Day: November 14, 2012

IMPHAL, Nov 14 MNS NNN: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Family Welfare minister, AK Mirabai, Commerce and Industries minister, Govindas Konthoujam, , Agriculture minister Abdul Nasir, MLAs and host of Congress workers on Wednesday paid homage to former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the occasion of his 123rd birth anniversary.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam sharply rejected the notion of disintegration among different ethnic communities in Manipur citing the global movement lobbying for peace and harmony.
Gaikhangam made this statement while participating at a function marking the 123rd birth anniversary of former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru organized by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) at Congress Bhawan, Imphal.
He further said Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, was a man of eminent personality and his birthday November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day across India.
Nehru wanted a peaceful and harmonious India and the great statesman also took up initiative to make the new country a matured nation, the Deputy CM said. “We must work hard to make his dream come true by following his footprint, philosophy and vision.”
“His main political vision was to make a strong and united India, and to live together among different communities by promoting unity in diversity. We need to translate such vision of Nehru,” Gaikhangam urged.
The former prime minister also played a great role in introducing Non-Alignment Movement (NAM). This signifies that Nehru wanted non-interference in the affairs of other countries and a heaven like serenity in the world.
Gaikhangam also called for a united stand of the people of Manipur to determine exactly on what would be their contribution for the society with a new promise on this occasion.
Social welfare department has already set up Child Rights Committee with seven members last month, said AK Mirabai, minister of Social Welfare and Co-operation while delivering his Chief Guest speech on Children’s Day event at Bal Bhavan, Khuman Lampak.
She also praised the working of the department as a great asset, and stressed on the need for vigilance against child labour. Admitting incomplete of Angan Wadi canters as standing in the progress of the department, she appealed the contractors to complete construction works in earnest.She called for up gradation and improvement of the state’s Bal Bhavan and claimed that the state is not lagging behind others.Meanwhile, Children’s day has also been organized at Tamengong district headquarters of Tamenglong by the Social Welfare Department with Armstrong Panmei (IAS), SDO of Tousem and L Ibomcha, as the Chief Guest and President respectively, according to report reaching here. As part of the programme, a painting competition was also held at the mini-stadium of Tamenglong with around 150 students of different schools participating in the event, the source added.
44 Assam Rifles of 10 Sector under HQ IGAR(S) celebrated Children’s day at Chassad on 14 Nov 12. The event was inaugurated by the Commandant, 44 Assam Rifles, as the chief guest.The day was celebrated with children putting up a grand cultural programme.
In another occasion, 37 Assam Rifles of 28 Sector under HQ IGAR(S) organized a Debate Competition on occasion of Children’s Day at Community Hall Tuijang village in Chandel district The villagers and children participated in the competition.
27 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of “Red Shield Division” today organised a Medical Camp cum Mid day Meal at Salvah Model School, Kamdou veng, Churachandpur district. Apart from medical Checkup, School Children were provided with free medicines by the Medical Officer of 46 Assam Rifles. Meanwhile Commander 27 Sector also visited the Schools and provided them with mid day Meal for the School Students.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/homage-paid-to-nehru/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Nov 14 : : The United Committee on Protection of Natural Resources, Tipaimukh (UCPNRT) has demanded from the government of Manipur and Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited responsibly to withdraw all its exploratory efforts before ushering human crisis.
The Committee also demanded that the government of Manipur and Jubilant Oil and gas Private Limited declare all the memorandum of understandings (MoUs) as null, invalid and void. They further demanded that government of Manipur immediately put a moratorium on the on-going exploratory projects.
“The Hmar Inpui (Hmar Supreme House) and the Village Authority Association of Tipaimukh Sub Division, Churachandpur District, Manipur are seriously concerned with the manner in which oil and gas exploration has been pursued in Hmar areas. They are not provided with free, prior information and therefore the on-going exploration did not bear the consent and knowledge of the Hmar people,” the Committee stated.
It is shocking to learn that the total area granted for oil exploration is 3850 Sq. Km. which is almost one sixth of the total geographical area of Manipur. The drilling sites will be located in the following Hmar villages: Parbung, Parvachawm, Sipuikawn, Tipaimukh, Taithu, Lungthulien, Damdiei, Tinsuong, Sartuinek, Patpuihmun, Kangreng and Lower Kharkhuplien. Comparatively, the Hmar dominated areas will be most impacted by the project, the United Committee on Protection of Natural Resources, Tipaimikh added.
“Under the Eight Round of New Exploration Licencing Policy (NELP-VIII) the Government of India had signed one production sharing contract on 19th July, 2010 at New Delhi for on-land oil block in Manipur code-named „AA-ONN-2009/I with the Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited. The oil and gas tycoons have also secured the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Government of India and a Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) with the Government of Manipur on July, 2010 and November, 2010 respectively,” the Committee pointed.
It then alleged that the MoUs are merely dictated rubber stamp imposed by the Government of Manipur and its colluding partners without informing or engaging the Hmar peoples in any of the decision making processes. The conclusion of this bureaucratic formality is nothing but an exercise to implement vested interests and to fulfil the narrow political ends of the dictating partners,” .
The MoUs are but tools to fragment our land and our peoples, with blind adventurism and unrealistically optimistic assumptions of profit and development; they are insensible to the peaceful and stable livelihood system of the people and their rights and therefore wholly unjustifiable. The MoUs are discriminatory and suppressive and highly injurious to the democratic and citizenship rights of the Hmar peoples for which the State and other implementing agencies should immediately tender an apology. Till today, the MoUs are made without the knowledge, consent, confidence, and approval of the Hmar peoples, the biggest stakeholder, in whose land the project is implemented. The on-going oil and gas exploration is severely a covert project that fails to be transparent in all its processes. All information that are supposed to link, inform and educate the people who will be affected did not reach them. The entire secretive practice is a negation of India s own Right to Information Act. Moreover, the project is anti-people. Despite the high-risks the proposed projects entail, the players so far not only failed to inform the threatened peoples about the possible adverse impact, but also failed to obtain their consent. In short, the project did not take into consideration the existence of the indigenous peoples and their rights.
In the absence of any democratic process and the failure to obtain the consent and approval of the Hmar peoples, the State actors as well as its colluding partners are merely institutionalising injustice. The players completely ignored the presence of the indigenous peoples whose existence is threatened by the project. The project, therefore, remains an imposed one. It is shocking to realize that the social, economic, and environmental cost of the controversial project is poorly accounted. Worst, the communities who will be affected have no idea about the possible adverse impacts of the oil and gas exploration. Moreover, the proposed projects appraisals are based on unrealistically optimistic and adventurous assumptions and failed to account for the direct and indirect costs of negative environmental and social impacts, the Committee further said.
The Committee also said that in the absence of any informed terms and conditions with the implementing agencies, the communities at risk cannot be made to compromise with their land, resources, livelihood system and rights. The absence of objective statement, guidelines for involvement by governments, private sector, and non-governmental organizations as well as public participation has created a serious vacuum for the threatened communities whose future is at stake. Moreover, there is no attempt, on the part of the implementing agencies, to include broader credibility and consent of the threatened communities other than the mere requirements for bureaucratic licensing that were aided by the threatening presence of heavily equipped security forces during the public hearings, it stated.
It then said its demands are in the interests of securing democracy, security, just peace, rights, “our” land and resources.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ucpnrt-demands-stopping-of-oil-exploration-works/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Nov 14 : Ningol Chakkouba festival will be celebrated tomorrow . The market area was filled with people buying goods. There was even a clash between the shop keepers and street vendors. Some thought there was a bomb and people started fleeing the market area. Normalcy was restored after some time. Handloom and fish fairs were also organised by the state government and other organisations.
Governor Gurbhachan Jagat said in a message, “Ningol Chakkouba is a grand festival of Manipur when married women and their children are invited for feast by their parents and brothers. Though the festival is originally observed by the Meitei community, the celebration now extends to other communities and tribes in Manipur thereby reinforcing unity amidst diversity in the State. The festival promotes the feelings of peaceful coexistence and harmonious social life by reaffirming our faith in the traditional values of love and protection.
Let us imbibe the ideals associated with this festival to foster the spirit of amity, harmony and goodwill in our life. O Ibobi, CM said in a message, “ It gives me great pleasure to greet the people of Manipur on the joyous and happy occasion of Ningol Chakkouba, 2012 and offer my good wishes to each and every one of them.
Ningol Chakkouba, a unique festival of the Meitei community, observed oh the second day of the new moon of Hiyangei rejuvenates family relations and bolsters the bond of love and affection between married sisters and brothers. I am glad that the ethos of this festival has been appreciated by the other communities and this festival is recently been celebrated with other communities. This brings about understanding among the various communities and helps in preserving and promoting unity and integrity in the society.”
Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh,AVSM,SM, Director General Assam Rifles, and All Ranks of Assam Rifles extend a very warm greetings and sincere goodwill to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion of “Ningol Chakkouba”. The DGAR conveyed that, ‘May this festival herald an era of peace, progress and prosperity in the region and enhance the spirit of unity, cohesiveness and brotherhood amongst warm and friendly people of the State.
Major General UK Gurung, YSM, IGAR(S) and All Ranks of Assam Rifles conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion of Ningol Chakkouba. In his message to the people of State, IGAR(South) observed that, the festival of Ningol Chakkouba reinforces the fraternal and protective bond that exist between brothers and sisters, and parents and daughters since time immemorial. The General Officer noted that, the festival was originally observed by Meitei community, the celebration has now encompassed other communities in Manipur, thereby promoting unity and integration in the State. May the goodwill and harmony bring all of us together irrespective of caste, creed and faith.
Maj Gen KK Sinha, SM, GOC and all ranks of Red Shield Division extend warm greetings to the people of Manipur on the auspicious and joyous occasion of “Ningol Chakouba” festival. Gen Sinha hopes that the festival of love between brothers and siblings will send out a message of brotherhood, happiness and peace among all communities of the State.
RPF today greeted all on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba.
It remembered the invitation of Poreiton by Laisna wife of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba for a feast on the second of Manipuri month Hiyangei in the first century AD from when the festival was celebrated by the masses.
The tradition of inviting brothers by married women for feast by their brothers changed during the reign of Chandrakirti . It became problematic for brothers to choose whose house to visit .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ningol-chakkouba-festival-today/

IMPHAL, Nov 14 NNN: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Lamphelpat is all set to distribute RC Maniphou-12 for pre-Kharif cultivation to sow in about 70 hectares of paddy fields in Manipur but the high- yielding rice seeds would be given to selective farmers only for seed multiplication purpose, a senior scientist at ICAR, Lamphelpat said Wednesday.
RC Maniphou-12 is one among the high-yielding anganphou, hybrid rice developed by ICAR, Lamphelpat in the past years. Like other varieties of hybrid rice, around 9 kg of seeds of RC Maniphou-12 is required in one lou pari (one hectare of paddy field), ICAR senior scientist I Meghachadra told Newmai News Network.
Such cost-effective sowing of rice is known as “System of Rice intensification (SRI),” he said. Under the SRI, seeds are sown sparsely to multiply enormous offspring of seeds. However, the mode of crop growing that has been practicing in the state is not the SRI method. This type of cultivation requires around 60 kg of rice seeds in one hectare of paddy field, therefore, the cost is high. Even so, SRI mode of production needs only 8-9 kg of rice seeds per one hectare of paddy field and yields about 5 ton of rice and simultaneously it is quite economical, he said.
ICAR, Lamphelpat has produced seven different varieties of hybrid rice in the state so far including the latest RC Maniphou-12. The six other varieties are RC Maniphou-4 (RCM-7), RC Maniphou-5 (RCM-8), RC Maniphou-6 (RCM-5), RCM Maniphou-7 (RCM-9), RC Maniphou-10 (Lungnilaphou) and RC Maniphou-11.
The council will provide the new RC Maniphou seeds to selected farmers to sow in 70 hectares of paddy fields for seed multiplication purpose. After that, the ICAR is planning to make it available across the state, senior scientist Meghachandra said. The council is expected to distribute the seeds to another 500 hectares of paddy fields during the main Kharif season, he further informed.
According to State Agriculture Department, Manipur has a total of 1.95 lakh hectares of crop land area but the record maintained by ICAR says the total cultivation area is about 10 lakh hectares.
There will be no problem of failure of crops in the main Kharif season if such high- yielding rice is cultivated in the pre-Kharif in the vast paddy fields, Meghachandra said.
The pre-Kharif period starts from January and ends in the month of May or June. Now, it is very much important to focus on pre-Kharif cultivation by developing proper irrigation systems in the state, the senior scientist suggested.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/icar-to-provide-kharif-seed/

IMPHAL, Nov 14 NNN: The Herbal Garden at Kangla Fort in the heart of Imphal has remained unexciting because further development of the garden has been brought to a standstill even as the amount of money released by Manipur Government as its share for the purpose has already been almost exhausted, an official of State Archaeology Department said Tuesday.
Kangla Fort Board took the initiative to develop the Herbal Garden with more emphasis on planting of medicinal plants back in 2009 following which the task was assigned to North-East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat in Assam.
Then, Manipur Government had deposited Rs 6.16 lakh as its share to NEIST for developing the garden in April 6, 2010. The total estimated cost of the garden is Rs 13.46 lakh, the State Archaeology Department official who did not want to be named further told Newmai News Network.
Rs 6.16 lakh out of the total Rs 13.46 lakh is the state share, while the remaining amount should be contributed by NEIST. The mission of the garden development was later entrusted with the Lamphel based sub-station of NEIST, Jorhat after the state Government released its amount of share.
After that, the NEIST sub-station at Lamphel in Imphal started development of the herbal garden from August 2010 and 131 different plants, including around 20 medicinal plant species were nurtured. The report on initial development of the garden was also duly submitted to the concerned department of the state Government.
Plants like heigru (Phyllanthus emblica Linn), kihori (Phyllanthus acidus Linn), agar (Aquilaria agallocha Lamp), neem (Azadirachta indica A Zuss), tera (Mobax malabathricum Linn), singairei (Nyctanthes arbotristis Linn and leihao (Michelia champaca Linn) were among the 131 plants.
Another 74 plant species were planning to cultivate in the garden, the report of the NEIST Imphal branch also mentioned. The garden measures a total area of 3.5 acre and this was allocated by the State Government in 2009, the official added.
The stipulated time for completion of the garden development work that has been taken since the year 2010 is around three years. However, only some portions of the total area have been discovered cultivating plants so far and the rest has remained unused till date.
In a spot inquiry conducted by Newmai News Network, the plants grown in the garden were found more or less surrounded by shaggy grass. Several electric poles, electric transformer and wires also seen fitted in the garden area.
At such, expectation has been lowered with regard to the full development of the Herbal Garden at the Kangla Palace, the official said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/herbal-garden-stops-midway-due-to-want-of-fund/