Month: December 2013

IMPHAL, December 29: Recently a woman from Manipur working for the NGO, Boond, alleged that she was raped by an NGO activist, Khurshid Anwar, on September 12, 2013, said a press statement of the Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi.

The complaint came to light when a video recording was taken and circulated in social media reportedly without the consent of the complainant, which has caused unnecessary politicization, i.e. negative intervention in the case by those with vested interests, it said.

After the accused committed suicide on December 18, 2013, certain persons are undertaking activities which amount to intimidation and vilification of the complainant, further reacted the student body.

It is quite evident that the complainant has not been guided and counselled satisfactorily, which has unfortunately allowed for her victimization making a free and fair trial increasingly difficult, it said.

For a free and fair trial all the people who were involved in the case and its reporting to the NCW should be properly investigated and also cautioned from communicating their personal views in the media to the detriment of the complainant and without acquiring proper consent from her, it opined.

The Delhi Police should seriously look into the matter of intimidation and vilification of the victim for a free and fair trial, it said the student body take objection to the fact that the provision of rape-shield has not been made for the complainant so far.

“All those involved in character assassination should be duly punished, and the Delhi Police, NCW and Human Rights Commission should take proper cognizance of the fact that some of the vigilante persons speaking on this case have been continuously making racist and gendered allegations against the complainant”, the statement demanded.

The police, in particular, should take cognizance of such unwanted interference in the case, it said before declaring that if the vilification of the complainant continues, MSAD has resolved to approach higher government and Police authorities, and push for stringent action against the compromising of a free and fair trial.

Since a free and fair trial requires the following of the proper judicial process, we appeal to all concerned persons to desist from undue intervention in the judicial process. MSAD is keeping a close vigil on the developments of the case, and if the investigation process fails to be objective we will not hesitate from making an active intervention and to resort to all possible democratic means so that due judicial process can be pursued, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/free-and-fair-trial-in-rape-case-essential-msad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-and-fair-trial-in-rape-case-essential-msad

CHANDEL, December 29: Khena Hlamthu, a short play in ‘Anal’, has surprised many among thousands of its audience when it was staged on the occasion of the first ever `Jolchara Phowpeni` nite held on December 26 at the Community Hall of Chakpikarong Khupi in Chandel district.

The artistes of Kankhu Theatre and Culture Development Society (KTaCDS), on an invitation, performed the play as a special event of the occasion which was organized by the Jolchara (Ningols) of Chakpikarong.

The event Jochara Phowlpeni, a get together of the Chakpikarong khupi brought up Ningols, who were married outside of their village brought back the memories of sweet moments of those days when all loved and dear ones including people who had gone to be with the Lord and the living ningols coming to the event, used to live and celebrate Christmas in the past days.

Exchange of christmas greetings, sharing of the life experiences, speeches, entertaining programes in the form of songs and dances and a feast were some of the main highlight of the day.

A special prayer of Blessing was offered for the well being and prosperity of the Ningols who have left their homes by marriages.

The KTaCDS production Khena Hlamthu portrays the life of a woman, who was brought up by his caring- brother, ended in tragedy due to the ill treatment of her in-laws.

Her patience, endurance, determination, honesty and love later change the life of her inlaws after her death. Her inlaws regret to have her back but death has separated them until they will meet in heaven.

The artistes taking the lead role of the  play included HB Tohring, LH Ningjahring, Sng Pearson, HL Luise and HB Ruwngthung.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/ktacds-khena-hlamthu-staged-on-jolchara-phowlpeni/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ktacds-khena-hlamthu-staged-on-jolchara-phowlpeni

IMPHAL, December 29: Reacting to the reported involvement of SoO signatory groups in anti-social activities, state Home minister Gaikhangam who is also the state dy CM said that the government is looking for a proper location to set up a rehab centre for the Suspension of Operation signatory cadres.

Speaking to a select group of media persons today at his MPCC office, the party president said that cadres have been found involved in several activities against the ground rules of the SoO.

This might be due to lack of control over them or because they are kept at the Assam Rifles or army camps, he continued.

Once the rehab centre is set up, the cadres will be monitored by the state own security forces and will be under strict vigilance and whenever they go out of the centre, security personnel will be along with them, he elaborated.

He said as of now, the Joint Monitoring Group will be directed to conduct frequent meetings about the SoO ground rules.

Meanwhile, the chief minister and other state high ranking officials have already discussed about the allotment of land for the construction of the said rehab and identification of the location, he said.

Though the place is yet to be identified, the rehab centre is essential to restrict the cadres from indulging in untoward incidents, he opined.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/site-scouting-for-rehab-centre-to-house-soo-cadres/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=site-scouting-for-rehab-centre-to-house-soo-cadres

IMPHAL, Dec 29: Touch India Trust, a partner of Samvada Centre for Research Resources, New Delhi, held an orientation seminar at the Hotel Classic Imphal here yesterday evening with minister for Health, Family Welfare, GAD & CADA, Manipur Phungzathang Tonsing as chief guest and Parliamentary Secretary, Tribal Affairs & Hills, Information Technology, Manipur Victor Keishing as guest of honour.

The trust, according to a brochure distributed to participants, said was founded in 2003 and is a Delhi based charity “with a vision to prepare and empower India’s students and young professionals to be agents of change.”

“Touch India offers opportunities through its internship and studentship programmes in academics and research, creative arts and media, social intervention, and social entrepreneurship. It enables them to supplement their educational experience and gain skills necessary to make a critical contribution to society,” the brochure further elaborated.

Giving the key note address to the meet, Dr. Brainerd Prince, director of the Samvada Centre for Research Resource said the mission of the organization and its partners is to rediscover the rich but neglected human resources, especially in the area of reconciling communalism and multiculturalism that ancient India always possessed, and together with its partners seek to understand and resolve today’s vexing problems of social intolerance using these knowledge.

He said Touch India Trust has found immediate affinity and rapport with communities of the Northeast, and today has a strong presence in the region.

Speaking at the function, the chief guest, Phungzathang Tonsing said the multicultural society of the Northeast, Manipur not the least, needs to encourage and learn from such praiseworthy initiatives as those of the Samvada Centre and Touch India Trust.

The guest of honour, Victor Keishing said Manipur is a very diverse society which can boast of affiliations to practically all the religions of India and the world, as much as of skills and arts of any variety. Integrative knowledge and initiatives being pursued by organizations such as Samvada Centre and Touch India Trust can make immense contribution to our society, he added.

Young scholar from Manipur pursuing a degree in philosophy at Oxford University as a fellow of the Touch India Trust, Stephan Muivah, also spoke on the importance of the academic fellowships and programmes supported by the trust in the effort to understand multi-cultural societies, and therefore their vital relevance to the social and political projects of sizing up the dynamics of Manipur’s multi ethnic social milieu and envisioning a way forward.

Earlier in the day, Samvada Centre and Touch India Trust, in collaboration with the History Department of the Manipur University held an awareness seminar of the Manipur University, on the same issue of finding a progressive way forward for multi-cultural societies, the organisers said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/trust-gives-thrust-to-pursuit-of-integration-in-multicultural-societies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trust-gives-thrust-to-pursuit-of-integration-in-multicultural-societies

IMPHAL, December 29: A one-day Legal Discourse on Rights to Food was held today at the Conference Hall of the Institute of Co-operative Management, Lamphelpat.

Advocate Khaidem Mani; associated professor Economics Department, Manipur University, Chinglen Maisnam; lecturer LMS Law College Dr Chongtham Narendra Singh and Meihoubam Rakesh, Director Human Right Law network (HRLN) attended as the presidium members.

Chinglen Maisnam observed that there are several centrally sponsored schemes in the state; however, people are unable to avail the benefits from any of the schemes.

He said the state is fully dependent to the Centre for everything.

State politicians have today failed to speak out to the Centre on the needs of the people, he opined.

Due to the failure of the state politicians and government to properly express the needs of the state, all centrally sponsored schemes have failed to bring the sought benefits, he continued.

Elaborating further, he said that people are more aware of a housie game than that of food security.

Citing that in the nearby state of Tripura, the government makes it sure that PDS items reach the beneficiaries, he said that in Manipur, the items seldom reach the people.

He further continued there is not even proper godown in the state to store the essential items.

He further observed that since people are not fully aware of the importance of bank accounts, people seldom open their own personal accounts.

Every problem in the state is due to the bad governance, he opined before adding that people need to be aware of their legal rights and unitedly make efforts to understand the schemes especially the Food Security Bill and avail its benefits.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/centrally-sponsored-schemes-a-failure-in-state/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=centrally-sponsored-schemes-a-failure-in-state

IMPHAL, December 29: A reception ceremony of SM Naqyi gold medal winner Manipur University Earth Science department professor Arun Kumar was held today at the Seminar Hall of Earth Science department, Manipur University.

Professor Arun Kumar had been awarded for his sincere work for over 30 years in the field of teaching and research experience in the department of earth science, Manipur University by Geogical Society, said an official of the department.

He said that Arun Kumar had initially started his research in the field of fluvial geomorphology with application of GIS and remote sensing techniques in the watershed studies in Manipur.

He had also carried out the landslide hazard studies along the national highways in Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

He continued saying that Arun Kumar has established a number of seismic observation in Manipur and in Northeast India to monitor the ongoing seismological status as the region falls under the highest seismic zone map of India.

He also said that Arun Kumar has also created that the earthquake hazard awareness in a scientific manner in many in the NE region where the school children can witness to measure the earthquake epicentre parameters in their school earthquake laboratory.

He continued saying that Arun Kumar is presently a member of Programme Advisory committee (Seismology programming) of Minster of MoES and expert advisory committee of Hydroelectric and river valley Project of MoEF said.

Speaking at the reception ceremony, Prof Arun Kumar express happiness and delight on receiving the S M Naqvi gold medal award 2013 in the field petrology and also said that he is very lucky to be in Manipur.

He said he started his career in geomorphology and remote sensing application and started his research work in watersheds in Manipur.

He continued that he had been encouraged by the MoES and MoST to established a seismic station in the state in 1995 to monitor the earthquake activities.

He continue saying that they are the Pioneer in developing the school earthquake labs in Northeast and Himalaya region where the earthquake awareness is being given to the school children and also to measure the magnitude and location of the earthquake he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/sm-naqvi-medal-winner-prof-arun-kumar-feted/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sm-naqvi-medal-winner-prof-arun-kumar-feted