Category: Imphal Free Press

All-season football Astroturf fields in pipeline

IMPHAL | Oct 10

The state government will announce special scheme for the differently-abled persons and widows within this month, informed chief minister, N. Biren during a press briefing after his monthly interaction with hill people held today.

However, the scheme would be implemented with effect from this year’s international day of disabled persons i.e. December 3, he added.

 Around 500 people including civil voluntary organisation leaders, village authority executives and village chiefs of hill areas brought 191 complaints to the notice of chief minister on the 6th hill leaders’ day today.

The chief minister interacted with this huge number of visitors from 9 am to 1 pm.

Biren Singh said apart from several individual matters, problems like absence of government officials and poor infrastructure in hill areas were mainly brought to his notice.

Stating that many people, who came pleaded him to help them in the construction of their houses, N. Biren said that the entitled benefits of different schemes are seemingly not reaching the targeted population.

As such, he had convened a review meeting of PMAY scheme, he informed. N. Biren further said that he had directed the authority concerned to serve explanation call to the officials who do not attend office regularly.

Regarding infrastructure requirements which could not be reflected in the last State budget, he contended that he had instructed the DCs concerned to send a proposal each to the State planning department.

Meanwhile, attending the closing ceremony of Manipur Police Quasquicentennial Football Cup 2017 held at 2nd MR Ground, Imphal today, N. Biren said that the State government would develop 2-3 playgrounds by laying astro turf (artificial turf) in the State soon so that the players could play football all around the year.

The tournament was organised by Manipur police department in connection with the 125th anniversary of Manipur Police.

 Speaking as chief guest of the function, chief minister lamented that if Guwahati can host the World Cup match then why Manipur was not given an opportunity to host even a single match of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017.

Hailing the Indian Football Team for their wonderful performance in the ongoing U-17 World Cup, Shri N. Biren Singh said that apart from some technical know-how on how to play in crucial moments and more maturely, the overall performance of the Team is good. He further stated that tiny State, Manipur, has a lot of potential in terms of promoting football as many players are representing the country at various international tournaments.

Further he continued that unlike the past now people feel the sense of security when they see police in streets and realize that police are the saviour of the people. Stating that Manipur police is performing their duties with discipline, he stressed that various initiatives being taken up by the department are people oriented and certain initiatives like community policing etc. have successfully implemented and maintained a good and cohesive relationship with the people.

Chief Minister urged the different Sports Associations of the State to step forward and co-ordinate with the State Government so that we could mould good and potential players in the State.

 Addressing his presidential speech, minister for youth affairs and sports, Letpao Haokip said that it is very delightful and heartening to see that 8 players from the State are representing the country at the U-17 FIFA World Cup 2017.

Minister further stated that it is the responsibility of the police personnel to make people aware that police are there to protect people from harm and help at bad times.

The final match was played between the Imphal East District Police and Thoubal Kakching District Police team.

 Minister for PHED, Losii Dikho, chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board, L. Radhakishore Singh, parliamentary secretary (Planning) Khasim Vashum, parliamentary secretary (Home) L. Sushindro Meitei, DGP L.M. Khaute and top police officials attended the function.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 10

The Chief Judicial Magistrate first class Imphal West-I who is the in-charge of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West today released two Chinese nationals who have been detained by the police for not possessing Protected Area Permit (PAP) under 14 Foreigners Act.

The two Chinese Nationals were identified as He Xiong (32) son of He Yu Shen of Xinshao County Hunam Province China and Liu Xhixin (37) son of Liu Hui Liang of Shekou Nanshan Areas Shen Guangdong Province China.

They were produced before the Magistrate by the Singjamei police and were released after they were imposed with a fine of Rs. 10,000 each.

The Chinese nationals were detained by a team of CISF from Indigo counter at the Imphal Airport on October 7 afternoon after they were found not possessing the PAP. They were supposed to go to Kolkata by an Indigo flight.

The CISF team later handed over the detained Chinese nationals to Singjamei police station and an FIR was lodged against them under 14 Foreigner Act.

The two Chinese nationals were produced before the duty Magistrate Imphal West on October 8 and remanded both to police custody for a period of three days.

As per investigation they revealed that they were travellers and working in Chinese company located in China and came to Manipur on October 3 and stayed at Hotel Classic till October 7 without any valid PAP but possessed valid passports and visa.

They reportedly disclosed that they were not aware about the PAP issued by the ministry of home affairs, foreigners division. It may be mentioned that it is mandatory for those foreign nationals/citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan to get permit under PAP before visiting to the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

By Amar Yumnam

IMPHAL | Oct 10

Richard Thaler has won this year’s Nobel Prize in Economics. Before we come to his main ideas, let us note a few things about him as a person: He was born in New Jersey in 1945; he is strongly influenced by Daniel Kahneman, Herbert Simon and Robert Lucas Jr – all Nobel Prize Winners in Economics; he works at the University of Chicago.

Economists in Chicago University and the Nobel Prize in the subject are almost like synonymous. In fact, we have lost count of the Nobel Prize winning Economists at the University of Chicago; he is at the same school where our own Raghuram Rajan also works; unlike in India, schools are also used to mean Departments or groups of Departments in colleges and Universities in the Unites States of America; and his most read works are Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness (co-authored with Cass Sunstein.in 2008, and (ii) Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioural Economics (2015).

Economics as a subject today is endeavouring hard to reconstruct herself to be more alive to the contextual realities of the society. In this effort, learning and incorporating from other subjects to understand more about people and society is a robust endeavour. 

In this Economics is regaining its earlier strong relationship with Psychology. Richard Thaler is a researcher in this area and is considered to be the founder of Behavioural Economics. Economics has been under the spell of Rationality Assumption (Utility Maximisation) under which we assume that everybody works to enhance his own benefits under all circumstances, and without absorbing any lessons from the experiences and any impact from the surrounding milieu.

This Thaler says is wrong. In his 2016 Presidential Address to the American Economic Association on Behavioural Economics: Past, Present and Future, he writes: “..the methodology of Behavioural economics returns economic thinking to the way it began, with Adam Smith, and continued through the time of Irving Fisher and John Maynard Keynes in the 1930s.

In spite of this early tradition within the field, the behavioural approach to economics met with considerable resistance within the profession until relatively recently. ….. [T]he idealized model of Homo economicus even in the face of apparently contradictory evidence.

I argue that such arguments have been refuted, both theoretically and empirically, including in the realm where we might expect rationality to abound: the financial markets. As such, it is time to move on to a more constructive approach. On the theory side, the basic problem is that we are relying on one theory to accomplish two rather different goals, namely to characterize optimal behaviour and to predict actual behaviour.

We should not abandon the first type of theories as they are essential building blocks for any kind of economic analysis, but we must augment them with additional descriptive theories that are derived from data rather than axioms….As for empirical work, the behavioural approach offers the opportunity to develop better models of economic behaviour by incorporating insights from other social science disciplines.

 To illustrate this more constructive approach, I focus on one strong prediction made by the traditional model, namely that there is a set of factors that will have no effect on economic behaviour. I refer to these as supposedly irrelevant factors or SIFs. Contrary to the predictions of traditional theory, SIFs matter; in fact, in some situations the single most important determinant of behaviour is a SIF.”

Thaler has had a strong influence in policy making and formation of laws. The most impactful work is his theory of the Nudge. He asks: “How can we be so ingenious at some tasks and so clueless at others? Beethoven wrote his incredible ninth symphony while he was deaf, but we would not be at all surprised if we learned that he often misplaced his house keys. How can people be simultaneously so smart and so dumb?”

Thaler and his co-workers in the Behavioural Economics feel that both public and private institutions can positively impact on individual choices through nudging. They say there is a third way, Libertarian Paternalism, of influencing the Choice Architecture of individuals through nudging. In this the liberty of the individual is protected while at the same time working for enhancing the welfare milieu of the society. The orientation of public policy should be to address the cognitive biases of individuals.

Well, the approach has the capability of protecting the democratic values in a society. But, as Milton Friedman and the Austrian School of Thought, we cannot always be sure of the neutrality of government and thus public policy. One criticism of the theory is that “nudging works by manipulating citizens’ choices”.  Further, “is itself just a sexy ad campaign designed to nudge gullible readers into thinking that there is no conflict between libertarianism and welfare utilitarianism. But no one should lose sight of the fact that welfare utilitarianism just is welfare utilitarianism only if it sacrifices individual liberty whenever it is at odds with maximizing societal welfare.

And thus no one who believes that people have rights to craft their own lives through the exercise of their own choices ought to be duped into thinking that just because paternalistic nudges are cleverly manipulative and often invisible, rather than overtly coercive, standard welfare utilitarianism can lay claim to being libertarian.”

In fine, incorporating psychology in policy formulation in a way appreciating the context and cultural values of that context is paramount. This appreciation is the logic behind the award of the Nobel Prize in Economics to Thaler.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 10

A two-day symposium on “Emerging and Re-emerging plant diseases in North East India: Challenges and Strategies” of Indian Phytopathological Society (NEZ) was held today at ICAR, NER, Lamphelpat.

Organised by India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) North Eastern Region, scientists, researchers, farmers and students even from outside NE Region from over the state took part in the seminar.

Deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar Singh, attended the function as chief guest. Addressing the gathering he said that plants are also prone to diseases like any human beings but best agricultural technique is to use organic method. He said use of chemically treated means to enhance agricultural products is not healthy and create lots of health hazards.

He said scientists and farmers need to come together and search for a long term solution to control pests and other plant diseases hampering the productivity in NER. “As most of the NE states are still dependant in agricultural and allied activities, such issue should be addressed properly”, he added.

He pointed out that many farmers of the state are looking for high yielding variety (HYV) crops ignoring the indigenous varieties of plants. The deputy CM urged that experts should try to produce more hybrids of indigenous kind that have high yielding properties and also considering health hazards.

Vice chancellor of Central Agricultural University (CAU), M. Premjit Singh who presided over the function said that climate change affects plants of North eastern region in many ways. So he suggested that crop rotation in large scale should be introduced to control pests and other plant diseases.

During the function, deputy chief minister distributed certificates to the trainees who have successfully concluded one month training on Gardeners Training Programme conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Churachandpur from 11th September -10th October this year. Agricultural inputs were also distributed in the inaugural session.

IMPHAL | Oct 10

Our future will be doomed without the welfare of our children because they are the happiness and strength of the society and of home, as well as of the future of the country, said Nemcha Kipgen.

The social welfare minister was speaking at the one-day regional consultation on ‘Child Rights – Gaps & Challenges in North Eastern States’ held today at Classic Grande with focus on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016.

Delegates from the eight states of Northeast India, participants from various departments of Manipur government, Civil bodies, NGOs were also part of this consultation.

 “Child Rights – Gaps and Challenges in North Eastern States of India’ is indeed a very relevant topic at present” continued Nemcha Kipgen while delivering her presidential speech. 

She drew the attention of the gatherings to pledge for the protection of our children today as without the welfare of the children, there will be no future for the society at large.

Further she opined that every child has the right to information, the right to express his or her views and has the right to be involved in decision making affecting him or her. She urged all the parents and concerned people that children have the right to participate in the family, in schools, at child welfare institutions, orphanages, in the community and at national and international levels, as their active participation in the society has a profound impact on all.

Addressing the gatherings, acting Chief Justice N. Kotiswar said that the law relating to children are evolving slowly and gradually and is taking shape in which various organisations and stakeholder are involved. Various areas and development are taking place related to this. Quoting the poem – ‘On the Seashore’ by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, he drew the attention of all present to preserve the innocence of the children at all cost. It is the sole purpose of all the stakeholders to retain their innocence, he added.

“Members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJBs) and CWCs need to acquaint themselves with the evolving and developing role relating to child and should developed child friendly nature to work for the welfare of them,” he asserted. He also appealed for co-concerted efforts to various institutions working for the welfare of the children as far as it is related with the issues of the children.

Chairperson, NCPCR, Stuti Kacker lauded Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh for his distinctive knowledge of the problem where children are targeted and expressed that children of Manipur are in safe hands under the dynamic leader like him.

The consultation program which was organised by Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights and sponsored by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights with technical support from Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur will be followed by a technical session.

The inaugural session of the consultation was attended by acting chief justice of Manipur High Court, N. Kotiswar Singh, social welfare and co-operation minister, Nemcha Kipgen, chairperson, national commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR), Stuti Kacker, Member, NSPCR, Yashwant Jain, chairperson, (MCPCR), Sumatibala Ningthoujam, commissioner of social welfare, government of Manipur, H. Deleep Singh, as chief guest, president and guests of honour, respectively.

From A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 10

Development commissioner (Handicraft), Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation limited in association with Council of Handicraft Development Associations (COHANDS) organised an awareness programme today at the auditorium of Manipur Film Development Society.

The awareness programme was held under the theme “Calling weavers and Artisans” as a part of the Hastkala Sahyog Shivir camp to provide information about the several beneficial schemes introduced by the government for the handloom artisans and weavers.

On the occasion, Lok Sabha MP, Meinya said the programme was organised as a part of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s initiative to provide benefits to handloom artisans and weavers of the country in regards to the 100th birth anniversary of pundit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

The prime ministers have introduced Mudra Loans for the benefits of artisans as well as provided new equipment to weavers to increase the products. Yarn pass books have been provided to female weavers, allowing them to purchase yarn and threads at 10 percent discount.

He further said the awareness programme was also held today at other places like Imphal east, Keirao Bitra, Haorang Sabal and Machi, Chandel. Besides the mentioned areas, the programme will be held at Imphal West, Bishnupur, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Thoubal, he added.

Sanjeevkumar expressed the awareness programme held today is an important event organised with the participation of artisans and weavers hailing from several assembly constituencies under Imphal east. He said the benefits of Mudra Loan will be informed in the programme. If benefits provided by the loan can be utilised, then it will bring progress in the field of handloom and handicrafts, he added.

An MoU will be signed between the office of DDC handicraft and Life Insurance Corporation of India for the benefits of female handloom weavers. Insurance benefits have been already provided to the families of female weavers who had passed away and during unfortunate events, he added.

The forms for national awards are now made available for female weavers and artisans. Handloom weavers and artisans must try to get these awards, he said.

The programme was also attended by bank officials, LIC officials, and members of GST Seva Kendra. Pehcan card issued by the ministry was handed out to weavers.

The programme was attended by member of the Lok Sabha, Dr. Th. Meinya as chief guest, deputy chairman, Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited and Manipur state planning board, S. Rajen as president, MLA, Keirao assembly constituency, L. Rameshwor, MLA, Yaiskul assembly constituency, Th. Satyabrata and assistant director (MSEC), M. Sanjeevkumar as guests of honour.

IMPHAL | Oct 10

In order to ensure smooth counting of votes of the 5th General Panchayat Election, in respect of Imphal East district, which is scheduled tomorrow at the counting halls of Imphal West DC complex at Lamphelpat, various security arrangements has been implemented in and around the office complex with effect from 2 pm of today.

As per order of Imphal West DEO, only the southern gate (main gate) of the office will be used for entry and exit of the selected categories of officers/officials/candidates, their election agents and counting agents while all the other gated will be closed.

It said that the entry of the counting agents will be regulated as to ensure that there will be only one counting agent per counting table of the concerned counting hall with one more agent for RO table to attend the counting of Postal ballot paper for each contesting candidate inside the office complex at any point of time.

All the vehicles belonging to the contesting candidates and their election agents can park their vehicles inside the office complex of the Excise department, Manipur at Lamphelpat, it added.

Further it said that all the on-going vehicles from the parking areas can move out only through the RIMS Ring road either toward RIMS and then take Uripok Road Khumanthem Leikai Leirak to reach Uripok Road or N.G. College by-lane.

All the counting agents of each of the contesting candidates will be made to wait at the Laishram Khullen Leikai community hall until they are called for by the SDO/RO concerned, it added.                 

Meanwhile office of the Returning officer/SDO, Porompat, Imphal East has notified to all candidates/election agents of all candidates for the members, Pradhans and Zilla Parishads under seven Zilla Parishad constituencies of Imphal East that the counting of the polled votes in connection with 5 General Panchayat Election, 2017 has been fixed tomorrow at counting hall-1, Gymnasium hall of Porompat DC complex, Imphal East from 8 am onwards.

A release said that the seven Zilla Parishad constituencies are Kotha Khabam, Laipham Khunou, Kairang Khomidok, Top Naoria, Kshetrigao, Bashikhong and Uchekon Nongchup.

From Our Correspondent 

TAMENGLONG | Oct 10

Total blackout in Tamenglong has severely affected the normal life of the people of Tamenglong for the last one week.

Lacks of power supply and fuel for generator have stopped the works of all the local dailies in Tamenglong today. Moreover, the telecommunication service providers could not function properly, particularly BSNL broadband service, which is almost defunct now. Consequently, all official works have been halted and the academic routine of students has been disturbed.

Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong Baudi, Tamenglong zone in a press statement strongly denounced the negligence of electricity department of Tamenglong.

The statement issued by the chairman of Zeliangrong Baudi, Tamenglong zone has appealed the department concerned for immediate supply power and stated that further delay compel to call a strike.

District Concerned Development Association (DCDA), Tamenglong also urged the authority concerned to make 132/33 KV Jiri to Rengpang functional at the earliest.

The deputy commissioner of Tamenglong, Armstrong Pame lamented about the current unfortunate situation occurred despite of the department efforts. He said that until and unless power substation is installed at district headquarters, the issue of electricity will be continued. He further urged the people to bear the inconveniences.

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organization has come down heavily against the latest move of the water resource department government of Manipur to inaugurate Mapithel dam in November.

A release signed by Dominic Kashung, chairman of the organisation said it is quite irrational for the project to be inaugurated at this stage as the project proponent is yet to conduct detailed impacts assessment covering loss of livelihood sources, socio-economic, socio-cultural, health, safe drinking water and safety measure of the affected villagers of both the upstream and downstream.

MDAVO maintained the commissioning plan is absurd as the state still fails to rectify the violations of Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006) and Forest Conservation Act (FCA, 1980) the same still lies unresolved before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

It said the commission plan of the Mapithel dam project is despite serious violation of right to life of the affected indigenous villagers who have been victimised by forced inundation of land, forest, river and livelihood means etc. without rehabilitation and resettlement being properly implemented.

The current target of commissioning the Mapithel dam is quite irrational as the same is despite non-completion of the fundamental components of the project except earth fill-up of the dam, it added.

The release further said the statement of works minister to take up construction of Heirok branch canal from Mapithel dam as misleading.

The commissioning plan is absurd as water supply component of the project still lies incomplete, it said; adding tunnel drilling still runs about 55 percent as per report of the Coastal Project Ltd.

Pointing out that recently there has been incident of uncovering poor quality of the dam that featured several leakages and occurrence of earth fissures and appearance of massive mud siltation, the release contended that the development pose danger to the dam water reservoir.

Further it maintained that forced commissioning of the dam will be a serious violation of indigenous people’s rights as outlined in the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and also the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteurs on Indigenous Peoples.

It urged the state government to desist the commissioning of Mapithel dam before the controversial issues such as RR are resolved amicably and key components of the project completed in the interest of welfare, humanity and justice.

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Oct 9

Policies and programmes undertaken for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society must be implemented with a sincere approach by the government officials and empowering the rural population is vital to achieve the dream of a developed Manipur.

This was stated by consumer affairs, food and public distribution and revenue minister, Karam Shyam at the inaugural function of the 10th Regional Saras Fair. The 10-day SARAS fair is organised by Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) to promote marketing of rural products and improve the livelihood of the rural poor.

He said in Manipur women shoulder the major responsibilities in a family structure, which is why the economic empowerment of women is a necessity to achieve overall economic development.

Shyam urged the people of the State to avail the benefits of the various programmes and directed the officials and representatives to assist and guide them.

Lamenting over the lack of information regarding the various policies and programmes undertaken by the government, the minister said each and every individual must take the responsibility to spread awareness of more than 110 schemes undertaken by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Urging the bureaucrats and officials to be cooperative and empathetic in helping the beneficiaries, the minister said support from each and every quarter of the society will help in accelerating growth and development in the State. Let us work together to become one of the most advanced state in the country, he added.

Also speaking on the occasion, M.H. Khan, principal secretary (RD&PR) said rural development is the backbone of development and Self Help Group (SHGs) is one of the most important constituent in the development process.

Pradip Chandren, State mission director, Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) said that 189 stalls have been opened for the fair including stalls from Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He appealed to the public to visit the stalls and purchase the products to encourage the artisans.

Minister Shyam along with officials of MSRLM and RD&PR visited the stalls. During the interaction, many stall owners expressed their grievances to the minister and the officials.

MSRLM is currently implemented in Machi and Tengnoupal blocks of Tengnoupal district and in the Imphal East-I and II Blocks since 2015. The mission is planning to expand to another 12 blocks in the current financial Year.

There are 906 Self Help Groups (SHGs) covering 10,000 households. Rs 57.45 lakhs have been disbursed in revolving fund and Rs 95 lakh in Community Investment fund for 383 SHGs in May 2017.

The fair is held at the Shumangleela Shanglen, Palace Compound, Imphal and is organised by Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) department of RD&PR, government of Manipur under the sponsorship of ministry of rural development, government of India.

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The proscribed People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), on its 40th foundation has offered revolutionary salute to all the indigenous people of the hills and valley who have been living together as brothers, to all comrades of the party, member parties of CorCom and leaders of revolutionary organisations of WESEA.

A release signed by acting chairman, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Kh. Sathy said when Kangleipak becomes an independent and sovereign country, she will be able to advance herself through all round development and stand as a distinct nation in the world.

PREPAK firmly believes that with self-determination and self-governance, we can make Kangleipak a prosperous and egalitarian nation, it said.  So in order to restore the lost independence of Kangleipak, and to bring self-rule, it’s the primary duty of every citizen to root out the colonial rule of India, it added.

To defeat India, we need to take the struggle for liberation to the international level, politically and make it known to the world community, and our brave revolutionaries should carry on the struggle with more dedication and sacrifice, it said.

Therefore, time has come for all our fellow countrymen to join the united struggle for liberation, it continued. To do this, we need to think of better ideas and strategies which are relevant with the modern times, it further said.

India has been trying not only to break into pieces the age-old boundary but has also been playing divisive games amongst the indigenous communities to divide them, it said adding as a result, mean and selfish thoughts have emerged amongst the Kanglei people who have lived together with love and brotherhood for 2000 years.  

This is itself India’s “divide and conquer “policy, it said. Since all means of survival had been removed, the close affinity and dependency on each other that used to prevail since the early times has also almost disappeared, brotherhood has been almost forgotten, and people have been forced to consider the outsiders as friends, it added.

The hostility and mistrust that emerged among the people of the hills and the valley, who have coexisted for thousands of years, had been created in a short span that is only after India forcibly annexed Kangleipak on 15 October of 1949, the release further said.

In this regard, it’s necessary for hills and valley people to sit together and thrash out the differences amicably, it said.  In issues such as ‘Separate State’ or ‘Alternative Arrangement’, ethnic identity, extent of participation in administration, resources, question of land ownership, etc will have to be discussed, it added

Causes of conflict amongst the communities, manner and proportion of participation in administration, mode and extent of using resources, ethnic identity and question of land ownership, etc are all creations of the Constitution of the colonial government, it said.

For this, our educated experts, intellects and civil society leaders need to have far-sighted visions beyond the Constitution of the colonial masters, it further said. PREPAK firmly believes that if these issues are discussed beyond the colonial Constitution, a situation and a solution could be found for all the communities to co-exist as before, it continued.

But as of now, all the communities are bound by the Constitution of colonial India that doesn’t suit the soil of the region; it said adding it will never be possible to bring a new social order, new political and economic system as long as we remain as colonized part of India. This is where restoration of independence of all the indigenous communities becomes the most important agenda in order to have a government as all Kanglei people desire, it added.

Education in our society has not been able to rise above the colonial level and has not been able to produce fit people who love their motherland, it continued. Nobody seems to be able to produce one’s own ideas, it said. The nation that once did not have to depend on others for survival has been reduced to the level of a beggar who can’t live without begging for everything, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The hearing of a petition challenging the appointment order of the new chairperson of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) began today at the single bench of Justice Kh. Nobin Singh, High Court of Manipur.

The petition (No. WP (C) 739 of 2017) was filed by advocate S. Syamacharan Singh, who is also one of the members of the MCPCR on October 3 at the court challenging that the appointment has violated the rules under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. 

Advocate S. Rajeetchandra represented the petitioner while the advocate general (AG) of represented the respondent (Government of Manipur).

In today’s hearing, both the counsels submitted their arguments before the bench pertaining to the rules for the appointment of the chairperson of the MCPCR.

The petitioner’s counsel pleaded the court to pass an interim order to stay the appointment order contending that the authority concerned has violated the norms.

According to the petitioner, under Section 18 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 any vacancy for the post of chairperson or member shall be given wide publicity through open advertisement in at least four national daily newspapers before appointing the chairman.

Subsequently, the appointment should be conducted following the recommendation of the selection committee which shall consist of the chairperson of the committee who is the minister in-charge of the department (social welfare) and three members of the commission.

But, in total violation of the selection norms, as per the petitioner, the concerned authority issued appointment order of the chairman on September 29 signed by K. Bono, deputy secretary (Social Welfare), appointing one Sumatibala Ningthoujam of Mayai Leikai of Heirok part-3.

The same day, another order signed by the secretary was also reportedly issued terminating the S. Sarat Sharma as chairperson of the MCPCR, following completion of his term.

In response, the respondent’s counsel (AG), reportedly submitted that there was no separate set of rules for the MCPCR in that matter thereby bringing forth the question on the selection procedure conducted earlier while appointing the two previous chairpersons of the commission.

Having heard both the counsels, the single bench fixed the next hearing on October 13 before maintaining the status quo of an earlier directive issued by the acting chief justice, N. Kotiswar Singh on October 4 which ruled that “if the private respondent has not taken over the charge of the office the chairperson of MCPCR, status quo be maintained as on today”.

In the meantime, the respondents will also submit relevant documents before the bench on the procedure earlier adopted by the authority during the appointing of two previous chairperson of the commission.

THOUBAL | Oct 9

Re-poll of the 5th general Panchayat election for Thoubal was held peacefully today at four polling stations under tight security where votes were cast at the rate of 91.725 percent. The poll ended peacefully with no untoward incidents.

Re-poll was conducted at the areas namely, Sangaiyumpham Part-II, Makha Leikai Polling Station number 6/20/7, Cherapur Muslim Mathak Leikai, Polling Station number 6/20/10, Sangaiyumpham, Cherapur Muslim Polling Station 6/20/11 and Irong Thokchom, Polling Station 2/3/16.

In order to conduct the re-poll in a peaceful manner, security personnel had started taking measures since yesterday. The voters stood in queues since early morning today for the polling which began at around 8 am.

There were tight security measures. Vehicles and gatherings were not allowed at proximity of 100 metres from the polling area. Moreover, the voters were made to stand in a queue outside the schools where the polling booths are installed.  

SP, Thoubal, K. Meghachandra inspected the polling areas and gave directions to the security personnel. After the polling completed the presiding officers, polling officers and security personnel who went to perform their duties, returned back at Thoubal DC complex safe and sound.

The ballot boxes which will decide the fate of 10 zilla parishad members, 27 pradhan, and 223 members have been kept at the strong room of DC complex. The locking up of the room was conducted by deputy commissioner L. Nabakishwar in the prescience of RO, Thoubal, RO, Lilong and election agents.

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The proscribed PREPAK (Progressive) on the occasion of its 41st rising day of Red army has extended revolutionary salute greetings to the people of Manipur, revolutionary members, leaders of like-minded revolutionary parties of the WESEA region and respects to all the departed souls in the course of the liberation struggle.

The chairman of the outfit, L. Paliba in his message said Northeastern communities are endlessly being discriminated against by mainland Indians and various forms of criminal activities including murder are being perpetrated against the people.

Sometime back many communities fled en masse from many parts of Indian states because of atrocities and threats, which were even highlighted in many media as akin to that of the infamous mass exodus of India-Pakistan partition, it said. 

The release continued that anti-Indian feelings are implanted in this region by India itself.

Even though many European thinkers and leaders foreboded the balkanization of the so called unified India, Indian leaders are proud that the prediction did not come true as India is not breaking up, which successfully completed 70 years with the principle of Unity in Diversity, it said, adding nevertheless movement of the Maoist/ Naxalite in the backbone central states of India, Kashmiri people’s movements are rising more and more, revolutionary struggle in WESEA regions are strengthening, even some states are demanding separate flags of their own.

The chairman further asked why did not Indian government respond to plebiscite demand of UNLF (Manipur) in 2005?

Further it said India is a sub-continent, many independent nations, countries must be formed which would safeguard the different cultures, languages, religions and faiths; it should not be under one single government.

It will tantamount to the dismantling of democratic values and swallowing up of minority indigenous communities if India tries to make it one nation, one language, one faith and one culture, the message read.

The characters of inhumanity, rigid classification of people and social stratification are inherently ingrained in Indian blood for thousands of years, it said, adding sheer apathy of the Indian society can be seen when a poor man was forced to carry the dead body of his wife on his shoulder for 10 kilometers from hospital to his home, 30 children were allowed to die due to lack of oxygen in a hospital.

IMPHAL | Oct 9

Struggle Committee Manipur (SCM) said that the Manipur’s tradition of siblings’ love carnival, Ningol Chakouba will be celebrated on October 21 at Ema Keithel and invited ningols and women to come and take part in the big event.

Co-convener of the committee, Chongkham Ibohal told reporters at the office of Socialist Students’ Union of Manipur (SSUM) at Leisom Leikai, Keishampat that Ningol Chakouba is one of the most special festivities of Manipur. In this festival, he urged that tradition should be re-embraced and that gifting also should be done like traditional ancient times.

Ningol Chakouba is a celebration where ningol (sisters) come to their maternal home and pay their love and respect to their brothers and parents, their brothers in turn give gifts.

“Hiyangei gi neenee panba Ningol Chakouba” is made famous under the reign of Meidingu Chandrakirti and is practised till now with great participation from women from Meitei to Meitei Pangal to tribal communities.

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL |Oct 9

Tabitha Tarao, a 40 year-old craftsperson from Khuringmol village of Chandel district is one woman who exemplifies the embodiment of many values in a person. She is a wife, an earning mother who supports her children’s education by making use of her skill.

Fairs provide good platforms to showcase her products but Tabitha feels the government can do much more for artisans like her so that skilled workers will feel encouraged. She is one of the participants in the ongoing Regional SARAS Fair at Shumang Leela Sanglen in Imphal organised Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj under Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Talking to this reporter today, Tabitha said that she started helping her parents in earning for the family’s need by making simple baskets and other articles by using cane at the tender age of seven. Sitting at stall number 43 which is christened as “Maleena SHG”, grinning Tabitha expressed hope that everything will go well this time.

Her stall among those which were damaged by storm in last year’s fair.

Tabitha passed standard 12 but could not continue her studies due to acute poverty. However, such disappointment did not deter her spirit to endeavour for better life. Tabitha said she had participated in the various state and national level exhibitions since she was just 20. She had participated in about 10 state and national level exhibitions.

Tabitha said one of her children is studies in New Delhi. She said that she sends money every month to her son who is studying bachelor of technician (Medical). “I spend about Rs 48,000 per year on my son’s education,” Tabitha said.

According to her, she designs different types of articles made of bamboo and cane. She can design about 20 different types of decorative articles. Her goods are quite popular today. The prices of her items range from as low as Rs 15 to as high as Rs 2000. She designs flower vase, bamboo box, tray and baskets.

According to Tabitha, she can complete certain items in 30 minutes. On average, she takes three to four days to complete an item. Tabitha expressed that her most enjoyable movement was in an exhibition in Rajasthan as cane and bamboo products are highly demanded in that state.

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The 68th Territorial Army Day was observed at the Banquet Hall of 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles, Imphal today. It was organised by the government of Manipur with chief minister N. Biren Singh and deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar Singh gracing the function as chief guest and president.

Chief minister stated that the state government would request the central government for the expansion of the present battalion unit of Territorial Army situated in Manipur.

Biren said that Territorial Army is often known as “Citizens Army” and act as a bridge between army, paramilitary forces and civil society of the country. Many a times, Territorial Army co-ordinates with the people at the times of war and internal aggression, he added.

Stating the significance of Territorial Army in border states like Manipur, Biren said that it is the responsibility of Territorial Army to maintain a cohesive and good relationship among the people and armed forces. The state government would encourage and support Territorial Army in such aspect, he added.

To achieve good relationship with the public, chief minister stated that Territorial Army need to motivate the people by organising awareness campaign etc. so that people can feel the sense of security and oneness among themselves.

Lauding the efforts and contribution of Territorial Army towards welfare of the country, he said that we should make people aware that army and paramilitary forces are there to protect the people and Nation.

Joykumar said that the role and responsibility of Territorial Army is to execute their task properly in a humane way. He mentioned that Territorial Army need to know and study the scenario and psyche of the local people and should know how things/issues are to be handled properly. With such efforts, we can achieve peace and harmony without causing any co-lateral damage, he added.

Mentioning that Territorial Army has various units such as Infantry Unit, Ecological Task force, Engineering unit, General Hospital, Joykumar stressed that we need to set up an Ecological Task Force in Manipur so that we can make people aware about the importance of ecology and healthy natural environment in the state.

Later, General Officer Commanding of Manipur Terriers presented mementoes to chief minister and deputy chief minister.

Minister for CAF&PD Karam Shyam, chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board L. Radhakishore Singh, parliamentary secretaries Khasim Vashum, S. Subhashchandra Singh, MLAs Y. Surchandra Singh, S. Bira Singh, O. Lukhoi, chief secretary, DGP, General Officer Commanding, Red Shield Division and Deputy IGAR (South), officers of Territorial Army, top civil and police officials and families of Territorial Army attended the function.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 9

Forest and environment minister, Th. Shyamkumar today urged the people particularly youths to spread the message on the importance of saving wildlife, maintaining a world without wildlife would inevitably lose its ability to sustain all forms of life due to the complex balance of nature and the inter-dependency of species on one another.

Speaking at the grand finale of 62nd Forest Wildlife Week Celebration today at Manipur State Film Development Society Hall, Palace Gate Shyamkumar said humans cannot survive without wildlife.

He expressed the unhappiness that people are trying to destroy nature by poaching wild animals and birds. “When people heard a sound of birds or animals in they wild they try to hunt them for food and sale,” he said.

The minister said people should be aware of the importance of wildlife.

Expressing his happiness that people started conserving state bird “Nongin” after realising its importance he appealed to the people to stop killing of wild animals and birds as it disturbs ecological balance.

Mass awareness programme is needed especially in hilly regions of the state, to conserve wild animals and birds, Shyamkumar added.

President of the function, additional chief secretary (forest and environment), Shambhu Singh said in the last few decades many wild animals and birds were killed for food and game. But recently in some parts of Senapati and Tamenglong the activity for conservation of wildlife has gained momentum.

He said Manipur-Myanmar border is notorious for smuggling of wildlife parts especially pangolin scales and bile of bear. People should stop smuggling wild animal parts to conserve the wild animals and saving the wildlife should start from the students level, Shambhu added.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of slogan writing and wildlife photography competition. Prizes were also distributed to organisations and individuals for their valuable contributions in conserving the wildlife. A book entitled ‘An Inventory of Animals of Manipur’ co-authored by Dr Kh Samungnou and Dr Gyaneshwori Devi was also released at the function. A short film – ‘Rides of Wildlife’ was screened and collection of photographs on wildlife was also exhibited as part of the function.

From Our Correspondent

UKHRUL | Oct 8

Executive Council of the Student’s Union of Pettigrew College (SUPC) told media that the student’s union will intensify its agitation from October 11 onwards, for which the college will be shut down indefinitely.

The decision was made in a press conference led by its general secretary, Phuiya Shimrah in presence of social and cultural secretary, Rathanmi Malung, secretary of boys common room, Khayui Kasom and secretary of girls common room, Soreichon Lungleng.

The general secretary stated that the student’s union had submitted a memorandum to the education minister, government of Manipur in September, for kind intervention and for immediate address to the ongoing issue. However, no response has been made so far, he claimed.

It may be mentioned that the student’s union have been demanding for immediate removal of present principal of the college due to administration failure. Classes for maths, physics and chemistry have not been effective due to shortage of teachers and irregularities. The memorandum also includes regular conduct of classes. In spite of the assurance given by the local MLA, there has been improper functioning of the college administration.

The general secretary stated that as nothing positive result has yielded, the agitation is compelled to carry out and the authority concerned would be responsible for any untoward incident.

IMPHAL | Oct 8

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh has said that solution to the Naga issue should not disturb peace in Manipur, while maintaining that an early resolution of peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (IM) is desirable in the interest of the entire Northeast region, according to a report in the Indian Express.

The report said the chief minister asserted that any agreement on the Naga issue which hurts the interest of Manipur is unacceptable, Biren said that there will not be any compromise on the matter. Large areas of the state are inhabited by Nagas.

“We want early resolution to any issue that affects the people. The same applies to the ongoing talks between Centre and NSCN (IM),” the report quoted the chief minister.

The report said Biren was responding to a query on the state government’s position on the framework agreement signed between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Issac-Muivah group (NSCN-IM) in August 2015 to bring an end to India’s longest running insurgency, which has so far failed to yield a final outcome.

Among others, NSCN (IM) has sought integration of Naga inhabited areas of the Northeast and autonomy of the proposed region. The demand mostly affects Manipur as the state has vast areas inhabited by Nagas, it added.

“As far as NSCN (IM) is concerned, Manipur government is not a party to the talks with the Centre … however, what we have asked the Centre is that whenever there is a discussion that involves interests of the state, then our views and consent should be taken. There cannot be any compromise on the interest of Manipur,” the report quoted Biren.

He further said, “We have made it amply clear to the Centre that we don’t have any problem with whatever solution that is arrived at, as long as it is confined to the territorial limits of Nagaland,” the report said.

Singh said even other states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh which can also be affected were also in favour of resolving the Naga issue within Nagaland itself, it added.

“I have been in touch with my counterparts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. We want a solution to the Naga issue at the earliest within Nagaland without disturbing others as it is in the interest of the people of the Northeast,” Biren was quoted as saying.

Asked about the possibility of Centre agreeing to demand of integration of Naga inhabited areas, he said, “I don’t think the government of India would want a solution that is going to create greater chaos and a bigger problem in the region,” it added.

In case such a scenario was to arise, Biren said, “then the Manipur Assembly will take up the issue and take a resolution against any infringement on the territorial integrity of the state”, the report further quoted Biren.

When asked about lifting of the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) entirely from the state, Biren said his government has been working to improve law and order situation so that it could be removed in the long run, it said.

“However, the current situation doesn’t warrant lifting of the act entirely from the state. We are working to improve the situation. So, as and when it improves, we will work towards it (removing the act),” he was quoted as saying.

At present except for seven Assembly constituencies in Imphal valley, the act is in force in the rest of Manipur, the report said.

Human rights activists have been campaigning for removal of the act from the state as it gives armed forces extraordinary power that includes immunity from legal action, and the licence to shoot and arrest people without obtaining warrants.