Manipur News

CCPUR, January 28: The Indian Reserve Battalion on duty at the United Bank of India, UBI CCpur branch today caught a conman who cheated people who come to draw their money at the ATM booths, taking advantage of those who are not proficient in using ATM cards.

An IRB on duty at the ATM said Sangmualian Guite, son of (L) Lalzui of Vengnuam, New Lamka was caught today with three ATM card of UBI, SBI and ICICI bank.

Several varieties of illegal drug capsules including Spasmo Proxyvon, Nitro and a capsule of ‘W’ locally known as ‘horse medicine’ were also seized from the man.

The guards have been on a high alert ever since there were reports that a man had cheated people who had come to draw money from their accounts at the ATM booth yesterday.

Meanwhile, a woman had also complained to the guards that a man after assisting her in drawing out the money using her ATM had told her that there was no money in her account, which led to the arrest of the man.

A Hero Honda vehicle key, a Samsung mobile and Rs 720 from his wallet were also recovered from him, said a source.

Locals who had gathered after the man was arrested by the guards said that Sangmualian Guite first tried to divert attention of the police by saying that he is in the army, however, following much coaxing from the police, he said he is a VDF personnel, which when confirmed with the concerned authorities turned out to be false.

Later, the culprit was handed over to the police.

It is also learnt that Sangmualian Guite had been working in cohort with the previous keeper at the ATM booth identified as only Mamang, and that they had recently fraudulently withdrawn about Rs 14000 from the ATM.

Meanwhile, replying to a query from this IFP correspondent, the manager of the UBI CCpur branch Abhinandan Jha said although it is not the duty of the bank to monitor such cheatings, the bank has been taken utmost care that such incidents don’t occur and have even displayed caution on the wall of the ATM booths as well as in their bank.

He said the bank had also organised workshops.

He said recently one of the bank’s ATM booth keeper was recently dismissed because of his insincerity, before adding that the bank will be organising two awareness programs on the issue at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/conman-arrested-for-cheating-atm-newbies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=conman-arrested-for-cheating-atm-newbies

CHANDEL, JAN 18: The Chandel District Naga-Kuki Joint Commiitee (CDNKJC), in a memorandum urges to withdraw the proposal for setting up of Timber Park under Special Economic Zones for multi products in Aimol, Maring and Kuki Molnoi area Pallel in Chandel district.

Briefing media, convener of CDNKJC Ws Kanral said, “Considering the adverse impact of the Timber Park, which the Govt. had proposed to set up in the village of Aimol, Maring and Kuki Molnoi area and Pallel in Chandel district, the CDNKJC, on behalf of the affected villages, had submitted a memorandum to protest the setting up of the park”.

He informed that copies of the memorandum submitted was jointly signed by co-convener of the CDNKJC Chungthang Zou and Secretary of CDNKJC Sr Joningam and have been given to the Minister of Revenue, Commerce and Industries, Chairman HAC, MLA of 41 and 42 A/C Chandel, DC Chandel and Thoubal for kind information and necessary action.

Elaborating on the memorandum, the convener stated that the Chief Minister have been apprised of the fact that setting up of the park will affect the surrounding villages and its inhabitants by displacement of their agricultural lands particularly in village number 49, 50, 51 and 52.

He further stated that the memorandum pointed out 18 recognized villages in Molnoi area, 11 recognized villages in Aimol area, 28 recognized villages in Maring areas and about 200 numbers of both Meiteis and Tribals houses to be affected by the proposed park.

The convener of CDNKJC Ws Kanral also informed that a meeting of the Ex-Officio members, Social workers, intellectuals and sympathizers of CDNKJC will be held on February 5 at Khukarthil village community hall near SBI Khangshang at 10:00 am to deliberate on certain agendas.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/joint-nagakuki-body-urges-withdrawal-of-timber-park-proposal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=joint-nagakuki-body-urges-withdrawal-of-timber-park-proposal

IMPHAL, January 28: The United People’s Front (UPF), Manipur has expressed concerned over the ever increasing crimes against women.

Even if there are constitutional safeguards to stem crime against women in India and certain acts are in place to punish rapists under Indian law, it is unconceivable to stop rapes and crimes against women in Manipur under the existing laws, a press release from UPF said.

The front also mentioned the double standards in dealing with such crimes in metros as culprits are given harsh sentences if it is perpetrated against those hailing from mainland India while perpetrators are left off the hook if they commit the same crime against women from Manipur.

It also asked whether such incidents happened because investigating agencies were lackadaisical or were bribed thus resulting in half-hearted reports and letting the perpetrators go scot-free.

The press release comparing the spurt in crime against women with a river in spate mentioned the increasing number of cases where women are raped and murdered; molested and other domestic violence cases. It also urged the government to not only punish the culprits befittingly but put such mechanisms in place where victims of such crime against women can live peacefully without any social stigma.

“The heinous acts of rapists are not only akin to smearing coal on the faces of the gullible women of the state but have diminished the trust between the opposite sexes in the state. Many agitations in the past to curb crime against women have not been able to achieve the goal” L.Satyam, Secy, Publicity and Information of UPF said in the press release.

The press release further mentioned the infamous gang rape of the U-Morok vendor and the TG Higher Secondary School rape case where a huge public outrage resulted in the conviction of the culprits. But instead of these convictions causing a deterrent, crime against women continue unabated.

“The rape of a girl in front of her boyfriend in the foothills of a hillock in Mantripukhi has caused immense pain to the people, more so to the womenfolk, in the state. The public should determine the severe punishment that need to be meted to the three culprits, i.e Kh. Bungbung, Kh. Khamba, N. Bocha and also discuss measures to prevent rape in the future. We also need to discuss the steps the government should take to help the victims and it’s about time that the women commission should be empowered to make it even more effective” the release added.

The press release also mentioned the death of Keisham Ongbi Thoibi alias Thoi of Kontha Ahallup in Imphal East, an 18-year-old housewife, who was apparently murdered by her husband, Purnachandra (25), demanding the government to initiate a probe to find the cause of her death.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/upf-asks-public-to-take-collective-stand-against-rape/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upf-asks-public-to-take-collective-stand-against-rape

IMPHAL, January 28: The 121st birth anniversary of Mahakavi Hijam Anganghal was organised by Tungee Yaifanaba Shemba Kanglup, Samurou Keithel in association with the directorate of Art and Culture and Manipur State Kala Akademy, today at Rupmahal Theatre, Imphal.

Sanasam Bira Singh, MLA Kumbi AC, S Vedeshwar Sharma, secretary, MSKA and M Thoiba Singh, secretary, Little Master English Higher Secondary School were the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

During the function, the organisers honoured BM Maisnamba for his contribution in Manipuri literature especially in the genre of novel and also Rajen Khumukcham for his effort of collecting rare documents of the Mahakavi.

Addressing the function, M Thoiba Singh said that organising such birth anniversary of literary figures is worthy as reading the works of famous writer has provided a room to see the beauty and value of life. He further added that water is available everywhere but drinkable water is found very rarely; man is available everywhere but valuable man is less adding that the world is searching the man among the men.

He also lauded not only Mahakavi Anganghal but also those literary men who contributed socially valuable literary works as literature is the cementing force of the society.

Giving his chief guest address, MLA Bira expressed that he has been feeling a sense of displeasure for distancing himself from public life since his active participation in politics thereby avoiding him to enjoy the civilian life.

He further appealed to the gathering to taste the universality of love which is expressed by Dr Kamal in his novel ‘Madhabi’.

The program was followed by an academic seminar which was moderated by Prof Dr N Tombi Singh, vice-president of JN Manipuri Dance Academy, Imphal and Longjam Joychandra Singh, retired secretary of JN Manipuri Dance Academy, Prof Dr Soyam Lokendrajit Singh, department of Philosophy, MU; Dr Takhellambam Tomba Singh, Folklorist and Haobam Sanajaoba Singh, columnist attended the seminar as resource persons respectively.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/mahakavi-anganghals-121st-birth-anniversary-held/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mahakavi-anganghals-121st-birth-anniversary-held

IMPHAL, January 28: A day-long state-level consultation on improving access to treatment of hepatitis C under the Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund (MSIAF) today recommended that HIV positive people and those who are on ART be included in the eligibility criteria for accessing benefits under the scheme.

The consultation was organised by the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and state directorate of health services. It was attended by representatives of TREAT Asia/amfAR, Bangkok, UN AIDS International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), South Asia, Medicine Sans Frontier (MSF), community-based organisations and pharma companies like Merck, Zydus.

Speaking on the occasion as presidium member, Dr S Mema Devi, additional director, public health service, directorate of health services, said that the treatment of Hep-C was included under MSIAF from October 2013. “The amount does not actually cover the whole amount incurred by the patient family at the time of treating the patient. Moreover, the amount that is sanctioned under the scheme is also in the form of re-imbursement. This is not actually realistic in the real sense of the term,” she stated.

She further informed, “Out of the total number of patients coming for re-imbursement under the scheme, 14% are Hep-C patients, which is very high”.

W Khoibi Devi, deputy director of health services who was a resource person stated that for the fiscal year 2012-13, the number of patients who have received sanction from the state government under MSIAF is 202. “Unfortunately there were no Hep-C patients since it was not included under the provision of MSIAF then”.

“However this time a total of 203 patients has been sent for approval to the management committee and the final results are being awaited. From the total number of patients sent for approval, after screening, 29 Hep-C patients have also been included”, she added.

Deliberating on MSIAF, W Khoibi further stated that “Under the scheme, a patients belonging to BPL family with an annual income of Rs 25,000 will be entitled a one-time assistance upto a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh as reimbursement of cost incurred in treatment of major ailments. The ailments eligible for receiving assistance under MSIAF scheme are cardiology & cardiac surgery; cancer; urology; nephrology; gastroenterology; orthopaedics; all major surgeries and medical investigations, ophthalmology, Dentistry, ENT”.

“Treatment of HCV is very costly (about Rs 3 lakhs) but the MSIAF ceiling is only Rs 1.5 lakhs. The main problem lies here. Possible solutions for these problems are cost reduction for medicine; special consideration for HCV patients and more awareness programme”, she maintained.

Speaking on the topic “Treatment scenario of HCV in Manipur”, Dr Kh Lokeshwar, assistant professor of JNIMS, stated, “We are focussing on HCV in the state as it comes along with one of the disease which is not curable till today (HIV). In-spite of the medical advancement Hep-C is not curable as of now in this world. Hep C is major issue in the state and the party responsible should focus on it with more intensity. Out of every 100 persons infected by Hep-C, 15 of them are free as the immune system of the body can kill the virus. 10 to 15% recovers by itself. HIV co-infection is more dangerous than mono infection,” he stated.

He further stated, “The rate of Hep-C is increasing among the MSMs. The state is still to have a proposal for mass screening of all risk groups and not only IDUs who are HIV+. Only then, we can have a concrete data on HEP-C scenario in the state. Requires dedicated large scale survey”.

In-spite of the availability of injection interferon and oral antiviral for Hep-C treatment, many of hep-c patients who are poor are left of treatment, as they do not have money to buy the medicines.  “As of now treatment of hep-c is costly and only the affordable people are receiving the treatment”, he said adding “the rate of success as of now is 50-60 percent and we have a ray of hope”.

Highlighting the challenges in the state, he further informed that “We have technological drawbacks. We report late. The individual who comes for treatment is already seriously infected”. There is no harm in knowing the status and being treated early. Mass public awareness in this regard is very important, he said.

However, he went on to state that “Treatment with the best still has 20-30% relapse”.

The workshop also saw the attendance of members of various CBOs of the state including Project Orchid, CSD, HRA, DSSS, KRIPA Society, WAD, DNP+, HOPE, SDUCO, WREN, DOULOS, Merck etc. Khwairakpam Giten, Manager of Community and Policy, TREAT Asia/amfAR, Bangkok, Sushil Huidrom, State Coordinator, UN AIDS and Loon Gangte, Coordinator, ITPC, South Asia were also present on the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/meet-recommends-hepc-under-msiaf/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-recommends-hepc-under-msiaf