Day: February 18, 2011

Imphal, Feb 18 (NNN): Several organizations from Sadar Hills of Senapati district along with Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) have expressed their displeasure before the directorate of census in Imphal over alleged discrepancies in the issuing of NPR form in the ongoing national census operation 2011.
Sadar Hills Chiefs Association (SAHILCA), Kuki Inpi of Sadar Hills, Kuki Students`™ Organization (KSO) of Sadar Hills, Bungpi Area Chiefs Association and COPTAM have intimated their representation on February 16 to the director of directorate of census, Imphal, expressing their objection in the issuing of limited numbers of NPR form in Sader Hills areas of Senapati district.
These Sardar Hills based organisations said that they want early completion of census operation 2011 and are ready to cooperate with the enumerators and supervisors in this regard, however they are `disappointed to learn that the NPR forms issued to the enumerators and supervisors (in the second phase) is less than those issued in the first phase and that the issue of fewer numbers of NPR form is bound to create a condition where many genuine citizens/villagers may be excluded in the ongoing head counting.`
In view of this, the social organizations of Sadar Hills, constrained by the stated facts have approached the director of directorate of census in Imphal to take up immediate actions for issuance of sufficient NPR forms commensurate to the numbers enumerated in the first phase so that unnecessary deletion or exclusion of genuine persons may be averted, it said.
The representation was jointly signed by Kaikhomang Khongsai, general secretary, SAHILCA; Chungkam Haokip, president, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills; Haokhai Lupheng, president, Bungpi Area Chiefs Association; Thangminlen Kipgen, president, KSO-Sadar Hills and Lamcha Chongloi, chairman, COPTAM of Sadar Hills Committee.
COPTAM had said on February 11 that if the apparent inconsistency in the villages located in the area is not addressed forthwith, COPTAM would be compelled to forbid the enumerators and supervisors from discharging their census duties, even banning their entry into the villages in question.
The tribal rights body is also understood to have had audience with Dr C Chandramauli, Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Government of India, who arrived in Imphal on February 12 to oversee the ongoing census operation.
COPTAM has warned that it would be forced to resort to different forms of agitation if the grievances of the tribals are selectively ignored.

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IMPHAL, Feb 18: Despite the promulgated order of the State Government of transferring the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) to the respective chairman of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Adhyakshas of Zilla parisad under the supervision of the Executive Directors of DRDAs headed by a senior MCS officer, the DCs in some of the districts are allegedly adamantly resisting to hand over full powers to the concern executive directors thereby hampering grass root level development.
In this regard a joint meeting of Adhyakshas and ADC chairmen of six districts was held today at Imphal hotel, chaired by Sadar Hills ADC chairman, Sh. Seipu. The meet while drawing the attention of the concerned authority to intervene into the matter has resolved in taking extreme steps if the concerned authority failed to do so.
Sh. Seipu, stated that even though the order has been already put into effect in the districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur and Chandel, the DCs of Senapati, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Imphal East and Imphal West have allegedly refused to let go of the responsibility.
Further while elaborating on the issue, the chairman said that the main problems faced by the beneficiaries are in two major schemes which included the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and Manipur Sectoral Development Plan (MSDP).
The ADC chairman further raised his doubts on the intention of the deputy commissioners who seem to be more concern in the grass root administrations rather than focusing on general administration like law and order.
This attitude of the DCs may be construed as taking excessive interest in funds and schemes of DRDAs rather than administering the districts, Seipu alleged, adding that the delay in the transfer of the responsibility of DRDAs from DCs to ADCs and Zilla Parishads has arrested development at the grass root levels of the districts in the State.
In the meantime, the meet also condemned the reluctant DCs stating that their act has deprived the rights and privilege of the beneficiaries and also adopted various resolutions which will be presented to the chief minister as and when he returns from his sojourn in Delhi, Seipu said, adding that if the government refused to respond positively and to complete the transfer of the functional power of DRDAs to the local bodies compliant with the Governor order, the joint group will launched unexpected forms of agitation in the future.
It may be recalled that to ensure grass root development of rural areas and remote hills, an order was released by the Governor of Manipur on November 18, 2010 in pursuant to the decision taken by a cabinet meet held on November 11, 2010, to transfer the DRDAs of the five hill districts to their respective ADC. Consequent upon this, the chairmanship of the five DRDAs will be vested in the chairman of the ADCs.
The order further said that a senior MCS officer shall be posted as the Executive Directors of DRDAs both in the hills and valley districts, the charge of which was earlier in charge by the DCs concerned.
With regard to DRDA of Senapti district, the chairmen of ADCs of Senapati and Kangpokpi shall be co-chairmen for the DRDA Senapati while in the four valley districts, Adhyakshas of Zilla Parishads will continue as chairmen of their respective DRDAs, it said.
 It is noteworthy here that the chairmanships of DRDAs had earlier been vested to the deputy collectors/commissioners of the districts before the order of the governor stated otherwise. Interestingly, some civil organizations are against the transfer order of the Governor and have been demanding for the order to be reverted back to the previous institution of DCs overseeing DRDAs.
For instance, All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has been demanding for the revocation of the State cabinet decision of posting senior Manipur Civil Service officer as executive director of DRDA without due consultation with Hill Areas Committee of the State assembly. It has termed the cabinet decision as devoid of any `rationality and justification` and has demanded for reverting back to the earlier way wherein the concerned deputy commissioner of the district was the executive director as prescribed under the Central guidelines.

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IMPHAL, Feb 18: After remarkable win in the just concluded Konthoujam bye-election, K.D Singh, MP and observer, of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) will visit Konthoujam Assembly constituency tomorrow to interact with the people.
The AITC MP, who will be landing at Tulihal airport at 11:45 tomorrow, will be received by state party workers at it`™s state unit office.
After the reception ceremony the MP is schedule to visit Konthoujam Assembly constituency where an interaction programme will be held with the people of Konthoujam followed by a press conference in the end of the programme. The MP will leave Imphal at 5 pm.

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