Month: July 2017

IMPHAL | July 17

Repairing of the damaged Barak bridge, which has disrupted vehicular movement along the important Imphal-Jiribam Highway, is underway, Works minister Thongam Biswajit Singh said this afternoon.

The minister was speaking to a team of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union led by their president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai who called on the Minister at his New Secretariat office to discuss welfare measures of the journalists’ community of the state.

The minister also appealed to the people to bear for a few days before the bridge is fully repaired and movement is restored, since the other major lifeline of the State, the Imphal-Dimapur Road, is also cut off due to major landslides in neighbouring Nagaland.

Minister Biswajit also said that the present government under Chief minister N Biren takes the issue with all seriousness. He said that he is in constant touch with the Chief minister on the issue.

The highway is under the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, however, since the road is a major lifeline of the State, the State PWD has initiated and offered all possible help in repairing the bridge, Biswajit continued.

Stating that reports have suggested that overloaded trucks passing over the bridge and a few lapses on the part of some officials manning the bridge in checking weights of vehicles had resulted in the damage, the Minister continued that authorities concerned have been instructed to look into the lapses of the officials, seize the vehicles as well as interrogate the drivers.

Meanwhile, addressing the AMWJU team, the Minister who also holds the IPR portfolio called on the journalist community to come together and work unitedly for a better Manipur. He also expressed the need to refurbish the Manipur Press Club and provide rooms for all the journalists’ community including those coming from the interior parts of the State to the State capital.

The AMWJU team highlighted several issues including increase in journalists’ pension scheme amount, Press Akademi, Press Colony, allotment of plot with building for the union’s branch office at Moreh (Chandel), Jiribam sub-division (Imphal-East), Ukhrul HQ, Tamenglong HQ and at Mao, Senapati district, increased of ex-gratia to deceased journalists, Journalists’ Family Benefit Scheme, Increase budgetary support for maintaining the Manipur Press Club to Rs. 3 lakh, Accredited Journalists’ Assistance (Operational Subsidy Scheme).

The Minister assured to look into all the charter of demands with due consultation with Chief minister N Biren.

By B Rakesh Sharma

IMPHAL | July 17

With the motive of self employment Wanglembam Sonia (26) daughter of W. Ibomcha of AIR quarter, Lamphel started craft works of creating artificial flowers and pots out of waste papers without any formal training.

She has a passion of craft s since her childhood. She made dolls and even designed dresses from her young age.

To pursue her passion she left her education after completing 12 standards but due to lack of proper guidance she was not able to live up to her her dream for a long time.

As she continued her struggle she got inspired by a Youtube channel which tutors how to make artificial flowers and she was able to make artificial flowers by watching these tutorials from around February this year.

Relatives and friends, who got inspired by her works started buying the flowers made by her.

Speaking to IFP, Sonia said that from the moment she was able to make artificial flowers using only waste papers, glues and paints she started thinking about making a livelihood by selling handmade artificial flowers.

“Though making of artificial flowers was not a heavy work it needs a lot of efforts and time to make it. Sometimes it took a whole week to materialise a complete flower with the flower pot,” she said.

Sonia expressed her desire to participate in the upcoming Sangai festival as it will give her a platform to showcase her work of arts.

Since she does not have a good guidance in this field, she got stuck in the middle of her dream of giving self employment by selling artificial flowers, said Sonia.

She is planning to open a shop for herself as a first step of pursuing her ambition.

“In the world where getting of government job becomes a very big task, I will be able to give self employment to women of the state if my dream is fulfilled,” continued Sonia.

She added that, “As I do not have proper guidance and enough capital, it will be very thankful if any company or people support me in uplifting my craft works.”

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 17

Condemning the alleged brutal murder of Md. Ateef Sheikh of Keikhu Maning Leikai in Chittagong, Bangladesh on July 14 a citizen organisations staged a sit-in-protest at Keikhu Awang Leikai in Imphal East.

The protest was organised by Youth Star Sports Union (YSSU), All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee (AMMOCOC), Youth Voluntary Association (YOVA), and All Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation (AMMWDO).

Addressing media persons at the site of the protest, AMMOCOC president SM Jalal said the death of MBBS final year student at Chittagong, Bangladesh is mysterious and condemnable. “It looks like Ateef’s death is a pre-planned execution and the way Winson tried to commit suicide after killing Ateef was just a way he was trying to get away from the crime,” he charged.

Jalal also urged authorities of the state and Bangladesh to produce a clean report of the investigation and not to be partial in any manner.

Ateef Sheikh was allegedly stabbed to death on Friday, July 14, by one of his friends Winson after a dinner party. They were studying together at University of Science and Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh in final year. Winson after allegedly killing his friend tried to commit suicide but doctors stopped him and currently Winson isundergoing treatment in the hospital.

Jannu Begum, one of the Meira Paibi participating in the protest appealed to the concerned police officials and authorities to deliver justice as soon as possible.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 17

Polling for the presidential election 2017 was held in the state Assembly complex, Imphal.

The polling hours was started from 10 am and ended at 5 pm like the other state as fixed by the Election Commission. All the 60 MLAs of the state cast their votes by 1.30 pm.

Assembly, secretary, M. Ramani was the presiding officer.

Konthoujam, MLA, S. Ranjan was the state agent of NDA candidate and Ukhrul AC, MLA, Alfred Kanngam Arthur was the state agent of the UPA candidate.