Category: News

IMPHAL, June 25: To bring unity in state there is an apparent need to conduct community living classes as part of quality education to share thought, languages and discipline amongst the people of different communities, observed MP Dr Th Meinya.

Member of parliament Dr Th Meinya Singh said addressing the chief guest speech in the

He was inaugurating State Level Four Days Residential Camp on Development of Youth 2015 being organized by Youths Foundation for Fitness and Service Manipur (YOFFS) at Kangshang, Khuman Lampak today.

Speaking as chief guest, MP Meinya said that conducting such residential camp on youth development by YOFFS and other youths`™ organizations is akin to conducting community-living classes.

The government is taking up various skill development programmes for youths to enable them to get job opportunity in various sectors, he said.

Exhorting the youths to compete in various fields including education, sports and art & culture in a positive way to succeed in future, the MP advised the participants to make best uses of valuable knowledge and ideas to be shared by resource persons during the camp.

Delivering keynote address, organizing committee programme coordinator Dr IS Konthoujam stated that YOFFS was established in 2007 with the objective of uplifting youths of the state.

He said that the residential camp is being organized to nurture youths who are the future of the nation.

YOFFS is always in the front whenever disaster and nature calamity occur in the state, he added.

The inaugural function was also attended by president of YFFS H Megachandra Singh as president; president of AMUCO Dr Y Mani Khuman as guest of honor and lecturer of Kumbi College L Gopal Singh as resources person who spoke on the topic `Role of Youths in the Civil Society`™.

A total of 120 youths from five districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Tamenglong are taking in the residential camp.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/residential-camp-on-development-of-youth-2015-commences/

TAMENGLONG, June 25: Due to the ongoing 72 hours total bandh called by the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), which had started from the midnight of June 24 in all the Zeliangrong areas, normal life in Tamenglong district was affected.

All types of vehicles stayed off plying along the National Highway- 37 (Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Tamenglong road). Shops were also closed in Noney Bazar under Nungba Sub-division of Tamenglong district.

The ongoing bandh also affected the construction work of Jiribam-Imphal railway project.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) has appealed the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) to review its decision to impose 72 hours bandh in Zeliangrong areas from the midnight of June 24 in the larger interest of all Nagas based on the uniqueness of Naga History and its situation.

In a statement, the UNC said it understands the regional aspiration pursued within Naga fold. And the aspirations are attributed to nearly seven decades old Naga struggle without solution for which the Government of India is responsible for the prevailing problem arising out of the aspiration.

Stating that now as the Nagas are engaging for the final political settlement that can also address various regional problems, it further appealed to all sections of the Nagas pursuing regional aspiration not to hamper the on-going Indo-Naga political dialogue which is in advance stage in the larger interest of the Nagas.

“™This appeal is made with the belief that whole is better and stronger than a part. It is our conviction that the part shall remain protected within the whole if the position of the whole is secure in generations to come`™`™, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/zuf-bandh-affects-normal-life-in-tml/

IMPHAL, June 25: Forest and Environment minister Th Devendro today inaugurated a two day regional workshop on database creation and monitoring the progress of Green India Mission activities.

A formal inaugural function was held at the Hotel Imphal jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change and the State Forest department.

Devendro said the entire region will benefit from the workshop.

He said perspective plans for the States will be prepared under the mission in a comprehensive manner.

He said that the Green India Mission is India`™s proactive initiative for carbon sequestration and multiple ecosystem services, especially, biodiversity, water, biomass etc. along with climate adaptation and mitigation.

An overarching criterion for selection of project areas/sub-landscapes/sub-watersheds under the Mission would include vulnerability to climatic change projections and potential of areas for enhancing carbon sinks said Devendra.

He further said that this Mission`™s emphasis on the landscape approach is a unique opportunity to meet targets for both, national and State Forest Policy.

The scope of greening is not limited to just plantation under GIM, he said.

He continued that It is interesting to know that the mission would integrate application of modern technology like Remote Sensing and GIS etc for M&E purposes. The Mission would support use of Geomatics (remote sensing with GPS mapping of boundaries) for implementation and monitoring at the output/outcome level.

Devendro also said that multiple stakeholders including government agencies, NGOs/CBOs, community representatives, Academia, media, public representatives should be involved to make the GIM into a people`™s movement.

He continued that landscape Yatras could be organized to develop deeper understanding of the issues of the landscape/cluster by the planning teams.

Gram Sabha and its various committees/groups including JFMCs, CFM groups, panchayats would be strengthened as institutions of decentralized forest governance, he continued.

He said that the Green India Mission will not only benefit India, it will enhance India`™s position among the countries committed for Environment and Forest development.

President of function, chief secretary PC Lawmkunga said that the Manipur government has submitted a State Action Plan in 2012 but there has been no sanction from the central government so far.

In the State level, the issue of climate change is being handled with collective effort of all State departments with the chief secretary as the chairman, he continued.

The impact of climate change in the State is not as severe in other States as of now, nevertheless there is an impact as we have been getting lesser rainfall during the past few weeks, he continued.

The chief secretary also said that the Forest and Environment departments should be concern of the issue.

He said a lot of changes in the weather pattern have been witnessed during the past few years. There is scarcity of rain even in June, he added.

Delivering the key note address MM Kutty Joint Secretary MoEF&CC government of India said that National Mission for a green India (GIM) is one of the eight mission under the 12th National Action plan on climate change.

The mission objective of the mission is to increase forest cover in the country to the extent of 5 million hectors and improved quality of forest, enhance eco-system service like carbon sequestration and storage hydrological service like fuel, fodder and timber and non timber forest produces and to increase forest based livelihood income of about 3 million households.

The function was also attended by Bala Prasad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Bharati Director MoEF&CC government of India and officials of MoEF & CC, Resource persons coming from different organisation and States, distinguished Delegates representing all NE States among others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/regional-workshop-on-green-india-mission-inaugurated/

IMPHAL June 25: The body of a 40 year old woman who had gone missing three days back was found with tell-tale signs of rape at Ramrei Ato Village on June 24.

The woman has been identified as Khongrei Awungshi Shanti wife of (L) KA Hormi of Ramrei Ato Village, Ukhrul district under Litan Police Station.

She is the second wife of (L) KA Hormi and is survived by three minor children.

Her body has been deposited at the RIMS mortuary where post mortem was conducted today.

Meanwhile, the Litan police have arrested an accused Jukeshwar, a brick mason working in the construction of a house adjacent to Shanti`™s house, last evening from his residence at Laikhompal.

Shanti`™s body was recovered following a massive manhunt after she went missing since June 22 evening.

According to a villager who had participated in the manhunt, there were struggle marks and several knife injuries on her nose, lips, wrist and other parts of the body.

He said her throat was slit open and lower torso not properly clothed.

Awungshi`™s children said she was present at their home in the morning of June 22, and went missing only in the evening. She never returned, they said.

The next day the whole village was alerted and a massive manhunt launched but there were no trace of her, according to the locals

Interestingly, on the third day, the family had consulted a local soothsayer who helped in `locating the body from among the high reeds growing in the village around 3pm yesterday` according to locals.

A villager expressing concern over the conduct of the police said the police team led by OC Manikanta arrived almost three hours later since the body was recovered and without any forensic expert of executive magistrate.

He continued, the police were unwilling to touch the body and even asked the villagers to lift the body into their vehicle.

`Such lethargy on their part deflates our confidence in the procedure`™, informed a concern villager expressing fear that such improper inquest procedure might omit the vital evidences.

According to family members, the main accused Jukeshwar is a married man and was working in the construction of an adjacent house.

Family members also said that they found a message in Shanti`™s phone from Jukeshwar stating that he was waiting. They also said that Jukeshwar had called several times on the third day after Shanti went missing and had even enquired with the children if their mother has returned.

The police have already taken possession of the mobile phone, the locals informed.

A villager also expressed anger and said it is unfortunate a hired mason has committed such a criminal act on our womenfolk.

`We consider this a crime against out village`™ another said.

Meanwhile, KA Hormi`™s first wife KA Anandi said we will not take back the dead body unless the government book the culprits and award befitting justice and explicitly provide for the surviving orphaned minors.

It is indeed a moment of shock and anger, she added.

Tharmi, secretary of 56 villages collective, Tangkhul Naga Foothill Organisation said, `Such savage rape and murder is a sexist discrimination against women. It is a first instance in our vicinity and we strongly condemned such brutal and barbaric criminal act committed on K A Shanti. The government should immediately investigate and book all the involved persons and award them befitting penalties.`

`Simultaneously as a welfare state, they should also be mindful of the three minor orphans, for their education, their survival and their psychological health,` he said.

Wunganing Zimik, a teacher of the village Primary school said, `All the three orphans are my students and we are deeply saddened by this shocking incident. Their mother as the sole bread earner was working very hard to support the family both financially and emotionally`™ MK VLCson convener of the Joint Action Committee against the brutal rape and murder of K A Shanti informed the media team and the civil society teams, `We will not remain mute spectators to such a heinous rape and murder of a mother. We demand immediate investigation to book all the involved culprits and restore the confidence of the people on legal recourse. Until then we will not take back/receive the dead body. We also expect the government to announce protection support for the three children until they attained adulthood to ensure their educational entitlements as well as their livelihood survival.`

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/missing-woman-found-dead-after-two-days-accused-in-police-custody/

IMPHAL, June 25: In the wake of widespread public demand for a suitable legislation for the protection of indigenous people of Manipur, which had been sidestepped by the Government of Manipur by introducing an ineffective and innocuous bill named `The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015`™, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today.

In the memorandum, the JCILPS, a conglomerate of civil society organizations, which is spearheading the collective demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit System to monitor the rampant influx of outsiders into the state, expressed deep concern on the state of social, economic and cultural life of the people in view of the degradation caused by the influx of outsiders and non-indigenous communities, undermining the identity and dignity of the people of Manipur.

Rejecting the `The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015`™, the committee in the memorandum demanded the government to withdraw the bill during the ensuing Assembly session to be started from June 26.

The government should introduce a fresh bill to fulfil the aspirations of the indigenous people of Manipur which will restrict and regulate the influx of outsiders and internal migrants whose demographic influence has been threatening the socio-economic, cultural and political practices of the people of the state, it further demanded.

The JCILPS in its memorandum also reiterated the inclusion of certain points which in the new legislation should fulfil the peoples`™ aspirations.

The points include a strong permit or pass for migrants as regards their purpose, whereabouts or validity of their presence for a specific period; a cut off base year of 1951 for people participating and creating of demographic influx into the State.

Empowerment of a full-fledged labour department which has to outreach an effective jurisdiction in all the districts of Manipur to strictly implement matters of registration and regulation of internal migrant labours and inclusion of detection and deportation of illegal migrants and non-indigenous people are some of the points demanded by the committee to be included in the proposed legislation and necessary taken thereof.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/jcilps-demands-withdrawal-of-mrvtmw-bill-2015/

IMPHAL, June 25: Construction of business properties like brick fields, LPG godowns on agricultural land is highly deplorable and will adversely affect the farmers of the State in the long run, said a member of the Village Women Coordinating Committee Prabha during a one day consultation on climate change and its impact on Agriculture.

The consultation was jointly organised by the North East Dialogue Forum, Samaritan Resource Centre, New Life Foundation, Applied Bio-Tech Farmer Club and Village Women Coordinating Committee at the Manipur Press Club.

Continuing to share her concern on the issue, she said the large scale penetration of industrialization into agricultural land has hugely affected agricultural yield of the State.

The government, she said, should sponsor awareness programmes on the issue for the welfare of the farmers and to help increase in productivity.

She continued the first victims to be affected financially by the impact of climate change are the farmers as their productivity largely depend on climates.

The recent climate change impact of rain scarcity and the lack of interest shown by the government on the issue have made many a farmer sell off their agricultural lands to businessman, she continued.

Head of Department, Animal Science, Central Agriculture University prof M Dhaneshor Singh speaking as a resource person called upon all to work towards improving forest cover.

He continued although there has been rainfall in both Assam and Myanmar, there has been less rainfall in Manipur because a decrease in the presence of oxygen in the air just above Manipur has been observed because of widespread deforestation.

Climate change is natural, but the degree of change depends on human behavior, he observed.

A massive volcano eruption in Mexico in 1991 had increase the global temperature by 4 to 4.6 degree Celsius, he observed.

Dhaneshor also said that there is an alternative to Jhum cultivation.

He continued works undertaken under the MGNREGS should be more associated with construction of rain water harvesting reservoirs or else there is a high chance of famine in the State in the near future.

Meanwhile, several resolutions were also passed during the programme.

The resolutions include pressuring the State Government to implement the Manipur State action plan on climate change, to stop construction of new mega dams but instead to maintain the existing dams, to introduce short term crop as an alternative, to take up immediate measures of the present cultivation crisis, to formulate long term and sustainable polity to address the imminent climate change crisis and to remove Reduce Emission from Deforestation and Destruction (REDD+) from SAPCC and if so, the free prior and inform consent from the community should be sought.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/construction-of-business-properties-on-agricultural-land-deplored/

IMPHAL, June 25: With the objective to strengthen the existing bilateral tie between India and Myanmar, the Ministry of External Affair Government of India has reportedly proposed for establishment of sister-city relationship between Imphal and Monywa in Sagaing region of Myanmar.

According highly placed sources, the purpose of the agreement is to establish friendship and co-operation besides creating mechanism for the implementation within the framework of their respective jurisdiction on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, in conformity with the law and policies of India as well as the international agreement inked by the two countries.

The sources further disclosed that once the agreement is signed, the two sides will maintain regular contacts including between the designated authorities and also undertake and exchanges involving delegations, interaction between institutions and sharing of experiences in the areas of mutual interest.

Further elaborating on the area of co-operation to be maintained, the same sources divulged that both sides will exchange the expertise and co-operation in the fields of service delivery, civic administration, land use planning and management, transport, shelter, education culture, sports, waste water and solid management, infrastructure, environment, public heath, science and technology, tourism, heritage management, urban renewable, urban and regional planning and related matters etc.

It said that the MAHUD may carry out the technical role including creation and operationalising a twinning cell, to frame a committee which would provide technical advise to the cell in return, maintain proper documentation regarding various activities undertaken, conduct community participation and any other agreement made by the parties.

Sources also informed that the parties are to conduct regular meetings and communicate on all programme, projects and activities, ensure funds and financial resources are available for implementation of any Joint Action Plan.

However, the agreement shall not have a legal binding obligation among the parties and is proposed by the Ministry for the agreement to remain inforce for three years.

The proposed draft agreement sent by the Ministry of External Affairs if approved may lead to the signing of the agreement and the announcement of the same was to be made by the Prime Minister of India to during his recent visit to Myanmar.

However, it is yet to be clear whether the agreement was approved or not.

The draft agreement was also sent to the State government as cabinet memorandum and subsequently approved by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/india-proposes-sistercity-relationship-between-imphal-and-monywa-in-myanmar/