Manipur News

IMPHAL, May 21: The NSCN/GPRN has clarified that the news report wherein the outfit was alleged of assaulting one Congress worker in Ukhrul district reportedly for distribution of money for the upcoming ADC election in Manipur is totally untrue and said that the outfit has no problem if any locality or group of people punishes candidates or their agents buying ballots through money.

In a statement, the outfit said if such allegation were true then it is the duty of the Election Commission officials of India to take note of it and book the Congress candidate for violating election code of conduct.

It has become the habit of the ruling Congress government under the evil partnership of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and Home Minister Gaikhangam blaming NSCN for every ills and sore of their misgoverns in Naga areas.

Pinpointing NSCN at the drop of the hat in every incident is ridiculous and mischievous. It is undeniable that the present Congress led government indulges in state sponsored terrorism where their police machinery become a tools for bombing civilian areas, creating fear psychosis, instigating communal clashes and confrontation in order to divert public attention from the government unquenchable thirst for corruption to social discords, it alleged.

Let the Congress led government of Manipur clarify as to who bombed the office of NPF Kamjong unit in Ukhrul district on the night of May 20. Will it blame the NSCN again? Or is it state terrorism? Why the Congress led government remains silent on this, the statement asked.

It also mentioned that sooner or later the people of Manipur will come to know the true colour of CM Ibobi and Dy CM Gaikhangam who are the two infamous shareholders of Manipur state exchequer under the garb of protecting Manipur territorial integrity for their selfish interest at the cost of peace and state development.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/nscn-refutes-report-on-assault-of-cong-worker/

IMPHAL May 21: JCRE Skill Solutions (JCRESS) celebrated its second foundation day at the Sangai Hall, Imphal Hotel today with PHED and Labour & Employment minister I Hemochandra Singh as the chief guest.

Chief election officer O Nabakishore Singh, and Babina Healthcare and Hospitality Industries Pvt Ltd managing director Dr Th Dhabali Singh also attended the function as guests of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Hemochandra stressed on the need to enhance employable skills and progress from conventional professions.

While citing the major breakthrough in the State power sector which has led to inculcating environmental and resource friendly values, he feels that ventures like JCRESS will be able to retrieve the mass migration.

O Nabakishore Singh emphasised that excellence and perfection are the futuristic codes to gain from the present techno savvy age.

He expressed belief that this can be achieved by creating and availing the skills required.

The chief guest officially declared a partnership between JCRE Skill Solutions (JCRESS) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

Folk singer Mangka Mayanglambam was named the Brand Ambassador for the current year however, owing to her absence due to her college examination, she was represented by her mother during a felicitation function.

JCRESS, CEO L Niranjan Singh said we have become the first and only certified partner of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in Manipur and the second in the entire northeast.

JCRESS assists in skill training, up-skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, corporate training and migration support, he said.

He continued JCRESS ambitiously aims to impart international standard training to one lakh youths of Manipur by 2023 and enhance their employability in various sectors.

In two years JCRESS have been able to train more than 1,500 trainees under different courses in various sectors, he claimed.

With the PPP mode under NSDC programme, skill building will focus on construction, apparel tailoring, retail, hospitality, BPO and beauty & wellness, he stated.

In order to bridge the skilled workforce with potential employers, JCRESS launched a portal on the occasion www.thabakjobs.com

The CEO further explained that the portal will avail services of driver, security guard, plumber, electrician, housemaid, nurse, mason etc.

L Niranjan detailed, JCRESS is an initiative of the Big Concepts Foundation Pvt. Ltd and a training partner of Australian Vocational training & Employment group (AVTEG), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship and National Institute of Electronics and Information technology (NIELIT).

It is an accredited skill training provider registered under the ministry of labour& employment, GoI. JCRESS is also an authorized training partner of Manipur Urban Development Agency (MUDA) for Travel& Tourism and Tailoring under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).

Various prizes to winners of Manipur Skill Competition 2015 in sectors of apparel, hospitality & retail and certificates of recognition for staffs/trainers/trainees were also distributed by the guests.

Certificates of Recognition to Customer Care Centre Staff of Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) undertaking one month corporate training programme at JCRESS were also distributed by Sudhan Ramasamy, managing director, MSPDCL.

The gathering was entertained with a Leela by Joseph, Rangila & Co.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/hemochandra-stresses-on-need-to-enhance-employable-skills/

IMPHAL, May 21: Committee for Koziirii & Dzuko Land Boundary Resolution has demanded resignation of all the 60 MLAs if they cannot adhere to the assurances they had sworn in to serve the people.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here today, spokesperson of the committee N Rajendro reiterated that the proposed 24-hour general strike with effect from midnight of May 22 was called as the government has apparently failed to meet the deadline served by the committee to intervene into the encroachment of Dzuko valley and Koziirii by Nagaland.

He cautioned that the committee along with Mao Council will impose indefinite economic blockade along National Highway-2 from June 1 if the government remains unresponsive to the issue of land encroachment despite the general strike.

He expressed shock on the clarification by the government that the matter of land encroachment was not reported to it given the fact that the SDO Tadubi himself inspected the encroachment areas following an order of DC Senapati.

Subsequently, a report was submitted to DC Senapati on November 11, 2014 after which the DC sent the same report to Chief Secretary for further necessary steps, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the Manipur People`™s Party has also said that it will support the 24 hour general strike.

A statement of the party said the MPP supports the general strike called by the Committee for Koziirii Dzuko Land Boundary due to government`™s ignorance on the land encroachment at Dzuko valley which falls under Mao A/C despite repeated appeals.

It said the party also strongly condemned the government`™s lack of action against Southern Angami Naga People`™s Organisation`™s road construction and rest house construction within the territory of Manipur.

A joint press release of United Committee Manipur (UCM) and AMUCO has said that appeal has been made to the public to support the `Committee for Koziirii-Dzuko land boundary resolution`™ 24 hours bandh to be imposed from the midnight of May 22.

It said that demonstration from the public has become a necessity due to the government`™s lack of commitment to the issue of land acquisition by Southern Angami Naga People`™s Organisation.

It has also appealed to the CSOs, Clubs, Meira Paibi Lups, various Transport Associations/Societies, vendors of Ema Keithel and stores to take part in the bandh, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/committee-demands-resignation-of-60-mlas-over-boundary-encroachment-issue/

IMPHAL, May 21: The government must bring a conclusive end to the burning issue of land dispute in Dzuko Valley, demanded the BJP Manipur Pradesh today.

During a brief interaction, BJP general secretary administration M Asnikumar said the government should not stay silent on this issue.

The government has always been vocal about not allowing any compromise to the territorial integrity of the State, however, it has continued to remain silent till date on the Dzuko Valley land incursion issue, he said.

He said the issue has come up due to the government`™s failure to maintain law and order in the Mao area especially the Dzuko Valley during the last 13 years.

He said the government always accuses the Centre on such disputes which is as effort to mislead the people of the State.

No community in the State wants to give away land to the neighbouring States including Nagaland, he said demanding the government to bring out a white paper on the issue at the earliest.

The Dzuko Valley dispute had been established from during the reign of the UPA government in the Centre and so the State government should not blame the present BJP-led NDA government in the Centre, he continued.

The silence maintain by the State government has confused the people of Dzuko Valley, he said.

In case the government is unable to solve the issue at the earliest, the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds, he continued.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/bjp-wants-state-to-act-on-the-dzuko-valley-land-dispute/

IMPHAL, May 21: Claiming hands on the blast at the office of Naga Peoples`™ Front (NPF) at Kamjong Block Headquarters on May 20, the Manipur Naga People`™s Front (MNPF) clarified that the blast was not carried out to threaten people ahead of the ensuing Autonomous District Council election but to caution the NPF party on its alliance with NSCN (IM) in their bid to manipulate the election.

A statement signed by Thomas Numai, Assistant Publicity Secretary of MNPF pointed out that there was a time when NSCN (IM) used to boycott election and bar Nagas from voting with the assertion that Nagas are not part of India but after it inked ceasefire with the Government of India, the outfit has been misleading Nagas by creating non-issues at the time of elections just to serve its own purposes.

Taking chances of the ceasefire, political parties registered Indian Constitution and Naga social organizations were forced by NSCN (IM) to support only those candidates endorsed by the outfit, it alleged.

Further claiming that NPF party works according to the wishes of NSCN (IM) sidelining pulse of Manipuri Nagas, the MNPF pledged that it will not further remain as a silent spectator on such manipulative tactics which will bring only harm to the Manipuri Nagas.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/mnpf-owns-up-blast-at-npf-office/

KANGPOKPI, May 20: The All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has strongly decried the alleged act of delivering mob justice by bandh supporters against the killing of Semkhongam Haokip, physical assault on others and burning down of vehicles on May 14.

The union also decided to endorse KSO GHQ`™s ban on The Sangai Express daily and ISTV over the alleged partial reporting on the issue.

Simthar Jajo, Rights and Reservation Secretary of ATSUM said that Haorang Kairel killing incident on May 14 was supposedly an act of retaliation of Thingsat incident where two alleged KCP (Nando) cadres were killed by KRF.

He continued that government has done well enough to book the alleged culprits involved in Thingsat killing which also marked the swiftest action on the part of the government in booking wrongdoers in the state.

There is no point of killing innocent Shaktiman driver Semkhongam Haokip and assaulting other three workers namely Nehminthang Haokip, Lunminhao Haokip and Thangminlun Khongsai as the government has booked the accused persons as demanded by the agitating mob, added Simthar Jajo.

He also alleged that the Haorang Kairel incident was purportedly executed which turned the state into a war like situation.

`Why only one particular community vehicle was targeted on that particular day. Many other vehicles too were also seen plying along the road`, he asked.

ATSUM also expressed discontentment on the government over the booking of those culprits involved in killing of an innocent tribal man while swift action was taken up to book those culprits involved in Thingsat killing.

The tribal student apex body also strongly denounced the role of media particularly the two media houses banned by the KSO GHQ while adding that everyone is aware of the unbalanced reporting of the incidents by the two media houses.

Simthar Jajo also alleged that most of the state dailies and news channels carried out the issue of Thingsat killing every morning in their respective headlines but the worse part of Haorang Kairel killing was given a minimal space and partially reported.

`Media should know that their single unethical journalism could ruin the old aged social relation of the society`, asserted Simthar Jajo.

Therefore, ATSUM considered the decision of KSO GHQ to ban the unprofessional conduct of the two media house justifiable and deserved support and cooperation, he added.

While urging the two media house to rectify their error and come up with constructive approach to solve the impasse amicably in the interest of peace and harmony, he appealed to the government to handle the issue carefully and initiate graspable attention towards the state affairs.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/atsum-flays-mob-justice-endorses-kso-ghqs-ban-on-tse-and-istv/

IMPHAL, May 20: A newly married woman has return to her parental house unable to face alleged harassment from her in laws and husband since the day of her Mapam Chakouba. The housewife identified as Sapam Ningol Longjam ongbi Thoibi, 19 wife of Longjam Yaiphaba, 28 of Upokpi Mayai Leikai called a press conference at the Manipur Press club today.

She was also accompanied by Oinam ongbi Inao, president of Women Development Manipur convened during the press meet.

According to her, she had lodged a complaint on May 18 on the issue with the Women Development Manipur, New Checkon.

Inao said that the Thoibi eloped with Longjam Yaiphaba in the month of December 2014 and later tied the knot on March 3. Following the complaint filed by Thoibi, the Women Development Manipur visited Upokpi Mayai Leikai today to serve summon to the victim`™s husband and talk about on the issue.

However, it is very unfortunate that members of Women Development Manipur, who visited the house were made to retreat by locals of Yaiphaba, she said adding that the locals even used slang and resorted to inhuman behaviour.

The women organization has summoned Longjam Yaiphaba and his families for showing indecent behaviour towards its members who went to enquire the incident, she continued.

The organization has been working and dealing in various cases of crime against women and children in the state, she added.

She alleged that Yaiphaba and his family members tortured Thoibi from the day of marriage after knowing that the housewife was already pregnant.

Yaiphaba and his family members even charged that the unborn baby is not his husband`™s, she said.

On the day of Mapam Chak Kouba, Thoibi decided to stay back at her parental house as she could not further tolerate the harassment meted to her, Inao said.

Despite, convincing that the baby belongs to them, Yaiphaba and his family members continue to harass her, she narrated.

She cautioned that Yaiphaba and his family members should approach office of the women organization before May 25 without fail to discuss the matter failing which any untoward incident arises thereof should be held responsible by the husband and his family members.

Members of United Women Development Organization Bishnupur and Women Development Manipur, New Chekon Imphal were also present during the meet

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/unable-to-bear-alleged-harassment-housewife-returns-to-parental-house/

IMPHAL, May 20: Claiming that Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) which once marched towards true revolutionary movement for Manipur has been degraded and that many groups have been extorting money in the name of KCP, the KCP-MC (Liberation) has asked why KCP and KCP (MC) have stopped attacking Indian colonial forces since long time back.

In a statement signed by Comrade Lanchenba Meitei, Secretary Information & Publicity Military Affairs of KCP-MC (Liberation), the outfit pointed out that the saying by public that KCP and KCP (MC) function only to extort money will not be wrong as they have not come up with any revolutionary steps other than extorting money.

The formation of KCP-MC (Liberation) was necessitated to win back faith of the public and further carry on the revolutionary movement for independence of Manipur, it said.

Saying that the outfit will no longer remain as a silent spectator on the hidden propaganda floated by Indian agents to suppress the revolutionary movement, the statement contended that top leaders of KCP and KCP (MC) are being protected by Indian security forces.

Public will extend support to those outfits which work sincerely and dedicatedly in pursuit of the revolutionary movement for Manipur. Keeping this in mind, the KCP-MC (Liberation) will bravely face the colonial forces and try to win back faith of the public without which the revolutionary movement for independence of Manipur is impossible, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/kcpmc-liberation-questions-motives-of-other-factions/

Thoubal, May 20: The Village Chiefs of Khengjoy, Joupi and Wailou in Chandel District has negated the news reports published in some local dailies on May 15 which stated that their villagers were involved in demanding to bring back KNLF cadres back to Semol camp.

Speaking to media persons at Sehao Village yesterday, chief of Khengjoy, Thongkhothang Haokip said that the villagers of Khengjoy never demanded the bringing back of the ouster cadres of KNLF to their Semol camp as published in some section of local daily on May 15.

The news item alleging the villagers of Khengjoy insisted to bring the KNLF cadres back to their camp is not true as he never met and spoke to any media persons on that day, clarified the Sehao village chief.

He further said that he had not expressed to anyone for and against shifting or relocating the KNLF Cadres. However, it is unfortunate that some individuals for their vested interest dragged the village name without their knowledge, added the Village Chief. He further said that he always condemned and stood against whenever any particular cadres of armed outfit harassed and tortured innocent villagers.

Chief of Joupi, Khupsei Haokip and Chief of Wailou village, Thangpao Haokip also told the media persons that they had no knowledge about the news item alleging the villagers of both Joupi and Wailou in demanding to bring back the cadres of KNLF at their Semol camp.

The two village chiefs also appealed to all concerned not to mention and drag their village names in any matter without the knowledge and consent of the concern village chief in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/reports-on-involvement-of-villagers-in-bringing-back-knlf-cadres-negated/

IMPHAL, May 20: The Manipur government understands that without submitting the utilization certificates of the funds sanctioned by the Centre, the State will not receive more funds from the Centre and has submitted the utilization certificates but without any actual work being undertaken, claimed Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram today.

The State government had received huge funds from the Centre for construction of public community halls, roads, water supply schemes, etc under several projects, he said at the flag hoisting cum public meeting held at the Phunal Maring playground for the party`™s ADC candidate of 23-Nongmaijing ADC constituency.

He said although the Utilisation Certificates of the projects have been submitted to the Centre, it is unfortunate that not much work is seen on the ground.

The Union Minister said he has received a memorandum from the village chief urging development of road and other development works to be taken up in the area.

He said he doubts handing over development funds to the State government.

The people are asking for funds amounting to some Rs 5-6 crores and he is ready to do so but it is doubtful whether it will reach the intended beneficiaries once the amount is handed over to the State government, he asserted.

Now it is the opportune time for the people to elect the BJP candidate P Marung and receive the development funds directly, he said.

The Congress is unable to speak about any development in its campaign. This is because they have already enjoyed the entire funds meant for development and now it is resorting to spreading false propaganda that once the BJP comes to power, the Christians and other minority sections will suffer, Oram continued.

He said if people want change they have to disbelieve they have to bring BJP to power.

BJP Manipur Pradesh general secretary Media Laimayum Basanta Sharma said the Congress had enjoyed the entire funds sanctioned for the development of the ADC areas.

The elected ADC members are unable to take up any development work under the Congress rule, he rued.

However, once the BJP comes to power, the devolution of power to the ADC`™s is certain, he said.

Meanwhile, attacking the sitting ADC member of Nongmaijing Constituency, BJP State general secretary administration M Asnikumar said in the name of constructing a community hall at Sandang Semba during the year 2012-13, Rs 934000 was sanctioned.

He continued, for the construction of elevated water tanks in eight schools located at Poirou Tangkhul, Nungkot Khuman, Nongmeiband, Lishamlok, Karpur Sungba, Uran Chiru, Tombihao and Terakhong, a total of Rs 5,28,000 had been sanctioned.

The ADC member had also taken money for the construction of public toilet, road, waiting shed, piggery farm, banana plantation schemes, etc, he continued.

BJP State president Th Chaoba appealed to the people to support the party`™s candidates so as to bring a change in the hill districts.

He also charged the Congress government of depriving the poor people of food grains and other essential commodities provided under the Public District System.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/bjp-continues-congress-bashing/

IMPHAL, May 20: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur has said that teachers alone are not responsible for awful pass percentage in the board exams in the State.

The Education minister, concerned commissioner, director and other officials like the ZEO, AI, DI among others are also as much responsible for the outcome as the teachers, said the student body`™s president M Angamba today.

Speaking to media persons at their office, Angamba said the Education minister and the officials concerned are as much punishable as the teachers for the awful pass percentage.

The State government had yesterday issued an order deciding to serve notice of voluntary retirement under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme to teachers of government schools who fail to produce any successful students in the Board and Council conducted exams. The government order had also announced several other immediate actions deemed necessary by the government after considering the poor performances of some government high schools and higher secondary schools in the recent Higher Secondary Examination 2015 and HSLC Examination, 2015.

Angamba said the government`™s step to punish irresponsible teachers is laudable, however, if the teachers are alone put at stake it could create much dissent.

He said even though the government has appointed many teachers under RMSA and SSA, schools in the peripheral areas and interior parts of the State are still facing acute shortages of teachers.

Demands have been made to the government to fill up these shortages, but to no avail, he added.

The department is also unable to provide the required infrastructures to the schools, he said stating that the department and the Education minister should also be held accountable for the bad result.

He said the authorities never listen to the demands of the students to fill the shortage of teachers and infrastructure and now they want to blame the teachers alone.

The concern minister and the department continue to only emphasis on the needs of the schools lying in the State capital, while ignoring all the needs of the schools in the interior and peripheral areas, he continued.

Angamba also appealed to the concern authorities to take action against MLAs, ministers, officials who get involve in transferring of teachers according to their whims.

DESAM secretary general P Premchandra said that concern authorities should also be responsible for the low pass percentage in both the Class X and Class XII examinations of 2015.

Providing statistics, he said in the COHSEM conducted class XII exam this year, 63 government schools, 34 aided schools and seven private schools recorded `zero`™ pass percentage.

Of 305 students appearing the Class XII examination at Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School only 90 passed, at RamLal Paul Higher Secondary School only four out of 42 appearing students passed, at Lamlong Hr Sec School 12 out of 50 appearing students passed, at Andanda Singh Hr Sec School out of 334 students appearing only 41 passed, at Nambol Hr Sec School out of 124 students appearing only 31 passed, he said.

He continued only one student passed out of 31 appearing students in Nilapadana Higher Secondary School, and only 10 students out of 134 students appearing for the examination passed in Model Hr Sec, Takyel.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/not-just-teachers-but-officials-should-also-be-held-accountable-for-low-pass-percentage-desam/

IMPHAL, May 20: In remembrance of the forced eviction at Kabo Leikai Naga River by Government of Manipur, the 2nd Law Breaking Day was observed by the Rongmei Lu Phuam, Assam Manipur Nagaland (RLP-AMN) and JAC Against Kabo Leikai Force Eviction today at Tarung near RNBA, Imphal West.

Speaking at the function, Panti Golmei, president of RLP-AMN pledged that the Law Breaking Day will be observed every year by the organization till justice is delivered to the forced eviction which prompted residents of Kabo Leikai to reel under intense hardships regarding alternative accommodation.

Around 35 houses at Kabo Leikai were evicted by the government on May 20, 2013 in the name of construction of a luxury 5 star hotel in the area. The eviction drive was done just a day after a notice served. Since the notice was not served priory, the residents of the area had to face immense difficulties in arranging alternative accommodation, she rued.

She continued that various projects taken up by the government are just to appease few rich people not for the welfare of the state as a whole.

Saying that the eviction was done without conducting land assessment and taking consent of the people residing in the area, she lamented that five people have passed away unable to bear trauma following the eviction and education of many children was severely affected.

She appealed to the people to unite together to ensure that such forced eviction does not take place in any place in future.

The observance function was also attended by Wungsim, village Chairman; R Daneil senior advocate of High Court of Manipur and churches leaders besides victims of the eviction.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/rlpamn-observes-2nd-law-breaking-day/

IMPHAL, May 20: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has today appealed to all village chiefs, headmen and chairmen to ensure the June 1 Autonomous District Council election is conducted in a free and fair manner instead of yielding to the instigations and pressures from the different hill based underground outfits to support their candidates.

Gaikhangam who is also the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president was addressing a function held as part of the 125th Birth Anniversary observation of the `Father of the Indian Constitution`™ Dr BR Ambedkar organised by the Tamenglong District Congress Committee.

The party`™s election campaign was also inaugurated during the function held at the Noney Longmai common ground at Nungba sub-division, Tamenglong.

Gaikhangam said with the ADC election approaching, there are reports of hill based UG organisations summoning village chiefs forcefully through written notes.

We have access to the written notes of the UG groups from the State`™s intelligence sources, Gaikhanngam who is also the State Home minister claimed.

He continued, after summoning the village chiefs, they will be forced to sign papers saying that they support the UG groups endorsed candidates and then declare before the public that the chiefs had voluntarily supported the candidates.

This is entirely against democracy and an act of desperate measures of the `Kilonsers`™ of the UG groups and their cadres, he continued.

He further said a `kilonser`™ coming down to the status of a grade IV peon and delivering summon letters to the village chiefs is in itself an act of surprise.

He further appealed to the people to bravely face such dictates of the UGs and not to abide by them ahead of the election.

In case they warn or threaten of punishment for defying their summon, tell them that the deputy Chief Minister has forbidden them and to sort it out with the deputy Chief Minister instead, he said.

`Let them attack me using any weapon I will face them,`™ Gaikhangam said adding that anyone abiding to the summons of the UG groups are guilty in the eyes of the law.

The ADC election had been opposed by the people of the hills unless the 6th Schedule was implemented in the hills, however, after 20 years, under the leadership of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the election was conducted for the first time in 2010, he said.

The election will provide a local self government in the hills and so everyone should ensure that the polls are conducted in a free and fair manner, Gaikhangam observed.

The function was also attended by Hill Areas Committee vice chairman Z Kikonbou Newmai, Tamanglong MLA Janghemlung Panmei and Congress candidates from Tamenglong ADC constituencies.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/gaikhangam-appeals-to-village-chiefs-against-yielding-to-ug-summons-ahead-of-adc-polls/

The recent statements of intent by Education minister, M Okendro, on the matter of revamping and rejuvenating government schools is encouraging. One of the statements said the government would be singling out eight of the best and reputed government higher secondary schools and as a start, and sharply focus government attention on them. This will include bringing in the best teachers on its payroll to teach in them. This is a very good idea. The government does have very qualified teachers, especially among the younger lot recruited in the past few years. Unfortunately, the school system has decayed so badly in Manipur, thanks to unthinking official corruption in the past that most of these teachers are left sitting idle with no students to teach. Indeed, it is a reality that except for the desperately poor, few or no parents send their children to government schools at any level, primary, secondary or higher secondary. While at the high school and primary school levels, the situation is next to impossible to revive, things are a little better at the higher secondary level. The eight schools that the minister named, such as Johnstone, Tamphasana, CC etc, still draw students at the higher secondary level, and to some extent are an alternative to private schools which not all parents can comfortably afford. Given a committed administration, competent teaching staff and up to date teaching infrastructures, there is no reason these schools cannot regain their lost reputations. As in the earlier experiment of starting a few model government schools, they can become a hit too.

There is something else we like to suggest to the education department. If these schools improve and win the confidence of parents and students, they will ultimately be flooded with entrance applicants and there will be no way the school can accommodate them all without sacrificing quality. Since these schools are brand names, they will continue to hold the attraction. Therefore, as in the case of so many extremely successful franchised private schools, such as Delhi Public Schools, what the government can do here is to have different campuses of these eight schools spread out to more places instead of trying to revive little known schools, who reputations, if they at all had any, had been destroyed beyond salvation. As for instance, other than at the original location opposite the Kangla western gate, there could for instance be more Johnstone School campuses in Thoubal, Kakching, Chandel etc. The pool of best picks of teachers meant for these schools can also be made intra transferable within the same Johnstone chain, so that the entire staff will have a sense of attachment and belonging to the particular institution and name. Since there will be other such chains of elite government schools, a healthy competition probably would also result for the betterment of school education in the state as a whole. This initiative can start with the government higher secondary schools for this sector is not dead yet, therefore easier to rejuvenate, but ultimately the experiment must be taken to both the high school and primary school levels.

The other statement was made by the minister recently on the occasion of the declaration of the matric examination results, where again government schools performed dismally, except for the saving grace provided by Jiribam where government school showed encouraging signs of improvement. He said teachers in government schools which consistently fail to produce students who can clear the BOSEM conducted Class X and COHSEM conducted Class XII exams, will be given voluntary retirements. This will indeed be a good step. It will first of all serve as the kind of prodding necessary to put non-performing teachers on their toes and improve their efforts. If this prodding still does nothing, then retiring off these teachers and replacing them with younger and better qualified teachers will be fit to purpose. These teachers who are thus retired off will not be left with nothing in hand for they will have a pension to live on, and the school system too will have the benefit of fresh blood and energy. If these initiatives are pursued with commitment, we are sure within a generation of school going children, government schools would have risen from their moral debris once again. Nothing can be better for Manipur than this. In a situation where parents can take for granted good education for their children, their energy and resources can begin to be directed at other creative pursuits. Children who cannot afford education in private schools too will then be on the same stead as children of richer parents in the preparation for life ahead. Nothing can be a faster way to an egalitarian society than availability of good education for all.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/equality-through-education/