Manipur News

IMPHAL, March 3: Langthabal Kendra MLA Karam Shyam has questioned whether the high ranking officials of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) are appointing staffs against the rules.

The MLA raised this question during the question and answer hour of the House today.

The MLA questioned the number of sanctioned post in BOSEM, as on date and number of employees filled upon regular basis and appointed/engaged on ad-hoc/contract beyond the sanctioned post.

Replying to the question, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro said the number of sectioned post is 93, number of employees filled is 87, number of employees on ad-hoc is nil and number of employees on contract is only one.

The MLA further questioned was there any anomalies in the process while appointing employees recently in the BOSEM.

The Education Minister clarified that actions have been taken up against those officials who are found guilty.

While informing that BOSEM is run by a committee and its expenditures are not borne by the government, the Education Minister said the official of BOSEM cannot act as they pleased.

It may be mentioned here that in 2013, BOSEM Chairman P Dhanakumar Singh, IPS, issued notification for appointment of staffs on contract basis but were appointed as regular staffs.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/is-bosem-appointing-staffs-against-rules-mla-shyam/

IMPHAL, March 3: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the government is taking all the necessary action to keep land and order and that there is no difference in the treatment of bomb blast victims among hill and valley people.

While giving ex-gratia the government has to follow at least some minimum formalities. The government will release financial assistance as soon as those formalities are received added the Minister in response to the calling attention motion moved by MLA Dr I Ibohanbi Singh on the need to provide assistances to the victims of bomb blast incident in Ukhrul District on February 5, 2015.

In another calling attention motion, MLAs L Ibomcha Singh and Karam Shyam drew the attention of the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio, on the reported increase in excesses committed by Assam Rifles in Imphal-Moreh road.

While clarifying on the matter the Home Minister said that free movement of people, media and even of VIPs are sometimes disturbed by the increase in excesses of Assam Rifles, and instruction has been given to the authority to decrease the check posts on the Imphal-Moreh road.

He further said that this issue has been apprised to the Union Home Minister who had recently visited Manipur.

Apart from inconveniences caused to commuters/media personnel and even to detain VIPs vehicles with national flag post means dishonouring the national flag. Process is underway to make the Assam Rifles personnel responsible acountable and suitably punished, added the minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/mlas-draw-attention-on-reported-increase-in-excesses-committed-by-ar-in-imphalmoreh-road/

IMPHAL, March 3: In a joint press release, Manipur University Tribal Students` Union and All Manipur Tribal Students` Union have stated that it has come to their notice that the recently held PhD entrance examination at Manipur University was fraught with discrepancies and lacked transparency.

Most ST candidates for the PhD program in Manipur University have been denied admission in the department of Chemistry, English and Life Sciences which is in direct contravention to the ST reservation norm of 31% of the University, it said, adding while they are fully aware that cut-off levels for ST/SC, OBC and General candidates may be set to ensure the quality of candidates.

However, MUTSU feels that until and unless such decisions of the Pre-PhD Admission Committee with regard to this and other relevant information for candidates are not shared either through departmental notifications or the University`s PhD prospectus, such so-called criteria for admission or selection to the PhD program are highly questionable in terms of transparency and accountability and as such open to manipulations at the wishes and whims of the members of the committee, it said.

The current practice of revealing the cut-off level and other specific criteria by the department of Chemistry, English and Life Sciences only after the announcement of the result of the PhD entrance test is and can be viewed as insidious attempts to deny tribal students the chance and opportunity to pursue higher studies in the university, it said.

In the press release, the two student bodies said they strongly questioned as to how most ST candidates failed to get the desired mark to cross the cut-off level considered the most crucial in getting selected for Pre-PhD and also questioned why some departments have no cut-off levels thereby affording tribal students an opportunity to pursue higher studies in those streams while some other departments happen to have particularly high cut-off levels and that too with no prior information on the existence of such cut-off marks. It said they were, therefore, forced to ask whether there exist a discriminatory practice that surreptitiously segregate tribal and non-tribal students with a tacit believe that some departments must be considered as avenues for the more developed and apparently advanced community which must be denied to tribal students.

Finally, MUTSU and ATSUM demands that such discrepancies must be given prompt and proper attention by the university authorities, it said, adding they demand that ST seats should be given to the highest scoring ST candidates whether they cross the cut-off marks or not. ST quotas are for the STs alone and utmost efforts should be made that they continue to stay that way failing which strenuous steps will be taken up by the students` unions, said the release co-signed by MUTSU president Thohrii and ATSUM president Muan Tombing.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/mutsu-and-atsum-lament-discrepancies-in-selection-of-phd-students-in-mu/

IMPHAL, March 3: The ongoing 10th Session of the Tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly which was scheduled to adjourn on the fifth day today has been extended for another two days.

The Business Advisory Committee, in its meeting held today recommended, the Assembly be extended for another two more sittings on March 13 and 16 for transacting the business of the House.

All the members of the House unanimously agreed to extend the ongoing session to discuss a Bill for the implementation of a law to safeguard the indigenous people of the State.

Leader of the House, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, speaking about the extension of the Assembly session in the House today said, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) with the support of the public has been demanding enactment of a law for safeguarding the indigenous population of the State.

`The government understands the spirit of the people in this demand and in regard to this, all necessary steps have been taken up by forming an All Political Party Committee to discuss the issue and opinions of experts have also been collected,` he said

Further All Political Party Committee has submitted their report to the govt, he informed.

`We have now decided to extend the Assembly session by two more days.`

The Chief Minister then presented the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) report to the House for the extended period.

According to the report, the ongoing session will be further extended for two days and will be held on March 13 and 16.

There will be Question and Answer; other business, if any; introduction of Bill, if any; private member`™s resolution; and considering and passing of bill etc.

This BAC report presented by the CM today is the 13th report.

The Chief Minister further said, even the United Nations (UN) find it difficult to exactly explain the meaning of the word `indigenous`™ but anyhow a suitable legislation is the need of the hour to safeguard the indigenous population of the State.

The said legislation will be framed acting on the power bestowed upon under Article No 19(5) readwith Article 19(1)(d)(e), he said.

The Bill comes under Financial Bill because a separate Directorate needs to be set up in order to implement/enforce the rules and regulations of the said Legislation.

The Governor`™s assent is also need for said Bill, he added.

After the Bill has been introduced in the House, the Governor as well as the members of the House can go into details. The time of Yaoshang holidays will provide the time required, he said.

It will also provide the Governor the required time to consult with legal and Constitutional experts, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/assembly-session-extended-by-two-days-to-discuss-bill-on-safeguarding-indigenous-population/

IMPHAL, March 3: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has demanded the rescheduling of the written test for the selection of Research Scholars in the Manipuri Department, Manipur University today, terming the written test unfair.

Speaking at a press conference held today at its head office, DESAM general secretary Pukhrambam Premchandra said the Manipuri Department of MU issued a notification for the selection of 14 candidates for Pre-Phd on December 10 last year. The selection test carried 50 marks and candidates must secure at least 25 marks (50 %) to get selected as per the University norms, he added.

Exceeding the number of notified seats, a total number of 18 candidates were selected when the result was first declared on February 26, he said.

The same result was declared again on 28 February in which only 17 candidates were selected where one ST candidate was disqualified for securing only 13 marks, he added.

Among the 17 selected candidates, there were four candidates who did not secure the minimum marks to get selected as per MU norms, he said, stressing that the students body can`™t accept malpractices in selecting research scholars.

Premchandra further stated that partiality or favouritism in such kind of selection cannot be accepted as it should be conducted in a fair and genuine manner.

DESAM also appealed the concerned authority to take up strict actions against those who are found guilty, alleging that the vice-chancellor and the Registrar of Manipur University should resign from their posts on moral ground.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/desam-demands-rescheduling-of-written-test-for-selection-of-research-scholars-in-mus-manipuri-dept/