Day: April 3, 2015

KANGPOKPI, April 2: The All Manipur Village Defence Force Welfare Association today urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into their various demands and initiate necessary action at the earliest to relief the more than 10,000 VDF security personnel in the State.

A memorandum drawing the attention of the Prime Minister for constructive action which has been signed jointly by L Deban Singh and Lantingen, president and general secretary respectively of All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has been sent to the Prime Minister today by the association.

The memorandum stated that VDF personnel in the state render their duties assigned which are not lesser than that of the assignment given to normal Manipur Police personnel sincerely day in and day out with a meager monthly honorarium in an insurgency prone Manipur.

It further stated that in spite of their fulltime duties in service like the normal security personnel VDF personnel has been denied all the essential facilities to be enjoyed by a normal security personnel from time to time when the situation demand while having no service security.

It also said that VDF personnel are all suffering due to non entitlement of reasonable, justified updated honorarium in the present age where the price of essential commodities are sky rocketing.

Apprising the Prime Minister the VDF Association tabled that the honorarium of the VDF personnel should be given under the ways of skill labour which is fixed by the Labour Dept., Govt. of India and thirteen month pay be enjoyed by all the VDF personnel with immediate effect.

It also demanded that adequate facilities from time to time be extended to all the VDF personnel and separate battalion for the VDF personnel headed by Superintendent of Police be established as the earliest possibility while making service book for all the VDF personnel so as to ensure service security while framing appropriate laws and rules.

The memorandum also urged the Prime Minister to graciously consider their demands for welfare and upliftment of the VDF personnel to enable them in discharging their duties diligently in upholding the law and order of the land.

Meanwhile, All Senapati VDF Welfare Association warned all the VDF personnel in the district not to leave their respective posting police station while abstaining from their service weapon and uniform from tomorrow and also aloof from their respective duties.

Anyone failing to follow the directive of the association should bear his own responsible responsibility in future warned Mlun Kipgen, general secretary, All Senapati VDF Welfare Association while urging the concern officer not to forcefully order VDF personnel for any kind of duties from tomorrow.

Interestingly, All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Gurudas Das Gupta, who is also a former Member of Parliament, had earlier on March 31 sent a communique to the state Chief Minsiter O Ibobi Singh for his intervention to consider the VDF personnel issues sympathetically and also to cause appropriate action for release of the arrested VDF personnel.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/striking-vdf-association-urges-prime-minister-to-look-into-their-demands/

IMPHAL, April 2: Tension gripped Khongman even as about 100 staff of UNACCO School marched towards the their school office located at Khongman Zone-III to join work amidst a ban of the school by locals of Khongman at about 8.30 this morning.

It may be mentioned that since about a week, tension has been escalating after three students from the neighbourhood were dropped from the UNACCO School without explanation by the school authority.

The neighbourhood also have been showing resentment at the continued use of Lisam leirak which is currently under repair by the school vehicles.

The matter had seemingly been put to rest after the intervention of the Imphal East SDPO and the local Pradhan on March 31, on condition that the school would suspend work till April 4, but trouble suddenly broke out again this morning.

Confrontation resulted between the large contingent of UNACCO staff marching to their office and locals trying to prevent them enter the school.

Timely arrival of Thonju MLA Th Bishorjit however saved the situation getting worst. Upon his request Police arrived to prevent a clash between the two groups, but there were charges that the Police were partial.

Following the incident, a public meeting was held at the Oriental Club, Khongman Mangjil where secretary of the club, G Phamtomas Sharma said that the club members only tried not to prevent confrontation but the UNACCO staff became violent.

He further demanded the chairman of UNACCO N Irabanta Singh to apologise in front of public as he is solely responsible the trouble.

Thongju MLA Th Bishorjit who was also present said that it was very unfortunate this confrontation should have happened at all, and blamed the UNACCO for using its influence with the police to intimidate the locals.

He lamented that the State Home Minister is soft to the UNACCO chairman and not hearing the complaints of the general public. He further urged the security forces to act impartially.

The MLA further said that Irabanta is also a local of the area and the matter should be settled by peaceful dialogue across the table.

On the other hand, in amidst a sudden downpour, UNACCO held a press meet at Porompat area in which UNACCO Manager (Admin) P Geetchandra said that the staffs were just going to collect office files as UNACCO was shifting to Porompat area when the incident occurred.

He said that it was unfortunate that the staffs were lathi-charged and 14 received in injury, two of them seriously, needing to be hospitalised.

Irabant was absent at the press meet, but Geetchandra explained this was on account of a life threat received by the former.

Geetchandra further said the school was ready to readmit the three expelled students and would also foot the bills for the repairing of Lisam Leirak.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/fracas-as-khongman-locals-prevent-unacco-staff-joining-duty/

IMPHAL, April 2: The call for closing down FCI Godown at Sangaiprou and Koirengei by transporters in pursuit of their demands for upgrading FCI Imphal Regional Office to a full-fledged one and several others, has been withdrawn after Chairman cum Managing Director of FCI, New Delhi gave an assurance that their demands would be fulfilled.

Informing this during a press meet at the office of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers`™ & Motor Workers`™ Union at MG Avenue today, S Manglem, president of the union said that the Chairman cum Managing Director of FCI, New Delhi also assured that the long pending demand of the union regarding initiation of works relating to appointment of transporters in Imphal for ferrying rice from Silchar to Imphal will also be fulfilled at the earliest.

He reiterated that an ultimatum was served to Union Minister of CAF & PD Ram Vilas Paswan to meet their demands which are genuine, without any further delay.

The union had threatened to close down the FCI Godown at Sangaiprou and Koirengei from April 11 if their demands were not met before April 10, he said.

The Union Minister thereafter directed FCI Imphal Regional Office to take up necessary works for appointment of transporters which will be done in Imphal instead at FCI Regional Office, Guwahati, Manglem said.

The president of the union hailed Paswan; Chief Minister O Ibobi; CAF & PD Minister M Okendro; Chairman cum Managing Director of FCI, New Delhi and officials of FCI Regional Office, Imphal for paying heed to the long pending demands of the union.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/transporters-call-off-stir-as-centre-promises-upgrading-fci-regional-office/

IMPHAL, April 2: In tandem with the approval given by Medical Council of India (MCI) for opening of Post Graduate Courses in four Departments of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) run under the state government, the state cabinet convened a meeting at Chief Minister`™s Secretariat this morning around 9 with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the chair to finalize the admission procedure including selection of PG candidates.

Talking about the important meeting, CAF & PD and Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the spokesperson of the government informed that the four departments of the medical institute where PG courses are going to be opened are Pathology, Micro-Biology, Pharmacology and Bio-Chemistry.

He further informed that there will be two PG seats in each of the departments and necessary work pertaining to admission to the courses has to be completed before May 31 of this year.

The admission procedure will be done in accordance to the laid-out admission process of MCI and Government of India. Accordingly, 50 percent central pool of the total PG seat will be filled by nominees of Government of India while the remaining 50 percent will be filled by nominees of the state government. The entrance test will be conducted by National Board of Education, New Delhi, the Minister elaborated.

Maintaining that the medical institute became operational from December 18, 2007 under the JNIMS society with Chief Minister as its Chairman and Health & Family Welfare Minister as the Vice-Chairman, Okendro said that a proposal was sent to the Central Government and MCI by the institute to give approval for opening of PG courses in Pre-Clinical and Para-Clinical subjects in eight departments of the institute.

Following the proposal, the MCI gave consent for opening of PG courses in four departments of the institute in February of this year. In all 50 percent of the total PG seat will be filled amongst Medical Officers under the government. There will be reservation of seats for ST, SC and OBC candidates, he added.

Referring to another agenda which was discussed during the meeting, Okendro said that approval for appointment of 15 Instructor/Trainer on contract basis for Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorist (CIAT) School to be set up in Jiribam has been given.

He disclosed that the 15 Instructor/Trainer will be ex-servicemen who have served in the state and central forces in different ranks.

They will provide rigorous commando training to Manipur police personnel for nine weeks. The 15 Instructor/Trainer were selected by a special Selection Committee following a meeting of Committee of Officers under the state government. Altogether 19 ex-servicemen were selected in the first round of the selection process. Of the total, 15 were selected based on their merits, the Minister explained.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/cabinet-finalizes-admission-procedure-for-pg-courses-in-jnims-15-ci-instructors-approved/

IMPHAL, April 2: A rape accused who is facing criminal proceedings at Cheirap Court Imphal, reportedly joined the Manipur Police as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, ASI, and is currently undergoing training, though he is out on bail. This was alleged by the victim`s family on Thursday at a press conference at Tarung Village near RNBC Church Langol, Imphal West district.

Addressing a group of media person, Achung Gangmei the victim`s grandmother identified the undertrial accused as one Asang Shimray, 29, son of Awungshi Shimray of Duelahland, Imphal.

She said the undertrial accused is currently participating in service training at the Pangei Police Academy Imphal.

The victim`™s grandmother questioned the government and authorities concerned on which ground or law they are allowing an undertrial for criminal charges join training for a police job.

With much disappointment she further said that if a person like him is recruited as a police officer, it will be a serious threat to the ordinary people of the state, she said.

Achung Gangmei also alleged that the family members of the accused have also been mentally harassing her to accept Rs 10 lakhs and withdrawn the case.

She lamented that the life of her granddaughter cannot be compromise with money and will fight until justice is given.

Narrating the past unfortunate incident, Achung Gangmei alleged that her granddaughter was rape by two person indentified as by Asang Shimray, 29, and his friend Aboi Shimray, 30, of Nagaram on the New Year day 2014.

Thereafter the victim`™s family filed a case against the two alleged rapists and they were arrested.

Asang Shimary was given bail on medical ground, she added. However, she added, the accused Asang Shimray is currently undergoing training for a police job though on bail from custody.

She also mentioned that both the accused are hardcore drug users and have been in and out of rehabilitation centres for treatment.

There were also instances of the duo committing crimes earlier, the victim`™s grandmother accused.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/rape-accused-undertrial-now-training-to-be-police-asi-says-victims-grandma/

KANGPOKPI, April 2: Finally! It has come. Thanks to the Almighty that my child could take a peaceful rest at home at least for someday.

An emotional poor farmer in Kangpokpi elatedly shouted when scanty showers wetted the hillside amidst increasing fear of drought at Kangpokpi yesterday.

Currently Kangpokpi and its adjoining area are facing a scare regarding the limited reserve of water in the area.

Most of the rivulets in the area have been waterless and even the Imphal River that flows within Kangpokpi witnessed the worse ever desiccation this year while the entire river fountain has been totally shrunken.

Denizens of Kangpokpi these days spend most of their time searching and fetching water to meet their basic daily needs just as in the valley.

Pondering over the water issue the Addl. DC Kangpokpi rung up the local media and inspected the Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme located at Toribari, about 3 Km from Kangpokpi PS with the local civil bodies including Kanggui Youth Union to take stock of the water level.

To the amazement of the MCS officer and his companion it was found that most of the water cubicle at the Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme at Kangpokpi has been completely shriveled while the floor of some water cubicle have already fissured.

The Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme at Kangpokpi had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 221.95 lakhs which was funded from NLCPR by Department of Development of North East Region, Govt. of India with a storage capacity of 0.433 ML to provide safe drinking water under the responsible department of PHED, Govt. of Manipur while it was inaugurated on November 2010 by the then PHE, IPR & Tourism Minister TN. Haokip in the presence of the then Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Chairman Thangminlen Kipgen and D.D. Thaisi, Minister, TD, Hills, Vety.& Animal Husbandry, Govt. of Manipur.

A visibly confounded Addl. DC immediately summoned the Chowkidar and other PHED employee and while probing them it came to light that deforestation of the catchment forest area of the Water Supply and the illegal waylaid of the water along the main line by some unknown persons has been account for the scanty water supply.

Speaking to the media persons, Addl. DC Kangpokpi DK Thangboi said that more than one solution is necessary in order to reduce or solve the issue of water scarcity that we stumble upon today before adding that the waiting period is over now and it`s time to put into action on the part of every section.

Stressing the importance of water the MCS officer lamented that without petroleum we cannot drive our cars, and perhaps we have to walk to school or work. This is not the case for water, as we are not dealing with simple inconveniences but with the issue of sustaining life itself.

`Water is our past, present and future. Without it, we cannot survive, and there are no alternatives`, added the Addl. DC Kangpokpi while drawing the attention to the role water plays in strengthening social, economic and environmental systems.

The Addl. DC continued that Manipur is “inching towards water scarcity” and the situation in several district including valley district are reportedly critical as water levels are depleting at an alarming rate which makesvulnerable to drinking water scarcity.

Talking particularly about the water crisis at Kangpokpi the MCS officer said that the water reservoir at Kangpokpi is in “chancy” condition and needs urgent action before suggesting that “Measurability, monitoring and implementation” are urgently needed to make water use sustainable in the area.

He also advocated that tough action will have to be made to illegal connection and to those who illegally waylaid water from the main supply line to business and other purposes.

If water situation goes on the current trends denizen of Kangpokpi and its adjoining area will definitely reel under indescribable circumstance after 10 years where the people will not able to take bath more than once a week that too wiping themselves with a wet cloth and also wipe their plates and hands after a meal instead of washing them envisaged DK. Thangboi.

The Addl. DC who have symptomatic of planting trees in the catchment forest area of Augmentation of Water Supply at Kangpokpi also warned that without reform the entire area in particular will be plunged into a water crisis that could be crippling for hot, dry state.

In the meantime, Hechon Singson, President Kanggui Youth Union while urging state Government and the concern authority to take immediate action for ensuring availability of water in view of depleting water condition.

Disappointingly the PHE Department, Kangpokpi prove to be too little helpful while they still remain a aloof watcher to the various inconvenience of the people due to water scarcity said KYU supremo while hinting the Department to prearranged mobile distribution of drinking water to the denizens of Kangpokpi and its adjoining area at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/uncertainty-and-scare-loom-over-kangpokpi-as-water-sources-dry-up/