Day: November 29, 2017

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Nov 29

In the sit in protest organised by Wabagai block congress committee under Manipur Pradesh congress committee at Wabagai Lamkhai bazaar, Wabagai assembly constituency, demanding the disclosure of framework agreement, former chief minister, O. Ibobi said the agitations do not intend to make any political gains, as it is held to save Manipur from breaking apart. 

Signing up of agreements is conducted not only India, but all over the world, he said. However, it is openly debated before an understanding is made between the two parties and they are never kept under secrecy, he maintained.  If one of the parties does not agree with the terms laid down, then no agreements will be made. Therefore, the framework agreement that was signed up between the Narendra Modi and the leader of insurgent group NSCN – IM, Muivah on August 3, 2015 is the outcome of agreements by the two parties on the terms, he added. 

The signing up of the agreements proves that the government of India has given consent to the target of NSCN – IM which is to break apart Manipur, he alleged. No prior information about the agreement was provided to the chief minister of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, he said adding  even if the agreements may not affect the territorial boundaries, suspicions are extremely high that autonomy  is about to be granted. This would akin to creating a state within a state and it would sow the seeds of breaking up Manipur, he said.  Congress would stand against such motives, he added. 

We also would like that the demands of NSCN-IM be granted and resolved forever. However, we cannot accept the ways of giving harm to one community in order to please another, he continued.  Manipur may be small, but it is like a small India. We only demand the disclosure of the contents, and we are not trying to take political advantage out of the situation, he added.  

The ongoing agitations shall continue until the truth behind the framework agreement is known, he said. 

Deputy chief minister, MLA of Nungba assembly constituency, Gaikhangam said during the long congress rule in India, Assam accord, Punjab accord and Mizoram accord took place but none of them resulted in creating such problems. Agreements should be transparent and should not be kept hidden in a veil of secrecy, he maintaine. However, the framework agreement is kept hidden and terms of the agreement are not disclosed. This is the main cause behind all the panic.  If we get to hear that NSCN –IM has been granted autonomy as a Christmas gift, the BJP leaders of Manipur should be held responsible for it, he added. Because the BJP leaders of the state assured that the framework agreement does not have anything specific, except it is just a signing up of agreement on papers, he alleged. If a second June 18 occurs in Manipur, then the BJP of the state will be held responsible, he added.

SBI donates tipper truck to IMC

IMPHAL | Nov 29

Chief minister N. Biren has said that the State government is considering to provide soft loans to the street vendors of Khwairamband Bazaar.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the occasion of donating a tipper truck to IMC by the chief general manager of SBI Northeast circle at Khwairamband bazar today.

In his speech, the chief minister asked the officials of Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD), Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) and women vendors of Khwairamband bazar to jointly study whether it is possible to provide an alternative livelihood to street vendors by arranging loans for them.

The chief minister informed the gathering that the State Bank of India (SBI) had agreed in principle to provide soft loans to street vendors of Khwairamband bazar.

 Stating that this arrangement is being considered to help the street vendors start their chosen livelihoods at their respective localities, homes and nearby markets, N. Biren expressed hope that the said initiative would reduce traffic congestion and improve cleanliness in the city considerably.

 Maintaining that there has been remarkable improvement in the hill-valley relation in the recent past, the chief minister urged the people of valley districts to take proactive role in restoring the age-old hill-valley bonding.

 On the other hand, N. Biren also expressed pleasure on learning that the number of visitors to Keibul Lamjao National Park had increased manifold after a venue of Manipur Sangai Festival had been allotted to Keibul village this year.

 Regarding various developmental projects declared by the new government, the chief minister said that all these projects would be executed without fail as the current government understands that they would be rejected by the people if their promises are not translated into action.

 The function was also attended by MAHUD Minister Th. Shyamkumar as president and IMC Mayor L. Lokeshwor, commissioner (MAHUD) Dr. Prem Singh, chief general manager of SBI NE circle PVSLN Murty and general manager of Network-II SBI NE circle Digmanu Gupta as the guests of honour.

 Speaking on the occasion, Shri Th. Shyamkumar said that different works would be taken up as part of Imphal Smart City project soon.

 Stating that women vendors and shopkeepers should not forget their responsibility in keeping the city neat and clean, Th. Shyamkumar contended that all the efforts of the government would go in vain without their cooperation.

PVSLN Murty handed over the key of the tipper truck to N. Biren and L. Lokeshwor. The truck was gifted to IMC as part of SBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

By Jeijei Newme

IMPHAL | Nov 29

The on-going Manipur Sangai Festival 2017 true to its much hyped reputation is drawing young and old alike from all walks of life. The festival venues have become veritable selfie spot for all visitors. Even in the midst of their final exam, children literally coerce their parents to take them to the festival, and many kids are seen having fun in the annual cultural extravaganza of the state.

Practically every visitor is making the most of it sampling the delicacies on offer at the food plazas or else spending an evening at the cultural events sites. This is also an occasion for them to put on their best dresses and take a leisurely evening walk or else shop for a wide range of consumables on display at the stalls.

From the word go, there has been no let up in the size of the crowd each business day that begins early in the morning till well into dusk. Many even end up skipping meals, engrossed in the festivities or else on shopping sprees.

In the hurly burly of the festival, quite unfortunately not much attention is being paid to the participation of differently abled persons. Few even are sure if any disabled persons have dared to brave the unending sea of humanity thronging the festival venues, much less give a thought about helping them.

In an interview with IFP, president of State Platform of Disabled People Organisation Manipur, Md. Junus Khan said they did not much participate in the festival and had a good reason for being absent from the Sangai festival 2017.

Junus said that the festival is not disabled friendly except at the Lamboi Khongnangkhong venue. We therefore have been forced to shun this much hyped festival this year, he said.

There are no toilet provisions for disabled people, no wheelchair provided and we are mistreated many a times, by the police and common people alike, he complained.

Stall for differently abled people are also not provided this time, he alleged. “I used to participate with my team in previous years but this year we are not given seats,” he lamented.

There are around 800 stalls and out of these at least 40-50 stalls could have been reserved for disabled persons if the government cared about us at all, he said visibly disheartened.

The venues of the Sangai festival in the capital include Hapta Kangjeibung, Lamboi Khonganangkhong and Khuman Lampak, besides other places like Kangla Fort, Dave Literature etc.

Junus also complained that schemes for disabled persons which are set to be distributed for 2016-17 have not been given out yet. The higher officials have been promising to expedite the distribution but they haven’t done so till date and the year is almost over, he pointed out.

Grants which includes financial assistance of Rs.6,000 per month, and unemployment allowance of Rs. 400-900, is still kept frozen for whatever the reason, he said. Organisations grant-in-aid which provides training and skill development is also not given out for the year 2016-17, he added.

The president of the disabled organisation however hoped that the authorities would hear their anguished voices and in the next Sangai festival, they would be given a better deal.

However the previous government did not comply, he added.

The new BJP government led by Chief Minister N. Biren, education minister Th Radheshyam and commissioner Youth Affairs and Sports H. Dileep Singh took up some proactive steps and finally declared the result on November 6 this year, he added.

He declared that his group is confident that the new government is keen to bring quality education to the state and would issue appointment orders without any further delay.