VDF) is posted at Laalachupi Chothe village under Henglep assembly constituency on the day of visit by the State Home Minister along with the Deputy commissioner and the Superintendent of Bishnupur district on 1st march when it was announced that the place would be used as a rehabilitation centre for around 200 surrenderees to the government, she said.

She further said that regarding the announcement,  locals of the surrounding villages held a meeting at the Chothea village on 8th March where, a resolution was passed not to allow the proposed surrenderees rehabilitation center in the Chothea village. The villagers had also  earlier submitted a memorandum to the state Chief minister, Home minister ,T Manga Vaiphei, MLA of the Henglep Assembly constituency and Govindas Konthoujam MLAof  Bishnupur assembly constituency . But till today, the state government has not given any positive response over the matter,  she said.

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The post Church members memo to PM on Chakpikarong dam appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

IMPHAL, March 25: Members of 27 Churches denominations of Chandel district have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner, Chandel on March 25 to disapprove the proposed construction of the “Chakpi Multipurpose Project” at Chakpikarong.   

The Churches denominations members in its memorandum said that Chandel district in Manipur bordering Myanmar has a total geographical area of 3,313 sq. km. with a total population of 1,22,714 living in villages being home of more than 20 different communities with different cultural practices and beliefs, different socio-political aspirations, interest and values.

It accused the Manipur Government of pursuing  the construction of a dam at Chakpikarong the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the people and said that its major areas of concern were that more than 30,000 members of more than 100 churches of the Forum are within the Submerged, Canal and catchment areas in an area of 700 sq.kms. covered by both the Upstream arid-Downstream projects who will be displaced and severely affected.

Pointing out that the project’s main aim is to divert the water from Chakpi River and irrigate 9495 hectares in Thoubal District throughout the year from January to December to facilitate multiple cropping and improve the economic life of the people there at the cost of indigenous tribal people and their land in Chandel district, it said that this might trigger ethnic conflict between the two districts.

“There is a grave danger of demographic impact from the influx of non-indigenous population of laborers and workers manning the project which at peak will reach 26,054 according to the report of the Govt. This will impact the small numbered indigenous tribal s and they may well be on the brink of losing their culture, custom, religious and unique way of life through mix-marriages, acculturation and assimilation,” it said.

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The post Chief Justice of India inaugurates Manipur High Court appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

 

IMPHAL, March 25: Amidst heavy security arrangement, the High Court of Manipur was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir in the presence of the Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh at a function held today at the High court premises at Chingmeirong.

The function was also attended by Ashwini Kumar, Union Law and Justice Minister; Justice Altaf Alam, Judge Supreme Court; Justice Anil R Dhavey, Judge Supreme Court; Abhay Manohat Sapre, Chief Justice of Manipur High Court; Justice N Koteshwor Singh, Judge Manipur High Court; and Justice Adarsh Goyal, Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court.

DS Poonia, Chief Secretary Government of Manipur; Yumnam Joykumar,  Director General of Police; and Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly also attended the function.

During the occasion, Abhay Manohar Sapre said, “We hope and trust that the court will deliver justice and perform its duty without fear and favour. It is my cherished goal to provide worldclass infrastructure to the High Court of Manipur and it will be realized in due course.”

Ashwini Kumar, Union Law and Justice Minister mentioned how the state Chief Minister had earlier approached him for seeking the appointment of a high number of judges for the Manipur High Court. “All possible efforts will be made to bring physical resources and human resources to function the High Court,” he said.

Adding that no amount of security force can make the citizens secure if they do not feel secure, he expressed his optimism that the Chief Justice of Manipur will render, vindicate and validate justice to the people of the state.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the long cherished desire and dream of the Government of Manipur and the legal fraternity to have the state`s High Court has now become a reality. “With the High Court being set up I can proudly claim that justice may be able to deliver to the doorstep of people of Manipur,” he added.

Pointing out the architectural style of the building, the CM said, “The building of the court is built in traditional Manipuri architecture, and the state PWD has helped with all necessary infrastructures.” He also made a note that effective use of technology, information and communication tools would help in delivering justice.

Giving an assurance that the vacant posts of two Judges for the new High Court of Manipur would be filled up at the earliest, he said the state Government will lend all possible support to the High Court for ensuring its effective functioning to make it one of the best High Courts of the country.

Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir congratulated the people of Manipur and said he was certain that this High Court will mete out justice to the people of the state. “Cases of the state were earlier dealt at the Gauhati High Court which results in slow process. Now, they will be taken up at the Manipur High Court which will make the process much faster,” he said.

Pointing out that the goal contained in the preamble of constitution to ensure justice, equality, liberty, fraternity etc have to be achieved not only through government but through the judiciary system, he added that the legal remedy to be made known to the people of the country at the grassroots/doorstep is to set up a High Court.

“Intermingling and interaction between people of the North East and the mainland region will have a positive impact in building the nation. I hope this High Court will one day play a particular role and become a representative High Court of the entire country,” he went on to say.

Mention may be made that the construction work of the High Court was taken up from 2005-06  onwards.

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