SBI extends help to school

From John K. Kaping UKHRUL, August 31: The State Bank of India (SBI), Ukhrul Branch located inside 17th Assam Riffles Campus, Somsai has distributed nine ceiling fans to Ukhrul Model… Read more »

From John K. Kaping
UKHRUL, August 31: The State Bank of India (SBI), Ukhrul Branch located inside 17th Assam Riffles Campus, Somsai has distributed nine ceiling fans to Ukhrul Model High School under the hospitality theme “Community Services of Banking” by the SBI Bank Manager RK.Tiken Singh in a simple function held at Model School campus yesterday.

The aim and objective according to the Manager highlighted in the gathering focused on the co-operative Programme of the Bank to support all possible extents and means of infra-structural development towards underprivileged Government schools all over India.

The Principal of the Model High School, C. Nabin, expressed deep gratitude to the SBI Manager for such act of humanity and hospitality extended towards the upliftment of the Students’ community welfare.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/sbi-extends-help-to-school/

Sharmila`s Road Ahead

A question often is asked, sometimes with an air of mischievous rhetoric, whether Sharmila is being pushed into what she is doing by vested interests, and if not this, then… Read more »

A question often is asked, sometimes with an air of mischievous rhetoric, whether Sharmila is being pushed into what she is doing by vested interests, and if not this, then by public expectations. The implication is, she is unable to exercise her free will to decide on how or whether her seemingly futile protest should proceed any further. Further, another implied allegation is also Sharmila has ceased to be of any great concern for the people of Manipur by and large, which is why her protest is all the more doomed to be in a limbo that it seems to be in at the moment. These are serious thoughts or charges if you like. The question is, what is the volitional element in Sharmila’s continued fast? Is she responding to public expectations only or is she driven by a faith in her own action? While there should be no doubt the latter is there predominantly, it is necessary to dispel some of the doubts raised. The answer could come in the form of a question. Is there anybody whose action is not in some ways or other a response to public expectations?

Students of psychology would tell us there is nobody. These expectations are not always overt. They have been ingrained into the social consciousness so deeply that much of them come naturally to all of us without the need for making conscious choices. A few very basic questions should be illuminating. Why do we fear not doing well in studies? Why do we not walk around naked in public? The answer is, because such behaviours would not be approved by the society. Much of our social behaviours are thus moderated by this ever present “Superego” in Freudian terms. In a crux, Freud’s personality dynamics becomes an interplay of three powerful forces within the human psyche: the infantile “Id”, the parental “superego” and the rational “ego”. “Id” is thus about inborn, primitive, animal desires, appetites and instincts. The “Superego” controls and moderates (or civilises) the “Id”, sometimes excessively and to the detriment of the health of the individual. It is thus the rational “Ego” which must negotiate between these two. This personality dynamic would be the fuel behind Sharmila’s decisions, conscious or subconscious, as it is for everybody else. The only difference is, Sharmila has stepped out of private life boldly and is in the public domain in a radical way, and hence, we would argue here is a case of an enviable success of the “Ego” to rein in the “Id” and the “Superego”. The “Superego” which normally should have determined her public behaviour and decisions, have been rationalise successfully by her powerful “Ego” to convert it into a magnanimous sense of public duty. This being the case, it is only natural the pressure of expectations, not just public expectations but her own as well, would be much more on her. It is a truism that people do expect much more from public figures than from the ordinary man or woman on the street, and in our opinion, nobody in the state is as much a selfless public figure as Sharmila has come to be.

The next question is, why do people expect another to accomplish what is also essentially their aspiration? Why hasn’t there been many more stepping forward to join Sharmila’s style of protest? These questions deserve another rhetorical answer as well. If everybody were to take care of their own problems, or were to be capable of taking care of all their own problems, and this ability in collective were to be the solution to social problems, why would there have been any need for leaders at all? Eric Fromm’s book “Escape from Freedom” is dedicated to answering this question. Freedom can get terrifying for many if not most, and so taking important decisions on which crucially hangs the fate of individuals and society, independently, is not easy. This is where the role of inspirational leadership comes in. These strong men and women would become the centres where the ordinary men and women surrender their freedoms to make important decisions. And who can deny Sharmila is an inspirational leader who has made sacrifices nobody can or has ever made. But Fromm’s caution is, although this has nothing remotely to do with Sharmila’s case, when the ordinary men and women get too insecure, they begin to surrender more and more of their freedom to tough leaders who they entrust to deliver them from the source of their insecurities. Such a condition he says is the ground on which the most brutal dictatorships have spawned. Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Russia, Mussolini’s Italy, all shared this social dynamics. Sharmila’s case is a radical departure from this but there is an interesting parallel. While there can be no argument she is an inspirational leader let those who love her not leave her to bear all the burdens alone. Nobody can emulate what she is doing, but let it not be forgotten everybody who would benefit from her cause has a duty to also contribute to take forward what she is fighting for.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/sharmilas-road-ahead/

AR jawan commits suicide

IMPHAL, Aug 31: A havildar of 38 Assam Rifles posted at Minuthong has reportedly committed suicide after shooting himself by his service AK-Rifle at 5:55 am today. The deceased jawan… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 31: A havildar of 38 Assam Rifles posted at Minuthong has reportedly committed suicide after shooting himself by his service AK-Rifle at 5:55 am today.

The deceased jawan has been identified as Bijoykumar, 37, of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official, the actual incident of his suicide is yet to be established. Imphal Police has registered a case in this connection.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/ar-jawan-commits-suicide/

`Revive ILP abolished in 1950`

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) has stated that the only way to quickly implement the Inner Line Permit in the state is to revive the… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) has stated that the only way to quickly implement the Inner Line Permit in the state is to revive the system that was abolished long back in 1950.

A release of FREINDS stated that Manipur was one of the independent Southeast Asian countries which have unique culture and tradition. However, continuous influx of foreigners and non-local migrants to the state has seriously affected the demography of the state. The population of non-local migrants has exceeded one-third of the total population of the state, it noted.

FREINDS also pressed the state government to form a cabinet committee along with a technical committee to look into the implementation of ILP in the state. The authorities concerned should try to revive the ILP that was abolished by the then Commissioner of Manipur Himat Singh in 1950.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/revive-ilp-abolished-in-1950/

Transfer and posting of IAS and MCS officers

IMPHAL, Aug 30: Transfer and postings and re-allocation of works of the six MCS officers and one IAS officer were made by the state government. In this connection an official… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 30: Transfer and postings and re-allocation of works of the six MCS officers and one IAS officer were made by the state government.

In this connection an official order was issued by under secretary (DP), government of Manipur recently, as per the order M Joy Singh MCS. Addl. Secy (MAHUD & Revenue), Director, RD & PR was transferred as Director, RD & PR & e/o Addl. Secy. (MAHUD & Revenue) in addition, Kh Raghumani Singh MCS, Addl. Director (SAT) & EO-Addl. Secy. (Eco & Stats/AR) was transferred as Addl. Secy. (Eco & Stats), Sh Modak Hrisheekesh Arvind, IAS, under secy. (Planning, IT) & Staff Officer to CS in addition as SDO/BDO, Chandel, Sh Ranjan Yumnan, MCS, SDO/BDO Chandel as Dy. Protocol Officer & e/o Under Secy. Home, N Tomba Singh, MSS, under secy. GAD/PHE as under Secy. PHE and Ch Shachi, Jr. MCE, under secy. Home was transferred as under secy DP.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/transfer-and-posting-of-ias-and-mcs-officers/

JAC appeal

IMPHAL, Aug 31: The JAC Against Enforced Disappearance and Abitrary Detention of Gurumayum Jiteswar alias GM Chanjou has appealed to the general public to support the 24-hour general strike called… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 31: The JAC Against Enforced Disappearance and Abitrary Detention of Gurumayum Jiteswar alias GM Chanjou has appealed to the general public to support the 24-hour general strike called from the midnight of Septembe 1 till the midnight of September 2 demanding the whereabouts of assistant publicity secretary of RPF, GM Changjou who was allegedly arrested by security forces from Dimapur on August 18, stated a release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/jac-appeal/

Ban lifted

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The ban imposed by some social orgaizations on the screening of Engen Gee 23 produced by Waikhom Films has been lifted after making necessary rectifications in the… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The ban imposed by some social orgaizations on the screening of Engen Gee 23 produced by Waikhom Films has been lifted after making necessary rectifications in the film, stated producer Abung Wai.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/ban-lifted/

80th death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang observed at Khoupum

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The 80th Death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang a matyr and with a freedom fighter was observed with a traditional ritual ceremony by the Khoupum Area Youth organization… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The 80th Death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang a matyr and with a freedom fighter was observed with a traditional ritual ceremony by the Khoupum Area Youth organization with KP Kamson as chief guest and Gaipuidum Rongmei was presided over the function.

According to a release, paying a befitting tribute to the great departed soul of Haipou Jadonang by the chief guest, president members of the organization and local people have marked begining of the observation yesterday at Thamagong Play ground.

Besides as part of the observation the final match of the 80th Death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang memorial trophy organized by the KAYO was played between team of Gaidimjang Part-II Youth Club and Laokhamjang Youth Club at Thamagong playground yesterday in which Gaidimjang Part-II Youth Club have lifted the trophy, the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/80th-death-anniversary-of-haipou-jadonang-observed-at-khoupum/

Save Sharmila

The ritual goes on. Irom Sharmila was produced before the court once again today. The outcome was a foregone conclusion and will remain so till at least the foreseeable future…. Read more »

The ritual goes on. Irom Sharmila was produced before the court once again today. The outcome was a foregone conclusion and will remain so till at least the foreseeable future. She will have to remain in jail till such a time as she breaks her indefinite hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, totally from the state. Since the latter consequence is hardly likely to happen in the immediate future, it is even more unlikely this hard-willed lady would break her fast, even if she is aware, and she probably is, that her fast will not be able to make the government change its mind on the matter. And so this tragic human drama must continue as it has been. If the court for some technical or other reason grants her bail, she would be rearrested on a new charge. This has been carrying on for the past nearly 11 years now and nobody is under any illusion anymore a court victory can settle Sharmila’s case. In any case, since she is not willing to give up her indefinite fast, if set free, she would die of starvation, and if that happens, the case would get even more complicated. The state’s response of keeping her in custody and forcibly feeding her through the nose therefore is not unreasonable. For the other option would virtually amount to culpable murder through wilfully inappropriate action.

The only way to save Sharmila then is to have the AFSPA repealed. We see all the reasons forwarded in defence of the AFSPA that the army can operate on civil duty only under the act’s present shape, rather convoluted. This is a clever subterfuge. The law is manmade and it can be reshaped as well. What can happen, and in fact what many demanded should be, and indeed what the Justice Jeevan Reddy commission which probed the relevance of the act recommended was in effect for a reshaping of the clauses of the act. The provision to bring in the army to assist civil administration cannot be done away, after all, the last defence to any serious challenge to the Nation State is its military, and the insurrections witnessed in the Northeast region, including importantly in Manipur, are indeed challenges to the Indian State. However, if the army needs an act to be able to take up civil duty, there is nothing which says it cannot be accountable to the country’s legal system. The AFSPA says precisely this. First are its draconian features which include the power to even kill on suspicion. But even more dangerous is the guarantee of impunity which makes army offenders where the AFSPA has been promulgated not directly accountable to the civil court of law. Why must this clause remain? Remove this clause, and the AFSPA would lose its terrifying visage and consequently a lot less draconian. If the government makes this gesture, it would be a reasonable concession with which to persuade Sharmila to end her fast, thus saving her. It would also be a victory for her without making the Indian State a loser. The army can still swing into action when called for but within reasonable, democratic and civilised restraints.

Just a year ago, the establishment thought allowing foreigners into Manipur and some of its neighbouring states, was not advisable, on the presumption that this would adversely influence the mindset of the people here. The government for whatever the reason decided one fine morning that this regulation could be lifted on an experimental basis. A year down the line, other than an end to haranguing the foreign visitors, nothing that the government initially feared has come true. Lifting of similar restrictions in Kashmir years ago also had effects that were directly the opposite of what the government feared or pretended to fear would happen. It is time now for the government to yet again invoke the inspirational voice within itself, or what Barak Obama described as the “spark of divinity” in formulating policies, to resolve the issue. Let it again go ahead and extend another unilateral show of trust to the people of the Northeast and reframe the AFSPA. Let the provision to bring in the army to assist the civil administration when the latter requests for such an intervention remain, but let it act within the reasonable restraints provided by the constitutional law of the country. It is true the police can be, and has been, known to be high-handed too, however, because they are accountable to the law, the sense of the general public that they have nothing to defend themselves from undeserved victimisation is much less. Such inquiries as the one instituted into the BT Road killing and the manner the law was demonstrated to be domineering above all else, including the police, putting the police in the dock for the alleged crime they committed, itself was a good enough message. The army operating under the AFSPA is made to be seen as above this, and this is unhealthy.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/save-sharmila/

Id Greetings

IMPHAL, Aug 30: Various political parties and civil organizations have extended their warm greetings to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Id-Ul-Fitr. The Pangal Students’ Organisation,… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 30: Various political parties and civil organizations have extended their warm greetings to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Id-Ul-Fitr.

The Pangal Students’ Organisation, Manipur has greeted the people, especially of Muslim community in the state on the occasion of Id-Ul-Fitr.

PSO also appealed to the people to refrain from alcohols and drugs on the auspicious occasion of Id-Ul-Fitr.

In the meantime, Janata Dal (United) Manipur State unit, in its greeting message, mentioned that, the Muslims in the state as per the Islamic religion performing Ruja, fasting for a whole one month showing true believe in Allah. And wish that unity and diversity in the Manipur be brought with the coming of this true religious Id-Ul-Fitr.

The similar greeting message were also send out from the Manipur People’s Party, Minority Cell, MPP and Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress have also extend their greetings to the Muslim communities of the state with the coming of the Id-Ul-Fitr after ending Ramjan month.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/id-greetings/

Convocation

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The 24th IGNOU convocation will be held on September 5 at Hotel Tampha, North AOC. Education minister DD Thaisii will address the convocation address, stated a release.

IMPHAL, Aug 30: The 24th IGNOU convocation will be held on September 5 at Hotel Tampha, North AOC. Education minister DD Thaisii will address the convocation address, stated a release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/convocation/

RIMS to protest against threat

IMPHAL Aug 29: The director, all staff and students of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will launch a sit-in protest on August 30 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm…. Read more »

IMPHAL Aug 29: The director, all staff and students of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will launch a sit-in protest on August 30 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

A release of RIMS media advisor stated that the Out Patient Department (OPD) shall remain closed since all the doctors have decided to take part in the protest. However emergency services will be there in the casualty department. The decision was taken in a meeting of the faculties and other officials today afternoon.

This is in protest against the planting of a hand grenade in the OPD by some unknown persons on Saturday. The meeting also condemned the acts of intimidation in a hospital in this manner which could have endangered the lives of the innocent people. Several speakers said that as is done elsewhere in the world hospital should be left alone. Besides RIMS is a medical college catering medical education to students from the country in general and NE region in particular.

Further course of action will be taken during the sit-in protest tomorrow.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/rims-to-protest-against-threat/

Parity and Equality

Now is perhaps the time for the government to begin thinking in terms of a special administrative arrangement not just in keeping with the demand of the United Naga Council,… Read more »

Now is perhaps the time for the government to begin thinking in terms of a special administrative arrangement not just in keeping with the demand of the United Naga Council, UNC, for the Naga areas, but for the entire state. We had made a similar suggestion before but the matter is becoming even more urgent. Manipur as it is has been described in various quarters as a failed state, and indeed this is beginning to look to be what it really is. It does seem nothing can function and no substantive progress can result. The chief reason for this is that Manipur is today a hopelessly divided house. Every horse in it is pulling the wagon in different directions with the result that nothing ever moves or is allowed to move, even those who are willing and are capable of doing so. Each of the major communities in the state are acutely suspicious of each other and are quick to attribute sinister motives behind every one of their moves without even a thought on the possibility that these moves may actually be perfectly innocent ones. This is a state which cannot even think of creating a new district for administrative convenience without kicking up ugly and quixotic uproars that even threaten to explode into ethnic violence. The current unseemly tussle over the proposed creation of SADAR hills district is just the most immediate and prominent example of this hopeless situation.

It is long overdue that each of the communities be liberated from each other. There is at this moment no single oppressor and no single victim. Each has come to be an oppressor and tormentor of the other and equally each has come to be the victim of the other. This being so, let the special arrangement asked for be expanded to mean special arrangements for all the communities so that each can be themselves for once. At this moment, everybody’s creative energy is being sapped so senselessly, and each has to be always cautious of offending the other even by being honest to their own instincts to be themselves. The way things are heading, anything that one community does is beginning to be interpreted as an attack on the interest of the other. Partly, this has to do with the government’s indifference in clarifying serious allegations resulting out of what are quite possibly misconceptions. The government employment scenario for instance is a sore point, with those in the reserved category always believing they have been short-changed. We had been recommending the government to clarify conclusively and officially what the exact situation is on the matter. Let there be a white paper on it with the objective of not just laying bare the facts of the matter, but also to see how any discrepancy, if any, has happened: whether those in the general category have been responsible for these as always alleged, or if it is the result of corruption, not necessarily of officials in the general category alone.

In the area of private enterprises, this blame game should not be there at all. This is an open field and only individual enterprise, perseverance and a willingness to work and sweat it out with dedication in whatever profession one is in, is the key to success. Thus, a tailor, a carpenter, a motor mechanic, a cycle repairman, a journalist and so on, must, as suggested in the Bhagavat Gita, make their given professions their worship. The near total collapse of work culture of the government is on account of a lack of this attitude, and equally the rise of individuals and communities in any of these fields of work is also precisely because of this dedication and belief in their work and nothing else. Of course, there are other factors like availability of seed capital to launch commercial enterprises. In this regard, it is also a fact that those with landed property for obvious reasons will always have more of it. A farmer in any of the revenue districts of the valley, if his son wants to start a new business venture, can always sell off a part of his land holding and raise the necessary money, or else mortgage it to get a loan from the bank. No bank extends loan, especially entrepreneurial loan for this involves recover risks, without collaterals. In many ways, the ease with which an economy moves forward in the modern context, depends on the shape and quality of superstructures within which the economy operates. These superstructures, of which the pattern of land ownership is a very important one, are radically different from one community to another. The upward mobility of the non-government, therefore unsponsored economy of the private market therefore is destined to be unequal too. Unfortunately, a very vicious circle has today come about form this and this inequality in turn is breeding the contempt of the kind we are witnessing today. No community trusts the other. The state cannot carry on like this. Let the government then work out a consensus on bringing about some parity of superstructures, or else give a serious thought to the idea of “separate arrangements” for everybody.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/parity-and-equality/

AR organizes medical camp

IMPHAL, AUG 29: A medical camp was organised by 11 Assam Rifles by 43 Assam Rifles under Head Quarter 59 Mountain Brigade of Red Shield Division on 28-29 Aug for… Read more »

IMPHAL, AUG 29: A medical camp was organised by 11 Assam Rifles by 43 Assam Rifles under Head Quarter 59 Mountain Brigade of Red Shield Division on 28-29 Aug for the far flung villages of Khoupam valley. Identifying the difficulty faced by the villagers and lack of medical facilities in the valley, 11 Assam Rifles took the responsibility of conducting the medical camp. A total of 166 persons were examined and were provided free medicine. On this occasion the battalion also distributed various sports items to the students of various schools. People of Khoupam valley appreciated the philanthropic step taken by 11 Assam Rifles and requested for conducting more health camps in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/ar-organizes-medical-camp/

TRAU thrashes NEROCA by 1-0 in State League

IMPHAL, Aug 29:  TRAU defeated NEROCA by 1-0 in today’s match of 6th Manipur State League Football Tournament held at Khuman Main Stadium. E Abocha scored the lone winning goal… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 29:  TRAU defeated NEROCA by 1-0 in today’s match of 6th Manipur State League Football Tournament held at Khuman Main Stadium.

E Abocha scored the lone winning goal for TRAU in 18th minute of the match by a direct free kick.

S Jimmy Carter, H Arunkumar and E Abocha were booked yellow cards.

TRAU and NISA are leading the point tally with six points each.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/trau-thrashes-neroca-by-10-in-state-league/

ESU lifts MK Ghanendrajit trophy

IMPHAL, Aug 29:  ESU has lifted the champion’s trophy for MK Ghanendrajit Memorial Imphal East Super Division Football League. ESU scored a total of 11 points in the league. In… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 29:  ESU has lifted the champion’s trophy for MK Ghanendrajit Memorial Imphal East Super Division Football League.

ESU scored a total of 11 points in the league.

In today’s first match, KIYC defeated UPAA by 3-0 goals.

Patrick scored two goals while Thangboi added another goal for KIYC. Abung of UPAA was booked yellow card.

In the second match, ABA and XI Star ended in 1-1 draw.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/esu-lifts-mk-ghanendrajit-trophy/

Painting project

IMPHAL, Aug 29: In connection with North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited’s “Incorporation Day” observation, a wall painting project was conducted on the northern wall of Johnstone Higher Secondary School… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 29: In connection with North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited’s “Incorporation Day” observation, a wall painting project was conducted on the northern wall of Johnstone Higher Secondary School located along Bir Tikendrajit Road, Imphal this morning.

The Wall Painting Project conducted under the theme “Global Environmental issues” was participated by school children. The students of Pitambara English School, Maria Montessori senior secondary school and Johnstone higher secondary school   were present during the wall painting project this morning.

The project was organized by NEDFI.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/painting-project/

Anna ends fast, celebrations across the country

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IANS) An unparalleled 12-day movement that coalesced people across India on the need to eradicate corruption and saw the political establishment unite came to fruition Sunday… Read more »

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IANS) An unparalleled 12-day movement that coalesced people across India on the need to eradicate corruption and saw the political establishment unite came to fruition Sunday with Anna Hazare ending his 288-hour fast to euphoric cheers. Celebrations that began since parliament accepted his demands continued nationwide.

Tens of thousands had packed into the sprawling Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, which had become the cynosure of national attention since Aug 19 when 74-year-old Hazare moved from Tihar Jail to continue his fast for a strong, anti-corruption legislation. And many thousands more watched the historic moment unfold on their television screens.

It was the hour of hyperbole and extravagant descriptives. People`s power had triumphed. A peaceful non-violent movement that resonated across India had ended with parliament taking the first step towards framing a strong anti-corruption legislation and broadly agreeing to the key demands put forth by Hazare, a cult hero with his anachronistic white kurta-pyjama and Gandhi cap.

`I am very happy that a movement of this enormity was non-violent. You have set an example to the whole world,` Hazare told the wildly cheering crowd after accepting the coconut water-honey mixture from two young girls – a Dalit and a Muslim.

`I am very happy that a movement of this enormity was non-violent. You have set an example to the whole world,` Hazare told the wildly cheering crowd.

He led the crowd at Ramlila ground to take a pledge not to give a bribe or ever take one. The cheers were deafening as thousands vowed with him not to accept corruption in their lives.

The 74-year-old activist was admitted to hospital soon after he broke his fast. His heart beat was above normal, the principal doctor attending on him said Sunday.

`The heart rate is 94 which is more than normal (around 80). He is very dehydrated and exhausted,` said eminent cardiologist Naresh Trehan, who monitored Hazare`s health during the agitation.

Taken to the Medanta Medicity in Gurgaon, Hazare cautioned against any complacency.

`I have just suspended the fast.. did not end it. The fight will go on till parliament passes the Lokpal bill.`

Doctors said he would be under observation for a couple of days.

The 74-year-old activist`s fast, during which he only consumed water and yet maintained high energy levels, has left many surprised.

Trehan said it was Hazare`s `inner power` that helped him sustain for himself so long.

`He maintained himself, he had some power in him, through which he could regulate his own fluids and has been able to maintain his balance,` he said.

`Medical science may not fully understand but it is `brahmachari shakti` and truly he has managed to live on his own reserves and paid a price for it. He lost seven and a half kgs,` the doctor said.

Celebrations were seen in many parts of the country with many, who had been fasting with Hazare since Aug 16 when he was arrested, also calling off their hunger strike.

In cities and towns across India, sweets were distributed as people danced and sang to celebrate the moment. Hundreds from different walks of life assembled at fasting venues and smeared each other with bright colours, describing the occasion as a victory of democracy.

The nation, particularly the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, heaved a collective sigh of relief at the resolution of the major national crisis.

`Civil society should play an important role in country`s politics and political system. This movement was an example of this,` Law Minister Salman Khurshid said.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called it the triumph of the common man and a victory for parliamentary democracy.

The prime minister Sunday met President Pratibha Patil and discussed parliament`s consensus resolution on the Lokpal bill as demanded by Hazare to end his fast.

The meeting lasted for about half an hour, said a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Thousands of jubilant Hazare supporters continued their celebration at the historic India Gate in the national capital and across the country.

At the India Gate, thousands of Anna supporters including men, women and children danced to the tunes of patriotic songs and waved the national flag.

They were joined by the usual weekend revellers at the venue.

`I am very happy. Anna is doing a great job. But the battle has just started,` said Sharmishtha Neogy, a 25 year old publishing executive from Mumbai.

Vinod Sharma, who was doing a brisk business of selling candles to Hazare`s supporters, expressed concern over Hazare`s health and hoping the government will soon pass the Lokpal bill.

It had been an uneasy tightrope walk for most of the 12 days – and since April when Hazare`s five-day fast had led to the government setting up a 10-member panel, including five members of civil society, to set up a powerful institution of the Lokpal (ombudsman).

As tension escalated with Hazare`s deteriorating health, it took many negotiations between the government and Team Anna to arrive at a rapprochement. Finally, on Saturday, a special session of parliament was called to debate the issue of corruption and the Lokpal bill.

At the end of an intense debate, the opposition and government showed rare unanimity on the parliament`s prerogative to make laws and agreed to an in-principle acceptance of Hazare`s demands — Lokayuktas in every state, citizen`s charters for government departments and inclusion of lower bureaucracy in the Lokpal`s ambit.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/anna-ends-fast-celebrations-across-the-country/

Experts reject idea to bring media under Lokpal

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IANS) The idea of bringing the media within the ambit of the Lokpal is `bad and mischievious`, say experts who argue that the media is `private`… Read more »

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IANS) The idea of bringing the media within the ambit of the Lokpal is `bad and mischievious`, say experts who argue that the media is `private` and the ombudsman is an institution `for redressal of grievances and to make the government behave`.

`It is a mischievous idea,` said senior journalist Prem Shankar Jha, rejecting Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav`s idea of `bringing media under Lokpal`.

`If everything will be brought under the Lokpal, what will the judiciary do,` Jha asked.

Though experts agreed there were problems in the media like paid news, they felt the media would have to deal with the issue itself.

Siddhartha Varadarajan, editor, The Hindu, told IANS: `In case the media did something wrong, the law of the land would take care of it.`

He said while involvement of a politician in paid news would come under the Election Commission of India norms, in case a newspaper took cash for publishing such news, it would violate the tax laws.

The experts mentioned there are quasi-judicial watchdogs like the Press Council of India to look into the complaints against media.

`Bringing media under the Lokpal would be like dictatorship,` said Dainik Bhaskar editor Shravan Garg.

`There is no Lokpal like idea in UK, even after the News of The World scandal,` he added.

Garg said the government has allowed 26 percent foreign equity in electronic medium and bringing media within the ambit of the Lokpal would give a wrong message to the world.

However, senior journalist Bhaskar Roy had a different take on the issue. `It is a good idea,` he said.

`If you are probing others, you too should be open to scrutiny. Media`s credentials should be above board.`

The Samajwadi Party chief had demanded in the Lok Sabha Aug 25 that media be brought within the ambit of the Lokpal.

Amid thumping of desks by his colleagues, Yadav had said `a section of the media was taking money and releasing news in favour of a particular party`.

`We suffered at the hands of the media during the polls,` he said.

Yadav went on to say that it had become a practice for the electronic media to collect money during polls and air views in support of one party.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/experts-reject-idea-to-bring-media-under-lokpal/

MFS officers upset with new service rule

IMPHAL, Aug 28: The recent notification issued by the department of personnel and administrative reforms regarding the amendment of Manipur Finance Service Rules, 1998 has affected the seniority order of… Read more »

IMPHAL, Aug 28: The recent notification issued by the department of personnel and administrative reforms regarding the amendment of Manipur Finance Service Rules, 1998 has affected the seniority order of MFS officers of the state.

According to an official source, the new rule which was added as Rule 28 (V) has contravened the earlier norms of fixing seniority of MFS officers. Such rule is not equated with other service rules of MCS and MPS cadres of the state, it said.

The seniority list of 70 MFS officers has been framed according to the date on which they joined the finance service. The final seniority list of 17 officers was also published vide order no. 1/8/20-MFS (pt.1), dated 4/4/2007.

However, as per the new amended rule, the seniority list has been made from the date of regular appointment of the post of entry grade.

It may be mentioned that 28 MFS officers grade-III were appointed on March 31, 1999 while another 13 officers on April 20, 2002. Another batch of 30 MFS officers was also appointed on the recommendation of Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/mfs-officers-upset-with-new-service-rule/