Manipur News

IMPHAL, October 31: The proscribed Maoist Communist Party of Manipur has today observed Anti-Conspiracy Day, denouncing the role of Sardar Patel, who was instrumental in colonising Manipur and other South Asian Nation States by India.

A statement signed by its Secretary Publicity and Propaganda, Nonglen Meitei has claimed that Sardar Patel along with other Indian leaders took an important role in colonising different Nation States, which is today known as the Northeast part of India.

It said the Northeast has been kept occupied by India like a “Prison house of various nations and nationalities”, and on the other hand, the NDA-led government of India is observing the birthday of Sardar Patel as National Unity Day on October 31. To observe such day as National Unity Day in colonised Manipur is a disgrace, it said.

The statement further claimed that Indian army under AFSPA has killed more than 10,000 Manipuris so far.

Former director of IB of NE region, Ravi had also claimed that 8983 people have been killed in Manipur alone under the draconian Act, which could be more as most of the killings are carried out secretly by the Indian army.

The Imphal city, which is a very small city, has around 4000 Indian army personnel deployed within its 3 Km radius to terrorize the people, it added.

It continued that history is witness to merciless subjugation of the Mizo uprising by the Indian State in the past by taking out aerial bombardments and many more militaristic aggressions like the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ in the liberated zones of the Maoist, rapes and tortures in Jammu and Kashmir, killing of Sikhs in 1984 and lives of so many innocents Muslims were taken in the Gujarat riot, the statement said.

Expressing doubt on the leadership of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the statement has questioned if he is sincere enough to repeal AFSPA Act, or to implement ILP system in the State.

It has also further asked if Modi is sincere to bring about a logical end of the sovereignty movement of Manipur through plebiscite.

Whether it is Congress or the BJP, they are both parties to the subjugation of the people of Manipur, therefore the only option is to strengthen the peoples’ war to fight against the subjugation and establish a sovereign Nation State, the statement maintained.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/manipur-maoists-observe-anti-conspiracy-day/

IMPHAL, October 31: A day after the Editor’s Guild Manipur threatened to boycott the Kut festival in case the organisers failed to reach out to all media houses instead of extending invitation to a select few, the State level Kut Committee has clarified that it has limited seat arrangement for media persons.

Speaking to media persons today during a press conference at the Banquet hall of the 1st Manipur Rifles, spokespersons Chunglenmang Kipgen said we wanted to invite all media persons but there is a limited seat of just 45 in the media enclosure arranged for the festival.

Acknowledging the dissatisfaction over the arrangement, he said now media persons with their media houses issued identity cards will be allowed to the media enclosure on a first come first basis until the 45 seats are full. However, all those who have already received id-cards from the organisers will be outside of the first come first basis, he added.

Coming to the arrangement of the premiere festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities which will be celebrated on November 1 at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground, he said there will be two sessions tomorrow.

The morning session will begin at 10am with the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam attending whereas, the Chief Minister of the State Okram Ibobi Singh will chair the evening’s proceedings.

As for parking arrangement, the public and invitees can park at the Bengali High School campus, while for the invited cultural troupes, parking has been arranged at the Old Lambulane and VIPs and flagged cars should be parked behind the 1st MR Banquet Hall.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/limited-seats-for-media-kut-organisers/

IMPHAL, October 31: A fortnight long Barrier Free campaign organised by the Handicapped Development (HD) Foundation concluded today with a seminar on ‘Role of parents in creating barrier free environment’ at the Manipur Press Club.

The HD Foundation has been organizing the campaign every year since 2008 and this year’s edition was organised under the theme “Lets Smile Together and Lets Walk Together” commencing from October 17.

A pamphlet issued by the foundation during the concluding function defined barrier free environment as one which allows people to move around safely, independently, and without restriction, where the environment could be public or private buildings, roads, transportations, public places, educational institutions, etc.

It said the main objective of organising the campaign was “to create an environment that is accessible and useable by everyone in the society, including people with disabilities.”

It said it is necessary to create a barrier free environment because barriers make the environment unsafe and causes high level of difficulties for the people.

Elaborating on the need to create a barrier free society

To be a better and develop society where each and every person could get full opportunities and equal participants need to understand why and how these barriers must be removed; this loss of opportunity and participation is not only a lost for the individual but also a loss of the society, it said.

Unlike physical and systematic barriers attitudinal barriers that often lead to illegal discrimination cannot be overcome simply through laws, it said.

Ways to break down barriers suggested includes familiarity- getting people with and without disabilities to mingle as co-workers, associates and social acquaintances.

In time, most of the attitudes will give way to comfort, respect and friendship, the pamphlet said. Talking with the stakeholders of the society to adopt universal design in any undergoing and future construction, example to put ramp, lift facilities with auditory systems, putting proper sign board at proper places, etc and making and implementing law assuring the participation of persons with disabilities in all the office or organization, were other suggestions to break down barriers in a society.

Today’s seminar was attended by secretary general of the foundation Dr S Jasowanta Singh; editor of Naharolgee Thoudang, Kh Loya; chairmen of HD Foundation, Dr Ch Rupachandra Singh.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/hd-foundation-appeals-for-barrier-free-environment-for-handicapped/

IMPHAL, October 31: The locals of Andro have appealed to the concerned authorities of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to maintain transparency in implementation of the programme, which is to be carried out under the Manipur State Road Development Agency, in their areas.

Interacting with the media today at Sana Pokpa Chakpa Andro Panam Ningthou Meihounirol Pana Loshang, the Khulakpa of Andro Chingakham Gandhar said that the 10th phase of PMGSY road development of Manipur include a large portion of Andro area under Imphal East District.

He continued that the roads included under Andro Assembly constituency covered by the scheme are, Keithelmanbi to Moirangpurel, Maringthel to Machengpat-1 and Moirangpurel to Etham according to the notification of MSRDA.

Further he said that in this regard, a meeting was convened at Andro, which was attended by various civil organisations like All Andro Youth Club Association, All Andro Meira Paibi Association, and Eastern Schedule cast Student`s Union Andro along with the representative of Andro Nagar Panchayat Councillor.

He pointed out that the road Maringthel to Machengpat-I is about 11.80 Km and the total estimate cost is about Rs 69,01,877.94, before adding that the work should not be given to some agencies who have applied with the lowest tender below the government scheduled rate. This they said is because those who bid too low seldom maintain construction standards.

He also maintained that it is a rare opportunity for the people of Andro to have such kind of work being taken up in the area, and the roads of Andro have not been black-topped since they were constructed. Such opportunity should not be wasted for individual benefits, he added.

Andro Nagar Panchayat Councillor of Ward Number 5, Y Sajaoba, who was also present in the media interaction, informed that the works which are included in the 10th Phase of PMGSY was proposed by the people of Andro after consultation with the local MLA, Th Shyamkumar and Andro Nagar Panchayat members in the year 2006.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/andro-locals-appeal-for-transparency-and-quality-maintenance-in-pmgsy-work/