Manipur News

IMPHAL, October 27: The proscribed United Liberation Front (UNLF) has claimed responsibility for two separate attacked launched against the security forces on October 25 including the ambush laid on a patrolling team of 24 AR killing one AR personnel and injuring two others at Satang Khul, Chandel district.

In a statement issued by the outfit`™s director, M Sak-hen, it also claimed responsibility for the attack carried out against 86 CRPF near Arambam Nityananda along RIMS road on 6.45 am.

The outfit claiming that the attacks were part of their fight against the Indian Occupation Forces (IOF) to regain the lost sovereignty of Manipur, vowed to continue their fight until they liberate Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/unlf-owns-attack-on-security-forces/

IMPHAL October 27: The Zonal Educational Officers (ZEO) of Education Department, Government of Manipur in violation of Right to Education Act has issued an order for compulsory student registration with a fee.

All Manipur Recognised Private Schools`™ Welfare Association, a collective of about 250 schools in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur said this during a press meet held at Manipur Press Club today.

L Joy, secretary of the association alleged that there is no standing order in this regard from the Director of Education(S) GoM and as such this notification from the ZEOs`™ level is unfortunate.

`Whereas the Board of Secondary Education Manipur has cancelled registering of Class VIII students this year complying to RTE Act, the ZEOs re-issued the mandatory registration notice without any coherence to such modifications` he alleged.

According to him Imphal East Imphal West and Thoubal ZEOs had issued this order for compulsory registration by October 15. `Despite several attempts to nullify this order there was no cancellation of the order hence we submitted an appeal to the Secretary, BOSEM and copied it to the Director, Education (S)` he said.

The association also appealed to all the civil societies and groups to abstain from calling any agitation between November 20 to 30 as they will be hosting their 9th pre board exam for Class X students of their member schools.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/private-schools-protest-new-student-registration-fee/

IMPHAL, October 27: Members of the Senior citizen of Manipur today met the Governor of Manipur, V Shanmuganathan and discussed general issues confronting the state.

Padmashree RK Jhaljit, ex-minsiter RV Minthing, Arambam Lokendro, Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, Professor L Sadananda and BB Sharma.

Speaking to IFP, Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, disclosed that the six members met the Governor following an invitation from the Raj Bhawan

Among the issue discussed with the Governor were Inner Line Permit Sytem, Indo-Naga frame work agreement, AFSPA 1958, he said.

He further revealed that they apprised the Governor the prevailing situation aftermath of the passes of three Bills to protect the indigenous population was nothing but a result of instigation by some vested interest group and that a table could pacify the misunderstanding.

Before the Bills were passed unanimously in the Assembly, the deputy Chief Minister who is also from tribal community was involved in the entire process starting from the preparation of the Bills, he said they informed the Governor.

The Governor was reportedly brief of the apprehension looming in the minds of the people with regards to the integrity of Manipur as a result of the Indo-Naga peace deal signed between the NSCN-IM and Government of India.

The senior advocate further disclosed that they requested the Governor to take initiative in drawing the attention of the Centre to start political dialogue for all the valley base militant groups who are in SoO.

Moreover, the senior citizens also briefed the Governor how AFSPA came into force in Manipur since 1980 September and its subsequent impact, said Khaidem Mani besides drawing his attention to take initiative to repealed the draconian law.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/senior-citizen-brief-manipurs-governor-on-prevailing-issues/

IMPHAL, October 27: Agriculture Minister, Abdul Nasir while inspecting the recently flood affected areas in Kumbi today promised his government would provide maximum help to flood affected farmers of the area during the approaching Rabi crops season to make up for the losses incurred due the floods.

The inspection tour covers large areas of flood affected field in Kumbi including the fields where the department is experimenting on new varieties of rice `Champra Fou`™ (Champra rice) at Mayang Loukon, even after the field have faced huge flood damage in the recent past.

The minister exhorted the farmers must prepare for Rabi crops cultivation assuring that the Agriculture Department will list Kumbi in its priority list.

Further interacting with the farmers in the Kum LouMee Tinnaba 2015 at Kumbi Lai Achouba Mandop, Abdul Nasir opined that Kumbi constituency can compete with other state like Punjab and Haryana in the field of Agriculture judging by the fertility of the soil and climatic condition.

He further divulged that the state Government has taken decision to give maximum help to Kumbi constituency assuring the government would provide Rabi crops seeds like peas and mustard seeds.

At the same time, he urged the farmers to form cluster having 200/300 members which will then be provided with maximum machinery and technical support in subsidised manner.

The minister also warned that any officials found indulging in corrupt acts or misappropriation while implementing the ambitious project to make up the losses of the farmer will be dealt with seriously.

Kumbi MLA, Sanasam Bira, who also took part during the inspection tour, said that 99% of Kumbi`™s population are cultivator and added that the cultivators should take maximum benefit of the proposed programme promised by the Minister besides show full appreciation of the initiative of the Minister.

Taking the opportunity of the tour he also announced that the Pakka Dam which is under construction at Uyumpokpi area will be completed very soon.

The Dam once completed will give maximum benefits to the farmer as it will provide proper irrigation water paving way for double and multi cropping systems.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/agriculture-department-to-extend-maximum-help-to-flood-affected-farmers-of-kumbi/

IMPHAL, October 27: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in its audit has indicated that altogether Rs. 417.25 lakhs is believed to have been misappropriated in the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Manipur.

It is learnt that the Government of India provided assistance to states and union territories for control of economically important diseases of livestock and poultry by way of immunisation, strengthening of existing states veterinary biological foundation units and state diagnostic laboratories, holding workshops/seminars and in service training to veterinarians and Para-Veterinarians.

The programme was to be implemented on 75:25 sharing basis between centre and the state.

However, 100 percent assistance was provided by the centre for training and seminar workshops. As per Utilisation Certificates (UCs) submitted to the Ministry, the expenditure incurred for implementation of the schemes during 2009-10 to 2013-14, it reportedly came to light that during 2011-12, the centre had released its share of rupees 150 lakhs. As against this, the department could utilise 22.77 rupees only.

The non-utilised fund of 127.23 lakh rupees was revalidated by the centre for utilisation in 2012-13. Non-utilisation of available fund of 134.45 lakhs in 2011-12 was indicative of inefficient management of funds by the department, said the audit report.

Audit records at the Directorate showed the following deficiencies in implementation of the scheme starting from fiscal year 2012.

During 2012-13 vaccines and appliances worth 136.72 lakhs rupees including 65.87 lakhs for 17 general medicines, 70.85 lakhs for 52 generic medicines and appliances, were procured for implementation of the scheme.

As seen from the stock register, none of the medicines procured were distributed to the veterinary institutions. Thus, inspite of having sufficient stock of medicines, the department failed to take the required measures for controlling/prevention of animal diseases in the state during 2012-13, it mentioned.

Similarly in 2013-14, vacancies and appliances worth 280.52 lakhs rupees including 140.19 lakhs for 14 general medicines, 140.33 lakhs for 33 generic medicines and appliances, were procured for implementation of the scheme. It was however noticed that only three of the items procured were fully distributed by the department. The balance stock of 44 different items worth 83.74 lakhs was not distributed.

The department did not maintain vital information of the medicines and vaccines procured such as batch number, expiry date, manufacturing date, chemical analysis report of the vaccines and medicines procured, it said. As such, expiry of the medicines and vaccines could not be ascertained.

It has been informed that during exit conference, the department stated (October 2014) that though materials procured were distributed, records could not be maintained due to lack of manpower.

To this the Comptroller and Auditor General found the reply was not acceptable as the relevant record for the distribution such as indents, signature of acknowledgement for receipts, APRs stock verification certificates etc. were not available.

Thus, in the absence of the aforesaid records, the authenticity of distribution of the medicines and appliances of value 417.25 lakh rupees including 280.53 lakhs, 136.72 lakhs could not be ascertained

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/misappropriation-of-over-rs-417-lakhs-looms-large-in-vety-and-animal-husbandry-dept/