Manipur News

Mail News Service Agencies
Imphal, June 21 : Opposition Members today called upon the government to make essential items made available to the people. The members raised issues related to consumer affairs, food and public distribution during discussions for demands for grants of three departments. The House discussed and passed demands for Consumer Affairs of Rs 21 cr, for Animal Husbandry of Rs 81 cr and for Justice of Rs 21 cr.
Consumer Affairs Minister M Okendro said quantity of wheat given to a BPL card holder per month is 1.04 kg. He said there are 1.02 lakh BPL card holders and 2.4 lakh AAY card holders in the state. Only 20 percent of the beneficiaries have valid cards he added. Kh Joykishan said there is discrepancy in the amount of rice and wheat given to the general public.
RK Imo said there is lack of supervision and the benefits are mostly taken by middlemen. He demanded establishment of a strong vigilance squad. The entire distribution system should be computerised so that there is no room for misappropriation he said. He further said undeserving people hold BPL cards and there is a need for complete review of the card distribution system.
Th Biswajit demanded the distribution system should be made accountable. He also demanded framing of proper pony and fish policies. Fifty percent of the PDS items which were meant for distribution to the people living below poverty line (BPL) went missing while delivering to the authorized agents by the officials of the from the consumer affairs, food and public distribution (CAF&PD) of the state government, opposition leader Dr I Ibohanbil Singh alleged.
The opposition leader brought the matter in the house of the Assembly while moving a policy cut motion to the discussion for passing of the demands for grant of the consumer affairs, food and public distribution.
He said, “There is a leakage between CAF&PD and the agents before distributing to the beneficiaries. Everyone even a minor knows it and yet nothing to improve the distribution system was seen taken up from the government side.”
Ibohalbi further alleged that PDS items have been deducting by various groups both legal and illegal. He was referring to the deduction of percentage by the militant groups and other powerful NGOs in the name of raising funds for each group.
Asserting that at present a total of 1,66,000 households in Bishnupur district where he belongs were benefitting under the PDS as per an assessment done in 2000, Dr Ibohalbi stressed the need for re-assessment for verification of the beneficiaries. Joykishan said itemallocation of the PDS should be done as according to the demand from the district or constituencies. He said that there were more demands of wheat in his constituency and the government should allot more wheat quantities as according to the demands.
Contradicting to the observations made by the opposition members, minister for consumers affairs food and public distribution, Moirangthem Okendro said that people in his constituency were getting all their share of PDS items since the last three four years in his reply. He also informed that at present there are 2, 40, 593 APL, 1, 20, 400 BPL and 63, 600 AAY card holders in the state and the total number of households is 4, 07, 152.
Indicating the need for the representatives in ensuring the public getting their share of the PDS items, Okendro said people should be alerted always time in the matter of the distribution of the PDS item. He said after the Food Security Act come into force there would raise no question of depriving the rights of the beneficiaries.
However, he stressed the need for awareness of the PDS and benefits that could be received by the BPL families before enforcing the Act. Questioning the credibility of the MLAs while ensuring voters of their respective constituencies in getting the share of the PDS items, the minister said that he had information of the price hike of rice in the markets.
“This is an artificial one which is being played by some vested interested business men,” the minister said, adding that government was considering for a mechanism for effective checking of artificial price hike of essential commodities in the state with a stringent law to award befitting punishment to those offenders.
Chief Minister, O Ibobi informed that there is no village recognised as scheduled caste village however S C certificates were issued as per provisions laid down by the Constitution. Earlier SC certificates were only of six villages but it was gradually increased he said.
Transport Minister Kh Ratan informed the House that in 2011, 39 vehicles were damaged during economic blockade and so far compensations were given to 29 vehicle owners.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/improve-pds-frame-policies-to-save-pony-fish-opposition/

IMPHAL, June 21 NNN : All kinds of fish trade in Manipur from the border town Moreh and other states will be thoroughly checked on the way by setting up two proper check-posts by June or July.
Manipur Fisheries minister Md Abdul Nasir told the House that fishes bringing in the state from Indo-Myanmar boder commercial hub Moreh in Chandel district and other states that connect with Manipur through the National Highway-2 are to be checked before reaching the capital Imphal on the way.
Proper check-posts will be established at Moreh and Sekmai to ensure whether different kinds of fish transporting into the state from other states are hygienic or chemical is added to them.
Nasir informed this to the House after MLAs Th Biswarjit and Dr I Ibohalbi moved a policy cut motion while discussing on the demand for Fisheries.
He said there is no departmental check-post at the above places as of now however the proposed two check-posts will be set up there by July or August in view of the public health.
Apart from these check-posts, a laboratory will also be put in place for further testing of these fishes, he said.
Nasir also assured that although various lakes in the state are not under the Fisheries Department, they will be promoted as pisciculture/fishery farms soon after consulting with the Revenue Department in this regard.
He went on to say that about 10 tons of fish are currently being transported into the state from the outside to meet the demand and that the Government is planning to take up a project at the cost of Rs 1.67 crore at Takmu where fish will be reared by using nets deep into the fish ponds.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/check-posts-to-control-fish-import-nasir/

MNS: As part of its ongoing efforts towards improving the quality of life of the local communities, 40 Assam Rifles under aegis of HQ 9 Sector AR of IGAR(S) provided aid to the members of disabled school and vocational training centre under International Handicapped Welfare Mission (INHAWEM), Manipur located at Maidangpok near Keithelmanbi. A variety of indoor recreational items were gifted to the differently abled children in presence of Mr. Lokendro Singh, secretary of the centre and centre staff.
INHAWEM since its inception in 1995 has been playing a key role in upbringing the community and serving the needs of differently abled persons, widowed, old aged and orphans. At present, around 202 differently abled members are benefitting from the centre with financial assistance from Handicap Mission and other NGOs.
Meanwhile 44 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 10 Sector Assam Rifles and HQ IGAR(S) provided assistance to an Orphanage located at the remote border area of Kamjong which is being run solely on the assistance provided by Assam Rifles. Rations and educational facilities including fees, uniforms and books are being provided apart from all possible help to the children to enable them to grow and have a bright future. Recently a LCD TV with DTH and other gifts were presented to the orphanage by Mrs Nishi Pandey, President 10 Sector ARWWA on the occasion of Founders Day of AR High School, Chassad.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-rifles-provides-assistance/

IMPHAL, June 21 MNS Agencies :A 12 hour bandh called by CPI partially affected life here today. The bandh was called from 0050 hours till 1700 hours to demand repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 . The CPI had also organised a rally yesterday during which police resorted to firing of tear gas shells and arrest of activists.
CPI members today shouted slogans demanding repeal of AFSPA, introduction of Inner Line Permit to check influx of immigrants and other issues.
Other Left parties like All India Forward Block, also supported the bandh . Some educational institutes were closed down. Banking institutes, oil depots, government offices remained opened. Inter state passenger bus services did not operate. In the market areas most of the shops were closed down. There was no report of any untoward incident.
Owing to the bandh most market places in Imphal city wore a deserted look whereas normal traffic movement was not disturbed except slight reduction in the traffic volume as besides city buses, inter-district buses stayed off the road for the day.
However, auto and other taxi service vehicles and private vehicles were seen moving as usual during the bandh hour.
Some schools in the outskirt of the Imphal city remained close for the day even though educational institutions in Imphal area opened as usual.
The CPI, Manipur State Council had called the 12-hour general strike from 5 am to 5 pm today protesting against excessive action of the police against leaders and workers of the party when a protest rally targeting to storm the state Assembly complex was foiled at the very start of the rally near the party office at Irawat Bhavan, Imphal yesterday.
Yesterday, police personnel have foiled the rally by using tear gas shells and other mob ammunition devices resulting to the injury of a CPI worker in his right leg after being hit by a mob bomb. Injured Maibam Sanahanbi Singh (35) who was immediately rushed to RIMS hospital where he is currently under medical treatment.
Meanwhile in the state Assembly during zero hour Th Shyam said government should not use powerful bombs while dealing with people.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cpi-strike-partially-affects-life/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 21 : With reference to news items regarding arrest of URF cadres the SP Imphal West today clarified that “the so called cadres (later on identified as those with signed agreement with the government for peace talk) were arrested by a team of Lamphel PS in connection with case FIR Mb. 133(6)2013 u/’s 307/364/384/506/511/34 IPC & 16/17/20 UA(p) A. Act of Lamphel PS. The FIR was registered on the basis of a written complaint lodged by the President, All Manipur Petroleum Tanker’s Union with DGP, Manipur dated 04/05/2013.
Accordingly, OC-Lamphel Police Station has been directed to conduct discrete enquiry and after enquiry a formal regular case has been registered at Lamphel PS under the aforesaid FIR No. and arrested the involved persons who later on were identified as cadre of URF, namely (1) Puyam Ruhini @ Moiyamba @ Biren Meitei (51) S/o (L) P. Indu Meitei of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai, (2) Huidrom Shantikumar @ Pamei Meitei (37) S/o H. Konungjao Meitei of Yumnam Huidrom Makha Leikai, (3) Yumnam Shantikumar @ Raja Meitei {36} S/o Y. Shyamjai Singh of Irom Meijrao Mamang Leikai and (4) Konthoujam Premjit Singh @ Nimai @ Konthouba Singh (32) of Thiyam Khunja Maning Leikai.
The incriminating mobile phone No. 8414066926 which was used in extortion and intimidation to the President, All Manipur Petroleum Tanker’s Union was also recovered and seized from their possession, one Tavera Car Vehicle bearing regn. No. MN04A5001 black in colour registered in the name of one Kh Lukhoi Singh of Nagamapal which was used by the cadres for their illegal activities was also seized . Investigation of the case in on.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/police-clarifies-on-arrest-of-urf-men/