Tag: Headlines

IMPHAL, April 11: Adoptions of 3rd Party monitoring to the various schemes and projects undertaken in the state under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to enhance the progress of developmental works in the state.
According to an official source, state government, with strong directives from the Centre allowed the Development Alternative (DA), New Delhi and Karunya University (KU) Coimbatore as third party to monitor to take up third party monitoring of the SPA funded Loktak Lake Conservation Project and also started monitoring implementation of SPA funded projects in the Power and PHED sectors.
The official source further mentioned that, state government has appointed six third Party Monitors from the current financial year for monitoring of BADP in three districts of Chandel, Churachandpur and Ukhrul in this case reputed NGOs with excellent performance record have been engaged, and so far 94 Works taken up in the year 2009-11 have been inspected by the Third Party Monitors and the performances reports have been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the source added.
It may be mentioned that, since the financial components under the SPA projects for the state for the current financial year is very high, the approved outlay of Rs.2600 crores for Annual Plan for the state was increased to Rs.2645.78 crores. The increase in the allocation of Rs.45.87 crores is mainly on account of enhance allocation of funds under BADP from Rs.13.36 crores to Rs.20.93 crores, control of  shifting Cultivation from Rs Rs.6 crores to Rs. 9 crores, NSAP from Rs.20.24 crores to Rs.31.11 crores, GIA under Art 275(1) from Rs.7.83 crores to Rs.8.19 crores, RKVY from Rs.20 crores to Rs.24.81 crores, TSP from Rs9.50 crores to Rs.11.87 crores and AIBP from Rs.290 crores to Rs.306.31 crores.
The official source mentioned that, the revised outlay of Rs.2645.87 crores includes Rs.660 crores for filling up important critical infrastructure gaps under Special Plan Assistance.
The source mentioned that under the  SPA, the major projects including, Road & Bridges, PAB, Health, Flood Control, School Education, Higher Education, Water Supply, Arts and Culture, Sports etc are taken up in the state.
Further the under the SPA, the ongoing projects like, construction of Mini-Secretariat Buildings in all districts, road connectivity in both valley and hill districts, Upgradation of infrastructure of JNIMS, construction of Ima Market, construction of City Convention Centre,  Construction of Shopping Centre at Thoubal,  conservation and management of Loktak lake and its associated areas, construction of police outposts/housing, construction of  Training Centre and rehabilitation centre, renovation and modernization of 132/33KV S/S at Yurembam,  constructions of Tribal market, Tribal hostels, Flood Control programme in valley districts and anti erosion scheme in hill areas, upgradation of infrastructure of schools, setting up residential schools in all the blocks of hill districts, up-gradation of infrastructure of 11 higher secondary school in hill and valley districts, construction of  sport complex at district HQs of Thoubal, Chandel, Senapatiu and Jiribam,  construction of Food Park, restoration/up-gradation of Kangla Fort,  up-gradation of IT Park at Mantripukhri,  up-gradation of Urban infrastructure in hill districts, constructions of ITI at Ukhrul and Jiribam, up-gradation of science and maths education in hill district, up-gradation of distribution network in both hill and valley, modernization and strengthening of Government Polytechnic, up-gradation of bus terminus at Jiribam.
On the other hand, selectively, the third party monitoring like selectively the Development Alternative (DA), New Delhi and Karunya University (KU) Coimbatore have taken up third party monitoring of the SPA funded Loktak Lake Conservation Project, and they presented interim reports to the project steering Committee on January 28 last year.
The official report further mentioned that, the monitoring agency have expressed satisfaction on the work done to improve the Lotak Lake. They have also appreciated the fact that meetings of the Steering Committee, Chaired by the state Chief Secretary, have been held frequently, Nodel Officers from Line Departments have become operational and the a Committee on Convergence, chaired by the Commissioner (F&E) has successfully affected convergence of schemes/funds the official source added.

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IMPHAL, April 3: Police today safely retrieved a hand grenade from the residence of former chairman of the Peoples’ United Liberation Front (PULF) militant, MI Khan, at Keirao Makting Makha Leikai, believed to be left by miscreants last night.
According to reports the bomb was came across by the family members of the former militant leader this morning around 5:30 am inside a tin dustbin inside the campus.
The detonator of the bomb was found to be missing and later the Irilbung police retrieved around 9 am and safely disposed it.In this connection a public meeting was held at the residence of MI. Khan. Over hundreds of people from various part of the Keirao Assembly including CSOs, clubs and elders took part in the meet.
The meet while unanimously condemning the bomb threat, urged concerned organization or individuals not to repeat such act.Talking to media persons the former chairman PULF, MI Khan, termed the incident had political implication. The motive behind the incident is to create fear psychosis among the people to prevent entry in his house, he said.
He said that there was a rush late night at his residential campus with the gathering of local people who came to watch the Cricket world cup final adding he speculated that the bomb might have left taking the advantage of the rush-hour.
It may be recalled that the former militant leader who was released on March 25 from Sajiwa Jail. The militant leader after his release the same day announced his retirement as the chairman of the PULF and also announced to contest in the upcoming general election of the Manipur Legislative Assembly as a candidate of Keirao Assembly constituency.
In another incident, miscreant left a hand grenade at a furniture shop at located at Moirangkhom Yaiskul Police Lane this morning around 11:30 am.
The shop owner is identified as one Salam Manglem, 39, s/o (L) Ningthouba of Kakching Khunou, Thongam Awang Leikai.Reports said that the bomb was left neatly wrapped by a plastic bag and also containing a note which reads “MDF Moirangkhom Furniture Apunba”.
Accoring to Salam, he had no idea who was behind the attack however revealed that he had received threats thrice from a group.The bomb was later retrieved by the Imphal Police Station.

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IMPHAL, April 11:  A one day workshop on media ethics organized  by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union has recommended setting up a committee to list a set of conducts for the media persons in the state to strictly adhere to media ethics.
The workshop on media ethics held at the Manipur Press Club was sponsored by state directorate of information and public relations and senior journalists of the state put across their views on does and don’ts to be followed by media persons.
In view of the conflict situation in the state, senior journalists of the state felt the need for list of does and donts for media persons in the state and also pressures from both the state and non-state actors on media houses.
Following the threats and pressures, the journalist body already had framed a code of conduct titled local adjustment in the line of the guidelines issued by the Press Council of India.
Following threats from various faction of militants on editors concerning publication of statements issued by the groups or rival groups, daily publications in Manipur often are disrupted sometimes even for days.
Speaking in the workshop, senior journalists of the state expressed their views and stressed the need to update the existing code of conduct  to suit the changing situations to give more strength to the media houses against mounting pressures on media houses.
Senior journalists further expressed concern over growing trend of “paid news” in the state over the years. They expressed that like every professionals in their own field, media persons must honour the ethics.
Addressing the gathering on the theme press council of India (PCI), A. Mobi stated that PCI had suggested over 10,000 guidelines in 1976 and invited feedbacks without any result. Later in 1982, PCI finally realized the need to frame and shape media ethics according to local imperatives.
B. B. Sharma, retired deputy director (news) All India Radio, Imphal stated that Journalists should strive to maintain integrity and honesty and should not do anything that could jeopardise the public confidence on media persons.
Senior journalist and former president of AMWJU AK Sanaton said that media persons have often overlooked ethics and professional code of conduct.
Former AMWJU president N. Tombiraj condemned yellow journalism which has become a common trend and expressed the need to guard ourself against it and maintain the integrity of professional ethics.
The  workshop concluded with two resolutions adopted. One sub committee to survey and analyze backgrounds of media person so that wage related issue may be gathered and  a sub committee to discuss and deliberate ethics of media according to local imperatives.

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IMPHAL, April 3: UNICEF representative to India, Karin Hulshof is arriving to Imphal on April 5 on her two days exploratory visit to understand and learn more about the situation and emerging needs of children in Manipur.
In this regard an official intimation had already been given to the state government through state Chief Secretary DS Poonia last month by the chief field officer UNICEF India, and in due regard of the proposed visit of Karin Hulshof of UNICEF representative to India to the state capital on April, 5 state high level meeting was convened on March 29, last month which the chaired by the state Chief Secretary DS Poonia at his official Chamber at Old Secretariat and decided that the visiting Karin Hulshof will be announced as state Guest and Commissioner Health and Family Welfare is appointed at Nodal officer for the said proposed visit.
Further the recently held high level meeting of the state government has also chalked out the tentative programmes for her two days visit to the state from April 5 this month and as per the approved tentative programmes there will be meeting with the Chief Minister and ministers on her first day of arrival to the state capital and there will be power point presentation during the meeting with Chief minister in various issues related to child and women issues.
According to the official source Karin Hulshof, UNICEF representative to India during her visit to the state capital will inspects RIMS, JNIMS, Carmel Jyoti Children Home and Sncha Bhawan Children Home, Children Home ( Mahila Kalyan and Thangmeiband).Further the visiting delegate of the UNICEF will have meeting with NGOs working with Children and State Nodel officer at the conference hall, Old Secretariat, Imphal at about 2 pm of April 5 and will be followed by interaction with the media person of the state at Hotel Classic, the official source added.
In the meantime, the official intimation made from the UNICEF India to the state government in connection with the proposed visit of the UNICEF representative of India Karin Hulshof mentioned that, this is her first visit to the state and she would like to have a meeting with the representatives of the state government as well as other key secretaries of Departments relating to children, including Social Welfare, Health and Family Welfare and Education.
It is also further informed to the state government that, UNICEF is already collaborating with the  Manipur AIDS Control Society on programming for HIV/AIDS the objective of this meeting however, is to go beyond HIV/AIDS to learn more about the over all situation of the children in the state.
It is also mentioned that, Karin Hulshof will be accompanied by Edourad Beigbeder, Chief Field Services, UNICEF India.The official intimation also mentioned that, during this visit, Karin Hulshof also plan to meet with NGOs Working with Children and also visit RIMS and JN Institute during her stay in the state, the official sources added.

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By Amar YumnamIn the light of unprecedented cases of corruption, both in volume and frequency, two recent cartoons are of immediate meaningful relevance and doing rounds in internet circles. One is paraphrasing of a popular detergent brand. Here the Prime Minister is shown with full of scam-stains in his clothing ranging from 3G, Commonwealth Games and what not. The caption reads as: dag achha hai (the stains are good). The other cartoon is the same head of the people being sunk in a glass of water and almost getting drowned. Anna Hazare drinks out the water and the Prime Minister is left high (or is it low) and dry inside the drinking glass. Well these are wonderfully symbolic cartoons depicting the depth to which the country has fallen due to the endemic corruption. No doubt corruption is an issue which the country needed to address earnestly and head on. But the evasiveness of the Prime Minister was itself hindering the process of correction almost to the point of irresponsibility. The condition was ripe for a non-elected but sincere leader to emerge and press home the points. A new Anna Hazare was born. The government of the big country was brought to its knees and made to respond immediately. This is a new dimension of how powerful a non-elected can become in democracy, and ipso facto a demonstration of a new facet of democracy itself that election is just a single facet and not in all. There could be people and forces in a democracy that are more knowledgeable and more committed to the causes of nation. The Method and The Contrast: What has been of greatest interest to social observers is the cool (not cold) response and keen observation of the approach and fall-outs of Anna Hazare’s move by the people of Manipur. In fact, no other group of population might have been hit by corruption as badly as the Manipuris have been. However, they were not joining the bandwagon following Hazare’s attack on administration unlike in the rest of the country.This approach might have been prompted by the recent and live history of Manipur having to carry along with and on the fast of Sharmila for almost a decade and more. Hazare also adopted the same approach of fast unto death as Sharmila has been doing all these years. While the government of India has looked the other way all along in so far as the fast of the young girl is concerned, the response to Hazare’s has been immediate and positive. It is this differential response of the government of India to the same method of urging for policy responses for common good that occupies the mind of the Manipuris post-Anna Hazare fast. This needs critical examination. It is true that corruption is an issue that is country-wide in its incidence. In other words, the harmful effects of corruption are felt throughout the country. On the other hand, the case of a non-democratic and non-sensical piece of legislation, against which Sharmila has been on fast, affects only a miniscule portion of the country’s geography and demography. The legislation has not been experienced by the larger sections of population of the country and to this extent they are least concerned about it. Further, the larger sections of population of the country have very little, if any, knowledge about the demography and geography of the region where the controversial legislation has been put in place for decades together. In the light of the personal experiences of the people of the region affected at home by the legislation and while they move about in the rest of the country, the differential response to the two fasts, one by Hazare and another by Sharmila, has only served to validate and further add fuel to fire the long held opinion of the regional population. One of the most common grievances of the region against the government of India has been that of step-motherly treatment by the latter to the former. It is this which has been validated willy-nilly by the differential response of the government of the country. There indeed is a mass anguish right now running through the veins of the people of Manipur. Avoided: It is a moment in history in nation-making of the country when such feelings should not be generated in any group of population wheresoever they are. A country and nation is something where the whole is larger than the sum of the parts. But a country is very different from a sportsperson. A sportsperson has to concentrate on the sports where she is most competent and build up a programme of exercises specifically relevant to that. A country, on the other hand, cannot afford to do so. A country’s government cannot afford to adopt the behaviour of a sportsperson by selecting any specific geographic portion or person as more important than any other. Besides, no room should be created where any group of population can nurture such a thought. This is particularly so at this age and stage of evolution of the country towards evolution as a nation. Here the slogan of the recent census to the effect that each one of us counts and so should join the count is an apt one to be followed in the polity decision-making in this country. While merit should matter instead of corruption, absolute inclusiveness and equalisation of policy responses irrespective of the geographic location, and size and composition of demography are imperatives that should inform every policy making in this country.

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Newmai News NetworkIMPHAL, April 16: Five Tangkhul village heads and a civil organization have joined force in condemning the assassination attempt yesterday on MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing and have conveyed condolences to the families of seven deceased, including a civilian, while also wishing speedy recovery to about five other security personnel still in critical condition from the injury in the ambush. “We strongly condemn the act of ambush on Wungnaoshang Keishing by unidentified gunmen”, said a joint statement issued by Lovingson Jajo, chairman, Thoyee village, MH Wungreishung, headman, Riha village, Kapangmi Jajo, chairman, Riha village, Z Shimdhar, headman, Ramrei village, Yaomi Kasar, headman, Chadong village. The joint statement shared the grief and pain of the deceased families while also expressing “shock” on the “unwanted incident” and has strongly appealed to any armed group not to repeat such an “ugly” incident in the area. It has demanded adequate compensation for the deceased families and the injured from the State government.Similarly, Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE) has expressed its deepest agony upon receiving information that Wungnaoshang Keishing and his security escort team have come under armed ambush from unidentified gunmen. “The reported ambush was clearly an attempt to assassinate Mr Keishing,” said a statement from CORE. It is a matter of great fortune that the MLA himself survived the deadly ambush. However, the dead of six security staffs and two civilians and the injury of four security staffs and one civilian is a deeply lamentable matter, it said.Adding that the beleaguered MLA has been in a vulnerable position lately for spearheading the demand for the carving out of full-fledged Phungyar district from the present Ukhrul district of Manipur, it said, “under the vitiated circumstance the attempt to assassinate Mr Keishing leaves many questions unanswered.” Urging that the government of Manipur must institute a judicial inquiry under a sitting high court judge of CBI inquiry into the ambush, CORE said that the government must adequately compensate the deceased families and the injured persons. It has also conveyed its deepest condolences to the surviving families and wishes a speedy recovery to those who are injured. Significantly, Wungnaoshang Keishing has been aggressively pushing the agenda for the creation of full-fledged Phungyar district by bifurcating the present Ukhrul district. Recently, He drew flaks from Naga apex body United Naga Council (UNC) for attempting to “derail” the demand for “Alternative Arrangement” for Nagas in Manipur. The MLA was asked to revoke the resolution for the demand of the district which he had apparently submitted to the government of the State but he steadfastly stood his ground saying that he was only obliging the wishes of the people who have been victims of uneven development in the district. Interestingly, Wungnaoshang Keishing ran for the last MLA election with the backing and patronage of United Naga Council (UNC).

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From John K. Kaping UKHRUL, April 6: The future of the Poi Village government run Primary and Junior  High Schools’is in a deplorable condition as the government schools established during 1961-62 exists only in a “snap-shot” in the record of the most neglected status. Poi village situated in the extreme North of Ukhrul District just below the Somra track range mountain bordering Myanmar,along the Indo-Burma Border Pillar NO.126,127 and 128 and is located some 65 km away from Ukhrul Headquarter and at a distance of 25-30 km away from Awang Kasom junction.
The government`s neglecting policies towards the far flung Ukhrul District villages  came to light  when  Ukhrul Correspondent of IFP exclusively had an interaction with the village school`s “master” at the school campus, who is the only under-graduate lady teacher  taking the overall in charge of Headmaster for both the 90 students in junior and 100 primary students enrolled in the school as disclosed by the schoolmaster.
She also expressed  the present dilapidated condition of both the schools and viewing the bleak future of the  students keen to learn but with lack of basic infra structures and without any benches, desks, black boards and tables . Walls of the 5 rooms of the the school`s building in all four sides are badly damaged as the roofs of the school were blown away.
The surroundings of the schools are found overgrown with grass when the report was collected by this correspondent and there is a report of only one chaowkidar appointed. The reason behind to shape and mould the future pillars of students according to the headmistress in-charge is the acute lack of teachers as the students are eagerly found to attend the classes but there are no teachers other than the headmistress who is not in the condition to cater to the needs of the students at present.
Meanwhile in  another press conference Organized by the Poi Village authorities in the village, the concerned authorities seriously pointed out the deplorable condition of the schools in the village and the bleak future of the students requiring immediate recruitment of adequate teachers to mould the future careers of the children as almost all the remote villagers cannot afford to send their wards to private schools.
The authorities clearly mentioned that under the programme of BADP 2010-11, the village proposed a budget with the estimation of about Rs 30 lacs to construct the schools infra-structures including 12 to 13 class rooms, staffs rooms, principal`s Office, kitchen but the government had sanctioned for only three classrooms.

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By Soibam HaripriyaThousands have lived without love, not one without water – W.H. AudenOne has often been bemused by the elusive ethno-philosophy that guides the conception of the landscape covering the panoramic Loktak Lake. Of late, contesting knowledge systems seem to have saddled on a site considered simultaneously sacred as well as profane by myths and history. The vociferous argument for the protection of the Loktak Lake has emerged with two simultaneous campaigns. First is the ‘Save Loktak Our Life’, supported by the Loktak Development Authority. This group comprising of (not without irony), “environmentalist, social workers, politicians and police officers” in the words of the Project director of Tamna who informed the media in a briefing organised at the Classic Hotel on the 6th of April 2011. Second, a campaign launched by people living in and around the lake against the Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 (MLLPA). Incidentally, as part of the second campaign, various organisations from the Loktak area held a public discussion on the MLLPA on the same day at Ningthoukhong Keithel. The sites of these two campaigns and the people comprising the campaigns are too stark to go unnoticed. The first one conducted in a three star hotel speaks the language of exclusivity. The second was held in a market place where women vendors’ earn their livelihood. In solidarity with the campaign, these women bread earners had given their space for the women and men who had congregated to participate in the public discussion. Indeed both the campaigns fall back upon the idea of the lake, the meaning of the lake as derived from folk songs and poems and tutelary deities. The Save Loktak campaign in one of the music videos produced for the same juxtaposes a modern narrative with that of the folk and expresses fears for the life of the lake. The second campaign by the inhabitants of the Lake area seems to follow the same narrative. While both the campaigns state the same objective – Save Loktak Lake and use the same narratives of the sacredness of the space and also lament for the weeping mother (Loktak), the arguments put forth seem to be fractured beyond reconciliation. One starkly representing the state looks at fisherfolk as encroachers who are set to deplete and destroy the lake and its resources. Indeed the idea of saving Loktak to them seems to mean saving them from the people who source their lives and livelihood from the lake. The second campaigners see themselves as the rightful claimants and protector/guardian to the fishes and vegetation of the lake. However, the term lake itself now seems to be an anachronism of earlier usage as the lake is now not a lake but a water reservoir. The drastic shift from the conception of a lake with legends surrounding it to a modern day water reservoir began with the construction of Ithai Barrage in 1979 as a part of the Loktak Hydro-Electric Project. The idea of the lake is not limited to its natural resources like waters and gradually disappearing indigenous fauna and flora. It is now saddled by the juxtaposition of competing knowledge systems – indigenous and modern. The modern being far removed from the context while the indigenous speaks in the language of people of the lake and follows the lake not just through the lives of people but also through cycle of seasons, through breeding of fishes and vegetation and sees the lake as inclusive of its Phumdis, Athaphum, the Khangpoksang build on the phumdis and the people who live in them. The unfolding narratives could be clearly seen on the 6th of April 2011 wherein three events connected to Loktak Lake were held. First, is the one day Discussion Programme against the Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act. 2006 which was organised by All Loktak Lake Floating Hut Dwellers & Fishermen Progressive Committee (Apunba Lup); All Loktak Fishing Workers Association; The All Manipur Thanga People Welfare Association; The Loktak Peoples Forum and All Loktak Lake Floating Hut Dwellers & Fishermen Progressive Committee (Nupi Apunba Lup). The event discussed the Act and highlighted fundamental problems not only in the Act but also the knowledge as well as intentions behind the conceptualisation itself. The predominant language used during this discussion was the language of rights – cultural as well as socio economic. The mass discussion took place at Ningthoukhong ( Keithel), a fishing town by the lake and forms a part of Bishnupur district. The venue was well chosen so that there could be as many participants from Loktak lake areas hinting to an endorsement of inclusiveness as opposed to the meetings that took place simultaneously (on the same day) at the other two sites –Mantripukhri and The Classic Hotel. The market of Ningthoukhong is a concrete structure dilapidated in some parts. Women who earn their livelihood selling produce from the hills, valley and the lake in the market also supported the event by closing their stalls and giving space to women who had come to participate in the discussion programme. Most women were dressed in the traditional mourning attire (of the Meiteis) and also of the more than seven hundred people who had congregated, ninety percent were women. Though one also noticed that in a space marked by exclusivity such as the simultaneous meeting that took place in Mantripukhri one would find the same percentage being reversed, giving the picture than more and more women will be sieved out as one goes up in the chain where one knowledge system and its corresponding language become more dominant than the other.The men and women who spoke at the discussion at Ningthoukhong began with salutation to the Mother goddess of the market – Keithel Lairembi, to Mother goddess Loktak – Ema Loktak Lairembi and also to directional tutelary deities. Women and men who spoke described the lake as intimately as their lives explaining the life of the Athaphum, the breeding of fishes and well as the waxing and waning of the lake according to seasons which is now disrupted by the Ithai barrage. Ironically, the discussion was interrupted when armed personnel in military uniform climbed up the dais to ask the reason for such a congregation (this in spite of the banner being put up). Two more soldiers in military fatigues could be seen behind the market complex which disturbed the peaceful ambience of the crowd. A woman from the crowd came up the dais and through the microphone requested the audience to remain calm. Some women and men had in fact gone to the uniformed armed personnel to speak and explain the content of the gathering. The same woman encouraged the rest of the women audience to face the state whether it is in the form of fighting the visible oppressive state that come dressed in military fatigues or meeting the representatives they had chosen and even suggested boycotting of the forthcoming general elections. The three uniformed personnel stood at the venue for about ten minutes facing the gathering. While the mass discussion was on there was also the flagging off of a training programme supported by Bombay Natural Historical Society and the Wildlife Wing, Forest Department. The training programme which began on the very day for Forest Department officials and volunteers of Loktak Lake on water bird conservation and management was held at Central Forest Division, Mantripukhri. In the few minutes shot of the meeting which could be viewed only through the local cable television network ISTV, one could hear the often repeated particular concern for the conservation of endangered and dwindling flora and fauna of the Loktak lake areas. Not much different from the above both in terms of narrative content and knowledge system, the meeting with media persons was held on the very day at Classic Hotel, an upmarket three star hotel (the only one in the state). The meeting was called by Tamna Sanggai, an organisation with the stated aim of saving Loktak. The campaign of Tamna entitled “Safe Loktak Our Life” had also produced music videos as a part of their campaign and the media briefing announced a musical tour to New Delhi and Bangalore on the theme of the campaign. It was also stated that “the campaign was undertaken to contribute its might in saving Loktak from possible extinction”. Interestingly the project was supported by Loktak Development Authority, the authority re-constituted under the MLLPA which also pitched the campaign against the people of Loktak. Article 20 (Prohibition of certain activities in Core Zone) prohibits discharge or emission of sewage/domestic waste (assuming the lake to be polluted by the inhabitants of the lake conveniently forgetting that all major river system that drains the Imphal valley falls into the lake). The other clauses of the Article 20 prohibits deposition or fixing of stones, bamboo, log, net into the lake, while this clause renders fishing impossible the state continue to state that the act does not prohibit fishing per se. One could only record as unfortunate that the various debates around the Lake do not inform each other. It is people that give values and judgement on landscape and classify them as either sacred or profane in the sense of the lake either being a sacred mother with plentiful provision or a hiding place for insurgents. Indeed the difference with the people’s campaign would be the desire to learn and discuss the Act and the various arguments – whether ecological or socio-political whereas the other campaign, being directly supported by a state body, does not have the space for critiquing the Act.One could in fact map the varying interests in the lake, not to state the people as being a collective, far from it there are differences between the fisherfolks, between those who are unable to resist the state, think it safe to accept the resettlement amount, between those with large fishing tracts and the fisherfolk with just a net and a boat. Those supporting the Act also are fractured with varying interests –one, being purely a sentimental pursuit of iconifying the lake as a symbol of the state (having made their decisions and affiliation without having thrown as much as a glance at the Act), another being the state’s policy of cleansing the lake and yet another being the much cited security concerns of flushing out insurgent cadres from the lake, for which hovercrafts were purchased from USA. Undeniably, the state also takes pride in the arrival of the hovercraft with it being looked at not only for insurgency operation but also, as stated by the Chief Minister “the machine would not only be helpful in saving the Loktak from encroachers, it would also complete the task of flushing out militants”. This once again highlights the highly problematic lens of the state that more often than not looks at the people of the lake as encroachers as well as ‘insurgents’.

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IMPHAL, April 6: Considering the deteriorating law and order problems in the state specially in the valley districts involving different cadres of insurgent groups operating in the state, state cabinet in its meeting held today approved creation one more police station above 20 police stations which functions in the state.
According to a highly placed official source, state cabinet meeting convened this evening chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at his official bungalow and approved for the creation of one more police station ie New Keithelmanbi PS so as to enable the state police department to cover up any incident and cases related to the law and order problems that happen in the respective Jurisdictions of the maintained police stations.
It may be mentioned that, as per the last cabinet decision the number of the police stations have increased to 20 which includes 15 Police Stations covering 15 villages, Yaingangpokpi Police Stations covering 19 villages, Borobekara Police Station at Jiribam covering 38 villages, Nongpok Sekmai Police Station covering 21 villages, Hierok PS covering 14 villages, Khongjom PS covering 13 villages, Hiyanglam PS covering 15 villages, Wangoo PS covering 12 villages, Nongmaikhong PS covering 8 villages, Phougakchao Ikhai village covering 14 villages, Keibul Lamjao PS Covering 10 villages, Khengjoi Ps covering 51 villages, Sangikot PS covering 105 villages, Willong PS Covering 10 villages, Tungjoy PS covering 11 villages, Purul PS covering 17 villages, Pahibung PS covering 22 villages, Dzii PS covering 24 villages, Sanakeithel PS in Ukhrul district covering 10 villages.
The official source also further mentioned that, state cabinet this evening also approved the creation of post of Sub Divisional Officer in Imphal West District to hold the SDPO post for Mayang Imphal Police Station and Patsoi Police Stations and the state cabinet meeting today also approved the liable financial implication for creating SPDO Mayang Imphal amounting Rs.3,91,644 per annum expenditure be made and the same expenditure will be reflected  to the revised estimates, 2011-12 be made under Imphal West District Police.
Later the state cabinet also approved for the framing of rules for the appointment of teachers under RMSA, the official source added.
It also mentioned that the cabinet today approved for the election for the Imphal Municipal councils. In this regard the official instruction will be given to the state election commission for the publication of preliminary electoral on April 11.The last date for the filing claim and objection on electoral roll has been fixed April 15 and the date of the publication of the final electoral rolls is April 25.
The completion of the process will carry out the date of notification of the election on May 4 and followed by the filing of nominations to the said Municipal councils by the candidates will be on May 9. The date of scrutiny is scheduled on May 10 and the election will be conducted on May, 25 this year.
The objectives of all the preparations is to hold the election of the Municipal councils on April 25 and the cabinet meeting also decided all necessary preparation for holding smooth and successful election to the concerned district authorities.

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Ningthoujam Irina
It is an accepted premise in theory and practice that `Local Self-Governing Institutions`™ play an important role in effectively running a village or a residential locality. These institutions can be either traditional or modern rational based formal and informal institutions. In addition to the institutions of Panchayati and Municipal Council of local self-government, for Northeast India, the vision document North Eastern Region Vision 2020, acknowledges the presence of a strong tradition of local self-governing institutions in the region through `Traditional Institutions (TI)`™. It is through these institutions that people participate in the democratic governance of their own life by actively engaging in the decision making processes of making choices and implementation of those decisions. In this regard, here is an attempt to review how traditional institutions in Manipur are recognised vis-à-vis the state position in the recently enacted `The Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010`.

The North Eastern Region Vision 2020 document, consequently, expresses the desirability and the necessity to ensure a harmonious relationship between the constitutional institutions of local governance and the `Traditional Institutions (TI)`™ for better governance of the people and for the region at large. The document also mentioned that `a top-down development planning strategy has not involved people in designing and implementing the strategy and, not surprisingly, the relationship between public spending and service delivery outcomes has been tenuous. The various public investment projects in the region have not yielded commensurate benefits. Lack of people`™s involvement has robbed the system of a sense of belonging and led to inefficient and wasteful resource allocation on the one hand and a lack of social accountability on the other.` That is to say decentralized governance with active participation of the people is an end in itself as it reaffirms the universal value that all men are equal and the right to decide his/her own future lies within the individual self.

Leikai and Leikai club
In the valley areas of Manipur, TIs include various clubs, associations and peoples`™ organizations. Ubiquitous among them is the Leikai Club, the prominence is reflected in the document also when it said that `while designing local planning approaches, care must be taken to harmonise the functions and rights `¦. the Clubs of the Manipur valley`¦. with institutional mechanisms designed for modern development and service delivery.` There are as many clubs as many Leikai (a helmet/locality/Mohallah) in Manipur.

In fact the idea of community is embedded and built in a space of `Leikai`™ with regard to the Meitei community of the Imphal valley. The space of a Leikai is an imagined space. It has a structural and behavioural value which can be understood through its system of kinship, pseudo-kinship, social norms and rituals. This can be seen as a kind of self that is being embedded into a bigger collective. People are bound by social obligation in terms of behaviour obligation and etiquette. A lot of activities right from the rituals of birth to death or any local festival are done with support from the community members. So, it is mandatory to invite or inform the member of the community for every event, that`™s the reason the society, has tradition of `leikai varton chatpa`™.

Further, the interrelationship and cooperation between one another is manifested in the form of many existing traditional institutions of Singllup or the informal micro-credit Marup institution. They play a dominant role in the collective imagination and existence as a Leikai. Though, it appears that present day solidarity has shifted from the core belief of collective existence to a material base or a more individualised economic base solidarity. `Capital as solidarity`™ for the want of a better expression. The foundation of solidarity in Manipur society is the sharing and understanding built through the above collectives. This is the reason why people impose an obligation on the self to go and share the pain and joy of others. A Classic example is the tradition of asi-hangba chatpa. For this people did not need a formal invite or the capital do not determine the sharing of the others world. It is through such sharing that a common world is established that is recognisable to each other.

At the same time, it is also an undeniable reality of our time that the forces of capital and material has started determining our ways of life and renders the society and people to a commodity of the `modern`™ world. Yet, the present day `club`™ since early 1940s`™ has been an evolutionary form of a Leikai collective mechanism to participate in activities of collective goods or to face any crisis collectively in the space of a Leikai. As any organisation has its own history of good, excellent and bad times, Clubs are no stranger to this universal phenomenon. But, they in one way or the other contributes to sports, education, crisis management, local developments etc. in the Leikai. The recognition of their activities has also been registered in State/National administrative reports since Independence.

Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010
The opportunity of recognising and institutionalising these roles of Leikai Club or any other equally important TIs could have taken place in this recently enacted `Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010`. But sadly, the enactment of such an Act astonished everyone. This Act has come through `Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)`™, to achieve the United Nation Millennium development Goals (UNMDG) by 2015. In fact, every programme and mission under UNMDG emphasised to achieve the community participation. JNNURM is a programme for the development of urban infrastructure which is funded by the World Bank which demands the enactment and modification of Municipalities Act institutionally and structurally. One of the objectives of the scheme is to assist the select Urban Local Bodies to institutionalize key urban reforms. As a safeguard mechanism one of the proposed stakeholders indentified is the ward development committee to strengthen local governance.

This ward development committee under the `Community Participation Law`™ (CPL) is to be passed within 6 months of the signing of the Memorandum of Association under the Mission and submitting a copy to the Ministry of Urban Development. The states must also abide by and implement some conditionalities including privatization of water and sanitation services, repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA) and implementation of public-private partnerships (PPP).

Manipur is also not immune to this development and `Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010` was enacted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Under the influence of global capital and neo-liberal ideas `“ promotion of particular type of civil society and less role of state and privatization of delivery of services is sought to be promoted. As a party to it Government of Manipur, in the Act, defines Civil Society as
any non-government organization or association or persons, established, constituted, or registered under any law for the time being in force and working for social welfare, and includes any community based organization, professional institution and civic, health educational, social or cultural body or any trade or industrial organization and such other association or body as the state may decide

By defining through an act, Kakchingtabam Naresh in `Democracy and Civil Society: Absence of the sovereign in Northeast` observed that the government has used civil society as an instrumental tool for the production of labour in its relationship between the government and the individuals for the production of a new set of socio-economic relationships. Further, the act disregards the importance of the democratic role that is being played by traditional Institutions in the development and sustenance of a locality or residential area in the Manipuri society. Thus the act doesn`™t include any of the traditional institutions or address the issue of gender inclusiveness. That is to say, the Act is no different from any other government bureaucratic organisation as it mentions the composition of the ward development committee as
a) The Councillor of the ward, who shall be the Chairperson of the Ward Development Committee,
b) Two persons to be elected from the ward,
c) Two persons representing the civil society from the ward, nominated by the state Government.
This has raised basic questions on the democratic character of the committee since it is not mentioned how far is this act of nomination of two persons by the state going to be democratic so do the constitution of ward finance committee and ward information and statistical committee through nomination by the state. Instead of democratization, what the act actually does is bureaucratization by opening a widow for vested interest to operate. It needs to be emphasised again that the very purpose of 73 rd and 74thAmendment is neither administrative decentralisation nor mere devolution but to establish an `institution of self Government` in rural and urban areas. This is even in total inconsistency with the real objectives of achieving community participation of MDGs. Along with this it is a complete unawareness on the proposed recommendations of the vision document North Eastern Region Vision 2020.

In addition, by fixing the responsibility of addressing the grievances of the people on the chairperson, who is a part of the same structure, the act does not address or failed to take into account the mechanisms of accountability by the people in a democratic way. This also raises questions of how the idea of community and participation is conceptualised by the policy maker of the state. Where do the local community stand in the allocation of resources in democratic planning? Are the local community organisations given due space in such exercise of allocation of resources.

Surprisingly, the information of the Manipur Assembly passing the Act came in July last year through a local newspaper. But, in complete disregard to all democratic norms, the government of the day did not consider it worthy to publish in the media to receive people`™s comments and suggestions before passing such an important Act. In contrast, the neighbouring states of Nagaland and Meghalaya, the Act were put in the public domain inviting suggestions and comments. It`™s no wonder that the enactment of the Act was preceded by the suspension of democratically elected or constituted constitutionally mandated public body the Imphal Municipality Council (IMC) that was made redundant by the successive governments of Manipur by not decentralising its constitutionally mandated functions. For example 19 such municipal functions in City Development Plan, such as water supply, urban amenities are not performed by the IMC but by other State departments such as Department of Town Planning, Department of Public Health and Engineering, Department of Fire, Planning and development Authority, etc.

In the state of Meghalaya, though their State Community Participation Act is still being challenged and questioned by the Traditional institution leaders, their ward development committee includes the representatives of Durbar/Council/traditional. Along with this, 3 (three) women either from Seng Kynthei/women organization/ individuals who are the eligible voters of the concerned Ward are also to be nominated by the Government in the Ward Committee. Such is the sensitivity of the state unlike our state Manipur which has active women collectives like Meira Peibies.

Conclusion
Therefore before the state start implementing this ward development committee, every concerned citizen/Local Club executive must think and debate over such behaviour of the state planning and policy making process. The state`™s policy and Act must not be at the cost of our own people and its aspiration. It should be sensitive enough to consider its social and cultural complexities. It is not just the lack of governance but the very act of planning and institutionalising the structural mechanism that is not democratic in nature which will impede translate effective and accountable governance. It is the need of the hour to question the understanding of the political elites of Manipur towards their own citizens while framing such important Acts of the state.
irina.ning@gmail.com

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B.A. Sharma
The former Prime Minister Shri Rajeey Gandhi the young political child used to address the public in his maximum deliveries as HAM DEKHENGE, DEKHRAHE HAIN and DEKHUNGA (we are looking, being turn to look the matter and I will see) But, he could not do but seeing the scenarios.

That too I remember the promises of the leaders and follow – on actions of the promises. When the time rolled – on the people become easy and normalized the cities of the seriousnesses for example.

1. The shoot upon the Advocate General Shri Koteswar Singh, the recent past incident, is now relaxed. And thus how many cases have been curtained out the senses of the people, would be in innumerable.

But, the 20th March shoot out from the gun of the immature son of the Minister of the State of Manipur has claimed the degree of homicidal character. It was day brought light incident, with intention to kill a person in conscious state with a licensed gun; which held cold blood murder.
But the question is the license issued to whom and how a license of a gun was used by a young boy since the boy who used the gun could not hold license of a revolver pistol, because, to issue a revolver under Arms/Ammunitions Act would not cover the criteria to issue a license for a gun, to purchase a revolver according to the capacity of the person whosoever the young boy used a gun.
Probable questions arising in the circumstances that; perhaps the license could be issued to a matured person whose capacity of service to the society is accountable to issue a gun, indeed his own safeguard is necessary indeed to issue a license to hold a short barrel gun would not cover the required conditions to the son of Shri Biren Singh the Honourable Minister.

That, to kill a person with enmity also does not cover the conditions to issue a license to hold a short barrel gun, does not interpret a license to kill. This is the society where we are suffering or will be suffering due to unexplained prologue of the text of the apostle of legal construe is always governed by the unlearned guardians.

Therefore, if comes to the conclusion that :
1. Killing does not licensed but licensed does issued to hold a gun
2. The killing of 20-03-2011 was purely cold blood murder. It was not a defensive.
3. The Killer has the strength of five whereas, the killed was not found holding any lethal weapon and the killer has the gun, in his name. If the legality is exist in the state the boy should not have the license, but the license and gun might belong to a responsible person. Even the utmost necessity of the gun might consider with the responsibility of the person to whom a license being issued.
4. That, even been issued the license of a gun to an immature, irresponsible person what course of action been taken up by the existing Govt.

Because, the killer is the son of an honourable Minister whose responsibility is clearly visible to be fit to come down from the chair of the responsible post on moral ground. Hence the Honourable Chief Minister might have asked the Honourable Miniter for resignation on moral ground if the Honourable Chief Minister was sitting on the opposition bench. BuJ: today he is trying to subdue the circumstances by imposing 144 CRPC in the Imphal East Dist. Because he does not want to bring the situation exposed to turmoil.

Thus, Rajeev`s epistle is imitating by the word DEKHRAHA HUNG but DHEKNA HAIN has two senses of SEEING OR LOOKING, though we found looking more than seeing the matter for action in the circumstances. Of such enormity and torturous blows to the innocent people of Manipur the existing Govt. is showing more dictatorship instead of showing sorryness and effort to solve the problems.

Manipur is the smallest states of the country though highest rate of killing spree in the name of the armed revolutions. Many are killing and innumerable have been killed and in turn the state forces are hunting and killing as licensed to kill. There is no human right in the state; there is no power to consider about right and wrong. I shall beat you, I shall kill you is the language of the youths of the state. Quarreling spirit is exist in the society not only in ignorant the same fighting spree is adorned in the police force also. The meaning of police is now invisible in Manipur. The duty of a police is to pacify the situation of a particular location, police should not create another problem in the society.

And above all the democrats are more unconscious, rather selfish and irresponsible. As and when the state is in trouble the democrats in the state kept silent of the same opposition leaders shouted in the public. The ruling leaders are on waiting of the opinion of the Chief Minister. Thus ethics of the democrats so called leaders of the state and of the nation are found to be down graded and pulling down.

Therefore, the duties and responsibilities of a leader is the carrier of the personality. Ethics is real appearance of the leader to the public. Therefore, this time in Manipur the people demands morality of the leaders, ethics of the leadership and presentation of leaders since the state is in trouble due to inhuman hunting of the young boy Mr. Rozer.

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By Sobhapati Samom
Imphal,April 8: A recent day long study by a team of local experts in association with the Non-Government Oganisation(NGO) representatives in Manipur`s Loktak lake has spotted 57 different kinds of water birds.

The other water birds recorded or spotted during the study include 23 are local waterbirds,18 are migratory,12 are waterfowl(nganu) birds.

The study was conducted by states environmentalist Dr Kh Shamungou led team in some section of the lake under the sponsorship of state forest department on February 2 this year.The other team members include ornithologists K Jugeshor Singh and RK Birjit.

This came to light when Dr Shamungou shared their study experiences during the concluding session of the Forest department sponsored 3 day capacity strengthening training programme on Bird conservation and management at Keibul Lamjao National park inspection bunglow,around 55 km south of here in Bishnupur district,today.

Interestingly two of water birds namely Nganu Mitngoubi(Ferrigunous pocchard) and Ura-Linmanbi(Darter) were listed as near threatened species by International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN).

Weve recorded a sharp decline in the number of migratory birds visiting our lake(Loktak),states environmentalist Dr Kh Shamungou said.”The unpredicted rain and changes in the Loktaks hydrology would be some of the reasons for the decline”,he reasoned and added, “Thus the number of migratory birds visiting Loktak Lake has been declined unlike the previous year”.

The environmentalist also admitted that a small number of Nganu Thoidingnum(Gadwall ) were spotted unlike the past.Similarly they also hard to spot birds such as Kaksu(Glossy Ibis) or while Ibis in their recent study which was conducted through 27 spots.

However resource persons from Bombay Natural Historical Society (BNHS) who had been imparting new techniques in waterbirds conservation expected that the number of waterbirds in the lake might be increased once the area of water bodies are expanded.

Dr S Balachandran, assistant director of BNHS is expecting that the number of migratory birds would be increased once the phumdis(biomass) are removed from lake.

According to Range Officer Kh Hitler of Keibul Lamjao National Park,altogether around 30 officers of the state forest department,Loktak Development Authority and NGO representatives participated in the training program which was held to create more awareness on state`s forest and wildlife particularly the water birds.

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Leader Writer: Sukham Nanda
Over all Strength of the state security forces under State Home Department have crossed over double the of the strength of the employees of the various respective major departments of the state which have reached 24646 includes 10310 Civil police, 13518 MR/IRB, 39 CMTW, 516 Wireless Staffs, 11 FSL, 66 Medical Staffs and 186 Ministrial Staff against the total sanctioned post of 33503, which is above 30% of the existing employees strength working at Manipur Secretariat and other engineering departments of the state.

It may be mentioned that, existing SPF government considering the main cause of the disturbances in the affairs of the state administrations due to uncontrollable situations of violence activities during the course of insurgency movements by the various insurgents groups operating in the state, state government from time to time took decision for the strengthening of the state security forces to control over the violent actions and activities of the insurgent groups and enhancing the Counter Insurgency Operations with implementation of the centrally added project of state police modernization. So far multiple recruitment of 9 phases to the state security forces have been completed after obtaining special permission from the Centre despite of having banned in direct recruitment since last eight years in the state and more manpower of state force are also planning to raise by the government.

On the other hand, it has matter of concerned for the people of the state on part of failure that despite of having being deployed a large numbers of state security forces in very nook and corner of the Greater Imphal areas and other parts of valley districts, letting armed militants to attacked civilians by the guns and bombs on the broad daylight everyday shows the lack of sensitivities and failure in intelligence networks of the state police department which state government need check immediately.

In the meantime, the concerned have also been felt by various head of departments of the state at present as many major and minor departments of the state have been functioning by under staffs since last many years caused by the prolonged failure to fill up the posts which are lying vacant after retirement of many employees as result the departments are now facing serious concern while delivering for a sound and active administration of the respective department as directives have given to do so by the government. Time has come for the state government to reopen with creative policies so as to enable the existing departments to work and deliver the services for the welfare of the state after maintaining an adequate staffs and which could be the part of policy to solve the existing problems of educated unemployed of the state.

The various officials of state government departments have observed that, the policy of the state government can never be denied by the employees but the failure on the objectives despite of increase in the strength of the state forces to control over excessive activities of the insurgent in terms threat perceptions related with momentary demands and other issues could not be solved by the state government till today as and it has a matter of big concern for all employees of the state have been increasing day by day.

Obviously it has also another serious concerned for the various department on arising complicacy on the shortages of man powers in various essential departments like, Medical, and Health care, education at present but the failure of state government to consider appointment of the required staffs in these essential departments can never solved the existing lapses of the departmental administrations.

Considering the existing problems of facing by the state departments due to the under staffs, the state policies for rationalization in the recruitment of the employees of various department are immediately require in the state if the state government really wanted to maintain an effective and responsible administrations in the state.

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IMPHAL, April 19: Two Chinese hand grenades were found inside the compound of the residence Dr Khasim Ruivah, MLA, Chingai Assembly Constituency at Nagaram , Imphal under, Lamphel Police station in Imphal West district this morning around 7.30 am.
According to reliable source the abandoned hand grenades were recovered from inside the residential compound this morning by the personnel of MR escorts provided to him this morning but failed to explain how the grenades were abandoned or lobbed by those unidentified miscreants this early morning into the residential compound of the MLA Dr Khasim Ruivah.
On the other hand on recovery of the said two hand grenade, the family members have informed to Lamphel police and the a team Lamphel Police led by the OC and a team of Manipur police Bomb experts arrived at the spot and picked up the two Chinese hand grenades and disposed later at a outskirt areas of Lamphelpat this morning around 11 am safely.
In the meantime, MLA, Dr Khasim Ruivah was reportedly out of station from his house from Nagaram by the time the two hand grenades were recovered this morning, besides, according to the family source behind the attack was yet to be ascertained as non of the militant groups have given warning or threats to the MLA till today.
In the meantime, in this connection, Lamphel police has registered a case today.

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IMPHAL, April 8: The All Zeliangrong Students`™ Union, Assam Manipur and Nagaland (AZSU-AMN) has called a 48 hours total bandh in Zeliangrong inhabited area in Manipur with effect from April 17 midnight to April 19 midnight.

Clarifying on imposition of the bandh the students`™ body in a press statement issued by its general secretary, Nchaheing Kompoing, stated that the decision was taken to pressure the government to translate their demands into action. It recalled that a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India against the high handedness of the 11 Assam Rifles at Tamenglong head quarter and other security forces in Zeliangrong inhabited areas in Manipur.
It said that the bandh covers both national and international projects including the railway however medical service, electricity, religious function and water supply is exempted from the purview of the bandh, it said.

It pointed out that the charter of demands mentioned in the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister of India and Home Minister includes immediate withdrawal of AFSPA 1958 from North East Regions, immediate transfer of 11 Assam Rifles from Zeliangrong inhabited areas, removal of all Indian army check post/gates on highways and district highways and befitting punitive action against high handed colonel Chonkar of 11 AR.

The statement lamented that Zeliangrong people in particular and Nagas in general have been victimized by the Indian security forces for more than 60 years on the pretext of Law and Order under the aegis of AFSPA.

It questioned the relevance of AFSPA imposition in Naga habited area today when the whole Naga areas have been covered by the Indo-Naga peace process. This reflects insincerity on the part of the government of India, it decried.

Thousands of Naga people have been living with indelible physical scars, psychologically and emotionally due to excessive torture by the Indian armed forces. At the same time, it questioned the intention of 11 AR under colonel Chonkar for trying to disrupt a time valued peace process between the GOI and Naga.

It appealed all the general public and all authorities concerned to extend co-operation to make the 48 hour total bandh a success.

It also informed that any untoward incident arising out of the defiance of the bandh would be the responsibilities of the defaulter concerned.

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by Bobo Khuraijam
Taste of life. Is not it a wonderful thing? There have been thousands of enquiries on it. As a fall out of this enquiries there are again myriad of interpretations. Each interpretation has got different stances, some totally different and some crisscrossing each other. As a matter of fact, we are not in a better position to dwell into it. But on one aspect we can dwell on it with elan. For that one does not need to turn the pages of the book of wisdom. That we human are endowed with senses which are amazingly different from other living species. Each of the senses interrelates with each other. Among all the senses what has been a fixation for all our Leipung member is the sense of taste. We would agree that animals have also got the sense of taste. Just look at our pet dogs. You can see their change of preference the immediate following day after having a nice meal of chicken. The sad part is that they cannot prepare their own food. They have to eat whatever we offer to them. Well for us, we know the fine art of food production. We grow them or rear them for our consumption. We follow certain rules of permutation and combination. A slight alteration in the amount of the selected ingredient would directly affect in the taste. There are curriculum and institution which impart the knowledge of food preparation. Call it by any other name; we at the Leipung are least interested in that kind of learning. We excelled in eating anything that is eatable. We have no hesitation in declaring what is haowi or haote after any mouthful sessions. That is our forte, we should say.

THOSE SESSIONS: to be honest, we have been a regular visitor to the food festivals. This festival has become a regular feature every year. It got instant recognition from the sarkar and its department concern. They were invited to be part of the Sangai Festival which is held to promote tourism industry in the state. As expected, in each of the festival held so far, the food court has been a major attraction. We would like to give full credit to the group of young innovative people who came out with the idea; the idea to hold food festival. It has not even been half a decade that they first came out with their idea. Before their idea was actualized, they took out a survey to different part of the state. They went to places like Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati etc. to mobilize our friends from the hill. We could see their presence in quite a good number from the first festival itself. They visited different parts of the valley as well, places like Sekmai, Andro, Phayeng, Moirang and Nambol etc. Each one of the places has got verities of food and beverage which are unique in taste. Remembering all those cuisines we are already carried away to those ahaoba days. Have you tasted: Ngamu sanggom, a variety of fish found in Barak River `“ a special cuisine of the Liangmei community, Changalme from Churachandpur, Utongchaak and sandang from Chandel , Oksha makhong special of Paomei community, Ukhrul`™s Eroi athongba special, Manungshaa ayaiba from Andro, Chahao tan of Waikhong, Mangra heingaan of Wabagai ,Cheng bora of Kakching, Chawai singju of Awang Sekmai? `¦well the list is endless and mouth watering. After having a glance at these items and if you do not feel anything in your mouth, please stop reading. Go see a physician at once. Some of our members opined that people come to this festival with a different look. Whenever there is a mela or anything of that kind, they come with the a priori notion that they are going to negotiate a heavy price for anything they buy. So you can notice a skewed look in many of the visitors. Whereas in food festivals, people turn up with a `ready to nourish`™ and `ready to eat`™ face, therefore a warm face `“ as warm as and as enjoyable as Maroi ga bori ga thongba of an Ushob.

FUTURE SESSION: has got more things in store. We can well assert that these cuisines we enjoy today are gift from our forefathers. They must have gone through an uneasy `fooding journey`™ in order to be able to come out with all kinds of dishes. Some of them must have gone through hardships like food poisoning in their attempt of innovating new Chinjak. Some of them must have even sacrificed their lives for a better and tastier food. We salute to those unsung heroes. We can be proud of the varieties which are available today. We have been told that it is the gift of the civilization. Every civilization has unique stories with unique food. For a tiny population and the kind of dishes we have, we can be certainly proud of it, without being jingoistic enough. We have heard and seen, as they are beam directly through the satellite television, the kind of food that has gone global. Chinese food is already everywhere. So are foods from other countries. In simple term, their foods are an inseparable menu in the hotels and restaurants of good standards. Our friends who have tasted Thai cuisines in five star hotels have claimed that those cuisines are not that finer from our Kangsoi. If that is the case, it is time that we give a thought on how to promote our own cuisines. The coming venture of the innovative youth brings some promises. We are told that the regular food festival which was held at the state level is expanding. They are now ready to go global. They have invited countries like China, Thailand, Korea and Vietnam to take in the food festival. And their acknowledgement of participation has been already made known to the organizers. We hope it would be a new beginning, an opportunity to learn from these countries of how their foods are being packaged and stylized to reach the global standards. We at the Leipung are already prepared to overwork our mouth, this April. How about you?

FOOTNOTE: this time around, we have seen events where mobs go on riot. They destroy houses, to the extent of burning down and even killing the people supposedly involve in the crime. Leipung Ningthou calls it, `khaambi mei gi ngaoramchat wayel`.

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by Hoihnu Houzel
The boss of DONER prefers the focus to be on the job – development of the North East – rather than on her position.
Jayati Chandra guards her privacy. She`™s media shy and does not believe in parting with personal information. And she`™s quite firm that she does not want to be photographed nor is she willing to part with a photo of hers.

However, as the secretary for the Ministry for the Development of the North-East Region (DONER) Chandra will never disappoint anyone wishing to gather information on her department. So, in a way, it`™s easy to gauge Chandra`™s level of efficiency and professionalism.

She promptly answers queries on email. She communicates through her staff which is rather polite and courteous. Perhaps, briefed by her to be just so.

A 1975 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Chandra is a seasoned bureaucrat who has served in different ministries. She was the Secretary in the Department of Youth Affairs in Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. She was also the Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, among others. At the helm of DONER, Chandra is known for her pragmatic and hands-on approach. She tours the region frequently and monitors the pace of development in every state. A no-nonsense lady, Chandra oversees each project at DONER which is an important ministry that was set up in September 2001 under the Vajpayee government. The ministry acts as the nodal department of the Central government to deal with matters pertaining to socioeconomic development of the eight states of North East i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. Touted as the as fulfillment of a long-felt need of a region that is often been neglected and cut off from the rest of India, DONER has since then initiated many channels to enhance the region`™s connectivity with the rest of India whether by road, rail or air.
Hoihnu Hauzel catches up with Jayati Chandra to discuss DONER.

Current: The very purpose of why DONER came into existence in 2001 was to act as the nodal department of the Central government to initiate socio-economic development of the eight states of Northeast India. Looking back, do you think, it has served its purpose?

Chandra:It is serving its purpose and is continuously striving to do better.

What are the many challenges in your role as a bureaucrat?

I would say it that is the same as any other bureaucrat`™s.

Are there much room for innovation in executing or initiating projects and schemes?

Certainly more than innovation `“ our job is to enhance motivation, commitment and dedication in anything that we do including planning, executing and putting to use whatever projects and schemes that are taken up.

What is your personal contribution to the ministry or what are the changes that you have brought to the ministry of DONER.
I am as good as the team with whom I have the honour to work.

What are the challenges in working with the eight North Eastern states?

Getting everyone together (physically) in one place most of the time! Otherwise it has been a pleasure and privilege to work with them.
Do you think people from the North East are too dependent on Central funds for development?

The Volume I of the 11th Plan document states that `for the special category states of NER, the per capita volume of Central assistance is among the highest in the country. Against the all- India average of Rs 683.94 the per capita Central assistance in the NER was Rs 2574.98 in 2006-07. But you have to understand that unlike most other states the level of private sector investment in the NER is almost zero. It may be observed that the per capita Central assistance is the highest in the state of Sikkim.

Is it true that 60 lakh was left unspent from the general advocacy fund for the North East in 2009-10? If so, was it because there was no convincing proposal or activities?

The plan scheme of Advertising & Publicity has been formulated to project the inherent potential and achievements of the North Eastern region and to create an awareness of its unique and distinctive features. It also seeks to highlight the role of the government in facilitating development processes through appropriate strategies in the region. Under the scheme, various events and programmes are organized within and outside the region which include trade expos/ fairs, seminars, publicity of the potential of the region through media etc.

Yes there was some underutilization of funds. The Thrust to make North East self reliant reasons are many, but chief among them is that this amount is given programme wise and the fund is released in two installments `“ the final one after the conclusion of events. Sometime events are rescheduled and/or the original scope is curtailed leading to savings.

Moreover the avenues for raising the states`™ own resources are, at this time highly limited. Gradually as the status of basic infrastructure like power, roads, connectivity etc. increases, this scenario would change.

There is a perception that DONER only doles out money but rarely monitors the execution of a project till the end, thus, lacking in real commitment. Please justify this perception. And what is DONER`™s policy on follow-up and accountability for all the funds and schemes assigned to different projects meant for development in the North East.

The perception is erroneous. First of all these projects are implemented by the state governments. The funds are released in three installments. The release of 2nd and 3rd installment is made against the report of the state government. This report includes physical and financial progress, comments of nodal officers and photographs. Select projects are physically seen by the ministry`™s own representatives. Periodic reviews are carried out by me and other officers too.

Does DONER encourage entrepreneurs to approach the ministry for assistance? How do you judge the work of an entrepreneur or is there any yardstick in order to get support or financial assistance from the ministry?

This Ministry does not have any scheme for funding entrepreneurs etc. We would advise entrepreneurs to approach the state governments and NEDFI. However, they are always welcome to approach the ministry for policy clarification and/or facilitation with state governments.

There are some externally aided projects by organizations like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and IFAD. What is the status of these projects?

The broad objective of ADB assisted North Eastern state roads project (NESRP) is to facilitate regional integration and trade flows in the North East. The project also seeks to develop institutions for capacity building of state PWDs for effective and efficient management of road assets. It is proposed to cover a total length of 433 km at a cost of US $298.6 million. ADB will contribute US $200 million by way of loan. However, the proposal is yet to be finalized as loan negotiations with ADB will be undertaken after obtaining the government of India`™s internal clearances.

IFAD assisted North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP) is under implementation since 1998 in two districts each in Assam (Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills), Manipur (Senapati and Ukhrul) and Meghalaya (West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills).

The project being implemented in collaboration with NEC through local communities, aims at improving livelihoods of the people through capacity building and introduction of new technology and techniques for sustainable growth. The project, costing Rs 159.36 crore with IFAD`™s contribution of Rs 109.92 crore, seeks to improve livelihoods of the poorest in targeted villages.

Are there any upcoming projects with any of these global organizations?

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project for Upland Areas (NERCORMP) is a jointly funded project of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and North Eastern Council, Ministry of DONER, government of India. NERCORMP is a livelihood and rural development project aimed to transform the intervened lives of the poor and marginalized tribal families in North East (NE) India, and thereby become a developmental in the region.

NERCORMP is operating in three states of Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya in North East India, covering two districts in each state. These are Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts in Assam, Senapati and Ukhrul districts in Manipur, and West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills districts in Meghalaya. The project is working in 860 villages, covering 39161 households, 1012 Natural Resource Management Groups (NaRM-Gs), 3168 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 103 NaRM-G Associations and 103 SHG Federations.

NERCORMP aims to synergize the best strengths of the government. IFAD (an international organization with rich and long global experience), partner NGOs, a dedicated project team and the inherent remarkable strengths possessed by communities. Fortunately and gladly, this has happened. Most of the proven and well known modern community and rural developmental tools were employed. Further, innovative and creative solutions kept emerging along the way in NERCORMP.

The overall objective of NERCORMP is `to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to preservation and restoration of the environment.` Another IFAD loan of $20 million which will partially cover the cost of expansion of NERCORMP in the adjoining villages has been sanctioned. NERCORMP-II is going to cost Rs 200 crore (Rs170 crore for new villages plus Rs 30 crore for handholding on tapering basis in existing villages). It is proposed to cover 20,000 household in 400 new villages assuming 50 household per village over a period of six years.

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