Category: News

IMPHAL May 22: The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed today at Kangla on the theme “Forest Biodiversity, Earth’s living treasure”. The observation was organized by Environment and Ecology Wing, Porompat, Imphal -05, Government of Manipur.
P.C. Lawmkunga, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest & Environment, government of Manipur graced the function as the chief guest. Resource persons from different academic fields were also present at the dais.
A formal tree plantation was held at Kangla in connection with the observation.
During the observation several indigenous fish (Pengba) were also released in the inner moat of Kangla led by the chief guest.
P.C. Lawmkunga, in his speech as the chief guest, asserted that as far as biodiversity is concerned, Manipur is also considered as one of the hotspot in the world. He opined that we should be aware of our environment. Before starting any projects like Tipaimuk project, capital project, etc that involved large areas of land,  proper environment impact assessments should be done to weigh its positive and negative influence on the environment, he added.
He also suggested to avoid any initiations that could negatively affect the environment in the name of development as far as possible. Expressing apprehension on the depletion of water bodies from various places in the state, he stated that it was very unfortunate. The state is reeling under acute water shortage, considering the problems of water scarcity in the state and other related issues, the Environment and Ecology Wing, Government of Manipur has initiated a project of reclaiming water bodies for preservation and conservation of several water bodies that are considered to be depleting and shrinking at an alarming rate, he further said. He said that altogether 21 numbers of government lakes for reclamation and preservation of water bodies were identified.
Various resource persons also spoke on the environmental and climatic issues resulted from over exploitations of natural resources. The function was attended by various school children, guests and officials of EEW.

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From Our CorrespondentUKHRUL, May 25: The Students` Union of Pettigrew College (SUPC) Ukhrul has locked the Principal’s office today, in protest against the acute lack of basic infra-structures in the institution including power and water supply since the past eight nine months.
The general secretary of the union, MK Miya along with other representatives of the student while interacting with some media persons today at the college premise has demanded immediate change of the Principal who has failed to redress the grievances of the students even after the student union had approached for immediate action regarding the problems faced by the students of the college.
The student body has further charged that due to the limited time notification of the principal’s office regarding the submission of exam form and the imposition of late fines, some of the students were unable to appear in the exams.
It has charged that the official notification from the principal’s office came out on Novemeber 10, 2010 notifying that the submission of exam forms without late fine will start from November 13, 2010 and that submissions with late fine will start from November 17.
 The union further demanded the conduct of regular classes in the college and provision of all University Grant Commission (UGC) sponsored facilities with UGC Network Resource Centre-Computor and internet centre offering basic computer course, free remedial coaching for ST/OBC students, career guidance and counselling cell for the students, stipends @ Rs 500/- PM to selected regular ST/SC students of BPL which is done only once, coaching classes for entry in Services (competitive exams) for ST/SC/OBC/ Minority students and study tours every year- the central projects though available are not functional in the college, the union added.
Further maintaining on the lack of infrastructure in the college the union has maintained that there are no toilets and urinals available in the college, and that there is no proper fencing of the college.
The union further added that the union has also submitted a memorandum to the state education minister to redress the grievances of the college.
Further briefing the media persons, the union has stated that the college also lacked lecturers and further warned that the union will be left with no other option other than drastic form of agitations in case of the government failing to respond to the student body.

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By Amar Yumnam
The Mega Manipur School recently had her Sixth Foundation Day. This function is going to be particularly memorable for me. After my speech at the function and while I was coming down from the dais a little girl, lovely one at that, of the Pre-Primary Class and whom I had just met asked me straight on my face as to what all I was talking about. This had multiples of lasting impact on me. First, in any case, I was completely floored by her straight innocent query. Second, what was my point of speaking any if I could not communicate with all who were present at the function? Was it a case of my suffering from the usual community habit of taking the children for granted? Should we not be altering our way of looking at things as in every generation the children were getting smarter? Above all, I was taught a lesson by this little girl about the need for communication. In fact, there cannot be any thriving society without an effective communication flows across communities, ages and space. Thanks to that little girl of whom I have taken photographs; I would forever cherish her refreshingly inquisitive face.

The necessity of communication is further reinforced by what is happening in connection with the political conclave at Senapati. The absurdity of all sides is being established by this and the reactions to it. It is absolute and unwarranted political gimmick which amounts to nothing more than a social noise for a head of people of one province trying to fan political instability in the neighbouring province. It is equally funny for the opponents of such political gimmicks to come to a reactionary mode and organise actions dictated by this. Neither side has nothing to gain nor proves any point whatsoever. While the organisers would presume to themselves as barking successfully, those opposing are to be blames for their own failure to endeavour for effective communication and surfacing only when something is being planned. The political class has to be cursed for its failure to evolve a system of communication and inclusiveness while being busy in self aggrandisement.

Absence of Enlightenment: All these make one seriously think of as to when Manipur would usher into a phase of Enlightenment like the one experienced by Europe in the eighteenth century. Well here it would be relevant directly to quote from a recent book on the phenomenon and impact of what we call Enlightenment: `Radical Enlightenment is a set of basic principles that can be summed up concisely as: democracy; racial and sexual equality; individual liberty of lifestyle; full freedom of thought, expression, and the press; eradication of religious authority from the legislative process and education; and full separation of church and state. It sees the purpose of the state as being the wholly secular one of promoting the worldly interests of the majority and preventing vested minority interests from capturing control of the legislative process. Its chief maxim is that all men have the same basic needs, rights, and status irrespective of what they believe or what religious, economic, or ethnic group they belong to, and that consequently all ought to be treated alike, on the basis of equity, whether black or white, male or female, religious or nonreligious, and that all deserve to have their personal interests and aspirations equally respected by law and government. Its universalism lies in its claim that all men have the same right to pursue happiness in their own way, and think and say whatever they see fit, and no one, including those who convince others they are divinely chosen to be their masters, rulers, or spiritual guides, is justified in denying or hindering others in the enjoyment of rights that pertain to all men and women equally.` (Jonathan Israel, A Revolution of the Mind: Radical Enlightenment and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Democracy, Princeton University Press 2010)

We do not observe any of the Enlightenment principles taking roots in the soil of Manipur. While all are busy with communitarian-based politics, the society in Manipur today does not show any signs of positive engagement on issues capable of taking the collective forward. The long years of non-inclusive governance and development interventions had had a lasting impact on the propagation of non-inclusive politics. Now this has reached such a level that we are at a stage where it looks as if nothing positive is going to happen at the politico-economy-wide level. This indeed is the issue the political leadership has to address in right earnest so that a legacy of exclusion and chaos is not left for the generations to come. What Manipur needs today is initiation of a cycle of honesty, honest communication, inclusive approach and initiation of a cycle of positive loop for collectively shared progression. The current ruling paradigm of looting through contracts, supplies, nepotism and favouritism have failed and would fail to serve any social purpose today, and the scenario would only worsen once the larger Asian integration process starts impacting Manipur.

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IMPHAL, May 29: Get together function of Foodgrains Transport Trucks Owner`™s and Driver`™s Association was held today Kyamgei Heibong Makhong.

During the function, Kh Inaoba of M/s Zimomi Traders, a tranport contractor under FCI, said scarcity of foodgrains is one major factor in creating serious law & order problem and hence procurement of foodgrains and its stockpiling is utmost necessity for a state.

M/s Zimomi Traders along with another sub-contractor of the FCI have managed to regularly transport rice through NH-53 after hiring about 200 private trucks. The duo sub-contractors have been trying its best to sufficiently piled up rice stocks for the state despite of numerous problems, threats and intimidations, Inaoba added.

While stating that ferrying trucks along NH-39 has caused numerous problems due to frequent disturbances either in the forms of bandh or blockade, Inaoba also said using NH-53 instead of NH-39 would fare much for the state.

He also said Imphal-Jiri route of the NH-53 has improved since last year but need much more to be improved to fully utilise the highway throughout the year.

He also appeal all the pressure groups not to create disturbance along NH-53 particularly to trucks ferrying foodgrains and other essential commodities for the general public.

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IMPHAL, June 4: The commerce and industry minister, Y. Irabot Singh stated that the department of handloom and handicraft is likely to introduce modern mechanized system of production in order to meet the growing demand of handloom and handicraft products of the state all over the world.The minister who was attending an award distribution function of outstanding craftpersons and subsidies under the schemes of modernization of handicrafts and assistance to individual artisans held today at the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen also stated that despite huge demands of quality products of handloom and handicrafts products of the state, the massive global demand could not be met owing to the slow hand woven process.But the department is likely to introduce modern mechanized forms of production to assist the present demand for surplus production, said the minister adding the handloom and handicraft products of the state are in high demand all over the world and that handllom products of the state are regarded as No.1 in the country.Further speaking as the chief guest of the function, he also stated that lack of raw material in abundance is another factor which has is a hindrance to massive production of the handicrafts and handloom products, for which the minister has observed the need of coordination among the different related departments to overcome the bottleneck of getting raw materials, which could be beneficial to the state economy too, the minister added.Further touching upon the silk found in the state, the minister maintained that the state sericulture department, in collaboration with a Japanese firm had implemented various projects in the state to develop the silk production in the state, however due to the law and order situation in the state, the Japanese firm had to leave the project mid-way.He further added that recognizing the importance and quality of the Manipuri silk, the government of India under the Special Plan Assistant (SPA) fund has earmarked a sum of Rs. 61.11 crores to develop the sericulture project including the new variety of silk.He also added that the kind of silk which is golden in colour and which is in high demand around the world is found in the state. However he also added that both the golden colour silk and the local simple silk are both in high demand globally. The minister further added that the government is planning to established a silkyard at Loitang khunou.Sukumar Haobam a senior design consultant, while speaking as guest of honour stressed the need to encourage self employment programme among unemployed youths in the absence of employment opportunities.Further S Birendra Singh, functional manager, Handicrafs, commerce and Industry deft, stated that once a craftsman wins state award, he/she is eligible to implement the scheme of Guru Sishya parampara under office of the dv. Com (H) govt of India.He also stated that As many as 188 numbers of outstanding Crafts persons have won the state Awards in the state while 17 crafts-persons could get the National Awards and 13 Crafts-persons got National Merit Awards till date.The state awards have been implemented in the state since 1979-80, in order to promote and push the morals of the Craftspersons.During the function 10 artisans were awarded as outstanding artisans of 2009-10 while another 10 artisans were awarded as outstanding artisans of 2010-11. the award for the 2009-10 carried a citation and Rs 10,000 each while that of the 2010-11 carried as citation and a sum of Rs. 15, 000 each.

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