Manipur News

IMPHAL, March 13: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, JCILPS, in a press release insisted that the Assembly must not only introduce a bill to protect the indigenous peoples of the State but also pass it on March 16 when the 10th Session of the Assembly concludes.

The release said this should be the responsibility on the shoulders of all the 60 MLAs in the Assembly.

It said when Manipur was merged with India in 1949, there was a legislation that regulated transit and exit pass system, but this was discontinued. Ever since the influx into the state has been such that today migrant settlers form one third of the total population of the state. If uncontrolled, it is a foregone conclusion that the demographic balance would go in favour of settlers, it said.

It is to counter this threat to the survival of indigenous peoples that a legislation for their protection is necessary. The release likened such a legislation to one that protects the endangered Sangai`™s home, the Keibul Lamjao, ensuring the rare deer`™s survival, though extremely threatened.

The release also said the JCILPS objects to the proposal to use the term visitors to signify non locals in the proposed bill. Instead, it said terms such as Non-Manipuri, Non-Indigenous People and Migrant, would be more suitable.

It said the proposal defines `visitor` as `a person who is a citizen of India but not having a permanent residence in the state and who intends to enter the state for a lawful purpose.` This definition would legitimise settlers who entered the state after 1949 as permanent residents and they would need no permit. It also contested the use of the word permanent residents in the proposed bills.

It said the ILP movement was necessitated by the presence of over nine lakh settlers threatening to upset the demography of the state. This being the case, the JCILPS said putting the cut off year to define migrant as 1951 would be justified.

It said Manipur is a small hill state of 22,327 sq km. Of this 92 percent forms the hill districts reserved and protected for Scheduled Tribes. The remaining 8 percent is where everybody is allowed to settled as per the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution. The dangers in this situation is evident, it said.

It therefore said the demand for a ILP is perfectly justified.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/jcilp-insists-assembly-must-make-law-to-protect-indigenous-population/

IMPHAL, 13 February: Lamenting the recent bomb blast at Kwairamband Keithel Temporary shed near Murgee Bazar on March 11, president All Manipur Bar Association, Khaidem Mani said the state intelligence has collapsed. He was speaking at a press meet held at his office chamber at Cheirap Court Complex.

He said that the incident was highly condemnable and added that among the injured include one female advocate identified as Laishram Medhabati Devi, 48 from Kwakeithel. She is receiving her treatment from Raj Medicity said Mr Khaidem and continued that the state Government must the culprit and book according to the law of the land.

Seeking financial support from State Government for the injured victims of the recent bomb blast, he further mentioned that it seems there is no governance in the state. He continued that the CCTVs installed are not working and no culprits from many incidents in the State has been punished. No proper investigations have also been conducted.

He further charged that the government of taking upfront money for the recruitment of State security forces amounting from Rs 10 to 25 lakhs and this has brought policing to a complete collapse in the State.

`Is there any rule of law in the state?` exclaimed Mr Khaidem and said that the art of investigation is a total failure in the State as the recruitment process in the forces have never been fair. He said the government puts all the blame for all the failures to armed UGs but still there is not a single case of IPC 121/121(A) `“ waging war against government levelled against anyone.

He said that the state government does not understand decent language but only agitations and violence are heard and addressed.

Khaidem further appealed to the government to investigate the case minutely with an outcome and to extend financial support to the victims of the blast.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/total-governance-failure-charges-bar-president/

IMPHAL, March 11: Ten handloom projects are still awaiting settlement of pending expenditure issues between Central and State government, a source in the Commerce and Industries Department of Manipur said.

According to the information the project was proposed to sanction of 50 cluster development projects under North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme for Rs 2920.50 lakh.

The state has submitted the query report on November 11, 2014 but the Central government Project Approval and Monitoring committee (PAMC) meeting is awaited said the source.

Another project from the same department under the secretary, Ministry of Textile, for upgrading of 10836 primitive looms and construction worked under technology upgradation component of North Eastern Regional Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) for about Rs. 6826.69 lakhs is also pending even though State government has re-submitted the proposal on January 21.

Under the Ministry of Textile office of Development Commissioner for Handloom fund from NERTPS for Rs 165.00 lakhs for technology upgradation for handloom sector in State proposed the release of Rs. 165.00 lakhs on November 6, 2014 but the Central government is awaiting the PAMC meeting.

The proposal for sanction of one cluster projects under the Comprehensive Handloom Development Scheme for Rs 57.44 lakhs is pending though under process. The state has submitted a query on February 12, 2015 for approval from Commerce and Industries Department government of Manipur.

The proposal for the release of Rs 235.76 lakhs for consolidation of 33 numbers of cluster projects under the comprehensive Handloom Development Scheme(CHDS) which the query submitted on January 6 is under process from the Central government.

Another Rs 77.60 lakhs is also pending for the same proposal of four cluster projects under comprehensive Handloom Development scheme. In all 51 cluster Development Project under NERTPS are awaiting the release of Rs 722.18 lakhs.

The Ministry of Textile has also asked to revise another 31 group Approach Project proposal under Comprehensive Handloom Development Scheme for the release of Rs. 50 lakhs, but the DPR and State government still has not submitted the revised proposal.

A similar proposal for 347 groups approach project under the comprehensive Handloom Development Scheme also awaits the release of Rs. 46.62 lakhs. The state department has submitted query report for this on August 27, 2014 but the proposal remains still under process at Sentral ministry level, said the source.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/handloom-projects-stalled-pending-funding-resolution-between-state-and-central-govts/

IMPHAL, March 13: Pheiroijam Parijat Singh was a man of principle; he stayed at the party he joined consciously without changing till the end, stated leader of the House Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh during the obituary reference of CPI leader Pheiroijam Parijat Singh in the 10th Session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

Parijat died due to an illness at his native place at Nongada Makha Leikai, Lamlai on March 6, 2015.

He was elected to the House many times. He had held the portfolios of Health, Power, Food & Civil Supplies etc in his various terms as Minister.

The first mover of the obituary reference, the Chief Minister said Parijat joined Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1963 and stayed in the party till his last breath.

He had always played vital role during crucial times. He was a good leader, the CM said.

When he represented the opposition party also he always placed his opinions in a constructive way. People appreciated his role as an opposition member.

He was also a national executive member of CPI. He had contributed in national level for the party. He was a leader who had taught the meaning of Democracy.

The Chief Minister said, what he contributed for the society is still remembered while adding that his death is a big lost for the country.

May his soul rest in peace, he said shared in the grief of his family.

Congress MLAs Ksh Biren, N Biren Singh, Dr Ng Bijoy Singh, Rk Anand and TN Haokip took part in the obituary reference.

Opposition MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi Singh, O Lukhoi Singh, Kh Joykishan and L Ibomcha Singh have also remembered the CPI leader for his contributions to the society.

Speaker Th Lokeshwar Singh, who presided the House, had also shared the good works done by Parijat.

The House observed a two minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/cpi-leader-parijat-was-a-man-of-principle-ibobi-tells-house/

IMPHAL, March 13: The Manipur Students`™ Federation expressed their dismay to at government`™s failure to take up urgent measures to prevent the outbreak of `Swine Flu`™.

While speaking to the media persons at the MSF head office Kh Serajuddin president, MSF said that people of the state still panic over Swine Flu and many are still very ignorant on it.

The government still did not take such illnesses seriously even after two persons died of Swine Flu in the state and are not concern to organise a proper awareness program in the state regarding Swine flu he added.

Kh Serajuddin also said that almost all people of the state started using mask believing it to protect from such Flu but on the other taking advantage of this hand shopkeepers hike the price of the mask to as much as Rs 350-400.

He continued that these practices should be stop and if anyone is found to sell the mask at higher price MSF will take up strict against them.

Maibam Bidhyaraj, general secretary MSF stated that not only words will help the people of the state but the government should try to find out a means to get the facilities for testing `Swine Flu`™ in the state.

The government had already given its word to give the requirement like mask, glove, ventilator etc to all the districts Primary Health Centre but after a team of MSF went for survey (Imphal East and West) it was found out that there was nothing so far.

He also said that in one of the Primary Health Centre there were only two staff who are working in a contract basis did not have much idea about Swine Flu.

`How long will the government wait until many people are infected with such flu`™ asked Maibam Bidhyaraj.

MSF strongly appealed the government to bring the facilities to check Swine Flu in the larger interest of the people and if the government fails to do so MSF along with the people of the state will find its way out said Maibam Bidhyaraj.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/msf-to-take-action-against-shopkeepers-selling-masks-at-inflated-prices/

IMPHAL, March 13: The sum of rupees ten lakhs awarded as ex-gratia payment to Thangjam Manorama`™s mother by a ruling of the Supreme Court has now been transferred to the Manipur High Court to be delivered to the awardee at the soonest, according to a highly placed source in the court.

The court order awarding the payment said `Mr. R. Balasubramanian, learned counsel for the petitioner has today drawn our attention to an additional affidavit filed on behalf of the petitioner `“ Union of India interalia stating that the Minister of Defence, Government of India have after consideration of the matter at the highest level in the ministry taken a decision to pay a sum of Rs. 10,00,000 as an ex-gratia amount in connection with the incident resulting in the death of Km. Th. Manorama Devi.`

It may be recalled Manorama was raped and killed in custody by the Assam Rifles on the night she was whisked away from her home at Irilbung, Imphal East in 2004.

The court order further said `Mr. Balasubramanian, submits that the payment shall be without prejudice to all contentions that may be open to the appellant in this appeal both on facts and in law. It is urged that given four weeks`™ time the amount of Rs. 10,00,000 shall be deposited by the Union of India either in this court or before any other Court or authority for disbursement to the mother of the deceased who shall receive the same for her benefit and the benefit of other heirs if any left behind the deceased.`

The money is now in the Manipur High Court`™s account and shall be given away to Manorama`™s mother on Monday, and the latter has been intimated accordingly, the source said.

Indicating the counsel appearing on behalf of Manorama will seek no fee for his service the order said `Mr. Colin Gonsalves, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent submits that he has no objection to the payment of the ex-gratia amount nor has any counsel appearing for any other party in these proceedings objected to the receipt or disbursement of the said amount to the mother of the deceased.`

The court directed that the amount be deposited by the appellant `“ Union of India with the Registrar General of the High Court of Manipur at Imphal within a period of six week, and the money accordingly has entered the relevant account.

The court also directed the amount be promptly released in favour of Manorama`™s mother after proper verification and identification by the Registrar General.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/defence-ministry-releases-rs-10-lakhs-exgratia-for-manoramas-mother-as-per-supreme-court-order/

KANGPOKPI, Mar 13: Terming the March 11 notification of Directorate of Education(s), administrative section, for appointments of teachers and lecturers on contract basis as `Disparity and Injustice`™ the All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur (ATSUM) today said they would reject the notification.

Defying the notification Emboi Serto asserted that ATSUM has been persistently pressing the State Government for solving the problems of those Adhoc/Contract Basis Teachers while cautioning the State Government not to make any further recruitment of teachers until the problems of those Adhoc/Contract basis teachers are solved amicably.

It said the state Government however intentionally let the Directorate of Education(s) issue the notification for recruitment of teachers against the ATSUM appealed said Emboi Serto.

The ATSUM is against the notification of Directorate of Education(S) and will totally opposed the recruitment maintained Emboi Serto.

ATSUM is also vehemently against the recruitment of teachers only for schools located in Jiribam Sub Division while there are nearly 2000 vacant posts of teachers in the hill districts of the State added Emboi.

`We are not against the recruitment for the people of Jiribam Sub Division but the jaundiced eye and injustice attitude of the state Government`, elucidated Emboi Serto while adding that it is uniformly crucial for the hill districts of the state if recruitments of teachers have to be done since many posts of teachers have been lying vacant in every schools of hill districts.

If the Government and the concerned departments are transparent enough in their respective responsibilities, they should immediate cancel the notification and solve the problems of those Adhoc/Contract Basis Teachers before any fresh recruitment is notified said the student body leader.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/atsum-to-reject-directorate-of-educations-notification/

IMPHAL, March 13: Three persons tested positive for Swine Flu. Out of them, two have died while the other has been discharged after treatment.

This was stated by Health & Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing replying to a calling attention motion raised by Oinam Kendra MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh in the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

He further said the first Swine Flu case in the State was officially detected on March 5. Three cases were confirmed to have tested positive.

Three more suspected cases were also reported. Out of them two tested negative while the test result of the third is awaited and the person is still kept at the isolation ward, he said.

He informed the House about the preventive measures taken by the Health Services Department. He said a monitoring cell has been opened up at the Health Services Department and further instructions have been given to open up similar monitoring cells in all districts of the State.

Arrangement to supply plenty of three-layer masks as a preventive measure was also mentioned by the Minister.

He said Health Services is also planning to organize public awareness programmes.

If anyone is suspected to be suffering from this sickness they should informed the monitoring cells through the provided telephone numbers. Arrangement has also been made for providing transportation for that person, the Minister said.

Isolation wards have been setup at District Hospitals including RIMS and JNIMS, he added.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh pointed out that instead of sending the samples at Ranbaxy SRL in Mumbai to test for swine flu at the cost of rupees five thousand per test, which also takes a lot of time for the result to come, it would be a better option to do the testing at Regional Medical & Research Centre at Dibrugarh in Assam.

He said if the samples are submitted to the Centre before 12 pm it is possible to receive the result by 6 pm on the same day.

He urged the government to open up surveillance centres at Moreh which is bordering Myanmar and Churachandpur which is bordering with Mizoram.

He also suggested to encourage the health workers and paramedical staffs etc by providing them with proper protection kits.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/three-confirmed-swine-flu-cases-two-died-while-the-other-discharged-after-treatment-health-minister/

IMPHAL, March 13: The sixth day of the 10th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly will be marked in the history of the State.

In what could be the first step towards the meeting the popular demand to introduce a legislation to safeguard the indigenous population of the State, the leader of the House Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has introduced the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 in the House today.

This is the 8th Bill to be tabled in the House this year.

The Bill was introduced in the House today after obtaining the recommendations of the Governor of Manipur under clauses (1) and (3) of article 207 of the Constitution of India.

The introduction page of the 11-page Bill mentions that `A Bill to provide for registration of visitors, tenants and migrant workers for their safety and security and for maintenance of public order in the State of Manipur and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.`

In the short title, extent and commencement of the Bill mentioned, `This Act may be called the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Act, 2015.`

`It shall extend to the whole of the State of Manipur. It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette.`

Establishment of visitors`™ registration centres, registration of transit units, submission of visitor`™s details by the transit units and compilation of data of visitors are mentioned in the Chapter I of the Bill.

Establishment of tenants`™ registration centres, registration of tenants units, registration of tenants and issue of receipt to tenants and owner are mentioned in Chapter II.

Registration of contactors, registration of migrant workers, directorate or registration of visitors and tenants are mentioned in Chapter III. This chapter also mentioned `Every contractor who is registered under sub-section (1) of Section 10, shall furnish details of migrant workers to the Department of Labour and Director of Registration of Visitors and Tenants along with proof of identity, in such a form and in such manner as may be prescribed.`

`The Department of Labour shall issue pass to all such migrant workers who are registered under section (1) above through the contractor. The Department of Labour shall maintain the details of migrant workers in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.`

In Chapter IV, `Establishment of Directorate of Visitors and Tenants` mentioned, `For the purpose of this act, the State Government shall establish a Directorate of Registration of Visitors and Tenants Consisting of a Director of Registration of Visitors and Tenants and as many officers and as it thinks fit.`

It further says `An officer not below the rank of Grade I of the Manipur Civil Service shall be appointed as the Director of registration of Visitors and Tenants.`

In the Chapter V of the Bill `Miscellaneous Provisions,` it said, `Any owner of transit unit who fails to register transit unit or who fails to submit returns of the visitors with the visitors`™ registration authority under sub-section (2) of section 5 shall be punishable with fine upto a maximum of twenty five thousand rupees.`

`Any owner of rental unit who fails to register the tenants with the tenants registering authority within the period specified in proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 8 shall be punishable with fine upto a maximum of ten thousand rupees. Any contractor who fails to register migrant workers as required under sub section (1) of section II, shall be punishable with fine upto fifty thousand rupees.`

However, Section 14 of the Bill said `the Provisions of this Act shall not apply to (1) the permanent residents of the State of Manipur (2) Persons employed, in connection with affairs of the Union Government, the State Government, Public or Private undertaking, a local authority or a body established by Law or students of educational institutions situated, in the State or such other persons as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.`

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/chief-minister-okram-ibobi-introduces-manipur-regulation-of-visitors-tenants-and-migrant-workers-bill-2015-in-the-house/

LAMKA, March 12: Negligence on the part of the electricity and other departments in the Sangaikot TD Block area of Ccpur has resulted in the stalling of most developmental works at Sangaikot leaving them incomplete and unattended.

A visit by a select group of media men, including IFP, revealed the electric power plant of 33/11 KV capacity to be station at Sangaikot TD block headquarters at Sangaikot village is in a sorry state with the completion of the plant nowhere in sight .

The project was undertaken by the Indo Power Limited(IPL) headed by Murli Das and the task had been entrusted to Achauba, SO of the concerned department /company.

The Rs. 31 lakh project was sub contracted to Lienboi but on the charge that they had made a wrong assessment of the cost for the project the release of the second instalments for the construction was kept on hold.

Lianboi now laments that they are losing more than Rs. 5 lakhs and had no option but to leave. He also charged that Achouba had taken Rs. 13 lakhs for merely the construction of the protection wall.

The electric plant with a capacity of 33/11 KV was approved in the year 2009 but execution began last year. However, its completion now is beginning to recede into uncertainty.

Workers at the site told IFP that they will be able to finished the work in 15 days if the material and tools are given to them this is where the hurdle is coming to be.

Student leaders of the area also said they are discouraged when they were told by the EE of the electricity department in Ccpur, the project was beyond their jurisdiction.`™

The fact is that they didn`™t supervise the work here and let the contractor and company official run the show , said a concerned social workers S Minlien.

Social workers and student leaders of the TD Block also lamented that the company had utilize the service of the villagers without paying them any wages.

The President of Kuki Student Organization(KSO) of Sangaikot TD Block said unless the electric company made payment to the villagers, the company would have to compensate by availing free electricity to them.

It may be recalled that that the Sangaikot SDC was ungraded to BDO level in 2005 and again as per a cabinet decision in 2011 was upgraded to SDO status.

Meanwhile the people of the block continue to face immense hardship for the lack of electric power.

A hotelier, Mrs. Hoihnu said that they are now awaiting the inauguration of the project for the block so they can have electricity, water supply and a police station, easing the problems of their daily lives. She however expressed apprehension that her hopes may be belied considering the indifferent attitude of the district as well as State authorities towards their block.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/sangaikot-villagers-lament-official-oversight-of-their-sorry-plight/