Manipur News

Mail News Service
New Delhi, May 29 : The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC), Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has addressed the the Conference of Ministers of Welfare/Social Justice of North Eastern States in Shillong today. The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik was also present on the occasion.
In his address, Shri Ghatowar said that as stipulated by the Government of India, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has to earmark 2% of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for expenditure in the North Eastern States in case of schemes for SCs. For other schemes, the money to be earmarked is as per norms of 10% of GSB, he added.
The Minister informed that the schemes of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region pertain, mainly, to investment in physical infrastructure. He said that under major scheme of NLCPR, till date, 1393 projects worth Rs. 11529.17 crore have been taken up in sectors such as roads & bridges, education, health, power, irrigation & flood control, water supply, sports etc.
He outlined that under North Eastern Council (NEC), despite having limited outlay for Human Resource Development and Education, following projects/programmes have been funded:
(i) National Tournament on Cricket for Physically Challenged Players in Manipur during 2010-12;
(ii) Construction of School Building and Hostel at Lyntijam Welfare Development Association, Mawtnum, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya for the benefit of physically challenged students;
(iii) Part-funding of construction of De-addiction Centres;
(iv) Sponsored a Training Programme on Hearing Disability Sector organized by IGNOU at Shillong for disabled persons
Shri Ghatowar expressed confidence that the Conference would prove to be an important milestone in journey towards achieving a just and equitable growth leading to all-round development of the nation as a whole and North Eastern States, in particular.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ghatowar-addresses-conference-of-social-welfare-ministers-of-ne/

Guwahati, May 29 NNN : Assam is the second state in India after Punjab that has the highest record of crime against the fairer sex.
According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Assam’s record of crime against women is alarming. The NHRC therefore, asked the government of Assam to do something in this connection.
“The government of Assam should do some ‘serious introspection’ so that the crime against women is reduced,” stated the NHRC.
NHRC member Justice GP Mathur said in Guwahati today, “This is as per data received from National Crime Records Bureau.” He stated this after the NHRC ended its two-day camp sitting to decide 50 pending cases related to rights violations in Assam. The NHRC team was headed by its chairperson Justice KG Balakrishnan.
Justice Mathur did not explain the nature of the crimes but underscored dowry and witch-hunting as the main reasons why Assam was getting a bad name. “Maternal and infant mortality rates are equally high in the state,” Justice Mathur said, adding Assam’s sex ratio was similar to Punjab.
“There is clearly a problem that Assam needs to address. Some introspection needs to be done,” he said. “A large number of complaints about crime against women were received last year. The problem can be addressed through education and awareness.”
Justice Balakrishnan said the Commission primarily discussed domestic violence, marital discord and trafficking (of women and children) in its camp sitting. “Assam is seriously affected by trafficking,” he said.
“The Commission has pointed out that custodial deaths and encounter killings need to be informed within 48 hours. Almost all states are complying with our recommendations,” Justice Balakhrishnan said.
It can bev noted that out of 50 cases, 17 were heard by NHRC’s full bench. At least six cases were closed after the panel received satisfactory answers from government authorities. In the other cases, NHRC gave time to the authorities to respond to its recommendations. It recommended about Rs 35lakh as compensation in different cases of human rights violations.
On Wednesday, the team will hold a day-long sitting in the Meghalaya capital Shillong.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-high-on-crime-against-women/