Manipur News

IMPHAL, Aug 11: An RTI application has been moved asking the Central Public Information Officer seeking details of the Centre-NSCN (IM) peace accord which has remain shrouded in secrecy till date.

An RTI applicant from Imphal has seek a copy of the said peace accord signed on August 3 at New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

The letter sent to the CPIO has sought from the Prime Minister Office details such as the scope, effectual date, validity, coverage, liability, etc of the accord.

It has also sought names and designations of the signatories of the accord and the details of the witnesses, the documents for not disclosing the details of the accord and the financial report for the expenditure incurred in the signing of the accord.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/rti-application-seeks-details-of-nscn-im-accord/

NEW DELHI August 11 (MIC): The Press Council of India which has been mandated by an Act of Parliament to improve standards of journalism and maintain Press freedom invites entries for national awards for Excellence in Journalism by 30th September, 2015 from Newspapers/News Agencies/Freelancers to recognize outstanding contribution of journalists/photo-journalists of Indian nationality in print journalism.

To encourage media to pursue their duties, the Press Council of India, will honour the awardees on the occasion of National Press Day on November 16, 2015.

The main Award `Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for Excellence in Journalism`™ in honour of one of the greatest reformer journalists of the country, carries a cash award of Rupees One Lakh, and a plaque/citation.

The remaining four awards in the fields of a) Rural Journalism and Developmental Reporting, b). Investigative Journalism c). Photo Journalism ( (i) Single News Picture and (ii) Photo Feature) and d). Best Newspapers Art: covering cartoons, caricatures and illustrations carry cash award Rupees fifty thousand each and a plaque/citation.

The nomination of a journalist employed with a newspaper is to be made by the editor of the newspaper/news agency, who shall declare that the journalist being nominated has been in regular employment of the newspaper/news agency during the preceding calendar year.

He/she should have contributed at least 10-15 bylined reports /photographs in the given year 2014 which should be attached to the entry form. Entries should highlight one specific report/photograph that the nominee desires to be considered for citation.

The nomination must be counter signed by the nominated journalist. Freelancers nominating themselves must also file a self attested declaration with the above documents.

Language Paper articles should be translated in English /Hindi. All photo entries must include a caption either in English or Hindi translation thereof. Each entry must also document journalist`™s/photo-journalist`™s professional status. The Award for `Best Newspapers Art` covering cartoons, caricatures and illustration, relates to the creativity of the art journalist through the medium of newspapers.

Names of Selected Candidates will be announced by last week of October, 2015. Selected candidates will be awarded on National Press Day i.e. 16 November, 2015.

A jury comprising of members of the Council including a Presiding Officer along with three non-members from the fields of journalism will finalise the names of the winners. The Council shall have the right to reproduce the Award winning articles in its publication of the National Press Day.

Other details of Eligibility, Criteria, Entry Form, Declaration Forms and Rules can be seen and downloaded from the Press Council of India`™s website http://presscouncil.nic.in or obtained from the Press Council Secretariat (Deputy Secretary, R. No. 147, Soochna Bhawan, 8-C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi- 110 003).

All entries addressed to the Secretary, Press Council of India, Soochna Bhawan, 8-C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi- 110 003 in sealed envelope marked `CONFIDENTIAL` should be sent so as to reach her on or before 5 p.m. on 30th September, 2015. Advance soft copies can be e-mailed at secy-pci@nic.in.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/pci-invites-entries-for-national-awards-for-excellence-in-journalism/

IMPHAL, August 11: The number of foreign tourist visits to North Eastern States has increased from 66302 to 84820 in 2013 and further to 118552 in 2014, according to a PIB statement.

It said in 2014-15, Rs 144.68 crore was released for the North Eastern Region which Rs 34.68 Crore more than the actual sanctioned amount of Rs 110 crore. A total of 10% of the plan allocation of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India is earmarked for North Eastern States, it said.

The statement continued, the Ministry of Tourism has launched two new plan schemes `SwadeshDarshan for integrated development of circuits around specific themes` and `Prasad for National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive`.

They are Coastal Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, North East India Circuit, Himalayan Circuit and Krishna Circuit identified under SwadeshDarshan Scheme initially, it said and added that seven more circuits viz. Desert Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wild Life Circuit and Rural Circuit have recently been identified under the scheme.

Under PRASAD scheme 12 cities have been identified and Kamakhaya in Assam features under PRASAD scheme, it continued.

The government is also taking up several initiatives to promote tourism in North Eastern Region including provision of complimentary space to the North Eastern States in India Pavilions set up at major International Travel Fairs and Exhibitions, 100% central financial assistance for organizing fairs & festivals is allowed to the North Eastern States, Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country, including the lesser known destinations which have tourism potential. The Ministry of Tourism undertakes special campaigns on NE Region on TV channels to promote tourism in the regions.

Other initiatives of the government also include International Tourism Mart (ITM) organized annually with the objective of showcasing the largely untapped tourism potential of North East region in the domestic and international markets, it said.

The project `Integrated Cable-Car and Lakeside Tourism Development Project at Loktak Lake, Manipur` has been sanctioned during 2013-14 for the State Government of Manipur at an amount of Rs.20.35 crore under Large Revenue Generating Scheme. Under this scheme, funds are allocated under Public-Private-Partnership, it continued.

The statement concluded that the information was given by the Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma in reply to an unstarred question yesterday in LokSabha.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/rs-14468-crore-released-for-north-eastern-region-in-201415/