June 8, 2014 – Page 3

MBC celebrates Green Sunday

Under the theme of ‘Save God’s Green’, MBC Centre Church today observed the Green Sunday Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=31&src=090614

Dynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou Chiru – E-Pao.net

Dynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou ChiruE-Pao.netDynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou Chiru Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, June 08 2014: Dynamic Manipur in association with Waithou Chiru Village Authority' facilitat…

Dynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou Chiru
E-Pao.net
Dynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou Chiru Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, June 08 2014: Dynamic Manipur in association with Waithou Chiru Village Authority' facilitated a One Day Health Camp at Waithou Chiru today. According to …

Dynamic Manipur organises Health Camp at Waithou Chiru – E-Pao.net

Manipur shine at Vovinam Championship – E-Pao.net

Manipur shine at Vovinam ChampionshipE-Pao.netImphal, June 08 2014: The Vovinam team of Manipur has bagged altogether 8 medals in the ongoing 5th National Vovinam Championship 2014 being held at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. .KSunil, who is competing in the …

Manipur shine at Vovinam Championship
E-Pao.net
Imphal, June 08 2014: The Vovinam team of Manipur has bagged altogether 8 medals in the ongoing 5th National Vovinam Championship 2014 being held at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. .KSunil, who is competing in the event of sub-junior boys 45 kg category, …

Entrepreneurship In Policy-Making: Modi’s hallmark and Manipur’s lacuna – KanglaOnline

Entrepreneurship In Policy-Making: Modi's hallmark and Manipur's lacunaKanglaOnlineChange and development do not happen in a vacuum. The UPA II period was a vacuum. There was no authority, no accountability, no assuring space for functioning an…

Entrepreneurship In Policy-Making: Modi's hallmark and Manipur's lacuna
KanglaOnline
Change and development do not happen in a vacuum. The UPA II period was a vacuum. There was no authority, no accountability, no assuring space for functioning and hence no facilitation for change and development to occur. But, thanks to the digital …

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Entrepreneurship In Policy-Making: Modi’s hallmark and Manipur’s lacuna

By Amar Yumnam Change and development do not happen in a vacuum. The UPA II period was a vacuum. There was no authority, no accountability, no assuring space for functioning

By Amar Yumnam

Change and development do not happen in a vacuum. The UPA II period was a vacuum. There was no authority, no accountability, no assuring space for functioning and hence no facilitation for change and development to occur. But, thanks to the digital inputs to the Indian society during the last two and half decades, the people have been aroused to the possibilities for growth, change and progression. There is a big difference between the characteristic features of the pre-digital population and the digital population. This is because the information content of the two population groups are very diverse. In other words, the information inputs and information content of the digital population are very contemporary and global in orientation. In sharp contrast to this, the information inputs and information content of the pre-digital population are marked by time-lags. Because of this the expectations and demands of the two groups are very diverse. True to the time-lags in information inputs, the pre-digital population are patient and ready to wait for the positive outcomes to emerge. This is not the case in respect of the digital population; as their awareness level is very contemporaneous, they expect things in a very competitive way. This naturally leads to a lower level for patience
and unwillingness to wait for the positive outcomes to emerge. The absolute disconnect between the UPA II’s competence and the characteristic features of the population led to the emphatic democratic overthrowing of the UPA government at the first opportunity of reckoning.

Further, in any society the leadership is very important as to which direction and at what speed the society is moving. It depends upon the leader as to whether adequate and relevant policy responses to the problems of the people emerge or not. It also depends upon the leader as to whether a facilitating environment exists for the policies to yield fruitful results. The removal of vacuum and creation of a facilitating environment for change and development to occur depends upon the existence of an emphatic, clear–headed and policy-innovative leader. It is only such a policy-inducing leader who would create an appropriate environment for the digital population to exist, function and move forward.

Still further, the world has by now established fairly widely accepted norms to be followed while pursuing policies for change. The policy entrepreneurship leaders can thrive in such contexts. This is where the moment of Modi becomes significant. Modi happens to be a sharp learner; the mental, emotional and commitment training under the RSS during his youthful days must definitely have equipped him with the orientation, preparedness and capability to remain connected to the pulse of the population. During the campaigning for the democratic reckoning process, he had shown his preparedness and capability to connect to the population. Now that the people have responded positively to his orientation, it is now his turn to live up to the expectations of the digital population. This is exactly where Modi as Prime Minister becomes very interesting.

Morning shows the day – so goes the saying. The last fortnight of Modi as Prime Minister has revealed some very substantial elements of him as leader. His invitation of the leaders of the neighbouring countries to his swearing-in ceremony indicates pretty well that he wants to lead from the front. Second, he establishes that, in important matters like the foreign policy, he wants to innovate. Third, his abolition of the Group of Ministers and the Enhanced Group of Ministers as decision-making centres establishes at one stroke that he is man dedicated to commitment and accountability. He shows in pretty clear terms that he does not want any room for evasiveness and non-accountability in matters of the nation. The arrival of the Chinese Foreign Minister within weeks of assuming office indicates that he is determined to respond to the Chinese speed of change with his equally fast capability of entrepreneurship in policy decisions.

In short, the capability of Modi as policy entrepreneur in both the domestic and the external dimensions have now emerged in clear terms. It is also increasingly becoming clear that he wants the globally accepted norms for governance and policy-execution. This is the moment for Manipur to reassess herself in the changing environment. She happens to be one province of India which has missed every bus of development since the emergence of policy-led change in the country in 1951. After the saving of the Palace Compound before the turn of the century, we have been seeing some kind of activism in governance for the last decade or so. But we have a grudge here. This activism does not seem to be accompanied by any sense of accountability. Secondly, this activism does not have the framework of policy-entrepreneurship. Third, all these activism betray the lack of awareness of by now established norms of development intervention.

The question now to be asked is whether the political leaders are all to be blamed for all these weaknesses? Is there a big problem of the bureaucracy being unable to live up to the demands of the time? The tragedy seems to be related rather to the second as exemplified by the absolute non-observance of globally accepted norms in development intervention in all the functioning of the provincial government. There is a big need for a huge debate on this issue in Manipur if we are not to kiss the bus again.

Waiting for the Governor

By Tungshang Ningreichon Our house in the village is like a train with a gap, like a bogey derailed. The gap is the living room that was never built and

By Tungshang Ningreichon

Our house in the village is like a train with a gap, like a bogey derailed. The gap is the living room that was never built and now it stands as the self styled mud room. The gap speaks of hope that one day the house will be completed. The hope has lasted for more than 15 years!

Our home is simple but aesthetically challenged. It reflects a lack of architectural input and resources. People often mistake it for the village primary school a few meters away, or sometimes for the pastor’s quarter, traditionally built in an ‘L’ shape with many rooms to accommodate guests.

Every time I come home there is new “technology” installed. My father loves to experiment with tools, electronics and machines, turning every room into a store room with wires running all over the house; plug points are dictated by his preference for sitting arrangement while typing. He is, by the way, the best typist I have ever known. When he first tried his hands on the computer, I thought the keyboard would break into pieces with the force he is used to, on old typewriters.

This time there were fancy lights installed in and around the house that took me by surprise when I went to use the washroom. I was not expecting tiny bright diodes to light up my night activity. These fascinating patch-like diodes were fixed on the wall, taped on each end like it was hurriedly done for temporary use. Yet again they reminded me how the genes of style and utility are so far away from each other with men in general, and especially my father, for most houses in Ukhrul have wires and plug points hanging messily over the wall or from one corner, speaking of men and designs.

Every house however has a number of interesting lamps, torch and light tools which are mostly made in China or Burma. For those who can afford it, the inverter is placed somewhere shabbily but owned like the most prized possession. The district, you see, has acute power shortage. These days the power supply is for an hour and a half during the day, and tactically from 10 pm onwards when the town is asleep so that mosquitoes, insects and animals can find their prey and their way home.

In Tamenglong, local organizations had to shut the electricity department to register their protest of the dancing truant lights. People of the district have found better use for the electric wires—they take it home. This is legally called “stealing” and is so rampant that the DC of the town had to convene a meeting to take stock of the situation. Why blame the people for making use of resources around them I say with a smirk.

One of the latest reasons cited for the shortage of electricity is the poor rainfall. By that logic, the God of rain is pleased with selective places in the State where people have been holy enough to receive rain and be lighted while the remaining can compensate with candlelight dinners!

I don’t know if any of the reasons we have been hearing past many years is justified anymore but, in the words of Apou, my “memory bank” does not have any data of ever experiencing 24 hours power supply ever since we lived in the village.

The last time people in Ukhrul had two days of uninterrupted power supply was when the Governor of the State was in town as the chief guest for Shirui Lily week. His visit was such a hit that the Facebook status of my town newsfeeders; Yoyo, Tennoson, Kahorpam and Khanthing, expressed “joy” like receiving rare grace that comes home like the uninvited guest.

The statuses seemed to say that the town is beaming with life and energy and also lack of direction; of not knowing what to do with the suddenness of being lighted!

The celebration however had to end the moment the Governor left. The set up, as I imagine it, is like the lineman was watching from a tower and as soon as he saw the dust and smog off the line of vehicles, he pulled the plug puffing a cigarette, much like how the curtains are drawn after a movie ends…ah, how dramatically he must have switched it off, and for the next two days the town was ‘powerless’. Perhaps the electricity department had to reclaim or make up for its generosity and the quota of the two days of lighting the Governor.

We wait for the Governor and his entourage to visit the town again or, even better, if Narendra Modi comes to see Shirui Lily and tour the villages in Ukhrul… yawn yawn…while my father and families acquire newer tools to light homes and the companies and dealers lick their fingers counting the profits!

Tungshang Ningreichon is a happy mother from Langdang and writes occasionally for the love of stories, histories and memories.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/waiting-for-the-governor/

Good in Parts

By B.G. Verghese The new government has set a scorching pace for systemic reform in a bid to streamline the administration. This is as it should be to ensure better

By B.G. Verghese

The new government has set a scorching pace for systemic reform in a bid to streamline the administration. This is as it should be to ensure better governance through the avoidance of delays, weeding out out-dated legislation and rules, reducing fragmentation of responsibility with its resultant turf battles, passing the buck to avoid accountability for decisions and so forth. Few realise that delay oftentimes implies denial and that there is a huge opportunity cost of delay. India has no time to waste, even as Nehru reminded us in 1947 that aaram haram hai(idleness is sin).

The PM met all secretaries to Government and told them he expected them to take and hasten decisions and promised them direct access if they had problems trouble-shooting. This should not however imply by-passing Ministers and making the PMO the focus of decision-making. Collective cabinet responsibility too must remain inviolate to ensure parliamentary accountability. However, too many decisions are pushed up – and sideways to the Party in power – in order to hedge responsibility and insure against wild and indiscriminate charges made years later, even posy-retirement, to hound honest officials.

The Supreme Court’s decision to set aside the so-called single directive to the CBI to seek permission to investigate/prosecute officers of the rank of joint secretary and above is timely, but has aroused undue fear among officials that this will open the door to witch-hunting. Rather than go back on this salutary decision, the remedy likes in awarding prompt and condign punishment for frivolous complainants. The Secretaries have also been told to ensure clean office spaces and corridors, send old files to designated depositories (to end the nuisance of “searching for files” for an eternity), abbreviate and simplify forms, and recommend the repeal of archaic rules and Acts.

The Rajasthan Government has also taken a bold step in announcing amendments to three national labour laws that have come in the way of new and expanding employment in order to preserve a limited number of traditional jobs by barring efficiency norms, innovation and so forth.

Meanwhile, the Government is reportedly looking to fill up to eight Raj Bhavans with new incumbents, many of them party faithfuls or retired officials. While this is understandable up to apoint, Raj Bhavans have a role to play in gosod governance by offering objective advice. Men and women drawn from the field of professionals, academics, public life and the arts can be inspirational and should not be crowded out.

On the side, as a matter of protocol, no band, civil or military should be permitted to take liberties with the national anthem. Quite often one hears unauthorised trills and variations in tempo, especially in the very last jaya, jayajaya, jaya he which slows down to a tired funeral dirge. This is disgraceful and should not be permitted. It is much like allowing the national flag to be painted pink instead of saffron in order to meet somebody’s idea of jollification. No liberties should be permitted in case of the national anthem and other national symbols.

It is altogether another matter, however, when individual freedoms are sought to be curbed, sometimes violently, by ideological vigilantes, busybodies and crackpots on grounds of “hurt sentiment”. Books have been blacklisted and targeted in recent months, resulting in their “withdrawal” by publishers. This is sheer criminal blackmail. The answer to criticism of a certain point of view, whether literary, artistic or philosophical, is to present a reasoned critique, another book perhaps, rather than drown a dissenting voice in majoritarian clamour.

Last week, in Pune, a young Muslim IT professional, was beaten to death, ostensibly by a group of ultra-right Hindu RashtraSena hoodlums, for an allegedly hurtful Facebook posting of Shivaji and Bal Thackeray. The HRS is headed by 34-year old Dhanjay Desai who is already booked in 23 other cases, involving hate crime and Muslim baiting. Just before this incident, Orient Blackswan, publishers, withdrew for “comprehensive assessment and review”, Dr Megha Kumar’s recently-released “Communalism and Sexual Violence: Ahmedabad since 1969”. Objection to the book has been taken by Dina NathBatra, convenor of the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti on whose diktat Wendy Donniger’s book on Hinduism was withdrawn by Penguin. Batra has also targeted SekharBandopadhyay’s 10-year old book “Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India” on the ground that it defames the RSS.

This kind of banning of scholarly and artistic works by blackmail is intolerable from whatever quarter. Though not necessarily mala fide, there is a whiff of latent mischief in the CBI’s report to the Government that some foreign-aided NGOs are stalling development, such as those that opposed the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, the first 1000 MW unit of which is now feeding into the southern grid, and would like to stall the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor on environmental grounds.

The new Government needs to take a close look at these trends and ensure that development,the environment and a free and liberal society coexist and reinforce one another. There is room for anxiety when the RSS, VHP and other Parivarentities press for abrogation of Article 370, oppose GM technology, seek a ban on cow slaughter and so forth. The VHP leader, Ashok Singhal called on Mr Modi at a press conference in Delhi on May 24 to “restore Hindutva rule … after PrithvirajChauhan” and ban religious conversion “to ensure peace and well-being”. Mr Modi cannot remain silent when such divisive voices are raised.

The Government has done well to announce early visits to neighbours – Bhutan by the PM and Bangladesh by the Foreign Minister – and to host the Chinese and Japanese heads of government within the year. Movement on Teesta sharing and land boundary agreements with Bangladesh, currently vetoed by MamataBannerjee, is imperative for winning Dhaka’s trust and cooperation so important for transit to the NE and India’s Look East policy. The opening up of Indo-Bangla trade and investment could also be packaged in agreements on improved border management, issue of work permits and a resolution of the long-festering problem of “infiltrators”.

Though largely good thus far, even if only in parts, ShashiTaroor was not irresponsible in his praise of the new Modi model which, he said, would hold the PM up to the new standards he is setting for himself. The Congress, however, reacted in a petty manner. Rahul Gandhi has run away from the battlefield to rebuild the Congress “in the streets”. Kharge could be a quiet but effective leader of the Congress parliamentary party in the real forum where it can make a turnaround through constructive debate and playing the role of a responsible and vigilant opposition. Dynastic politics is dead. If Rahul does snort realise this truth then his irrelevance is all the greater.

The past 10 days have also witnessed the disgrace of unabashed rape in UP where goonda raj prevails under a crude father and son duo. Years of feudal mis-governance indicate that the time is ripe to divide the state into three or four units as proposed. Telengana and Seemandhra have come into being howsoever untidily. The division of UP should not be delayed but it must be planned better and more consensually.

www.bgverghese.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/good-in-parts/

His Excellency’s Trips to Development

His Excellency the Governor of Manipur, Vinod Kumar Duggal’s proactive stance on development is welcome. Shri VK Duggal ever since his appointment as the Governor of Manipur in December last

His Excellency the Governor of Manipur, Vinod Kumar Duggal’s proactive stance on development is welcome. Shri VK Duggal ever since his appointment as the Governor of Manipur in December last year has been active with his visible presence in public. Being the ceremonial head of the state under the Constitution of India, he is entitled with privileges. The media of the state do not miss to cover most of His Excellency’s appearance in public life. Whether it may be of his gracious presence in a function, or his tour to the far-flung hill Districts, travelling on road without a helicopter; we cannot commit the blunder of not covering His Excellency. Earlier he had visited Ukhrul district to take part in the Shirui Lily Week. And very recently the Governor visited Chandel District Headquarters and inspected various developmental works taken up in the District. His Excellency has already made it known that he has taken a vow that unless the government sanctions the money required for repairing the District Headquarter roads, he will not visit any of the Districts. As the money has got sanctioned, so was his visit to the District Headquarter. The Governor told the people of Chandel that he could have come by helicopter but he opted to travel by road to experience the hardships faced by the people. One his reminded of the accounts of Mughal emperor Akbar, who ruled Medieval India. The emperor’s love for his people was profound; such was his love that he went in disguise among his people to personally feel their miseries. One is also reminded of a seminar held in 2004, in which the then Governor of Mizoram was speaking of the development work that was supposedly taken up by his government. The Governor of Mizoram told that the roads in his state were in superb condition. All thanks to his active mobility within the state that the government of Mizoram had to repair the roads everywhere he sat his foot. Well, His Excellency VK Duggal the Governor of Manipur is neither the emperor Akbar nor the then Governor of Mizoram. But one can find some similar traits, as far as their love for the people is concern. While addressing the 7th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which was His Excellency’s first ever address after his appointment as the Governor of Manipur; he conveyed that his government has been striving for ‘all round development’ and ‘delivery of good governance’ for the people. Some commentators might describe His Excellency’s proactive stance as something ‘out of the box’ or an ingenious step towards bringing development in the state. But not to question the good intents of His Excellency or to hurt his privilege, we find it a bit overtly ceremonial on his part. If his idea of bringing about all round development in the state is by traveling on roads to far-flung areas, where development has been bludgeon to death by an unholy nexus of so many ‘players’ in the state, it is certainly not an excellent idea – however ingenious it may sound. Needless to say that the state Chief Secretary had also aired his discontent that roads are repaired only when VIP or VVIPs are on the move, it is just the plain truth that the top bureaucrat had said. If the roads in the state are meant to be repaired for the VIPs alone, then nothing can be as pathetic as the present state of governance. His Excellency should not over emphasise the mendacity of the present government and its governance by throwing himself into ‘development trips’. He can travel all far, and as much as he can in the state. He is welcome to do that. But at the same time, we would like to see him question on how development was bludgeon to death in this part of the world.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/his-excellencys-trips-to-development/

NSCN (IM) breaks silence, rubbishes Mizo Accord settlement report

DIMAPUR, June 8 (NNN): The NSCN-IM has officially rubbished The Telegraph daily report that the Naga political issue will be settled in line with the 1986 Mizo Accord. Terming the

DIMAPUR, June 8 (NNN): The NSCN-IM has officially rubbished The Telegraph daily report that the Naga political issue will be settled in line with the 1986 Mizo Accord.

Terming the news as a mischievous reportage, the NSCN-IM said today that the Naga political solution that will emerge from the current political dialogue with the Government of India, will be on the basis of the ‘unique history and situation of the Nagas’ as mutually agreed between Government of India during Atal Bihari Vajpayee Prime Ministership and NSCN-IM on July 11, 2002 which shall be honorable and acceptable to both the parties (entities).

“With due regard and respect for the aspiration of other peoples in the region, the report of Shekhar Datta on May 28, 2014 in The Telegraph under the caption ‘Mizo truce plan mulled for Nagaland’ wherein ‘Nagaland is likely to go the Mizoram way, 17 years after peace talks began with the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) in 1997′ comparing the Indo-Naga political negotiated settlement on the line of Mizo Truce is totally unfounded and baseless,” the NSCN-IM stated today.

The May 28 edition of The Telegraph quoting a senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) official had said that after an Accord is signed NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu will become the chief minister of Nagaland.

In 1986, the then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was instrumental in signing the Mizo Accord with the Mizo National Front (MNF) led by Laldenga. Lal Thanhawla later had to leave his chair as the chief minister of Mizoram paving way to implement the Accord. Laldenga became the chief minister then.

On line with this Accord, the IB official was quoted by The Telegraph saying the Naga case too will be similar to the Mizo Accord.

However, this was very much contrary to what NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah told the media few months ago. Muivah on more than one occasions had said that the Naga political settlement should be made based on the ‘unique history of the Nagas’ saying that it should be ‘honourable and acceptable to the Nagas. Th Muivah also very often says that without ‘Naga integration’ there cannot be final settlement of the Naga issue.

ATSUM warns against anomalies in PMGSY implementation

IMPHAL, June 8: The All Tribal Student’s Union Manipur has warned the State government against anomalies in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). Addressing a press

IMPHAL, June 8: The All Tribal Student’s Union Manipur has warned the State government against anomalies in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

Addressing a press conference at the Nagaram office of the union, spokesperson Micha Kamei said ATSUM will never remain silent on the issue and will resort to intense agitations in the entire hill districts of the State, until the government address the issue.

According to the CPWD work manual 2007 which was published by the director general of works, CPWD, there are certain rules and regulations for tendering, through competitive bidding for all projects, he said.

The rates in the Marketed Surplus Ratio, Rural Road (MSR-RR) mostly reflect the current market rates. Since the budget of these projects are limited, the engineers try their best to maximise the fund received, meaning most of the rates of items are minimised so these projects are prepared to cost at the lowest rate, he continued.

Micah said that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are prepared by each Project Implementation Units (PIU) of each district following the rates given in the MSR (Rural Road) for the current year.

Elaborating further, the spokesperson said, the PMGSY projects are now in phase IX, while phase X is on board for tendering.

However things have not gone well in Manipur with the onset of phase-VIII due to the fact that bids for works are made at minus rate, he continued.

He said that the accepted norm in regard to tender and its evaluation process is to follow the guidelines laid down by CPWD in its work manuals published in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 etc.

It is clearly given that bids in the range of plus/minus 5% are acceptable, whereas those above below plus/minus 5% to 10% are to be justified with detailed price analysis for all and every item by the bidder, Micah said.

As per the norms, any bid below or above plus/minus 10% are to be rejected except for exceptional cases in certain work site where situation demands. But these cases are only for those above 10% of the estimated rate, he asserted.

Surprisingly, Manipur State Rural Road Development Agency (MSRRDA) has once again deviated from the central public works department norms, while inviting tender from intending contractors for execution of works under PMGSY Phase IX, Micah said.

It is obvious that any developmental works carried out in the hills cannot maintain the standard of quality due to multifarious reasons besides transportation charge, he alleged.

He said that despite the fact that a substantial amount of funds are earmarked for smooth implementation in the targeted areas, the government doesn’t bother to do anything for a bound flesh, he lamented.

The Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) which permits the contractors to apply at minus rate is nothing, but a scheme to siphon huge sum of money to the State coffer at the expense of the belittled and regressed hill people, he claimed.

The MSR being lower than market rates besides inflation of the cost of materials, any contractor who execute under this nefarious scheme of thing are bound to work at loss and no one will be willing to work if there is no profit, Micah reacted.

“Therefore, PMGSY-IX phase which had been E-tendered at minus rate should be invalidated. It is in the interest of all the denizens to re-tender at plus rate as per the guidelines of the CPWD. Deliberate violation of the objective of this scheme will bring social anarchy,” he demanded.

Golden Myanmar to resume Imphal-Mandalay flight

IMPHAL, June 8: Myanmar private airline, the Golden Myanmar Airlines will once again start its chartered Mandalay-Imphal flight from June 27, said proprietor KB Enterprises Kunjabihari during a press conference

Special secretary, Transport, H Luxmikumar said that the flight was made operational some months back with a tie-up between KB Enterprises and the airlines.

Being a new route, certain issues had risen, however, it is hoped that the problems would be sorted out soon, he observed.

All process for the June 27 schedule for the restarting of the flight have been completed, he continued before adding that VAT charge has been increased to 20 percent increasing the ticket prices, he continued.

If the government is pressed from all sides to develop the air-connectivity, and the route promoted, tourism will see a major bloom, he said.

He continued process is on to improve the road connectivity between Imphal and Mandalay through bus service, for which the required documents have already been submitted to the Transport and External Affairs ministries.

Process has also begun to introduce helicopter service in the State, said P Kunjabihari.

In the first phase, helicopter service for Imphal-Tamenglong, Imphal-Jiribam, Imphal-Moreh will be introduced soon, he said.

Elaborating on the high ticket price of the Imphal-Myanmar flight service, he said the high rate is because of the costly ground service and because it is a chartered flight, however, the ticket rates could be reduced once it becomes regular service which is possible only if the number of passengers is high.

Devastating fire razes shops to ground

IMPHAL, June 8: Property worth around Rs 20 lakh were destroyed in a devastating fire at Naoremthong along the Nambul River bank this early morning around 2.45. The fire was

IMPHAL, June 8: Property worth around Rs 20 lakh were destroyed in a devastating fire at Naoremthong along the Nambul River bank this early morning around 2.45.

The fire was put off around 6am by fire tenders with the help of locals.

Locals said they heard a loud explosion, and when they come out from their homes, found the shops on fire.

Soon they informed the State Fire Service and rushed out to control the fire.

The fire was finally put down by 6am, they said.

According to a local, the fire had devastated altogether eight shops including hotels, grocery shops, workshop and a fish centre.

Five of the shops were totally razed to the ground.

A local source identified the five shops as a grocery belonging to Naoroibam Goroba of Naoremthong Bazar, who lost property worth around Rs 10 lakh, grocery owned by Chingabam Indira of Takyel Khogbal Mayai Leikai, hotel owned by Khumanthem Jadumani of Naoremthong Bazar who lost around Rs two lakhs worth of property and a workshop of Kh Ibochouba of Naoremthong bazar.

20 two wheelers inside the workshop were also damaged, said a source.

The local source also said that a fish centre cum CD parlour owned by Oinam Binodkumar was also damaged in the fire.

A desktop computer and a laptop computer which were inside the fish centre were also totally damaged in the fire, informed the source.

The source of the fire is yet to be identified, even as locals said there was a load shedding at the time of the incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/devastating-fire-razes-shops-to-ground/

CCpur JD(U) leader shot at

IMPHAL, June 8: Three-time Manipur Legislative Assembly general election candidate from 41-Chandel constituency Chungjalen Haokip, 45 son of Ngamkhojam of Tuiboung, Churachandpur was injured after unidentified gunmen shot at him

The incident occurred at near his residence, according to the police.

He sustained injuries at his abdomen, and was rushed to the Shija Hospital, but stated to be out of danger, said the police.

In the meantime, the Kuki National Liberation Front, KNLF information and publicity secretary, Kolphe Kuki condemned the life attempt on Chungjalen Haokip and claimed it to be the handiwork of United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF).

Chungjalen has been attacked by the UKLF only because he is the elder brother of Lalmoi Haokip, general secretary of KNLF, said Kolphe while adding that UKLF had expelled Chungjalen Haokip from Chandel few years back, since then he had settled in Churachandpur.

The KNLF information and publicity secretary further said that the party have no relation with Chungjalen Haokip.

Our LAMKA correspondent adds: Two motorcycle borne miscreants shot at Janata Dal (U) leader Chungzalien Hopkip, while he was at his next door neighbours last night.

He was brought to the Churachandpur District Hospital with bullet injuries on his waist and belly and following advice from the doctors was rushed to Imphal, informed hospital sources.

Spot inquiry at the attack site also revealed that the gun shot alarmed the neighbourhood of Tuibuang.

His wife also held up the intruder, who managed to escape unhurt.

Later the police led by the OC CCpur, MA Khan arrived at the scene to take stock and recovered an empty cartridge.

An FIR no 66(6)2014 CCP PS U/S 449/307/326/34 IPC and 25(1-C) A Act was register at CCpur police Station was registered regarding the incident.

Till the filing of this report, there has been no claim from any group, although sources believe the assailants to be some UG group from the Thadou/ Kuki speaking groups.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/ccpur-jdu-leader-shot-at/

Neglect of farm lands causes low economic returns in Ukhrul: Report

By R Lester Makang UKHRUL, June 8: Despite availability of abundant lands suitable for agricultural farming, major portions of the lands in Ukhrul district continue to lie idle/waste reflecting poor

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, June 8: Despite availability of abundant lands suitable for agricultural farming, major portions of the lands in Ukhrul district continue to lie idle/waste reflecting poor returns in primary sector of the economy, according to a recent NGOs statistical report.

The report noted that only a meagre 5 per cent of the total agricultural lands under cultivation annually account for 75 per cent of total work force of the district populace, of which four per cent are under annual jhum cultivation and one pc under Khariff cultivation.

It then suggested low production, poor nutrition, low income etc. for the people as the inevitable outcomes of the gross difference in land utilization and deployment of work force.

Painting a grim picture, the report recorded only four per cent as deciduous or evergreen forests while a vast 79 per cent of the total lands available in agricultural sector are lying waste as degraded forest /scrub lands while another 12 per cent as fallow owing to jhum cycle.

Further the report showed that a vast expanse comprising 95 per cent of the total lands —which are potentially biggest assets of the district populace — account for just one per cent of total work force of the district thereby implying a thinnest possible economic return.

It then inferred that the total areas of degraded forest, waste farm lands etc. could be properly utilized to uplift economic conditions of the peoples by focusing on forestry and its products, horticultural& agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants etc. while also deducing animal husbandry, fishery and bees and honey as another viable options.

The report has been based on land classification, land utilization and deployment of work force in the primary/agricultural sector of the economy of the district.

Nandaraj-Manipur’s first Lalit Kala Akademi Awardee in Sculpture – KanglaOnline

Nandaraj-Manipur's first Lalit Kala Akademi Awardee in SculptureKanglaOnlineIMPHAL, June 8: 24 year old Nongmaithem Nandaraj Singh, a college student scripted history in the Manipur art world by becoming the first person to have been conferred with…

Nandaraj-Manipur's first Lalit Kala Akademi Awardee in Sculpture
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, June 8: 24 year old Nongmaithem Nandaraj Singh, a college student scripted history in the Manipur art world by becoming the first person to have been conferred with the prestigious 'Lalit Kala Akademi Award', 2013-14 (organised by Lalit Kala …

Protest against bomb attack at Nambol

IMPHAL, June 8: Residents of Nambol Khori Leikai om Sunday staged a sit in demonstration under the aegis of Nambol Apunba Meira Paibi Lup in protest against the bomb attack

IMPHAL, June 8: Residents of Nambol Khori Leikai om Sunday staged a sit in demonstration under the aegis of Nambol Apunba Meira Paibi Lup in protest against the bomb attack at the residence of associate professor of Ng College, Lairenjam Manglemba on June 7

The protestors displayed placards and banners saying “do not explode bomb in populated area,” “we demand clarification for the attack”, “Stop violence” etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/protest-against-bomb-attack-at-nambol/

BJP Tamenglong unit defensive of prof Gangmumei

IMPHAL, June 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tamenglong District, Manipur has defended the status of Professor Gangmumei Kamei by stating that he is a dedicated and patriotic political leader

IMPHAL, June 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tamenglong District, Manipur has defended the status of Professor Gangmumei Kamei by stating that he is a dedicated and patriotic political leader with strong social commitment for the welfare of the people of Manipur.

The party has stated in a press release that Prof Gangmumei Kamei has not defected from any party while in power, and further stated that it was his right to resign when he found differences with the party leaders, said the general secretary of Tamenglong District Committee, BJP Manipur Pradesh.

PREPAK (PRO) clarifies

IMPHAL, June 8: The Senior Publicity Officer of the proscribe PREPAK (PRO) in a press release clarified that they have no relationship with Phurailatpam Sunil Shrama alias Ibohal, 42, son

IMPHAL, June 8: The Senior Publicity Officer of the proscribe PREPAK (PRO) in a press release clarified that they have no relationship with Phurailatpam Sunil Shrama alias Ibohal, 42, son of Basudeb Thoubal Kshetri Leikai who was said to be arrested on June 3 by Thoubal police from Yairipok Lamkhai near Mela Ground and also with Md Ajmir alias Yahiya, 27, son of (L) Md Sanayaima alias Aludin of Khabeisoi Mayai Leikai who was said to be arrested on June 7 by Imphal East police, 4 IRB, 7 MR battalion and 30 AR, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/prepak-pro-clarifies-2/

Cleanliness drive at Kekrupat by Rickshaw association

IMPHAL, June 8: A one day cleanliness drive was organised on Sunday at Kekrupat by All Manipur Rickshaw Driver’s and Puller’s Welfare Association (AMRDPWA) in connection with the upcoming observance

While speaking to media, Roshnikanta Takellembam, Secretary Organisation of AMRDPWA said that the drive is conducted to give respect to the 18 people who sacrificed their life in the June Uprising in 2001.

He also appealed to the committee to keep Kekrupat clean all the time because the place is part of historical Kangla Fort instead of cleaning the site only during the time of June.

100 members of the association participated in the drive, said the Association President Basanta Singh.

As part of its anniversary, AMRDPWA which was established on June17, 1999 at Kekrupat by the rickshaw driver’s, a day before the June Uprising, Unity day the association always conducts a cleanliness drive, said the president.

This year AMRDPWA members will also donate their blood on June 18, 2014.