Lessons from Ishok

Ishok village of Bishnupur district have good reasons to be proud of.  When most parts of the states are facing water scarcity, the village has enough water for everyone in

Ishok village of Bishnupur district have good reasons to be proud of.  When most parts of the states are facing water scarcity, the village has enough water for everyone in the locality. There are no miracles involved despite appearing so. What the villagers have done is maintaining the community pond that was dug thirty years ago on two acres of land.  Each households of the village contribute a paltry sum of money as maintenance fee annually. During the monsoon every year, the pond is fed with water from the nearby rivers. The water is then treated with bleaching powder and lime. And it is enough to last for a year, even when there is no rainfall. The people of Ishok do not have to worry about water today, when most of us are facing acute shortage. What is exemplary about the village is, one: the collective understanding of harvesting water for community use, in spite of its advantageous location of having being situated near another water body, which is the river. Two: a disciplined unanimity in action of conserving a community asset.  People residing in Imphal area should learn lessons from Ishok village. Most of the ponds in Imphal areas are now without water. Some ponds that have little water at its bed are untreatable. Construction of retaining wall around the ponds has contaminated the water. This is a simple fact needing no scientific verification. Community ponds have become a favourite advertisement ground for MLAs to show that they are doing something for the constituency. The retaining wall is their misplaced benevolence to cover up their sullen inactiveness. Not only the MLAs, but also the ‘social workers’ who wish to represent the people in the Assembly indulge in cements and bricks politics. Construction of retaining wall along the ponds is an important part of their electoral crusade. On the other hand, there is a deepening lack of collectivism among the inhabitants of Imphal. They are happy to build houses with underground water storage and buy water from the private tankers to fill with it. They buy water pump sets to draw water from the pipelines, as much as they can. Neighbours compete to buy pump sets with maximum horsepower.  When a particular pipeline gets dry, a whole family would come out to drill another pipeline that runs in their vicinity. Not to mention of the roads that got dug out, and are left best to the nightmare of the public. This is also true that most of the pipelines that got drilled are carried out with expert hands, who are mostly employees of the government department. You grease their palms to get water flowing into the house. Meanwhile the ponds in the community are left to the hands of MLAs and ‘social workers’. Now that the problem of water scarcity is hitting hard, leaving those with pump sets and multi pipeline connections for the rain God to smile. People are now turning their attention to the abandoned community ponds which are lying in a precarious condition. It can’t get any worse when the minister of IFCD blames global warming for the scarcity. Should we consider ourselves fortunate to have a minister equipped with a popular vocabulary? For better or worse, how does he explain the failure of his department to provide the rainfall data and the water level of two important rivers for the last three months? You blame it on global warming. IFP shall carry more stories of villages with reserved community ponds to draw lessons from them.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/lessons-from-ishok/

Man killed in drunken brawl, accused held

IMPHAL, April 28:  A drunken brawl between two neighbours who are also relatives left one of them dead at Kumbi Ithai Barrage Road under Kumbi Police station Bishnupur. The incident

IMPHAL, April 28:  A drunken brawl between two neighbours who are also relatives left one of them dead at Kumbi Ithai Barrage Road under Kumbi Police station Bishnupur.

The incident occurred around 3pm, Sunday.

According to the police, Nongmaithem Iboton, 51, son of Lotto of Kumbi Ithai Barrage and Yumnam Babu 60 son of (L) Ibocha were drinking liquor together at the latter’s house. The two were neighbours and related to each other, the police said.

Soon, the two entered into an argument, which led to Babu holding Iboton by his throat and banging him on the wall.

Iboton died at the spot with a head injury, the police said.

Following the incident, Babu fled from the scene, but was later arrested by a team of Kumbi police from his locality around 11pm, Sunday night.

A case has been taken up in this regard.

Meanwhile, family members have accepted the body following the conduct of post mortem at the RIMS morgue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/man-killed-in-drunken-brawl-accused-held/

No entry for a new entry: Sanjenthong to be closed down

IMPHAL, April 28: The Sanjenthong, one of the main bridge in the state capital connecting the twin districts of Imphal West and Imphal East, is likely to be closed down

IMPHAL, April 28: The Sanjenthong, one of the main bridge in the state capital connecting the twin districts of Imphal West and Imphal East, is likely to be closed down by April 30, as construction work for new bridge will be started soon.

Although the bridge was scheduled to be closed from Tuesday, a general strike called by the several militant outfits including the CorCom against the President’s visit, the closure date was deferred, informed a source.

Sources said that there will be no bypassing upon the bridge, as the 50 year old bridge will be torn down completely and replaced by a four lane wide new bridge.

The Public Works Department Bridge division has reportedly handed over the work to Simplex Project Limited, a Kolkata based construction Company.

The cost of the new bridge is estimated to be around Rs 28 crore with a one year target period for completion.

To meet the one year target which apparently will be a record time, it has been informed that construction work will be carried on in war footing round the clock, informed sources.   

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/no-entry-for-a-new-entry-sanjenthong-to-be-closed-down/

May Day greeting

IMPHAL, April 28: The Manipur Manpower Upliftment Centre has wished the workers of the state on the coming of May Day. A press release of the centre said May Day

IMPHAL, April 28: The Manipur Manpower Upliftment Centre has wished the workers of the state on the coming of May Day.

A press release of the centre said May Day originated from the city of Chicago on May 1, 1886 when workers protested leading to the death of 10 workers.

The protest was a result of injustice and indifference faced by workers, it said.

Despite the changes, the day had brought to the life of a worker, workers of Manipur still face many difficulties, it said.

It is necessary for the people of Manipur to look with concern on the changes which will be brought by the introduction of rails into the state and the arrival of non-Manipuris which may leave the workers of the State with more competition and jobless, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/may-day-greeting/

Training on Scientific Cultivation of Kharif Crops held in CDL

CHANDEL, Apr 28: A one day farmers` training programme on “Scientific Cultivation of Kharif Crops” organised under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) through the All India Crop Response (AICRP) on

CHANDEL, Apr 28: A one day farmers` training programme on “Scientific Cultivation of Kharif Crops” organised under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) through the All India Crop Response (AICRP) on soil Test Crop Response correlation by ICAR Research Complex for North East Hill Region, Manipur Centre in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Chandel was held today at KVK Monsang Pantha, Chandel.

During the training, ICAR Scientist including Senior Scientist (Agronomy) Dr Lohit K Baishya, Sk Sharma, Scientist Plant pathology presented a slideshow on improved management practices of crop for higher productivity and `Pest and Integrated Diseases Management` respectively.

Dr D Sarkar, scientist, Soil Science and KL Levish, SMS Agronomy also took active part in the discussions and the interactions attended by about 35 farmers.

Later, inputs comprising of RCM-5, 9, Ground nuts ICGS- 76 and plant protection chemicals were distributed to the farmers at free of cost. The training was attended by officials and staff of KV Chandel led by its program coordinator GP Kabui.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/training-on-scientific-cultivation-of-kharif-crops-held-in-cdl/

New criteria for work estimation issued

IMPHAL, April 28: The Director of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has issued office memorandum new criteria for estimation of work program for Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat will

IMPHAL, April 28: The Director of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has issued office memorandum new criteria for estimation of work program for Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat will be followed under Finance Commission Awards, said a DIPR press release.

The office memorandum mentioned the new criteria have been introduced so as to streamline all level of the processes ranging from work estimation and its consequent implementation.

It further continued that Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat should implement the new criteria by following the MSR 2012 from the financial year 2014-15 and added the concern Section Officer will prepare the estimate with 5.65 VAT and 1% labour cess, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/new-criteria-for-work-estimation-issued/

Reprehensible and Puerile

By B.G. Verghese Words must fail as week by week the language of electoral discourse sinks deeper into the gutter. None can escape admonition, but the BJP-Parivar’s grammar of arrogance

By B.G. Verghese

Words must fail as week by week the language of electoral discourse sinks deeper into the gutter. None can escape admonition, but the BJP-Parivar’s grammar of arrogance and hatred is particularly manifest and disturbing
Last week a senior BJP candidate, Giriraj Singh, said that the place of NarendraModi’s critics,whom he identified with those indulging in cow slaughter,is in Pakistan.Not to be outdone, PravinTogadia, the firebrand VHP President, told a Bhavnagar audience forcibly to prevent Muslims from buying or occupying houses in Hindu-dominated areas on account of their food and cultural habits. In other words,he was calling for ghettoisation of Muslims beyond barricaded “frontiers” as has happened in Ahmedabad since 2002 but which NarendraModi, that far sighted statesman, by the BJP’s telling, is unable to see. A Shiv Sena leader, RamdasKadam, addressing a joint BJP-Sena rally in Mumbai alongside Modi declared that once in power, the latter would teach Muslims, whom he termed traitors, a lesson.

Modisoon after disapproved these “petty statements” but a day later in Jamnagar, reacted strongly to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s offensive against him. He said they had “crossed all limits” and even insulted Sardar Patel (how?). And then: “Twenty days remain….. I am going to take revenge”. He was probably peeved at the Gandhis’ – now Priyanka included – referring to the holes in his Gujarat development model, especially in terms of human indices, the alleged favours shown to Adani, and his treatment of women as  exemplified by his abandonment and disowning of his wife and the “snoopgate” surveillance of a married lady architect even beyond the  State’s jurisdiction and by no less than the Anti-Terror squad, allegedly for her “protection” at her father’s request as against a very different version based on taped conversations of Modiwith the lady that have not been denied.

It can be said of Modi that he is both exceedingly coy and arrogant. He claims his “Hindutva face” will be an asset in the conduct of foreign policy because it is based on the age-old concept of vasudaivakutumbakam, “the world is my family”. Which world? One that excludes his own wife, Muslims, Christians, Dalits and others? His diatribes against Muslims are based on hate of “foreign religionists” as espoused by Savarkar and Golwalkar, and find an echo in BJP school texts even to this day.  

The BJP’s ally, Baba Ramdev has just spoken most insultingly of dalits. At the same time on Ambedkar Day a fortnight back, Modi spoke of the alleged slight to Ambedkar’s legacy by the Congress. The UPA, he alleged, favoured reservations and subsidies for Muslims and Christians at the cost of these benefits that were really intended for dalits and tribals thus prioritising these two minorities over the latter.How divisive can one get?And can one for ever explain away such double speak and hate talk as “petty matters”? The whole Hindutva anti-conversion drive is based its exponents’ inability and unwillingness to fight the terrible inequities and oppression of caste divides. The brotherhood of the Hindutva crowd and the Taliban is a tragedy of our times. Both still live by standards of medieval barbarism.

ArunJaitley and MeenakshiLekhi have been the two most vocal BJP spokespersons onModi’s marriage that was not a marriage but only a child marriage that none has a right to speak about as such discussions are taboo. Both lawyers need an elementary lesson in law. Their threat to reveal or speak about the illicit relationships of Congress iconsif Modi is asked about his wife is a non sequitur and is a scarcely veiled threat of blackmail. A person’s illicit relationship with another may be immoral but not illegal. But not responding to validly-required information in a document like a passport, insurance policy or electoral nomination form is a violation of due process. The election nomination form requires a prospective candidate to declare his or her marital status. This could be bachelor/spinster, married, divorced/separated or widow/widower. If there is a spouse, the joint assets must be legally declared. Not to do so wilfully and repeatedly by ambiguous markings is reason enough for disqualification. Modi fudged his answers on three previous electoral occasions and had to be ordered by Supreme Court to reveal the truth this time.What was he hiding or lying about and why?  Does such conduct beget trust? This is no small matter. It shows up a huge character fault in someone seeking the nation’s trust. As said before and sadly, the media,as usual, lost the plot.

It is not only the BJP that goes haywire. The Principal of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai was clearly wrong and far from being purely academic in advising his students through the College website on the very eve of the poll that they should vote “wisely” – against Modi. And, typically, the Congress defended this misdemeanour.

Meanwhile, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Boardwrote to Delhi’s Lt.Governor about the “impropriety” of making registration of marriages compulsoryin the Capital, with a fine for default. The AIMPLB’s case is that registration is already being done by Imams, Wakf Boards and religious trusts.  Maybe. But what objection can there be on grounds of interference in personal law in having a uniform national marriage (and death) register. This is arrant nonsense and such bogus demands must be summarily dismissed. Private registrations are known to be irregular, incomplete, and sometime fraudulent and purchasable. There must be an end to religious humbug.

Then, why on earth should the Government decide to send a formal Indian delegation to the Vatican for the canonisation of two former Popes? This is sheer electoral gimmickry as the country could well be formally and adequately represented by its Ambassador to the Vatican.

The Election Commission says it has so far confirmed 198 cases of “paid news”. Candidate who acknowledge guilt will be asked to add the amounts paid to their electoral expense returns. This is but water off a duck’s back. More appropriately, the EC should act in concert with the Press Council and Broadcast Regulatory Authority to disqualify the candidate from contesting elections or holding any public office for 10 years and barring the Party from contesting that seat for six years. Equally, the registration of the indicted newspaper or channel for a period of time and debarring the correspondent from accreditation for 10 years should be mandated. Only such condign punishment will cure our democracy of such dangerous ills.

Finally, one must condemn in the strongest terms the crude effort of V. K. Singh, the BJP candidate from Ghaziabad, who disgraced himself and his uniform as former Army Chief, to delay the appointment of the next Army Chief until after the poll results are in. He has levelled the most scurrilous charges against the Army Commander next in line by seniority and has politicised the issue in a most brazen manner implying that whoever is appointed will be beholden not to his oath but to his “benefactor”. Chamchagiri is not the tradition of the proud Indian Army but may be Singh’s personal code of conduct.

www.bgverghese.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/reprehensible-and-puerile/

Body against corruption formed

IMPHAL, April 28: The All Manipur Anti-Corruption and Social Organisation has said in a press release that the organisation was formed today during a meeting at Kwakeithel Lamdong. The organisation

IMPHAL, April 28: The All Manipur Anti-Corruption and Social Organisation has said in a press release that the organisation was formed today during a meeting at Kwakeithel Lamdong.

The organisation was formed with the objective of eradicating corruption, to provide help to the needy, support the people during their protests, to respect people who have worked for a good cause and to show honesty and discipline to the youth and students, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/body-against-corruption-formed/

MPP laments govt for present water crisis

IMPHAL, Apr 28: The Manipur People’s Party has said in a press release that the present water scarcity is a result of the government’s lack of action. It observed that

IMPHAL, Apr 28: The Manipur People’s Party has said in a press release that the present water scarcity is a result of the government’s lack of action.

It observed that the government need to initiate a new water police to solve the issue of water scarcity.

In the meantime, as the people continue to cope with price rise, they are subjected to water scarcity, it said.

The organisation appeals to the Government to bring down the prices and to work according to the needs of the people, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/mpp-laments-govt-for-present-water-crisis/

CCpur completely blackout since Apr 25

By Alex Guite LAMKA, Apr 28: The people of Ccpur district have been deprived of electric power for the past three days with the whole plunged into total darkness. Sources

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, Apr 28: The people of Ccpur district have been deprived of electric power for the past three days with the whole plunged into total darkness.

Sources said the total blackout had resulted from the collapse of electric towers at Ningthoukhong and Kakching which act as feeders of the Khiangzang Village Sub Station meant for the district.

Sources from the electricity department has showed apprehension that the work is not expected to be completed for another 4-5 days, which will basically means, the district will have to suffer blackout for another couple of days.

The district has been totally black-out since April 25.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/ccpur-completely-blackout-since-apr-25/

Manipur High Court takes up fake encounter killings case on General Suhag – Daily Mail

Daily MailManipur High Court takes up fake encounter killings case on General SuhagDaily MailDuring the brief hearing, the Army's counsel questioned whether the Manipur High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the case as the killings had occurred a…


Daily Mail

Manipur High Court takes up fake encounter killings case on General Suhag
Daily Mail
During the brief hearing, the Army's counsel questioned whether the Manipur High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the case as the killings had occurred at Dimapur in Nagaland. Sources close to the petitioner's counsel Khaidem Mani told Mail Today the …

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Hearing on killing of Manipuri youths to continue April 30 – Nagaland Post

Hearing on killing of Manipuri youths to continue April 30Nagaland PostHearing on the writ petition filed in Manipur High Court seeking necessary action against persons responsible for the alleged killing of three Manipuri youths by intelligence unit o…

Hearing on killing of Manipuri youths to continue April 30
Nagaland Post
Hearing on the writ petition filed in Manipur High Court seeking necessary action against persons responsible for the alleged killing of three Manipuri youths by intelligence unit of the Army's 3 Corps while in its custody in Dimapur in March, 2010

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Manipur all set to receive President amidst boycott call – Nagaland Post

Manipur all set to receive President amidst boycott callNagaland PostManipur police has sounded alert to the bombs squads and security personnel detailed in and around the Manipur University campus where President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to atten…

Manipur all set to receive President amidst boycott call
Nagaland Post
Manipur police has sounded alert to the bombs squads and security personnel detailed in and around the Manipur University campus where President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to attend a convocation ceremony after a tip-off suggested militants …

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Manipur preparing for counting of votes – Assam Tribune

Manipur preparing for counting of votesAssam TribuneIMPHAL, April 28 – Preparations for the counting of general elections to Lok Sabha 2014 for Manipur's two parliamentary constituencies – Inner and Outer seats are being made in the State. The …

Manipur preparing for counting of votes
Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, April 28 – Preparations for the counting of general elections to Lok Sabha 2014 for Manipur's two parliamentary constituencies – Inner and Outer seats are being made in the State. The counting will be held on May 16. According to the Joint

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President to visit Manipur Tuesday – Daijiworld.com

President to visit Manipur TuesdayDaijiworld.comDisclaimer: Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworl…

President to visit Manipur Tuesday
Daijiworld.com
Disclaimer: Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory …

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Price of chickens go up in Manipur – The Hindu

Price of chickens go up in ManipurThe HinduPrice of chickens, both indigenous and those imported from Myanmar, has gone up following mass deaths of the birds due to an unknown disease. Veterinarians said that they had heard about the mass deaths at sev…

Price of chickens go up in Manipur
The Hindu
Price of chickens, both indigenous and those imported from Myanmar, has gone up following mass deaths of the birds due to an unknown disease. Veterinarians said that they had heard about the mass deaths at several places in the state. However in …

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Rebels vote in Manipur – E-Pao.net

Rebels vote in ManipurE-Pao.netIn a historic event in Manipur, members of some rebel militant groups that have signed truces with the government were allowed to exercise their franchise in the just-concluded 16th Lok Sabha polls in the state. Members o…

Rebels vote in Manipur
E-Pao.net
In a historic event in Manipur, members of some rebel militant groups that have signed truces with the government were allowed to exercise their franchise in the just-concluded 16th Lok Sabha polls in the state. Members of the hills-based Kuki National …

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Rebels vote in Manipur – E-Pao.net

Rebels vote in ManipurE-Pao.netIn a historic event in Manipur, members of some rebel militant groups that have signed truces with the government were allowed to exercise their franchise in the just-concluded 16th Lok Sabha polls in the state. Members o…

Rebels vote in Manipur
E-Pao.net
In a historic event in Manipur, members of some rebel militant groups that have signed truces with the government were allowed to exercise their franchise in the just-concluded 16th Lok Sabha polls in the state. Members of the hills-based Kuki National …
Manipur preparing for counting of votesAssam Tribune

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