Manipur News

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 24

Genome India Project in North East India was launched today at Dr. Manju Sharma Hall, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (ISBD), Takyelpat.

Speaking on the launching ceremony, Indian neuroscientist, currently professor, Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath said with the coming of changes in eating habits the rate of diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and other have been increasing enormously. The problem could be eliminated if instead of taking medications people begin performing physical exercises regularly young.

She said the main objective of the genome project is to make people aware on how to remain genetically healthy thus be free from lifelong medications.

The project will implement in ISBD in the state in collaboration with the Centre for Brain Research Indian Neuroscientist, Bangalore, she added.

To make the result of the project optimal, the research will have to be done at different infrastructures specialised according to the social problem and the types of diversity of ethnic groups in northeast India, she said.

Till now the treatment for cancer, hypertension, diabetics and others have been doing with different kinds of drugs in which animals have been used as testing models therefore not accurate enough.

Under this project, the testing model will be done on human models. With the changing trends in eating habits and constant mutation in different kinds of diseases, drugs tested on animals are falling short of standard, she added.

Vijayalakshmi further said most common diseases in the modern times are cardio-vascular and kidney failures in middle aged people. These diseases can be eliminated if people from their early thirties start physical workouts regularly. Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohols and drugs also augment the problem, she said.

With this project, experts will do analysis on different ethnic groups of entire northeast in order to find out the diseases they are prone to, or the causes of the diseases they already have, she added.

In analyses being carried out in southern Indian states like Karnataka and Kerala, most of these diseases are found to be caused by nutritional deficiencies and aberrations, rather than genetics or viral mutations, Vijayalakshmi stated.

People can volunteer to become human model under this project she said assuring thier identities will be kept unanimous and the model will be given a twelve digit code. The analysis will be done by testing genes and immune system response to the antigens, she added.

Director of IBDS, Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo also attended the launching function.

IMPHAL | Oct 24

The state government is trying to finalise the modalities for implementation of 7th Pay Commission’s recommendation, for which the fitment committee formed by the government is working out on modalities and revised pay scales for its implementation in the state, said a release by chief secretary, government of Manipur.

It further said that the state government has requested the Manipur Government Services’ Federation not to take mass casual leave or resort to any form of agitation in the interest of all government employees.

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL | Oct 24

Campaigns to “guard the lands of the Nagas” initiated by United Naga Council (UNC) have intensified as more and more Naga organisations turned out to join the campaigns with UNC. These campaigns were prompted after the creation of new districts by the Manipur Government “without consulting the Naga people”, according to United Naga Council (UNC) leaders.

Another such campaign was carried out today at Kamjong headquarters (it was in Ukhrul district before the new districts were created last year). Leaders of UNC spoke on the occasion organised  Tangkhul Naga Zingsho Longphang. Over 300 leaders from church organizations, student bodies and village authorities participated in today’s campaign. The occasion was moderated by UNC General Secretary, S Milan.

Addressing the public leaders, UNC President, Gaidon Kamei said that land and identity together made the unique history of the Nagas. “Therefore, the Naga people must guard our land and identity with utmost alertness,” the UNC President urged. Gaidon Kamei specifically stated that the Naga people must be “fully aware of the cunning and shrewd policies of the successive Manipur Governments”. He also said that “our lands have been done away without consulting us”. He was referring to the new districts created by the previous government of Manipur.

The UNC President then told the gathering that “rolling back of the new districts created by the Manipur Government is what we want and nothing less than that”. He also said that “no one should be allowed to decide upon our land”. Gaidon Kamei asserted that the Government must roll back the new districts created last year. “Unless the new districts are rolled back we are not going to rest,” the UNC President affirmed.

Gaidon Kamei then urged the public leaders to wholeheartedly support the ongoing Naga peace process.

It can be noted here that such campaigns have been carried out in other “Naga areas” in Manipur. The UNC leaders said they will be carrying out the campaigns wherever “we are yet to touch” with more vigour.

Floods wreak havoc in state five times this year

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 24

Heavy rainfall in the state has led to a breach in an embankment of the Imphal river at Uchiwa Wangma near SK Cinema hall last night. At least, a 50 feet wide breach in the embankment occurred at around 8 pm as the water level rose following the rains.

The rain on October 21 night led to a sudden swelling of the rivers and the rainfall was measured at 28 mm at Kangpokpi and Saikhul hill areas.

The state has witnessed a flooding five times this year beginning May last when cyclone Mora hit the north eastern region. As of present, many of areas which have had to bear the worst damages wrought by this cyclonic storm are still recover fully, and now the fresh flood has literally been the proverbial last straw for them. Many of them are in ruins because they have lost their paddy crops or fish farms.

Nambul river too overflowed again this time and inundated households from Uripok Cheirap till Uripok Babu thong.

A resident of Uripok Ningthoukhongjam Leikai, N Haraba said that the local MLA and the concerned department never bother about the plight of the residents of the constituency. “We have been flooded at least five times in this year, we want to know if the government has any plans to mitigate this flood situation and if so, how many years it will take, we want a responsible government,” he said.

The state government in July had announced the floods as a state calamity as a total of 14,000 households were affected in Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Imphal West.

The state government had initiated relief measures and opened 39 camps for the evicted families and announced compensation for the damages. The state agriculture department had also announced free distribution of a paddy variety called RCM-12 which matures fast and can be harvested in three months.

According to an IFCD official incessant rains even for 18 hours can lead to floods in the state. If rains recorded in the meteorological department and its sensors at the hill areas measure 30 mm, the water discharged cannot be handled by the rivers and flooding occurs in the valley districts.

He stated that detention bridging in the rivers needs to be built to control the flow of water and artificial water bodies need to be created to act as reservoirs. The Ministry of Water Resources has also directed the state government to develop water bodies to control the flood situation.

Further, it was pointed out that the Manipur Flood Plain Zoning Act 1978 is not implemented in the state and this act needs to be reviewed and given more teeth to mitigate floods.

The Bill provides clauses about flood zoning authorities in surveys and delineation of flood plain area, notification of limits of flood plains, prohibition of the use of the flood plains, compensation and most importantly removal of obstructions to ensure free flow of water.

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Oct 24

To impart awareness on the schemes to weavers of Senapati district, a one day awareness programme on handlooms and handicrafts delivery scheme and Mudra scheme was conducted at Indoor Stadium, Senapati district. Around 250 weavers of Senapati district attended the programme.

Deputy chairman of ADC Senapati, K. Holison Raomai, who also hold the portfolio of District Planning and Town Affairs attended the occasion as chief guest, while the project manager of District Handloom and Textile, Senapati, N. Nilabantajit Singh was the president.

The guests of the honour of the programme were lead district manager of SBI, LBO Senapati, Z. Tholi Paul, assistant manager of Commerce, National Handloom Development Corporation, Imphal, Y. Shantikumar Singh, assistant director of Weaving, Weaving Service Centre, Imphal, M. Ibohal Singh and board director of Manipur Apex Handloom Weaver and Handicrafts Artisan, CS Ltd. Imphal, Bhubon Singh.

Holison Raomai said that handlooms and handicrafts is not a new culture to the people rather it had been practising ever since people had learned how to put on clothes.

‘People have become educated and civilised with the introduction of various new things in life but have abandoned the ancient culture of handlooms and handicrafts’, added Raomai.

He also said that every educated person is not guaranteed of government jobs but every skilled and talented person will definitely find reliable means to sustain lives. He continued that among many other skill development programme, handlooms and handicrafts is the best and most reliable sector for sustainable livelihood.

Raomai further said that availing loans without any repayment is no less than a broad daylight robbery and urged all weavers of Senapati district to adopt the culture of repayment of loans.

1200. Nilabantajit Singh said some individuals who are luring uneducated innocent weavers of the district by assuring to get them weaver card, Yarn Passbook and Mudra loan with a payment of Rs.1200. He informed that for enrolment of weavers, issuance of weaver card, yarn passbook and availing Mudra loan requires no money.

Nilabantajit further emphasised on the available schemes for handloom and textiles workers and enlightened on handlooms and handicrafts delivery scheme, Mudra scheme as well as handlooms and handicrafts development programme among others.

1. Tholi Paul, Y. Shantikumar Singh and M. Ibohal Singh also gave awareness related to handlooms and handicrafts in terms of their respective departments while Bhubon Singh gave the keynote address.