Day: August 31, 2017

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 31

A six week long entrepreneurship skill development programme on photography studio and photoshop organised by MSME-Development Institute, Imphal in association with Manipur Amateur Photo Club, was inaugurated today at MSME-Development Institute, Takyelpat Industrial Estate, Imphal.

Speaking on the occasion, editor of the Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam said photo editing software like photoshop, GIMP etc. are useful tools in photography studio. At the same time he also maintained there are limitations in use of such photo editing software in other genres of photography like photojournalism where no alterations or superimpositions are allowed for publishing.

Loken Singh, chairman, Manipur Industries Development Council who also spoke on the occasion said apart from the skill in photography studio, entrepreneurial skills will also be imparted to the trainees during the programme.

S.K. Dutta assistant director (GAD), MSME-DI, Imphal explained about the feasibility of choosing photography as a profession with reference to the present global and local working scenario of commercial, advertising & wedding photography apart from other genres of professional photography.

The inaugural function was attended by Pradip Phanjoubam, P. Loken Singh and S.K. Dutta, as members of the dais. Around 25 trainees from Imphal East and West districts are taking part in the skill development programme. 

MSME-Development Institute, Imphal is under the ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, government of India.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 31

State government has suspended six officials and held up retirement benefits of an official belonging to different Government departments in connection with bribery cases.

The suspended officials have been identified as L. Menjor Singh circle mandol of SDC office Moirang, Th. Shanta Singh SO, MTDC and Md. Rahimuddin Khan, the then AE MTDC Tuisem Vangai TD Block Churachandpur, S. Gojendro LDC, DC office porompat, S. Ngambi LDC, DC office, Thoubal, and Kh. Kesho Singh VLW and Joy Singh peon of Imphal West-I CB Block.

Addressing media persons in this regards S. Hemanta, OSD ACC, revealed that six of the officials except for Md. Rahimuddin Khan, the then AE MTDC, were suspended after complaints were lodged with ACC against them with video evidences of taking bribe by some citizens.

The suspended officials were found taking money while issuing documents like income, tribe certificates etc. for academic purposes particularly from students, he said.

With regards to Rahimuddin, he said his pension benefit was withheld as a penalty for submitting fake photographs and documents claiming that the construction work of PHC at Tuisem Vangai TD Block Churachandpur was completed which later was found incomplete.

Hemanta revealed that the officials were suspended after a meeting of the Screening Committee convened on August 21 at the office chamber of the chief secretary of Manipur.

The chief secretary is the chairman of the screening committee while three additional chief secretaries are members.

IMPHAL | Aug 31

All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) has submitted a memorandum to the governor of Manipur, requesting for appointing a competent director of Health Services, Manipur on superannuation of the present incumbent.

According to a release, the memorandum stated that the health sector of the state has been afflicted with various controversies and scams in the last many decades. The incompetence and lack of integrity of the administrative heads in health sector have made the people living in the remote hill areas of the state worst affected, it read.

The present director of Health Services, Manipur will be retiring in the month of September and there is a high possibility of the post falling into the corrupt hands on the basis of a flawed seniority list, it added.

In the memorandum, AMTU alleged that the director of Family Welfare Services, Manipur, Dr. K. Rajo Singh, who is in the line for the post on the basis of seniority, has records of scams with pending vigilance case against him for misappropriation of funds under CSS.

His integrity has been called into question several times through media for misuse of huge amounts of funds in the name of renovation and repairing works of various Primary Health Sub-Centres (PHSCs), maintained the memorandum.

It further alleged that the second person in line for the post is additional director of Medical Directorate, Manipur, Dr. H. Ranjit Singh, who also had a controversial case for causing the death of a patient while practising in a private clinic in the year 2007.

AMTU expressed appreciation to the minister of Health and Family Welfare in probing into the irregularities within the family welfare department. AMTU further appreciated the new government of the state for suspending the former Health director, Dr. Okram Ibomcha Singh.

It also mentioned on the policy of increase in the tenure service for government doctors from 60 years to 62 years in the year 2015 through a cabinet decision, which was again increased to 65 years recently. Instead of strictly adhering to the amended rules, there are chances of undue advantages, it added.

There is a strong need of transparency in handling all matters of the state and an impeccable track record is highly required while appointing a person, stated AMTU in the memorandum.

IMPHAL | Aug 31

The outlawed Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF) strongly condemned the NSCN (IM) led by Thuingaleng Muivah for its alleged policies and dictatorship to the innocent people, particularly the Nagas.

A release signed by Thomas Numai, assistant publicity secretary said peaceful co-existence among the various tribes of the Nagas and the Northeast people, has now become a land of conflict and hatred.

The fertile land, where nature’s bounties nourish the Northeast Peoples, has become a fearful place for survival because of the threats, extortions and murder by the Somdal policies NSCN (IM) under the leadership of TH. Muivah, it alleged.  

Learning the motives of the NSCN (IM), the government of India took this opportunity to hamper the peaceful co-existence and integration among the Northeast, the release said, adding every intellectual person obviously knows that the ‘Frame work Agreement’ signed between the government of India and NSCN (IM) is nothing but poisonous policies of India to disintegrate by creating enmity and erase the Northeast revolutionary movement.

In the past the Naga have experience the worst situation when the NSCN (IM) under the leadership of Th. Muivah killed the Naga brothers by branding false allegation against them as anti Naga, and traitors, saying; they stand to accept Indian constitution, it said.

Further the release alleged that in a resolution adopted in a joint council meeting of steering committee and councils of kilonsers NSCN (IM) on July 12, 2017, under the leadership of Th. Muivah stated that individual or organisation that opposed the ‘Frame work Agreement’ which is under the constitution of India will be considered as anti Naga or anti peace process and will not be spared but killed.

Naga people have lost confidence to all the Naga social organisations, Church leaders, chieftains and Village elders, as they are unable to give advice, suggestions or bring amicable solutions whenever any unwanted problems developed, said the release.

The MNPF release continued Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) approached to UNC for reconciliation for Kuki-Naga ethnic clash which killed hundreds and several houses were burnt down.

The request of the KIM was turned down as UNC was threatened by Th. Muivah not to talk about peace or any amicable settlement of the massacre or else they would face dare consequences.

UNC which is the apex Naga tribe organisation is very much supposed to be functioning at the people interest. But the threats and endless warnings of the NSCN (IM) had compelled them to malpractices creating a sense of insecurity and disintegration among various communities, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 31

Chief minister N. Biren Singh today said his government already earmarked Rs. 35 crores in the state budget under the “Startup India” initiative to encourage local entrepreneurs of the state.

Launching Romi Industries’s fifth factory outlet at Kwakeithel Thaonaojam Leikai today Biren said his government will aways encourage start-ups to encourage youths of the state to generate self employment and improve the state’s economy.

Biren said “the mentality of running after white collar jobs after studies should be done away at this age where one can startup his or her own company and enjoy working under your own conditions at the tip of a finger if you are skilled and qualified.”

To encourage and promote ‘Make in Manipur’ mission, the chief minister said that government offices and homes have started using locally produced commodities like curtain, table cloth etc.He also urged banks and public to cooperate with entrepreneurs in giving loans and support.

Education and labour minister Th. Radheshyam Singh and works minister Th. Biswajit Singh

congratulated the proprietor of Romi Industries for his achievement, saying this would help generate employment in the state and automatically remove social stigmas created by unemployment and unrest.

Romi industries deal with bags, sweaters, mufflers, sports-wear and T-shirts and now shoes mainly for school going children. The proprietor Khumbongmayum Dhanachandra, who is a college dropout, started business in 1996 making purses in his father’s tailoring shop.

He said this milestone he just covered is the due to blessings of his customers. He plans to expand his business in the whole of North East.

“This shoe making factory is the first of its kind in the entire North East as it has the fully automated single colour direct sole injection machine which are available only in selected cities of India,” he added.

The shoe factory can produce items like school shoes, sports shoes, canvas and sneakers up to 4000 pairs per day.

Dhanachandra said efforts are underway to open similar shoe factories in the other North East states to expand a local brand to larger audience with the motto of ‘One stop manufactory for all institutional wear.

From A Correspondent

THOUBAL| Aug 31

A youth named Thokchom Victor, (20) son of Th. Brojen from Thockchom Leikai, Hierok part II was made to apologise to the SDO, Thoubal , M. Veto for allegedly uploading a post on Facebook about the SDO which said, “It’s 11:57 already and he hasn’t come to the office yet.”

Victor had come to the DC Complex, Thoubal around 11. 57 am on August 30 in order to get the signature of the SDO, Thoubal, to acquire his OBC certificate. Upon being told by someone outside the office that the SDO was not inside, Victor took a photo of the students waiting outside for the SDO and posted the photo along with the mentioned caption, from his user account called Ningku Thok, to the page of the facebook group called Iramdam gi Mapao.

At that time, the SDO was working at his office chambers for works related to the 5th panchayat elections.

The SDO made a complaint to the police as many Facebook users started giving many negative comments on the post. After making an inquiry by the OC of Thoubal police, Rishikesh Sharma, it was found that the post was made by Victor.

Victor was brought to the office of the SDO by Thoubal police. He apologised to the SDO, saying he was ignorant and assured that he will never do such activities again. He was let to go by the police after the SDO forgave him.