Manipur News

IMPHAL, June 3: A three day conclave entitled, “North East Conclave” organised by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the department of AIDS control, government of India was inaugurated today at the Classic Hotel, Imphal.

The conclave will conclude on June 5 at the same venue.

Delivering the keynote address, deputy director general (TI) department of AIDS control, Dr Neeraj Dhingra said among the North Eastern States, Manipur has shown the highest estimated adult HIV prevalence of 1.22 percent, followed by Mizoram (0. 74 percent) and Nagaland (0. 73 percent).

The NE states have an estimated total of 63,049 HIV infections, the highest being in the states of Manipur (25,369) and the lowest in Sikkim (593), he said.

The annual new infections in NE states have increased from 5,549 in 2001 to 6,460 in 2011. This is opposite to national trend where an overall decline of 57% has been recorded in the same period and it is a big concern over this issues in NE, he added.

He said India is committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in reducing HIV mortality and the country is making significant progress in achieving the goals with its focused efforts through the National AIDS Control programme, NACP.

He further said that the main objectives of the conclave is to bring together the policy makers, implementers, community and other stake holders to discuss the gaps and issues in the implementation of programs, to identify and list the problem areas, discuss and list the methodology to resolve the problems, etc.

Speaking at the meeting Oussama Tawil said that he had come over for the meeting to see the reality and conflicts that people from NE states are going through.

He further said that UNAIDS will continue to give priority and focus mainly on NE states and largely try to resolve the issues in longer terms and will extend all the possible help regarding education, economic and other health issues.

The inaugural day of the conclave was also attended by State chief secretary, PC Lawmkunga, principal secretary department of Health and Family Welfare, Sukhel Akhtar, Country co-ordinator UNAIDS India, Oussama Tawil, president, Mizoram Drugs Users Forum, Lalduhawma, president, CONE, RK Nalinikanta, joint secretary, DAC, KB Agarwal, CDC, V Sampath Kumar.

Others who attended include officials from department of AIDS control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, senior government officials from all eight States of the North Eastern Region.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/manipur-has-highest-number-of-hiv-infected-persons-among-ne-states/

IMPHAL, June 3: Trinamool Congress legislators must respond to show cause notices for defying high command’s instructions and will be expelled from the party if their response is not satisfactory.

This was stated by newly elected Trinamool Congress president, Andro MLA Thounaojam Shyamkumar.

Speaking in his reception ceremony as the new president of the Manipur Pradesh TMC at his quarter, Shyamkuamr said he was elected as the president by the party high command the day before after the completion of adhoc period of former president Kim Gangte.

The decision of the high command may be explained by the recent defeat at the LS polls in both the outer and inner constituency seats of Manipur, he said, adding that now after his appointment as president the structure of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress will be corrected from the grass-roots to the upper level for good performance in the general elections in 2017.

“Strengthening the grass-roots is to strengthen the party, so TMC will emphasise on health, food security, human resource etc. We will work out a smooth way in adjusting with both the central and state government for public good,” he said.

He added that the active workers of the Trinamool party will prepare for general elections in both the hill and valley assembly constituencies for a good result in the election.

“There is a difference of opinion within the party. So, all the five MLAs will meet soon to discuss the matter and bring a concrete solution. As the fourth largest political party in the nation, we are bound by rules and regulations, and party’s ideology. The party is unlike a local party and every member has to take every step with proper thought,” he said.

He said that those Trinamool Congress MLAs who are moving randomly and voicing propagandas will be made to understand after a negotiation as per instructions from the high command.

They will have to explain their every movement during the last LS polls, appropriate actions will be taken against them if they fail to provide explanations and if necessary they will be expelled from the party, Shyamkumar said.

Responding to questions from the media about the formation of a rival state Trinamool Congress by MLA Joykishan led group, he said he hasn’t received any such notice from them or the Speaker on such a formation. As per the Indian constitution, newly formed political parties need to notify to the speaker of state assembly and Election Commission of India.

Till now, there is no such official latter received from the speaker and ECI on their newly formed party which they should according to the Article 10, he said.

Meanwhile, the Thangmeiband MLA Khumukcham Joykishan led Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress has clarified on the confusion being created about the president and other office bearers on Tuesday in the office of Hiyanglam MLA O Lukhoi at Babupara.

Khumukcham Joykishan said he has been elected president of the party by the majority of active party workers and MLAs recently, adding that a fact Andro MLA Shyamkumar disclose himself at the same place on Tuesday.

“Yesterday, Thounaojam Shyamkumar claimed that he was appointed as the new president through a fax signed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) general secretary Derek O’Brein and declared himself as the new president. The fax has not been sent to other office bearers of the Trinamool Congress in the state,” Joykishan said.

Joykishan said that the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress is now a state party recently recognised by the ECI through a notification, number 56/2014/PPS-II date March 10, 2014, and is also included in the state gazette and waits for notification only.

“The dictatorship of the national party will not be tolerated any more. The state unit is ready to sever ties with AITC if they don’t change their arrogant and overbearing attitude soon,” he said.

Appealing all the concerned Trinamool Congress workers to refrain from spreading wrong stories as it will cause problem in the smooth operation of the party, he said such anti-party actions might lead to unwarranted consequences in the future.

Thongju MLA Th Bishwajit said that those making anti-party allegations must make clarification under a short notice through the media, adding that a general meeting will soon decide the matter of the new party president.

He also added that former president Kim Gangte also has extended support to them over phone.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/rifts-in-the-state-trinamool-congress-come-to-fore/

IMPHAL, May 3: The parents of 14-year- old Alice Kamei who is missing since March 14 last year has appealed the outfit who allegedly abducted Alice to release her safely and has urged the state government to take actions for rescuing her and to stop the intimidation by the central police force and the state police forces in the name of searching her.

A press conference was called jointly by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, Human Right Alert and United NGOs Mission Manipur at Manipur Press Club today in this regard and in which the family members of Alice Kamei attended.

At the outset, Chakritombi Kamei, 42 father of Alice Kamei of Eshok Tera Pokpi Phingthu reminded everyone present about the fact that his daughter has been missing March 14, 2013 along with her friend from the Grace Reach Academy boarding situated at Hiyanglam which is under Kakching Police Station.

Showing eagerness for their safe release and for them to join the mainstream after being misguided at a tender age, he said that his daughter wouldn’t have joined any outfit on her own accord.

He said army personnel threatened him after being reported that she was with his family which was untrue at their Maibam Lokpa Ching camp on the intervenient night of April 6, adding that the state police forces also questioned him on May 31 about Alice.

Continuing that if her missing daughter wants to return or the outfit wants to release her, she will never be able to do so, he said that instead of rescuing her, they are searching to arrest her which is condemnable.

Her mother Sundari Kamei lodged a complaint on the same day of missing to Kakching PS and an FIR 43(03) 0/£ KG/PS U/S 406IPC was also registered but without any positive results, he added.

Manipur Alliance for Child Rights convenor Keisham Pradipkumar told the media that an unofficial report has disclosed the recruitment of many child soldiers in the state and various child soldiers by outfits which are under SoO.

He alleged that in Churachandpur district 100 out of 120 children are recruited as child soldiers by different outfits as per the report.

The government hasn’t taken any steps to bring the child soldiers and women soldiers in the mainstream because they shouldn’t be considered as criminals but are victims of an armed conflict and even if arrested should be brought to the mainstream, he said.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/release-alice-kamei-appeals-parents/

SENAPATI, June 3: Realising the seriousness of the menace of overloaded vehicles, which could create potholes and damages to precious road infrastructure, incurring huge expenses on the exchequer in repairing the roads and increasing number of road accidents due to the potholes along the National Highway – 2, the lifeline of Manipur , the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) has urged the driver/ owner of vehicles to strictly abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling of permissible weight limits – nine tons for six tyre vehicles and 15 tons for 10 tyres vehicle, plying along the national highway.

In its press release, the SDSA said the highway, especially between Mao and Imphal has many sinking zones, zigzags and numerous curves, the department concerned, repairing work agencies and labourers engaged in laying of bitumen on the highway find it hard to maintain work quality at times.

In spite of insurgency problems and other hindering factors, the contractors and labourers are doing their best to maintain quality work, but they often fail to, because 400-500 overloaded vehicles are plying daily along the hghway including security convoys and tankers without any checking, it said.

Road transport being a State subject, the responsibility for curbing the overloading of vehicles primarily rests with the State governments, and stringent measures should be taken up to curb overloading menace along the highway by installing Weighing Bridge at border area near Mao gate and weighing machine where it is necessary.

It also further added that repairing of roadside, drainages and construction of retaining wall are urgently needed at many portions along the Highway.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/sdsa-warns-against-overloaded-vehicles-plying-along-nh-2/

Imphal, June 3: A college is soon coming up in Sugnu area, one of the ‘Modern Colleges’ approved by the government of India from other 376 colleges. Its construction work will begin soon, said K Ranjit MLA of Sugnu.

K Ranjit declared it to the people during an award distribution function of meritorious students who scored high marks in the matric and twelfth exams of this year at a function held at Ching Tam Community Hall, Sugnu. He said that recently the Education Minister, DC Thoubal, Commissioner Education and other official have inspected the site for the modern college and has been approved.

He added that the necessary documents and other related report for the college have been sent to the Union Human Resource Ministry April last.

The college will have different streams. Students of Sugnu will not need to go to Imphal for higher studies. With proper infrastructure that will come up with the college, even students from Imphal will come to study in Sugnu. After a few years Sugnu will become an educational hub, K Ranjit said.

The MLA recalled his father who encouraged him for education. He elaborated his time of hardship that he used to face while going to school when Serou Bridge was not properly constructed.

He encouraged those students who scored first division in exams and asked to score more grades in coming exam.

N Mangi MPS, SDPO Sugunu, who was also present in the function, said that such meritorious award is to find out the hidden talents among the students.

What is lacking in the area is proper government scholls, N Mangi added. We need to bring a proper change in the present trend of education, he said.

The meritorious award distribution function was organised by Development committee Sugunu with assistance from MLA K Ranjit in memory of his father Kangujam Mohori Singh.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/sugnu-to-have-modern-college-soon-k-ranjit/