Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 4: Financial transactions in the State as in other States in the Eastern India region came to a standstill today with public sector banks joined in the nation-wide relay protest demanding raise in their salaries.

Staff of banks from across the State came together and staged a sit in protest at the SBI, head office Thangal Bazar.

Speaking to media persons, United Forum of Bank Union, Manipur convenor Soibam Indrakumar Singh said they will intensify their agitation from January next year if their demand for increment in salaries is not met.

The Indian Banks Association representing bank managements had been negotiating with the central government on the issue, however, the Central government has assured only an 11 percent salary hike.

He said the country-wide agitation is conducted in four phase relay manner.

Staff of banks in the northern zone had staged a similar strike on December 3 while, the staff in West zone will follow on December 5.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/financial-transactions-hit-hard-as-bank-employees-in-state-join-nationwide-strike/

IMPHAL, December 4: Terming the Sangai Festival organisation a grand success, State deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his presence in the closing function of the festival.

He was speaking to media persons this late evening at his official residence.

He said the Prime Minister had shared valuable words with the people of Manipur in his speech.

The deputy Chief Minister exuded confidence that the PM will take up positive actions considering the needs of the State, and on the basis of the memorandum submitted to him by the Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh.

Meanwhile, in view of the threat given by the United Naga Council to boycott the State sponsored Orange Festival to be held at Tamenglong District headquarters on December 9, the deputy CM has appealed to all concerned to cooperate with the government in organising the festival.

He said the festival is meant for the welfare of the people, particularly for the orange growers of the district before adding that the proposed boycott is against the interest of not only the farmers but is also anti-development.

We should support and encourage the festival so that the economic potential of the farmers gets a boost, he added.

`As we know our orange has a unique flavour and taste different from others oranges found in parts of the country. We must be proud of it`, he said.

He highlighted that the theme of the festival is `Orange for unity and prosperity`. It will show the unity and integrity of hills and valley peoples which will be participated by peoples from all walks of life, he said.

However, he assured that enough security arrangements will be made for successful conduct of the festival. The level of peoples`™ participation will decide the effectiveness of the boycott, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/dy-cm-optimistic-of-modis-interest-in-state/

IMPHAL, December 4: A one day North East State Government Employees, Pensioners and Workers meet was held today at the Chandrakriti Auditorium, Palace Compound organized jointly by the JAC of AMTUC & AMGEO, and All India State Government Employees`™ Federation (AISGEF).

AISGEF senior vice chairman Sukomal Sen who is also a former Rajya Sabha MP was among several leaders and employees from the North Eastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur who attended the meet.

According to the president of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO Dr M Rajendra Singh the meet was convened for the formation of a separate North East Employees Forum which was already decided in 2005.

He said an executive committee meeting held at Tripura on September 12 and 13 had decided to organise a meeting at Manipur to finalise the formation of the forum.

Rajendra said if the condition of the employees improves, than the condition of the government will improve on its own and as such, the Manipur Government Employees Forum decided to host the meeting.

He said during the meeting, the employees discussed several issues including the disparity in the DA/DR for State and Central employees.

He said while the central government pays DA/DR at 107percent as on July 1, 2014 whereas the Manipur government pays only 90 percent as of June, 2014 which is all against the norms/pattern of Central Pay whereas Manipur Judicial Service under the Govt. of Manipur have been enjoying the equal Central Pay footing. This is a gross discrimination and impartiality amongst the State Services, he said.

He said other demands of the State employees which is yet to be met by the government and discussed during the meeting include payment of Special Compensatory Allowanceproportionately; linking Transport Allowance with D; payment of Children Education Allowance, Disturbed Area Allowance; adoption of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme should be adopted as agreed upon; payment of Secretariat Duty Allowance in respect of Manipur secretariat employees at 10 percent of corresponding Basic as agreed upon; ration money for Manipur Police, I.R.B. Security Personnel etc. should be given not less than Rs. 2500/- per month as paid to the Central Security Force; staff and nurses working under Health & Family Welfare Services should be appropriately paid their Risk Allowance, Uniform Allowance etc. as given by the central government; adhoc, casual, muster roll, work-charged and contract employees should be regularised their services as assured in phased manner.

Other demands discussed include filling up of all vaant posts in all department through direct recruitment; stopping employment of responsible posts on in-charge basis; wages of temporary workers, contract employees, Anganwadi and Asha workers should not be less than Rs. 10,000/- per month; 10% reservation for the appointment under the Die-in-Harness Scheme (Compassionate Appointment) should be relaxed.; withdrawal of GPF should be done as per actual Rules not imposing Ceiling Limit as assured and agreed, etc, he said.

He said most of the demands were agreed by the government to fulfill and M.O.U. were signed, but still, no action has been taken up, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/state-employees-forum-hosts-govt-employees-regional-meet/

IMPHAL, December 4: People of Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency has set December 15 as a deadline for the government to complete construction work of the 1.5 km stretch of the Sanakeithel road which is lying in a deplorable condition for long.

Speaking to media persons, Thangmeiband United Club Organisation general secretary Konsam Surjit said the people are ready to contribute money through the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation, TKDO if the government has no fund to complete the construction work.

Lamenting the deplorable and horrible condition of the road stretch from Watham Leirak to the Electricity Department office, people staged a sit in protest at the Khwai Lamphel Women`™s United Development Organisation, Thangmeiband Sanakeithel today.

Surjit said the road stretch has become one of the worst roads in the State and it has not been blacktopped for more than a decade or so.

The construction work of the road stretch was handled by HBS Construction private limited and the singling work is already completed, however, due to the long negligence, the condition of the road has only worsened in the past few years, he said.

Several road mishaps have happened along the road claiming many lives and leaving many disabled for life, he continued.

The dirt from the road is also creating much health hazard for people living in the area, he said.

In case the government fails to take the necessary action before December 15, they will make financial contribution and urged TKDO for financial help, Surjit asserted.

He said although the government has been neglecting the road conditions in the Assembly Constituency, many roads in the neighbouring constituencies have been blacktopped several times in the same period.

Questioning as to why the government was neglecting the said road, he said it is an important road as there are many government offices in the area.

Meanwhile, the local MLA Kh Joykishan said the decision and demand of the people are genuine.

He said he had discussed the condition of the road along with the State Chief Minister and Works minister during the ending of 2013.

He said he had accompanied the Works minister during inspection tours of the said road.

Soon after, the government had handed over the work to HBS contractor Bikram who laid the singling work of the road, however, after some months the construction work stopped abruptly and has never been continued since then, he claimed.

When he queried he was told that the work had to stop for sometime as several works were colliding, the local MLA said.

He said although at that time, he was assured that the work will be taken up soon, no work has bee taken up till date.

He said if the government fails to meet the set deadline of the people, the TKDO will take up the road construction work and he will use all the Local Area Development funds for the construction of the road.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/thangmeiband-locals-protest-deplorable-condition-of-sanakeithel-road/

IMPHAL, December 4: State police commandos have arrested the acting chairman of KCP (MTF), identified as Yumnan Shantikumar Singh alias Kiran, alias Raja, 37, son of Y Shyamjai Singh of Irom Meijrao Mamang Leikai.

According to a release of the PRO Police, a team of Bishnupur District Police commandos acting on reliable information, conducted a search operation at Leimapokpam Village on December 3, during which the acting chairman was arrested.

In follow up investigation, another team of commandos conducted search operation at Waheng Khuman Village on the same day, it said.

During the operation another active member of KCP (MTF), identified as Oinam Gobind Singh alias Poirei, 28, son of O Angou of Waheng Khuman Mayai Leikai was arrested with one 9mm pistol loaded with 2 live rounds, it added.

Further in a separate incident, a combined team of Bishnupur District Police commando and a column of 6 Assam Rifles conducted search operation at Ningthoukhong Kha Leikai area, the release said.

It continued that during the operation, one active cadre of PLA, identified as Naorem Sanatomba Singh alias N Ibocha Singh of Ningthoukhong Kha Leikai Ward No. 6 was also arrested.

It said in another incident, a team of district police commando, Imphal West arrested one active member of PREPAK (Pro), identified as Takhellambam Yaiphaba Meetei, 35, son of T Muhindro of Kongba Laishram Leikai. One Chinese hand grenade, a broken Kenwood Radio handset and other incriminating articles were seized from his possession, it said. Cases have been registered at the concerned Police Stations regarding the arrests made, it said

Meanwhile, according to a PRO IGAR (s) press release, based on specific intelligence regarding movement of a UG cadre, troops of the 12 BIHAR of 9 Sector AR under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) established a vehicle check post in the general area of Awang Khunou and apprehended one NSCN (IM) cadre identified as No 920, SS Sgt, Neilarchiru, 34 son of Buneivn Chiru of Dolang Khunou, Dist – Senapati on December 2.

One Fake PAN card, one voter identity card and a Mobile phone was recovered from his possession. The apprehendee alongwith the recovered items has been handed over to the Patsoi Police Station, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/kcp-mtf-acting-chairman-arrested/

IMPHAL, December 4: The All Political Parties Committee on Inner Line Permit System is in the final stage of reviewing its draft report on the feasibility of the ILPS implementation in the State and will submit it to the government in a very short period, chairperson of the committee Gaikhangam told media persons today.

The committee may however, be unable to submit its report for the government to introduce a Bill in the upcoming Winter session of the State Assembly, he said while elaborating that the committee may take more time in checking the points and making some minor corrections in the report.

A meeting of the committee was held today at the deputy Chief Minister`™s official chamber at Old Secretariat building starting from 4pm.

The draft report will have more than 400 to 500 pages, Gaikhangam said.

The chairperson said the committee was meeting for the 16th time today since its constitution.

He said the committee was supposed to meet the JCILPS on the issue today, however, it was late when the committee meeting ended and as such the meeting with the JCILPS was rescheduled to 6pm.

However, it had to be cancelled and deferred to some other time after confirmation with the JCILPS after the committee meeting had gone on longer, he said.

All members of the committee had today attended the meeting and reviewed the final stage report which includes opinions and suggestions on the issue from experts and intellectuals of the State, he said before adding that the committee is considering to separate the report in two volumes- one the annexure and the other to have the observations and opinions of the experts.

He said the committee has also collected some reference from States like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The committee is fully committed on the issue and trying its best to bring a fruitful end to the issue, he said while adding that once the report is submitted to the government, it will become confidential.

He said if the State Assembly passes a bill on the issue without any problem and it gets implemented in the State to help the indigenous population, than it will be a historic one, however, the committee would like to clear the issue with the Supreme Court, Home department, etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/may-not-be-able-to-introduce-political-parties-committee-report-in-winter-session-gaikhangam/

IMPHAL, Dec 4 (NNN): Manipur University today conducted the BA/BSc Semester exams amid boycott call given by All Manipur College Teachers`™ Association (AMCTA) over the state Government`™s failure to meet its demands which include removal of Higher Education Commissioner P Vaiphei.

AMCTA boycotted the first day of BA/BSc Semester exams though the Higher & Technical Education Deputy Secretary claimed that an understanding had been reached between the teacher association and the Manipur Government on December 2.

Part-time college lecturers were engaged as invigilators for the exams conducted by Manipur University, sources said.

President of the teacher association, M Lokendra told Newmai News Network that AMCTA has started boycotting the BA/BSc Semester exams, pledging that the association will continue with its protest until the demands are met by the Government.

The association has been demanding removal of Higher Education Commissioner P Vaiphei. AMCTA has charged P Vaiphei that he recruited three regular Principals by violating the UGC norms.

Key demands of the association include issuing of fresh notification on Career Advertisement Scheme (CAS), criteria for Principals and Lecturers to be recruited, cancelling of the order appointing three regular College Principals, removing of P Vaiphei, immediate clearing of due allowances and granting of SCA and TA.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/semester-exams-begin-amid-boycott-call/