Month: January 2013

Mail News Service
Imphal, Jan 30 : The Government of India’s plan is to keep the people’s health sound, that is why the government is spending huge amount of money on Total Sanitation Campaign, said L. Swamikanta, Director, Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Manipur.
Speaking on Total Sanitation Campaign during the Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at the Mini Secretariat Hall in Thoubal district today, Swamikanta further said that every household should have a low cost sanitary toilet. Such a simple toilet can be constructed at the cost of just about Rs 10,000. The CCDU bears Rs 4000 and the Gram Panchayat should contribute about Rs 6000 to construct an ordinary sanitary toilet.
Through film slides, the CCDU Director showed how to construct simple and easy toilet.
He said, Manipur has abundance of rainfall. The annual rainfall in Manipur is about 15 centimeter. However, there is complete drought of the concept of rain water harvesting in Manipur.
Calling upon the audience comprising largely students from the nearby schools, the Director said, God has given the people of Manipur an abundance of rainwater. “We should collect and store up the rainwater by using easily available methods. We should not waste the rainwater.”He also demonstrated various methods for harvesting rain water through the film slides. He showed some chemicals used in testing the rainwater whether the water contains iron and lead, etc. He said , the Department is considering to distribute the chemical kits, which cost a little over Rs 2000 to the schools and the Gram Panchayats in Thoubal district to encourage rain water harvesting.
Swamikanta told the students to wash their hands properly before having food. Calling a few students upon the stage, the resource person demonstrated how dirty their hands were by washing their hands with a glass of water into a plastic bucket. Then he asked the students to drink the dirty water, but the students refused saying that the water was dirty. Thus the resource person could easily convince the large number of students that dirty hands carry a lot of germs. Having food without washing your hands means consuming the germs. The students went home convinced.
L. Ibomcha SE Rural Circle No. 1 PHED Manipur speaking on the second day of the Bharat Nirman campaign held at the Mini Secretariat conference hall at Thoubal DC complex said one must use safe drinking water to keep oneself in good health and added that 40 percent of the diseases prevalent can be controlled by using safe drinking water.
He also said drinking water supply is an important flagship programme. Total sanitation and supply of drinking water are the two main missions of the flagship programme. He stressed the need for both centre and state Governments going together for the successful implementation of the two programmes.
Plans are afoot to provide drinking water to all the villages in Thoubal district. A website has been launched and by visiting the site one can know the area covered by rural water supply scheme. He also said village water supply committees have been formed which can ensure regular supply of drinking water to problem villages. Each committee will have not less than two members in charge of each scheme. Engineers of the PHED will teach appointed members of the committees on how to mix chemicals in the water and laying of pipes. The rate of tax varies according to the number of population of the villages. Villages having not less than 2000 villagers will pay less tax than those having only 300 villagers.
PHED will extend help in maintenance of the water supply scheme in case of calamities and major damages occurring but for minor damages the repairing must be done by committee themselves.
On the second day of the campaign a free medical camp was also organized. More than 200 persons received medical treatment and medicines free of cost.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/centres-plan-is-to-keep-peoples-health-sound/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Jan 30 : Angam Karuang Kom, Block Development Officer, Kakching CD Block today said that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) can improve the standard of living of the poor people in the rural areas thereby improving the economy of the nation.
Kom was speaking as a resource person on the second day of the three day Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign being held at the Mini Secretariat Hall, DC Complex, Thoubal under the aegis of PIB Imphal.
Speaking on MGNREGS, Kom reminded the audience that included a large number of students that the Scheme first introduced in 2005. The Scheme was implemented in 200 districts in the country for the first time on the 2nd February, 2006. Manipur’s Tamenglong district was included in the first phase. In the second phase, 130 districts were selected for implementation of the Scheme. Churachandpur and Senapati districts were included in the second phase. The third phase which was implemented on the 1st April, 2008 covered all the remaining districts of the country.
He said, the most important feature of MGNREGS is the guarantee of 100 days of employment to every household in the rural areas. Today, the Scheme is being implemented in Thoubal district in letter and spirit.
All the works taken up under the Scheme are recommended by the Gram Sabha which, as a rule, holds its annual meeting on every 2nd October. However, if necessary, the meeting of the Gram Sabha may be held twice or thrice in a year. Once the Gram Sabha has recommended , the works cannot be cancelled by anybody including the MLAs.
Kom said that in other states, all the works of Gram Panchayat are carried out by the Gram Panchayat. But in Manipur, it is not so due to various factors.
Md. Sirajur Rehman Asstt project Officer DRDO Thoubal, who spoke on Indira Awas Yojna on the second day of the Bharat Nirman campaign today held at Mini Secretariat conference hall at Thoubal DC complex said IAY was started to provide houses to the poor people. Beneficiaries should be from amongst SC/ST, minority communities and BPL families.
He said the framers of the policy knew that 83 percent of the country’s population live in rural area of which 73 percent are homeless. IAY envisages to provide houses to all these homeless people of the country, he also said.
The fund allotted for construction of houses under IAY too had been increased. 75 percent of the fund is borne by the centre and 25 percent by the state.
But in NE region the state share is only 10 percent 90 percent is borne by the centre. Fund flow is not a problem. Funds are released in time and the implementing agencies readily hand over the amount to the selected beneficiaries.
He said the list of beneficiaries under IAY is framed by gram panchayats at rural areas. The selection list is displayed at the office of the gram panchayat. Nobody can interfere in the selection of beneficiaries. Old widow, spinsters, victims of atrocities are considered on priority basis in the selection of beneficiaries.
He also said, fund for construction of houses are released in phased manner after seeing the progress of the work. The houses constructed under IAY will also get free electricity connection under RGVY.
He informed the gathering that in Thoubal District in 2012-13, 262 houses could be constructed under IAY.
At the end of the session the expert speaker put questions to the listeners. Those who could give correct answers were given prizes.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mgnregs-can-improve-standard-of-living-of-poor/

A dead body of a youth was found floating in the Imphal river near Lilong Arapti Awang Leikai this morning around 7.30 a.m.
The victim was identified as Md. Ifajuddin alias Naha Ibungo (30) of Lilong Leihaokhong. He went missing for seven days. The body wore injuries in the head and ear. Meanwhile a vehicle lifter was beaten to death while stealing a motorcycle this early morning.
The deceased was identified as Md. Nasir alias Tachou (38) Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai. Reports said Nasir was beaten to death by a mob after he was reportedly caught red handed by locals while trying to steal a R15 motorcycle at Lilong Kabui Chobok village. However, his two alleged accomplices managed to flee. The incident happened around 2:30 am.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/body-found/