Manipur News

IMPHAL, June 4: Manipur Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party has submitted a memorandum to the NDA government for including the development of NH-37 to an all-weather road in its 100 days Action Plan Programme.

This was stated by Manipur Pradesh BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba in the mass enrolment function of 21 new political leaders and former candidates of other parties in the state to the BJP.

He said the manifesto of the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha polls mentions the development of Imphal to Jiribam road as first priority, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been reported of the present condition of Imphal-Jiribam road will be urged to convert it into a four-lane highway.

Moreover, the task of maintaining the highway should be handed over to the Ministry of Surface Transport from BRTF which cannot complete the task of black topping the highway since a long time, he continued.

“The memorandum reflects that the 222 km long National Highway which connects the state to the rest of the India must be rid of any problem to relieve the public soon. The only appropriate option would be to develop the Imphal-Jiribam road and keep it in good condition throughout the year. The Union transport ministry will assume full responsibility for the improvement of the road directly under its supervision with requisite security cover,” Thounaojam Chaoba said.

He said that the Manipur Pradesh BJP will organise a one-day-observation “New Hope, New Manipur” at Delhi soon, adding that many youths, intellectuals and media personnel from the state will discuss the problems of the state in view of PM Narendra Modi’s promise on his election campaign in Imphal to develop and improve the road through a slide show during the observation.

“We will closely monitor the NREG scheme which provides a 100-days-job a year in rural areas in the state. The trend here is different from other states in that there is some 25 percentage reserved as line department totally for MLAs, Ministers and ADCs. This trend leads to failure of giving 100 days job to the public,” he said, “such culture needs to be closely watched and the distribution of old age pensions by the MLAs will also be apprised to central leaders.”

Meanwhile, those who joined BJP on Wednesday said that they joined the party as PDS items, old age pensions and NREGS wages are not made available to the masses regularly under Congress led SPF government.

They also expressed optimism that the BJP-led-NDA government at the centre will do something significant for the state of Manipur.

Some of the prominent newly enrolled BJP members officially approved by the party president were former minister Haokholet Kipgen from Saitu assembly constituency (AC) , former minister M Manihar from Wabagai AC, Md Allaudin, son of former chief minister, the late Md Allimudin from Lilong AC , former minister Ngusanglur from Tipaimukh AC, former Vice-president of MPP Y Mangi of Heingang AC, former candidate Laishram Kadamjit of Wangkhem AC, former vice-president of MPYC, L Sunindro alias Yaima of Khurai AC.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/state-bjp-submits-memo-to-include-nh-37-development-in-ndas-action-plan/

IMPHAL, June 5: Naoroibam Sobita who lost a leg following a bullet injury and had remained physically handicapped still has been given financial help today.

Sobita was shot by CRPF personnel in June 2001 when demonstrating against the Union decision to extend the NSCN-IM ceasefire agreement without territorial limits. The public had protested against the decision and in the ensuing demonstrations, 18 lives were lost and several were left injured.

Speaking to IFP reporter this afternoon at her residence located at JNIMS family quarters, she said that after her plight was highlighted in the IFP of June 4 edition, ex-finance minister Laisom Lalit who hails from Keisamthong constituency visited her today. Lalit had asked about her welfare and gave her financial assistance. She exhorted the kind gesture of Lalit and said that such charity from the former minister is heart touching at her time of trouble.

Sobita is a diabetic patient and her gall bladder has turned septic, due to financial constraints, she cannot afford an operation till date despite being admitted to JNIMS in April, 21 last. She was discharged after eleven days. She administers four insulin injections daily for her condition and is still in need of more financial help.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/ex-ministers-generosity-helps-june-18-victims-treatment/

IMPHAL, June 5: The Maoist Communist Party of Manipur has accused the state Agriculture Department of misappropriating thousands of crores meant for aiding farmers of the State.

A release by the publicity secretary of the proscribed outfit Nonglen Meitei states that the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was taken up by the National Development Council in its 53rd meeting held in 2007. The mission seeks to ensure better production of rice, wheat and pulses etc wherein the nine districts of Manipur are included.

The financial help given by the mission to Manipur is mainly objected at providing rice seeds and irrigation facilities. A total of Rs 1,21,628 lacs was sanctioned under the scheme for the financial year of 2012-13 and the utilisation certificate for the amount was given on May 9,2013. Unfortunately, the said amount was never disbursed to the farmers.

Under the same mission, the state received a total of Rs 2,600.004 lacs for 2013-14 which also did not reach the targeted farming population. At present, another 1559.09 lacs has been approved for sanction by the ministry for the current financial year on May 21, 2014. The funds sanctioned for 2012 till 2014 has been prioritized at better rice production. But, the funds for the present year also targets at producing vegetables inclusive with rice, this was stated by the director of Crops ministry of Agriculture Department namely Reena Shah to the state Agriculture department in an approval letter.

The outfit states that a total of Rs 3816,28 lacs has been misappropriated by the concerned officials of the department. The funds meant for the current year will be checked by the Maoist party so that the farmers of the land will have their due benefit.

A state like ours will benefit from the funds meant for helping the farmers which will ultimately lead to more food production and further attend self-sustainable status of Manipur. The NFSM has been providing finances for procuring of rice seeds and irrigation facilities, but the officials of the Agriculture department have misled the public and kept the money for their vested personal purposes, it alleged. The Maoist will not take a silent stance when the public of the state has been robbed of their rights. The concerned department should take up necessary actions against the errant officials of the department by June 10, 2014 failing which the outfit will take up stringent measures, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/agri-dept-misappropriates-crores-charge-maoists/