We Watch America, Ignoring Manipur – Kashmir Times

We Watch America, Ignoring ManipurKashmir TimesIrom Sarmila Chanu, the Gandhi that Gandhi never was, finished 12 years of her epic fast, protesting acts of torture perpetrated in Manipur by the armed forces loyal to the Indian state, in the cover of th…

We Watch America, Ignoring Manipur
Kashmir Times
Irom Sarmila Chanu, the Gandhi that Gandhi never was, finished 12 years of her epic fast, protesting acts of torture perpetrated in Manipur by the armed forces loyal to the Indian state, in the cover of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The

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Hands-on training on Mapping Manipur using Google Mapmaker : A report – E-Pao.net

KanglaOnlineHands-on training on Mapping Manipur using Google Mapmaker : A reportE-Pao.netThis workshop was organized jointly by the students of MIMS, Manipur University and ICM, Imphal. It was the follow up of Google Mapmaker, Manipur mapping event wh…


KanglaOnline

Hands-on training on Mapping Manipur using Google Mapmaker : A report
E-Pao.net
This workshop was organized jointly by the students of MIMS, Manipur University and ICM, Imphal. It was the follow up of Google Mapmaker, Manipur mapping event which was organized jointly by the Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility, Life Sciences,
`Manipur has become a haven for child traffickers`KanglaOnline

all 4 news articles »

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Manipur highway blockade suspended – Assam Tribune

Manipur highway blockade suspendedAssam TribuneDemanding creation of a separate Kuki State, the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) called the blockade on both national and State highways in the Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur since November 17 evening,…

Manipur highway blockade suspended
Assam Tribune
Demanding creation of a separate Kuki State, the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) called the blockade on both national and State highways in the Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur since November 17 evening, forcing the entire 2.5 million population of
Nagas accuse Kukis of intimidating villagersTimes of India
Emergence of Gaikhangam : Forging a winning teamE-Pao.net
State-KSDC meeting failsKanglaOnline

all 26 news articles »

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Shame to India’s AFSPA-1958

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Sixty five (65) years passed since India regains freedom from British. Nevertheless, the remnant of the past empire still exists in the form of mental slavery and felony such as the sport-cricket, divide and rule, defeat using own family members, … Continue reading

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The post Shame to India’s AFSPA-1958 appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

Sixty five (65) years passed since India regains freedom from British. Nevertheless, the remnant of the past empire still exists in the form of mental slavery and felony such as the sport-cricket, divide and rule, defeat using own family members, make acts and rules to suppress, hang to death or shoot-at-sight if troublesome. Mentally, India is still enslaved with no remorse to modernize from the imperialistic views. Until today, the colonialism principles taught by the empire are more or less applied in India, little might have change been brought, but it was mainly by agitations and blockades! The dubious distinction of India to be a racist country is fast perpetuating. Whatever it may be; racism is for oblivious. The sensitive issue is that India is still to understand the distinct cultures, traditions, habitats and the values of life in the Northeast (NE) region.

The capitalism and economic crisis in the NE are poorly understood by the people of the States and the Center. NE States are losing miserably in the present world economical war. At this juncture, our excellent brains are hiding underground in the diseases infested jungles of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Nepal. The collective knowledge and skills of our brethren’s in jungles, if combined together, can revitalize the downtrodden States of NE to a brand-new height, which the world will recognize it as a unique and culturally rich society of the New World. But the sad part is our government’s tendencies to look myopically the NE people to be like Iraqi, Pakistani, Palestinian, Taliban, or just a buffer zone to any foreign invasion–solely in its endeavor to become superpower. Of course, the adopted colonial centric draconian acts like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)-1958, which gives full impunity to the armed forces to kill, maim or arbitrary detention and torture of merely suspected person is becoming a hurdle to the country’s dream for superpower. Life is not just to ‘live and die’, but it also has a meaning to ‘perform and prosper’ in a cordial manner, to become a superpower.

Recollecting the battles and wars won by guns and swords, which always boomerang with times, the invaders invariably fall down to the knee. Be it the mighty Greek, the Roman, the British or the Nazis all falls with time. There is nothing like big or small in nature. The ecological system of nature taught us that every organism and non-living things are in dynamical interactions in an intrinsic manner. A little disturbance in the system will make the system collapse. Thus, every individual, community or population is more or less essential to interact as a functional unit. Jim Corbett in his book entitled, “Man-eaters of Kumaon”, rightly indicated that the incapacitated tigress, wounded by the poachers/hunters became a man-eater. Human is a social animal, an injured family’s mother, father, brother or sister can do anything to protect her/his offspring/family and for survival. The rule is, “if someone hurts somebody, hundreds and thousands will appear, to hurt someone”. This is nature’s law. A prolong suppression or oppression of an individual, community or population, will ultimately be a detrimental scenario in the long run. A synonymous situation of Corbett’s Man-eaters, are in the making.

The young generations of India believed that “rules are made for fools” and “justice in the barrel of a loaded gun” will never bring peace and tranquility. Therefore, humane acts, laws, policies and rules, not for fools, are sought after. The law makers earlier, failed to sincerely-study the root cause of ‘who, how and why’ the so-called ‘anti-social elements’ are created, produced or perpetuated within the country itself. Is it the laws and policies of our country: ineffective or inadequate that so many anti-social elements are produced and mushrooming? Don’t we have any other means to control or pacify the militants? Are we at the receiving-end to control our children, therefore, providing the armed forces the special powers to shoot-at-sight their own brothers? The answer is: our borrowed laws and policies needs to be discarded and new ones to be formed, framed and implemented. Geographically, NE region is also in a vulnerable location connected to mainland India by a narrow strip of chicken-necked land and if broken, India will become like headless nation!

Unlike other terrorists, the insurgents of NE never disturbed the serenity of the mainland India. However, most of them (if not all) are fighting for their recognitions, identities, anti-corruptions, anti-drugs, territorial integrity, developments, fundamental rights, etc. in their own homes, States and region. Their desires cannot be suppressed at gun points, but it can be won by social, economic and honest developmental transformations. The subversive activities by the rebels, which is making their lives and common people suffers from all possible malice, can always be resolved through sincere and humane political dialogues. Do we need AFSPA-1958 here?

It is also pertinent to mention that our borrowed acts and policies, despairingly metamorphosed or tagged, the majority of the young NE people to be like terrorists, militants, savages, loose characters in the eyes of the mainland inhabitants. This further alienates, deprives, discriminates or hampered the people to live freely, study or get job in other States of India. The prejudice in giving justice to the twelve years hunger strike by Miss Irom Sarmila Chanu is another example of discrimination by this act. Thus, the differentiation created between the people of this region and rest of India owing to draconian acts, furthermore, brought hatreds and racisms to our country men and can be termed as the most pathetic mistakes of the past.

In a nutshell, if unwanted colonialist styles of acts/rules are not changed within the State/s and the Center, then the Government of India is indirectly influencing to create a modern Indian National Army (INA) to fight against them. History repeats itself! The endangered innocent civilians, who are wronged by the name of ‘disturbed area’, will live underground, someday. Entirely, the role of AFSPA at the present scenario, seems to be only for protecting the conniving politicians, corrupt officials, greedy businessmen, dictatorial radicals, who consciously believed in preserving their name, fame, land, money and whose intention is to make the country fall. These sections of society may always “sworn to fun and loyal to none”, and their credentials of loyalty to the nation is debatable. To save their bottom from exposing, they need a sweeping act to react against what they called ‘anti-social elements’. Our ‘Jawans’ who should be well equipped/protected with sophisticated weapons, vehicles, armors, surveillances and military fatigues to combat the militants/terrorists are rather equipped and protected by the vintage style acts and laws. Hence, implementing AFSPA-1958 for safeguarding them is a gross mistake to India’s economy, development and human rights and a shameful act to the rest of the world.

Khwairakpam Gajananda (PhD)
E-mail: gajkh@yahoo.com

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Alternative arrangement for nagas of Manipur

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The nagas had been one people from time unmemorable. The first mention of the nagas in our present place of domicile was made by Claudius Ptolemy, Alexandrian astronomer and geographer in the first century B.C. He referred to our areas … Continue reading

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The post Alternative arrangement for nagas of Manipur appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

The nagas had been one people from time unmemorable. The first mention of the nagas in our present place of domicile was made by Claudius Ptolemy, Alexandrian astronomer and geographer in the first century B.C. He referred to our areas as being inhabited by people who were naked or with little attire. That the nagas had established their settlement, land, customs and usages at their area of domicile continuously for more than 2000 years is proof that the nagas were great warriors and resilient defenders of their land. Nagas were also peaceful and co-operative people living in harmony with each other. Every naga village was a sovereign village state in itself except in some ranges especially among the konyak tribe whose chiefs or Anghs dominated and ruled over several villages which was mostly for common defence strategy.

The nagas were a hard working and diligent people. They were self-sufficient and so had no reason to venture far from their home turf. This attitude, in retrospect, was also the cause of their many misfortunes in the future. Many of the ills the nagas suffered are attributed to many political decisions taken behind their back. For the nagas except for some salt expeditions and hunting expeditions there was hardly any interaction with the outside world. They lived under set norms and practices in public life yet had very high degree of personal freedom. Any crime big or small was promptly dealt with under an efficient customary law system and there was a great sense of safety and social security. This Utopian system of life gave little reason for anyone to move out of the circle of his village or tribe and kept the nagas in isolation from the outside world.

The first interaction between the nagas and the Meitei people was not on mutual reciprocal basis but a one sided intrusion from the meiteis.The meiteis were in Manipur which in those days meant only the present valley area.The sana leibak , the valley area was the Manipur of the Mahabharat according to the Brahmins from Puri which the king completely believed . In the Khomjon War of 1891 the British army inflicted a resounding defeat to the Raja of Manipur and annexed his territory and was made to pay an annual tribute of Rs.300000/- (Rupees Three lacs only) to the British crown. The king pleaded with the conquerors that the tax was enormous and that he be allowed to raise some tax from the surrounding hill areas. The British Government gave a reluctant but tacit approval to the request. This arrangement was made without the knowledge of the hill people.It was just a greedy nexus between the British and the raja.
Thereafter every year the Manipuri king sent his army of horsemen and footmen armed with muskets to forcefully collect an annual household tax from every village. The naga villages were few and far in between and the rajas army was well-armed and well manned. The villagers had little option but to pay up or face dire consequences. This levy was not a tax of the ruler on its subjects, it was just plain extortion under threat to life. This army was also more than willing to apply force against any village that resisted in which case the village would be looted and its members massacared as a lesson. The nagas being not very familiar with muskets or gun powder, in those days, the raiding parties took maximum advantage of the situation. This was also true of the other tribal areas.

This annual foray was the only interaction between the kingdom of Manipur which was the valley area alone and the people in the adjacent hill areas. The hill areas were however, never governed by the king of Manipur. He neither tried to nor ever wished to govern the hill areas. For him, these were just an area where he freely extorted money. Towards the end of the nineteenth century it became convenient for this marauding army to give Manipuri names to the villages in the hill areas. The ridiculous Meitei names thus allocated bore no meaning to hill people.

However, this act of naming villages presumably for the accounting reasons provided an opportunity to the raja which was irresistible. A sinister and deliberate plot was hatched and the adjacent hill areas used solely for extortion were surreptitiously shown as an extended part of Manipur bearing Meitei names. This was done without the knowledge or involvement of the nagas or the other hill peoples. In due course of time the western and northern boundary of Zeliangrong became Manipur boundary with Assam and Nagaland respectively instead of the foothills of the valley. The Senapati tribe boundary lands became Manipur boundary with the Angami and Chakesang tribes of Nagaland. Similarly, the land of the tribes of Ukhrul, Chandel and Churachanpur were claimed/included surreptitiously as the outer part of Manipur.

The raja however continued to rule only the valley area and the administration of the hill areas was continuously under the British crown. In fact, before the British administration departed from Manipur, under their guidance a draft constitution for Manipur was made in 1949. In the draft constitution there was a clause which stated that the state of Manipur will comprise of the valley of Manipur and the adjoining hill areas for 10(ten)years. After the expiry of ten years the hill areas may secede from Manipur if they so desire. Mr. Daiho and Mr. Tiankham objected to the period of ten years insisting that is should be reduced to five years. If the agreement had been approved as proposed and if the tribals representatives had not walked out what would have been our position are now in the annals of the ifs and buts of history . This however was probably was the first official endeavour to legitimise and to establish the state of Manipur, temporary however it may be.

I am emphasising and bringing out these points, because of late the territorial integrity of Manipur state appear to have become a bigger issue than the naga solution in the eyes of the Government of India even though the existence of Manipur as a state was ambiguous as late as 1949, long after independence of India. The naga peace talks that were to be held without pre-conditions appear to be coming up with more and more conditions as the years pass by. For more than fifteen years the government led the nagas on as though the naga solution was in next bend down the road. Is the Government of India going to mislead the nagas on and on while they go about diluting the aspirations of the naga people till there would be nothing left to discuss about? We have to be very realistic and seriously ponder upon this.
I had written earlier that if the nagas are not at peace, the entire north-east region will not be at peace, and if the north-east region is not at peace, the rest of India cannot be at peace. The government had recently stated that the Chinese and ISI elements are fomenting unrest in the region. A stable North-East is the best defence for the country and the right step in that direction is to resolve the naga conflict without further loss of time. Prolonging the issue will only further alienate the people of the region.
It is but natural for a people to aspire to stay together under one administrative unit. They must, there is no harm in that. What is appalling, however, is the steadfast manner in which the India politicians and bureaucrats keep parroting at every fora that the territorial integrity of Manipur cannot be compromised. What prompted them to sing this chorus everytime? Such acts by the Prime Minister and his colleagues from time to time and recently by the government of India and the government of Manipur at the Tri-partite talks with UNC tantamount to disrespect and insult to Indian parliament and Indian constitution. They cannot put an embargo on an issue which purely is the prerogative of parliament and guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

Article 3 of the Indian Constitution states that:
Parliament may by law,

a) Form a new state by separation of territory from any state or by uniting two or more states or by uniting any territory to a part of any state.
b) Increase the area of any state.
c) Diminish the area of any state.
d) Alter the boundaries of any state.
e) Alter the name of any state.

The bill for the same, requires the recommendations of the President of India to parliament. (The President prior to that will seek the view of the state(s) likely to be affected in the process. Within a period of 30(thirty) days. The President ,however,may or may not abide by the views of the state legislatures, so ascertained nor is he bound by number of days so provided for the legislatures).

When parliament has been provided with such leverage is matters concerning boundaries or creation of states, politicians and bureaucrats have no business of pre-empting parliament and deny the people their constitutional rights.

Secondly , every state in the country, each and everyone of them, had territories added or taken out since independence. Vast tracks of land of Assam had been ceded to Bhutan and erstwhile East Pakistan even after independence without the Indian Parliament passing an amendment to the constitution which was a prerequisite. The amendment was passed more than a decade laterin 1961 after Supreme Court intervened. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were formed out of Assam.Did anybody big or small ever mentioned or spoken about Assam’s territorial integrity then or now?Then why has the Government taken such a diametrically opposite stand as regards Manipur? What is the motive? The year 1949 saw a lot of inter state adjustments when the states and provinces of pre-independent India were re-arranged into A,B,C and D states categories. The States Re-organisation Act of 1956 re0organised the state boundaries further into states and union territories based on “linguistic and local demands.” This continued after 1956. In 1959 transfer of territories between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Andhra and Tamil Nadu took place. In 1960 Bombay Presidency was bifurcated into Maharastra and Gujarat. Nagaland was created from Assam in 1962 and in the 70’s Arunnachal, Meghalaya and Mizoram were created. In the year 2000, Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand were created out of Madhya Pradesh, U.P and Bihar respectively. Now Telangana is poised to happen any time in the near future.

In this background is it not relevant to question why the territorial integrity of Manipur is so sacrosanct in the eyes of the Government of India? What is the motive behind it? Recently the Prime Minister of India had stated, alluding to the integration of the contiguous naga inhabited areas that what was not possible in one hundred years will not be possible in another hundred years. My question to the Prime Minister will be , what has happened to the rest of the country over and over in the last hundred years and will happen again and again in the next hundred years – not possible for the naga people? What prompted this consistent denial to us?

Just before the last elections Shri Ibobi Singh was the most hated chief minister in Manipur’s entire history. He even promoted a local party which put up candidates against official Congress party candidates who would not tow his line. Such was his precarious condition that he wantonly went against his own party and partymen. Then all of a sudden on 3rd Dec 2011 Dr Manmohan Singh happened. The Prime Minister that day declared the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected. Overnight O. Ibobi turned into majority Ibobi. Was it appropriate for the Prime Minister to have made such a pronouncement while the negotiation to bring about peaceful solution to the Indo-Naga conflict was going on? Only time will tell.

From the utterances of the Prime Minister and his collegues, we can only draw the conclusion that the naga cause and naga aspirations had been misused and abused to gain political mileage for the congress party. Both Ibobi and Tarun Gogoi were notorious for sponsoring extra judicial killings and fake encounters. They had been alienated from the people at the grassroot level. But by raising a bogey of fears, while delaying the solution to the naga problem, the congress party has ensured maximum political mileage in the three states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Our naga political leaders have also not been blameless. In fact they have become stumbling blocks to the naga people. After getting elected and on reaching Imphal or New Delhi they forget their people and the ones who elected them. At the no-confidence motion against UPA I in July 2008, our MP declared in Parliament that he will vote against the motion in support of UPA because the congress party had assured him that the party will reconsider its stand on protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur. Madam Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan singh, Pranab Mukherjee and the entire cabinet and treasury benches vigorously thumped their desks in parliament in appreciation and agreement. But nothing happened thereafter. There were rumours flying thick and fast that thirty pieces of silver changed hands. Whatever it was, a fine opportunity of a lifetime to further the cause of naga aspirations was lost.

The Government of India and the Government of Manipur seem to have developed an allergy to the term ‘naga integration’.The nagas of Manipur modified their demand to Alternative Arrangement for the naga people of manipur. Initially the alternative arrangement proposed no specific demand except the declaration that the present arrangement, the present dispensation (and the present system of government) was no more acceptable to the naga people. This followed a paradigm shift in the mindset of the naga people, an attempt to reach out to the other communities especially the Meitei people. The arrangement was envisaged to be an interim or temporary arrangement till the final settlement of the naga issue with the Government of India. It was an exercise in mending fences with our neighbours. In the first tripartite talks when Shombu Singh representing Government of India asked Mr. Sword Vashum, Chairman Alternative Arrangement Committee what alternative arrangement was, he reportedly replied “you tell us.” That was the epitome of what the alternative arrangement was all about. It meant we are of an open mind, we are willing to listen to and consider any proposal or suggestion, tell us what you have in mind, we have no fixed mindset on the matter. It was a positive signal to other communities that that the nagas are willing to sit down and discuss, sort out differences where it exists, build bridges and mend fences. In other words even one state two people, one state two administrations, nagas were willing to listen. The Government of Manipur and the Valley Civil societies appear to have not visualise beyond the tripartite talks and a great opportunity was missed. The UNC now appear to be more focussed on separate state. But let no one raise their finger at the naga people to say that nagas had not extended their hand in friendship..

The founding fathers of our nation Shri Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime minister of India and Shri. G.B. Patel the iron man of India and the first Home minister of India has this to say regarding the aspirations of the naga people.On 13th May 1956 Nehru wrote a secret personal letter to CM Medhi Chief Minister of Assam.“One of their grievances is that under the constitution we have split them up in different political areas. Whether it is possible or desirable to bring them together again is for us to consider. Also what measure of autonomy we should give them so that they can lead their own lives without any sensation of interferences.”In 1961 Shri. G.B. Pant the then Home Minister of India stated that “Frankly ………. disintegration of present Manipur would be an inevitable process and naturally the naga would have to join their nagas and if they so choose even the kukis too should be given, as far as geographical position permits the choice to join the mizos who are more akin to the kukis…..”

Naga people must have a complete state of its own so as to better preserve their culture, tradition, customary ways of the Naga people.The naga people share a common vision of this which is a completely legimate aspiration and the position of Manipur’s sentiments has no locus standi on the topic. Indian states have been bifurcated or added to on several occasions in the past based on “ linguistic and local demands” alone. Our aspirations are just and guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and Indian Parliament had set so many precedents in the past while disposing such just demands of the people.It won’t be long before the naga peoples demand and dreams are fulfilled because the Government of India will have no alternative but to concede to the just demands of the naga people.

Puni Modoli.
Dimapur.
Punimodoli@gmail.com

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Uncle Judges Syndrome

MNS:- The Law Commission of India in their 230th Report has mentioned the matter of appointment of ‘Uncle Judges’ in the High Courts, wherein it is said that the Judges, whose kith and kin are practicing in a High Court, should not be appointed in the same High Court. The appointment of Judges in the […]

MNS:- The Law Commission of India in their 230th Report has mentioned the matter of appointment of ‘Uncle Judges’ in the High Courts, wherein it is said that the Judges, whose kith and kin are practicing in a High Court, should not be appointed in the same High Court.
The appointment of Judges in the High Court and Supreme Court is made under the Memorandum for Appointment of Judges which has been laid down following the Supreme Court Judgments in 1993 and 1998. Under this, responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the High Court and Supreme Court is with the Chief Justice of the High Courts/Supreme Court. Under Article 217 of the Constitution, a person who has been an advocate for 10 years in a High Court or in two or more such Courts in succession is qualified to be considered for appointment as the Judge of the High Court.
Thus, under the Constitutional Provision, Chief Justice can recommend judges from the Bar to be appointed as the judge of the High Court. In this situation, kith and kin of those appointed as judges and practicing in the High Court is likely. With a view to correct the situation, judicial standards are being prescribed for the judges in the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012 which has been passed by Lok Sabha already.
This was stated by the Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Ashwani Kumar in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/uncle-judges-syndrome/

Uncle Judges Syndrome

MNS:- The Law Commission of India in their 230th Report has mentioned the matter of appointment of ‘Uncle Judges’ in the High Courts, wherein it is said that the Judges, whose kith and kin are practicing in a High Court, should not be appointed in the same High Court. The appointment of Judges in the […]

MNS:- The Law Commission of India in their 230th Report has mentioned the matter of appointment of ‘Uncle Judges’ in the High Courts, wherein it is said that the Judges, whose kith and kin are practicing in a High Court, should not be appointed in the same High Court.
The appointment of Judges in the High Court and Supreme Court is made under the Memorandum for Appointment of Judges which has been laid down following the Supreme Court Judgments in 1993 and 1998. Under this, responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the High Court and Supreme Court is with the Chief Justice of the High Courts/Supreme Court. Under Article 217 of the Constitution, a person who has been an advocate for 10 years in a High Court or in two or more such Courts in succession is qualified to be considered for appointment as the Judge of the High Court.
Thus, under the Constitutional Provision, Chief Justice can recommend judges from the Bar to be appointed as the judge of the High Court. In this situation, kith and kin of those appointed as judges and practicing in the High Court is likely. With a view to correct the situation, judicial standards are being prescribed for the judges in the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012 which has been passed by Lok Sabha already.
This was stated by the Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Ashwani Kumar in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/uncle-judges-syndrome/

Provision of Computer to Panchayats for Computer Education

MNS:- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc., with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. Imparting computer education at rural level is not sought to be achieved through this […]

MNS:- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc., with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. Imparting computer education at rural level is not sought to be achieved through this Mission Mode Project.
In so far as providing ICT infrastructure, including computers to Panchayats under this MMP is concerned, the States, have been advised to utilize available funds from different sources for the purpose such as 13th Central Finance Commission Grants, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY), etc.
This information was given by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been conducting evaluation of the implementation of 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the form of State of Panchayat Report since 2006-07. The last State of Panchayat Report is available for the year 2008-09. Similarly, Ministry of Urban Development have undertaken a study on “Impact of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act on the Working of Urban Local Bodies”. (Study undertaken by the National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi & other organizations and report submitted in November 2005). The services to the citizens being provided by the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) vary from State to State depending upon devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions by the respective State Governments. The extent of devolution is studied by the Ministry through an independent agency every year. The study shows that there is progressive devolution of powers to Panchayats from year to year.
Under Article 243G of the Constitution, States Legislatures are to endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-governance. Since Article 243G allows discretion to the States in the matter of devolution of powers to Panchayats, States vary in the extent to which they have devolved powers to Panchayats and Municipalities.
States are incentivized to devolve powers to Panchayats as mandated in Part IX of the Constitution, through Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS). In order to increase the capacity of elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayats, Ministry of Panchayati Raj implements capacity building program under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/provision-of-computer-to-panchayats-for-computer-education/

Provision of Computer to Panchayats for Computer Education

MNS:- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc., with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. Imparting computer education at rural level is not sought to be achieved through this […]

MNS:- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) that addresses core aspects of Panchayats’ functioning viz. Planning, Monitoring, Implementation, Budgeting, Accounting, Social Audit etc., with the aim to make their functioning more efficient, accountable and transparent. Imparting computer education at rural level is not sought to be achieved through this Mission Mode Project.
In so far as providing ICT infrastructure, including computers to Panchayats under this MMP is concerned, the States, have been advised to utilize available funds from different sources for the purpose such as 13th Central Finance Commission Grants, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY), etc.
This information was given by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been conducting evaluation of the implementation of 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the form of State of Panchayat Report since 2006-07. The last State of Panchayat Report is available for the year 2008-09. Similarly, Ministry of Urban Development have undertaken a study on “Impact of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act on the Working of Urban Local Bodies”. (Study undertaken by the National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi & other organizations and report submitted in November 2005). The services to the citizens being provided by the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) vary from State to State depending upon devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions by the respective State Governments. The extent of devolution is studied by the Ministry through an independent agency every year. The study shows that there is progressive devolution of powers to Panchayats from year to year.
Under Article 243G of the Constitution, States Legislatures are to endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-governance. Since Article 243G allows discretion to the States in the matter of devolution of powers to Panchayats, States vary in the extent to which they have devolved powers to Panchayats and Municipalities.
States are incentivized to devolve powers to Panchayats as mandated in Part IX of the Constitution, through Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS). In order to increase the capacity of elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayats, Ministry of Panchayati Raj implements capacity building program under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/provision-of-computer-to-panchayats-for-computer-education/

Permanent Membership of UN Security Council

MNS:- India strongly advocates an early and meaningful reform of the United Nations to make it better equipped to serve the needs of the world community. In this context, India has called for expansion of the UN Security Council to make the UN more effective and reflective of contemporary geo-political realities. The Government of India […]

MNS:- India strongly advocates an early and meaningful reform of the United Nations to make it better equipped to serve the needs of the world community. In this context, India has called for expansion of the UN Security Council to make the UN more effective and reflective of contemporary geo-political realities. The Government of India has been actively working along with other like-minded countries for building support among the UN membership for a meaningful restructuring and expansion of the UN Security Council. India has, in collaboration with Brazil, Japan and Germany, together known as the G-4, proposed expansion of the membership of the UN Security Council from the present fifteen to twenty-five with the addition of six permanent and four non-permanent members, including from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The efforts of the G-4 and other pro-reform countries played an instrumental role in starting text-based inter-governmental negotiations in the UN on the subject of Security Council reform in July 2010. Recognizing that there is widespread support to take the reform process towards a concrete outcome, the G-4 Foreign Ministers in a meeting in February 2011 decided to press ahead with all necessary steps to achieve at the earliest an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the Security Council. This G-4 initiative garnered cross-regional support and demonstrated that a wide coalition of Member States support it. The G-4 Foreign Ministers in their latest meeting held in New York in September 2012 agreed on the need to stay united and sustain the growing momentum in favour of expansion of the Council in both categories of membership.
Many leading countries have expressed support for the G-4’s proposal for expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. Among the permanent members of the Security Council, UK and France have supported the G-4 proposal as well as the candidatures of the G-4 countries for permanent membership of an expanded Council. USA is in favour of limited expansion in permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council and would like the new permanent members to be selected on the basis of their contribution to maintenance of international peace and security. Russia and China have also articulated support for expansion of the Security Council but they would like any expansion to be limited, gradual and based on the widest possible consensus among the UN membership.
Several countries, including but not limited to the US, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Brazil and South Africa, have expressed support for India’s claim for permanent membership in an expanded Security Council. This support has been conveyed in various fora, including, in bilateral discussions with the Government of India. However, the question of India`s membership of the Security Council would only be considered after an agreement on the nature and extent of expansion of the Council is arrived at in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter.
The Minister of External Affairs Shri Salman Khurshid said this in a statement laid on the Table of the House in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/permanent-membership-of-un-security-council/

Price of commodities hike as blockade continues – E-Pao.net

Price of commodities hike as blockade continuesE-Pao.netIn Manipur, petrol is available at Rs 66.48 per litre while diesel at Rs 47.04 as per the latest price fixed by the Government. However, petrol is now being sold at Rs 90-100 a litre in black mark…

Price of commodities hike as blockade continues
E-Pao.net
In Manipur, petrol is available at Rs 66.48 per litre while diesel at Rs 47.04 as per the latest price fixed by the Government. However, petrol is now being sold at Rs 90-100 a litre in black markets in the wake of the agitation by KSDC. Follow the

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEGdiS0IpVj3eUuSCZhEzegsSM1uA&url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageSelector.asp?src=Price_of_commodities_hike_as_blockade_continues_in_Manipur_20121122&ch=news_section&sub1=News_Links&sub2=News_Links_2012

One injured in Manipur blast – The Hindu

KanglaOnlineOne injured in Manipur blastThe HinduOne person was injured in a bomb blast near Assam Rifles office at Singjamei, near Imphal, on Thursday. Police said the blast occurred around 6 p.m. and the injured person was a passerby. The spot is abo…


KanglaOnline

One injured in Manipur blast
The Hindu
One person was injured in a bomb blast near Assam Rifles office at Singjamei, near Imphal, on Thursday. Police said the blast occurred around 6 p.m. and the injured person was a passerby. The spot is about one and half km from the police headquarters
1 hurt in blast near Assam Rifles post in ImphalTimes of India
IED explosion critically injures civilian at SingjameiKanglaOnline

all 4 news articles »

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The last of the Ponies – Times of India

The last of the PoniesTimes of India'Manipuri Ponies' are said to be one four recognised breeds of horses found in India, the rest being Kathiawari, Marwari and Bhutia. Equestrian experts have conflicting views about the origin of the ancient b…

The last of the Ponies
Times of India
'Manipuri Ponies' are said to be one four recognised breeds of horses found in India, the rest being Kathiawari, Marwari and Bhutia. Equestrian experts have conflicting views about the origin of the ancient breed, some say that it may have developed

and more »

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGHhYY6_AiJz_Yb77GeqIZrosGuTA&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-last-of-the-Ponies/articleshow/17321061.cms

The last of the Ponies – Times of India

Times of IndiaThe last of the PoniesTimes of IndiaThe four day international polo tournament set to start on November 24 may be set in insurgency ridden Manipur, but it has managed to draw a lot of international teams including the Hurlingham Polo Asso…


Times of India

The last of the Ponies
Times of India
The four day international polo tournament set to start on November 24 may be set in insurgency ridden Manipur, but it has managed to draw a lot of international teams including the Hurlingham Polo Association of United Kingdom. "This time we have

and more »

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGBuy49j5Nhj7OOVhh6fav6bkdUCQ&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/The-last-of-the-Ponies/articleshow/17320813.cms