Manipur News

Jiri News Network

JIRIBAM | Nov 27

While the BJP-led state government is trying to bring unity, fraternity and equality among the hills and valley people of the state, many government schemes are found to be not properly delivered to the people of Pangkotphai village of Tamenglong district.

The official data record of the number of households of Pangkotphai village under Tousem sub-division of the district was found to be mismatched with the actual number of households, when a media team visited the village and scrutinised the official record.

The media team noticed that the actual number of houses in the village is seven with a total population of 30 people. However, according to the government’s census record, there are 23 houses with total population of 87 people in the year 2011. Moreover, according to official records, there are 48 numbers of job card holders under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the year 2013-14.

The team also found in the official records that each job card holders had received a sum of Rs. 19,808 for five years from 2008 to 2014, whereas, as per official record, the total expenditure amount was Rs. 20,91,482.2 and the total MC and wages was Rs. 25,42,719.2. However, the villagers had not procured the benefits appropriately but extra numbers of people were included in the government record.

To dig out more information regarding the contrasting records, the media team made an effort to meet the village chief but the attempt failed. Later, the team interacted with one of the locals and he revealed that there are only seven houses in the village with a total population of only 50 persons. He continued that fund has already been sanctioned for the month of October this year under MGNREGS but the card holders have received wages only for two days, which is Rs. 500.

It is worth mentioning that there could be irregularities in delivering funds to the deserving villagers by some government officials by teaming up with village chief or authority. A joint survey of government officials, CVOs and media person is highly needed in the particular remote areas to stop the unfair practice and make the state free from the cluster of corruption.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Manipur’s famous traditional water sport ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ (Boat Racing) was held today as part of Sangai festival at Wangkhei Thangapat Imphal East.

Education Minister Thockchom Radheshyam Singh who attended the program as the chief guest said ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ is a traditional sport of the state. He expressed fear that in the coming days the rich tradition and culture of the state might get engulfed by the surge of modernisation.

He urged the organising committee not to stop organising such types of events for the sake of the future generation.  

The education minister asserted that during the ancient times in the state, water transport was one of the most common ways of transport.

While speaking on the occasion as the president of the function, the titular king of Manipur Leisemba Sanajaoba said the game has been played to recall the traditions and culture of the state.

He said that during the reign of King Hiyangloi Ningthou it became a sport. He mentioned that the beginning of the race dates back to the states folklores during the time of Luwang Ningthou Punsiba who crafted the first boat in the land.

He cited that the game fell into oblivion for over a century and during the reign of Maharaja Chandrakriti the game resumed. The game was followed by his son Budhachandra, he added.

He said that in the next year’s Sangai festival there will be no more issues while organising the ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ as the venue has been fixed to be held at the same place. Pointing out that the canoes used in the game were borrowed, he appealed to the government to provide canoe to be used in the game in the next edition of the festival.

The event was attended by chairman directorate of tourism, Rajen Sapam Singh, Mayang Imphal MLA Kongkham Robindro Singh, Sekmai MLA Heikham Dingo Singh, Yaiskul MLA Th. Satyabrata Singh and Thockchom Eliza Singh attended the event as the guest of honour.

The event was organised by Manipur Artist Association with the department of tourism.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Lamphel Super Market Development Joint Committee, a committee of vendors at Lamphel market voiced their strong opposition against the recent announcement made by chief minister N. Biren Singh to construct a separate market at Lamphel for the Mao community.

A handful of the agitating women vendors today marched towards the chief minister’s bungalow this morning but police stopped them from further proceeding near Nupi Lal Memorial Complex.

Later selected representatives of the market committee were allowed to table their memorandum to the chief minister’s office.

The memorandum strongly condemned the chief minister’s decision to construct separate Mao Market at Lamphel Super Market in Imphal West.

It said the development joint committee would appreciate if the government takes up step to construct market for every community besides appealing to construct temporary market during the construction of markets of all communities.

It is learnt that about a total of 800 vegetable vendors and business runners are running the Lamphel market under the sky. The development committee has been reportedly urging the government to construct a new market complex in tandem with the planned Mao Market at Lamphel.

The memorandum also urged the chief minister to provide license and necessary documents to the vendors at Lamphel.

The vegetables vendors from Mao come to Nagamapal on Tuesdays and Fridays after their market was shifted earlier following Southern Angamis of Nagaland launched a blockade against their community on June 23, 2015. The Southern Angamis of Nagaland imposed the blockade after the Mao opposed the construction of a road by Nagaland in the Manipur portion of Dzukou Valley along the Manipur-Nagaland border.

Due to traffic congestion at Nagamapal the Mao vendors shifted their market at Lamphel Supermarket and Tera Keithel. Some of them are still selling vegetables and fruits at Nagamapal.

The chief minister made the announcement to construct Mao Market at Lamphel market area at the cost of Rs 1-2 crore soon, at the inaugural function of the 3rd Flower Festival cum Manipur 1st Cherry Blossom Festival held at Kayinu Village, Mao Gate, Senapati on Saturday.

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Nov 28

Locals residing at the downstream of Thoubal Multipurpose project dam, which is built at the source of Thoubal River, went into panic when they were notified by the authorities concerned that the water being held up by the dam will be released in a few days.

In this regard, advisor of Moirangpurel Panthoibi Youth Club, Sobha Hijam who lives at Moirangpurel village located at the downstream said the people who had been residing at villages like Moirangpurel, Tumukhong and Itham used to earn their livelihood by collecting sand from the river before the multipurpose project dam was built.

The work at the river used to give support to many poor families, and help the education of their children. The sand collected from Moirangpurel village, was quite popular as “Moirangpurel gi leingoi.” However, the black sand ran out in the last two years after the dam blocked the river and it was no longer found in Moirangpurel and Tumukong villages, he said.

It may be mentioned that the people who were facing the odds, having no other means of living, turned to collecting the red sand from the hills to go on with their lives. But unfortunately, the forest department put a ban to their work. Since, they have no other means of living they are now struggling very hard to make both ends meet.  

 She further said what came out of the blue, is the notification being given to the villagers by the workers of IFCD department, that the water on the other side of the dam will be release towards the downstream in a few days.

Leaflets that warned the villagers to remain alert were handed out. Upon asking the workers of the department as to why the water was going to be released, they were told that some of the pipes had been blocked up and they needed to release the water for cleaning the pipes.

The reason why the villagers are getting panicked at the notification is that the released water from the dam will submerge most of the paddy fields and destroy it. The villagers are losing their sleep as the water will not allow the fields to grow any vegetables after the harvesting is done.  All their dreams of earning some extra money in the winter season are put at peril.

Making the situation even worse, if the water is released the villagers of Moirangpurel will no longer be able to cross the river as there are no bridges and this will directly cut off all means of earning to a lot of people.  

The locals appealed to the government to send in an expert team and take a detailed survey before the water is released and its potential dangers.

From A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

The 2-day inter regional media interaction programme between Myanmar and India which began yesterday at Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal ended today with seven recommendations unanimously adopted by the delegates and participants of the meet.

The recommendations includes further stronger relationship between India and Myanmar: to support the implementation of Act East Policy, visa-free regime between the two countries, particularly for media fraternity, to conduct more media exchange programmes in the future, to vouch for better transport facilities between Myanmar and India, to utilize all possible media resources for free flow of news, and to boost tourist circuit between the two nations.   

Prior to the adoption of the said recommendations, three sessions were held.

In the first session, director, ISBD, ministry of science & technology, Dinabandhu Sahoo, dwelt on the importance of cautious implementation of Act East Policy, taking into consideration the unique biodiversity of the region.

He urged the media fraternity to focus on environmental issues and science & technology and also remarked that without a state of the art infrastructure in the area, Act East Policy cannot be implemented successfully.

In the same session, news editor, AIR Imphal, A.Ibomcha Sharma deplored the lack of attention on NE India by the national media and also stressed the need for a change in policy outlook towards the states in the Northeast. He also pitched for joint media ventures and intercultural communication amongst India and the Asian nations.

In another session, on capacity building of media personnel in Myanmar and India, San Muang Than highlighted the power of media in sensitising the world of the 2007 uprising in Burma calling for an end to military rule. He also mooted for further support from India in equipping the journalists in Myanmar.

Concerning the Act East Policy, secretary general, Editors’ Guild Manipur, Rupachandra Yumnam explicated the need for media personnel in both Myanmar and India to gauge the dynamics of trade and the political changes sweeping across not just between the two countries, but in the entire Asian region.

Throughout the entire meet that was held since yesterday, all the panellists vouched for more people to people and media to media interactions between the two countries. Noted media personnel, Kosuri Amarnath, even mooted a necessity of creating an Indo-Burmese news agency to facilitate communications in the region.

Lastly, member of Myanmar Journalists Network, Zaw Khan Hein, remarked, “Journalists don’t need to wait for government’s push. They themselves have to take initiatives.”

The said recommendations which were adopted today was read out by the general secretary, Editors Guild of India, Prakash Dubey, in the presence of the delegates from Myanmar, Press Council of India, Editors’ Guild of India, students from Mass Communication department, MU, & State Institute of Journalism, DIPR, along with the media fraternity of the state.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

It is very essential to have good parents and environment to make our children all round perfect said minister of health and family welfare L. Jayanta Kumar Singh in the state level Healthy Baby Show Competition held at IMA hall Lamphel here today.

Addressing as chief guest in today’s function the minister shared valuable tips on raising children. “Children are the pillar of the nation. In order to make our society healthy, the first and foremost thing is to give due importance to children,” he said.

The meaning of good health includes both mental and physical fitness. Parents must perform all the precautionary measures while bringing up their wards to keep them off from any kind of diseases. 

He further pointed out the reason for implementing several schemes by government especially for women and children. “Any government knows that only a healthy society can bring a developed society,” he said.

To know the health status of our children, he urged the officials of the health and family welfare to go for inspection in each and every school. He also suggested that women should keep themselves updated of the already launched or newly launched schemes and utilize it effectively.

Speaking as president in today’s event Dr. K. Rajo Singh, director of health services said pregnant lady or a mother should follow the safety tips given by health practitioners. 

A pregnant lady should be very careful about in time vaccination, body check-up, proper diet and institutional delivery, he emphasised.

“The purpose of immunisation programme taken up by government for children is to keep our children fit. So parents should take it very seriously,” he added.

The guest of honour of the programme was additional director of Health and Family Welfare Services P. Shyamsunder.

The programme was organised by State Health Society, National Health Mission directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Manipur.

The competition was divided into three categories such as 6 to 11 months, 12 to 23 months and 24 to 36 months.

The winners of 6-11 months category were Erick Laishram from Imphal west, Ivana Lalrietzing from Churachandpur and Nathan Thokchom from Imphal east as first, second and third position, respectively.

For 12-23 months Thokchom Amrita Devi from Thoubal, Thoudam Lingjenthoibi from Imphal east and Ayekpam Sanahal from Imphal west stood first, second and third position, respectively.

In 24-36 months category Lonison Wahengbam from Imphal west, Vivian Yendrembam from Imphal west and Sinthoi Khundongbam from Thoubal were ranked as first, second and third, respectively.

IMPHAL | Nov 28

High Court of Manipur in an order issued on November 20, has notified for formation of a new committee consisting of two members to look into the issues concerning alleged irregularity or illegality in the evaluation of MCSCC Examination 2016, a release said.

A single bench of justice Kh. Nobin Singh issued the order in response to a new petition filed by Yumlembam Surjit Singh and 21 others on the said matter, it added.

The release further mentioned that two petitions, namely, W.P. (C) No.803 of 2016 and W.P. (C) No.817 of 2016 had earlier been filed by the said petitioners. In response to the petitions, a report was submitted on October 13 by a committee headed by a retired judge of the Guwahati High Court along with two other members, which concluded with the finding that there was no unholy haste on the part of the MPSC in managing and getting the result of the MCSCC Examination 2016, said the release.

“But taking into account that the said commission was appointed not a full-fledged one but for a limited purpose, and that this court would not debar the petitioners therein from seeking redress before the appropriate forum in the future, if any patent illegalities or irregularities are disclosed after getting necessary information, the said bench has notified the new commission in light of new information submitted by the petitioners,” the release added.

The petitioners based on information obtained through RTI information on the said issue, alleged that there were many missing signatures of a supervisor or examiner in many answer scripts, the presence of different signatures on answer scripts supposed to be evaluated by a single examiner, errors in totaling marks, etc., added the release.

Further, a single bench of justice Kh. Nobin has notified the formation of a new committee comprising of the following two members, namely, Y. Jugindro Singh, Brahmapur Lalji Lakpa Leikai (Bamon Leikai), Imphal, Manipur and U. kol Singh, Khurukhul Awang Leikai, Mantripukhri, Manipur, the release continued.

Further, MPSC has been directed to extend full co-operation to the committee and a separate room shall be earmarked for the purpose of the committee, along with a deposit sum of Rs. 50, 000 in the registry of this court as advance payment for remuneration of the Committee for which appropriate order will be passed later on, and the said amount shall be deposited within two weeks, the release pointed out.

Lastly, the committee has been requested to submit a report within 45 days from the date of the court order, and the further proceedings on the stated issue will be taken up on January 15, 2018, the release concluded.

Saubhagya scheme for universal household electrification launched

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Manipur is the ‘fastest reforming state’ in power sector in the country said Union minister of state for power and new & renewable energy, R.K. Singh. He was speaking at the launching function of Saubhagya scheme held at Hotel Classic Grande, Imphal today.

The scheme which is also known as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Har Bijli Ghar Yojana will provide free electricity connections. It was launched in the presence of Union minister of State for power and new & renewable energy R.K. Singh, state power minister Thongam Biswajit Singh and chief secretary R.R. Rashmi.

R.K. Singh continued that power ministry will provide required financial assistance for strengthening and improvement of infrastructure in the power sector of the state. The Saubhagya scheme can be affordable by poorest of the poor and therefore will be beneficial for all, he added.

Speaking at the function chief minister, N. Biren said Saubhagya scheme would provide power supply to un-electrified households to achieve universal household electrification in the country by December 2018.

Biren noted that majority of the eligible households are in the hill districts of the state. He said that there are 5.76 lakhs households in the state, and out of which electrification of 4 lakhs have been completed by the previous government and the remaining households of around 1.76 lakhs will be electrified under the scheme.

Further he said the government would get power connection free of cost. Metre box, poles, wires and other electrical materials will be provided free of cost and it is only the bills that the beneficiary has to pay, he held. Such schemes would transform the lives of the people of the country, he added.

Biren pointed out that the state government has electrified 972 Census villages under various plans of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana) and 1,442 census villages under state plan. Under the National Solar Mission, Manipur has been allocated an installation target of 105 MW solar-powers by the year 2022, he added.

During the function, the dignitaries interacted with the beneficiaries of the four districts, Noney, Senapati, Churachanpur and Chandel.

Th. Biswajit Singh, also speaking at the function said that the government has successfully electrified 90 percent household in urban areas and 60 percent in rural areas of the State. The un-electrified 1.76 lakhs household would get power connection under the Saubhagya scheme, he added.

He expressed hope that under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all the villages of the country would be electrified by 2019.

He announced that the ministry of power has agreed to provide financial support to fulfil the dreams of the needy people to get power supply in their homes. He assured that the government would achieve the task to provide electricity to every household in the state on time. He appealed to the officials of MSPDCL, MANIREDA to work hard to fulfil the aspirations of the Prime Minister to provide power supply to every household of the country.

On the occasion, an MoU was signed between Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) and Ukhrul District Community Resource Management Society(UDCRMS), a district unit of North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society(NERCRMS) for the construction of multipurpose hall cum indoor Stadium in Somdal Village, Ukhrul district. 

The function was also attended by executive director of REC, Shakil P Ahmed, joint secretary, ministry of power, A.K Verma and officials of MSPDCL.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

The Imphal east district police commando arrested two cadres of the proscribed RPF/PLA and two women sympathizers along with huge cache of assorted arms and ammunitions in separate counter insurgency operation conducted in different part of Imphal today.

Speaking to media persons during a press conference held at his office, Superintendent of Imphal east district police, Kabib K, disclosed that the militant cadres were arrested during joint operation conducted by the police commando; women police Imphal East and assisted by Singjamei police based on specific information.

The SP said the operation was carried out under his supervision and led by inspection Md. Rajib Khan second OC commandos Imphal East and also jointly coordinated by officers of the district police including B. Lunthang Vaiphei, Wungpam Kasar additional SP (Ops), Robinsun Khamnam, MPS Dy SP (CDO-II) IE, RK. Saklemba Singh, MPS, Dy SP (Ops) IE.

The individuals were arrested reportedly from their respective residence at Thongju Pechu Lampak areas around this afternoon.

In the first incident two active members of the PLA/RPF were arrested around 12:35 pm. The PLA cadres have been identified as Naorem Bhume Meitei, (44) son of (L) N. Ibochou Singh of Pechu Lampak Kha-Naorem and Konsam Joykumar Singh, (47) son of (L) K. Babudhon Singh of Thongju Part-II.

The over ground workers who were reportedly involved in transportation of arms and ammunitions have been identified as Naorem (O) Premila Leima, (37) wife of N. Bhume Meitei of Pechu Lampak Kha-Naorem Leikai and Huidrom (O) Jiballata Devi alias Mounao, (54) wife of (L) H. Ingo Singh of Thongju Pechu Lampak.

The arms and ammunitions recovered from them includes an AK-56 rifle with five magazine and 15 live rounds, one lethod gun, 10 lives lethode shell, two mobiles phones, a 9mm pistol along with magazine and tools used for repairing arms.

The Imphal East SP further informed that the arrested persons along with the recovered items will be handed over to Singjamei police station for necessary legal action.