Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 1: Health minister, Phungzathang Tonsing has claimed that the health care system in the State has witnessed a tremendous improvement during the pass few year despite shortage of doctors.

The Health Minister stated this while replying to a query raised by Andro MLA, Th Shyamkumar during the Question Hour of the ongoing Assembly session today.

He said while there are only 1196 doctors of the total requirement of 2222 doctors in the State, there are altogether 522 health centres including seven district hospitals in the entire State. Nevertheless, the health care system has improved a lot compared to previous years, he observed. The minister attributed this to careful planning of the department including the recruitment of 832 doctors this year.

He said that his department is trying its best to further improve the system and gradually the vacant post of doctors will be filled.

Of the total requirement the need for MHS Grade-I is 16 in numbers, 134 for MHS Grade-II, 599 for MHS Grade-III and 1470 for MHS Grade-IV. However, at present there are only 1961 doctors including 2 MHS Grade-I, 34 in Grade-II, 90 in Grade-III and 1070 in Grade-IV, he continued.

Of the total 522 health centres there are 17 CHC, 85 CHC, 420 PHSC and 7 district hospitals.

Th Shyamukar in his questioned initially sought information on the number of hospitals, doctors under the health department of Manipur.

Further in his supplementary question he enquired the Minister how can the health service operate when there was a deficiency of 1026 doctors with 522 health centres to operate.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/tremendous-improvement-in-health-care-system-says-phungzathang/

IMPHAL, July 1: Prof Gangmumei Kamei, a distinguished academician, author has been appointed as a member of the North Eastern Council along with Chandra Kanta Das, a senior retired IAS officer (`™75 batch).

The announcement was made by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, in his capacity as chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC), today, according to a PIB statement.

The two eminent persons as been appointed as the new members of the council for a period of three years, it said.

They will function as full time non-official members from the NEC headquarters at Shillong, according to the statement.

Prof Gangmumei Kamei retired as Professor of History, Manipur University, and is widely hailed for his excellence as an educationist and researcher in the subjects related to the Northeast, the statement said.

It also said that Chandra Kanta Das superannuated as chairman, Assam Electricity Board in December 2008 following which he served as adviser to the Chief Minister, Assam till 2011 and was thereafter actively engaged in public life as a civil society activist.

The two members appointed today will draw the salary, dearness allowance and perquisites as applicable to a Secretary in the Government of India. Das and Prof Gangmumei will fill in the vacancies that arose following the acceptance of the resignations of earlier NEC members Ashoke K. Dutta and MP Bezbaruah respectively.

Dr Jitendra Singh has also said that shortly a senior IAS officer from Government of India will be appointed as the new Secretary of the NEC, since the post fell vacant following the posting of the earlier Secretary Ameising Luikham as Union Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/prof-gangmumei-appointed-north-eastern-council-member/

IMPHAL, July 1: In an unfortunate incident, a 25 year old went on a stabbing spree leaving one dead, and two injured.

The incident occurred today at 9:45 am at Takhel Keithel Macha under Lamlai Police Station.

The dead victim has been identified as Khundrakpam Sanathoi Singh, 24, son of Kh Shamungou Singh of Takhel Mayai Leikai

It is learnt that Sanathoi was reading the morning newspaper at the site of the incident site when 25-year old Arambam Naobi Singh son of (L) A Ibomcha Singh came and suddenly stabbed him on his chest with a knife.

Even as by-standers were in shock over the stabbing, Naobi rushed forward and attacked 18-year old Yumkhaibam Premchandra Singh son of Y Angou Singh of Takhel Mayai Leikai who came riding a two-wheeler.

Following the second attack, the by-standers tried to control Naoba and seize the knife from him. In the effort, Naoba attacked another person identified as Thaoroijam Jugeshwar Singh, 55, of Takhel Mamang Leikai. However, he escaped with a little scratch on his hand.

On the other hand, Sanathoi was rushed to JNIMS but succumbed before reaching the hospital around 10:10 am.

Naoba who was also injured in the effort of the by-standers to control him was taken to JNIMS along with Premchandra

At the same time, Lamlai Police has registered a case in this regard and taken Naobi in its custody.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said Naobi has been suffering from some psychological imbalances since sometime.

A JAC was formed in this connection and held a meeting today demanding befitting punishment to Naobi.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/stab-victim-dies-on-way-to-hospital-in-takhel/

IMPHAL, July 1: The State government will not spare Indian Forest Officer (Manipur-Tripura cadre) SK Srivastava who has resurfaced again after missing for over six years, if he is found guilty of any charge, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said during the ongoing session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The leader of the House was responding to a calling attention motion moved by Oinam MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.

Further clarifying on the controversy surrounding the promotion of the IFS officer SK Srivastava to the rank of additional principal-chief conservator of forest (AP-CCF) from being a DFO, Ibobi said that the State government has not accepted the joining report as AP-CCF furnished by Srivastava.

The State government is taking the matter very seriously and a thorough investigation is underway against the IFS officer, said Ibobi while assuring the House that the government will not spare the officer if found guilty.

However, the Chief Minister observed that it would not be sensible to form a House Committee and conduct an enquiry at this stage overlooking the department and the Ministry concerned.

Moving his motion, MLA Dr I Ibohalbi said that SK Srivastava`™s act openly mocked the administrative set up of the nation and Manipur in particular.

Stating that Srivastava had completely defied the authority and the RR, Ibohalbi questioned whether his service was any longer required in the State?

The MLA drew the attention of the House stating that a House committee should be formed to conduct a probe against the IFS officer opining that his action could demoralise the entire administrative set up.

SK Srivasta a 1987 Manipur-Tripura cadre, who was then a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) went missing from the State in 2008 finally resurfacing on September 8, 2014 with a joining report furnished to the State government stating his designation as AP-CCF.

It was reported that the officer had reportedly gone on deputation to the RD Ministry in 1996 and went on to extend the deputation for several years.

With him failing to return to the state the DP declared him `unauthorised absentee` from January 20 2008 to June 5, 2012 and also reportedly sent summons for furnishing detail reports on his immovable assets.

However, he made several attempts to justifying himself including the joining report as APCCF on September 8, 2014 which allegedly on May 14 this year was granted by the Chief Secretary of Manipur after a mild warning.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/govt-investigating-unauthorized-absence-of-ifs-officer-says-cm/