Manipur News

IMPHAL | Sept 10

The proscribed Kangliepak Communist Party (Military Council – Progressive) said in order to create an independent Kanglei land and save its people from complete obliteration, all the hilly and valley people must root out corruption from the education sector.

Since the beginning of time, all living things in the world including human beings acquire experience, learn and have a tendency to impart knowledge and skill, said a release signed by chairman, Chingkhei.

Amongst them, human beings have excelled in the field of knowledge and been competing against one another, it said. The research scholars and leaders across the world have undoubtedly agreed that only quality education can enlighten all and head towards progress, it continued.

As a matter of fact, the level of progress made by a country is measured by its quality of education, it said. In the case of Kangliepak, ever since it became dependent under the colonial rule of India, the native language, its traditions and ways of life, religion etc. have all faded out, it continued.            

At such a crucial juncture, what makes it really disconcerting is that at many education sectors in Kangliepak, corruption is rampant and it has turned quality education into ‘money education’, it further said.

A special team of the party ‘Operation Mangal (OM) Kangliepak’ have found out after investigation that scheme to earn money through corruption is being planned and implemented by a group of miscreants in order to abolish the future generations, it added.  

Some particular student organisation, teacher association, guardian association have been found providing assistance to these corrupt groups and collected funds to compromise the reserved quotas for teachers post, it said. The party will soon give out their names of these organisations to the public. It added.  

Their punishments will be reduced if they surrender themselves to the public and the party, accept the wrong doings they had committed, and request to relieve them of their crime, it continued.

If they turned against the party, then KCP (MC- Progressive) will give them appropriate punishments and it will be acknowledged to the public, it said.  Additionally, let the people and revolutionary parties who are going against corruption move forward together in regards to the initiative taken by Operation Mangal (OM) Kangliepak by KCP (MC –Progressive), it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 10

Senior advocate, Khaidem Mani said that in order to uphold the values of democracy the government of India should acknowledged that until and unless AFSPA, 1958 is repealed, India cannot be a member of the security council of the United Nation.

Briefing to media persons today at his residence at Loklaobung, Imphal, Mani said that as per common Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC) each and every political community has a right to determine and follow political system of its own choice and to follow and practice its own socio, economic and cultural lives.

Though the Indian constitution is the largest and greatest constitution of the world, it inadvertently left out the right of the indigenous peoples of the Northeastern states, he added.

The senior advocate claimed that thousands of people of Northeast (including Manipuri Meitei) are still not considered as either belonging to general, scheduled caste or scheduled tribe though they are all indigenous people and have their distinct way of life.

He appealed to the central government to amend the Article 3 of the constitution as to protect the indigenous people’s right to land and territories.

Mani asked the central government to stop militarisation in the state in the name of national security by using the draconian law like AFSPA, 1958 which is a racial law and appealed to repeal the AFSPA from the state.

He further asked the central government to stop centralism and follow the federalism system.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 10

The chief minister, N. Biren met 400 people from different parts of hill districts and attended to 172 cases on Hill Leaders’ Day, which fell today.

It may be recalled the 10th of every month is reserved exclusively for an interface between hill people and the CM.

Speaking to media persons, chief minister N. Biren said the 10th of every month is reserved exclusively for village chiefs, leaders of civil voluntary organisations of hill districts only and 15 of every month is for common people of both hills and valleys.

But common people of hill district also came to put their grievances and to present gifts. Most of the complaints are based on poverty, he added. Almost all the complaints made by hill people have been fulfilled and till now most of the problems have solved, Biren claimed. But I cannot assure to solve the problems completely as it is “human problem”, he added.

In response with a query from the media in relation with the statement of former chief minister, Okram Ibobi during a press conference held yesterday on MDS scam, N. Biren said the statement of O. Ibobi is appreciated as a responsible leader.

It may be mentioned that Ibobi said that he will co-operate to root out the corruption system from the state.

He said to root out the corruption system from the state people and leaders of the state need to walk together in a same pace.

For air ambulance facilities it will start functioning in the state as central government has made an earmarked of 24 cores as already mentioned by governor of the state Najma Heptulla, N. Biren added.

The chief minister further said today one Meitei woman came along with a boy who was severely injured in the landslide that occurred recently near Shirui village. The boy was totally helpless as he has a poor financial background. “I have instructed the respective district commissioner of Ukhrul to give all the necessary assistance under the regulation of government”, he informed.

Biren also directed Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science authority to continue treatment from today at free of cost for the rape victim of Senapati district. She was mentally disturbed from the incident and directed the hospital authority to continue treatment until she is completely well.

Biren said usual complaint for repairing of roads, construction of market-sheds, bus-stop for school going children and others came up, he made assurance to solve the problems at the earliest.

People from Tamei came and requested for repairing of Tamei government school toilet along with photographs. N. Biren said he was shocked to see the condition of toilet, and he directed the parliamentary secretary (education) concerned to construct two toilets separately for boys and girls and to take necessary steps immediately. 

In response to another complaint for construction of bus-shed at Kasom-Khullen, he asked the deputy commissioner concerned of Kason-Khullen to construct the bus-shed which is especially meant for the convenience of school going students and old-aged people.

Repairing and maintaining of potholes has been continuing and it has completed more than 80 percent for National Highway number 2. But due to rainy season construction of major roads at hill are still under progress, with the end of rainy season construction of major roads will be completed without delay, N. Biren assured.

The chief minister further said that genuine entrepreneurs who came to meet him for assistance on Hill Leaders’ day and Meeyamgi Numit had been provided assistance in the form of loans with reasonable sum from Manipur state cooperative bank.

Further he continued for lack of medical facilities in hill districts a 50 bedded hospital at Tamenglong district is ready to inaugurate. However, the main problem for the health sector in hill districts is due to the lack of manpower and lack of equipment.

 In order to solve the problem 300 doctors will be recruited through Manipur public service commission along with other medical staffs and adequate accommodation and quarter facility will be fulfilled within a short period of time.

By Jimmy Leivon

GANGTOK | Sept 10

The two-day ‘2nd North East Healthcare Summit’ which concluded on September 9 in Gangtok stressed on collaborative strengthening health care systems amongst all Northeastern States to achieve the sustainable development goals.   

The summit was organised by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in partnership with the ministry of MDoNER, the government of Sikkim and the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital (STNM), Gangtok, Sikkim.

In his address the Arjun Kumar congratulated the organisers – PHFI, STNM Hospital and DoNER for organising the second edition of the Summit in Sikkim that highlights key issues in today’s evolving healthcare scenario pertinent to Northeastern parts of India.

“Poor healthcare services in the Northeast and the need to enhance manpower, including setting up of more medical colleges in the region is the requirement of the day. There is an urgent need to review the progress of schemes sanctioned by centre or the NEC towards the improvement of healthcare services in the region, especially infrastructure, in addition to finding out better ways and means to remove health problems and inaccessibility to quality healthcare especially in rural areas of the region”, he said.

In her video address Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general ICMR, said, “Northeast is one of the most vibrant regions in India, but its health indicators have unfortunately lagged behind from the rest of India on many counts. With so much technological and infrastructure advancements, it is time to bring about a rapid improvement in the public health indicators, especially in light of the renewed commitment by the central government towards the entire Northeast region.”

This year’s 2nd Northeast Healthcare summit concentrated on emerging health concerns in the region with a special emphasis on the current scenario in Northeast and the sustainable development goals (SDG). The themes for this year’s summit were: mental health and substance abuse, non-communicable diseases, health policy, service delivery and health systems strengthening and environmental health. 

The summit falls under the umbrella of Project Swasth Uttar Purv, under the aegis of DoNER ministy that is committed to address the identified and felt needs of the eight states of the Northeast by promoting policy and programme relevant research, by filling critical information gaps, conducting health summits and Health Conclaves, conducting impact assessments and cancer awareness programs, evaluating innovations for improving the outreach and effectiveness of health systems, ultimately developing a robust public health cadre in the Northeast.

The summit saw representation from the respective Northeastern states from secretary, health Meghalaya Shangpliang and mission director of NHM, Mizoram Lalrozama, RRC, MoHFW, Bamin Tada amongst other high end officials from the states and representatives from WHO,UNICEF and experts and academia from across the country.

The summit was inaugurated by Arjun Kumar Ghatani, minister, healthcare, human services and family welfare, Sikkim along with PD Rai, member of parliament from Sikkim.

 Also present on the occasion were Alok Kumar Srivastav, chief secretary, Sikkim, Dr K Bhandari, director-general-cum secretary health, Sikkim, Jayanto Narayan Choudhury, vice president PHFI, Dr KB Gurung, medical superintendent STNM Hospital, Dr. Priscilla C Ngaihte, in-charge, Northeast Region (Special Projects)  along with a host of senior government health officials from all the Northeastern states of India.