August 2, 2013 – Manipur News

RTI 2005 to be amended

MNS: The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of a Bill in the coming session of the Parliament to amend the Right to Information Act, 2005, to exclude the political parties from the definition of Public authority for the purpose of the Act.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) in its decision dated 03.06.2013, has held that the political parties, namely, AICC/INC, BJP, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, and BSP are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. While deciding that the said political parties are public authorities, the CIC has relied mainly on the grounds that there is substantial (indirect) financing of political parties by the Central Government and they perform public duty.
The political parties are registered with the Election Commission under the provisions of section 29A of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951. Under this section any small group of persons, if they so desire, can be
registered as a political party by making a simple declaration under sub-section (5) of section 29A. With reference to the political parties, detailed provisions exist in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which provides for dissemination of information relating to political parties, candidates and donations. The said Act, inter alia, provides for –
• Registration with the Election Commission of associations and bodies as political parties (section 29A)
• Political parties entitled to accept contribution (section 29B)
• Declaration of donation received by the political parties (section 29C)
• Declaration of assets and liabilities (section 75A)
• Account of election expenses and maximum thereof (section 77)
• Lodging of account with the district election officer (section 78)
• Penalty for filing false affidavit etc. (section 125A)
The above provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 indicate that there are sufficient provisions in the Act to deal with each and every aspect of financing, its declaration and punishment for filing false affidavit and all such information is made available to the public through the website of the Election Commission. Under section 13A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the political parties claiming exemption from tax are required to file their return of income before the due date .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rti-2005-to-be-amended/

Lina wins 4th Miss India North East 2013

Imphal Aug.2 UNA : Haijang Village Authority and the Youth Club Friday sing the praises of Miss Lina Lamneilhing Chongloi, who after winning the tiara as “Miss Bharat 2013” once again begged the coveted title of “4th Miss India North East 2013″ at ITA Machkhuwa Hall, Guwahati on 28 July 2013.
Lina Lamneilhing Chongloi on 24 June 2013 won the tiara as Miss Bharat 2013 at Hotel Ronak Plaza, Bhopal, where Dr Mahesh Aman Gandhi has been the Event Director and it was Power by Aman Gandhi Film Production Mumbai. A month after, on the night of 28 July 2013 at ITA Machkhuwa Hall, Guwahati, Miss Lina L. Chongloi made the people of her village and the entire Manipur state in general proud once again by winning the tiara of “4th Miss India North East”.
In their separate gratitude notes, The Haijang Village Authority and Youth Club said with the humidity and intellect showed by Lina – fondly addressed by her local residents- during the pageant, she is still the winner for the people of her village and her home State Manipur.
“The clamminess, intelligence and elegance that you put on display during the competition personified the spirit of the true Kukis and in our eyes that is the true victory today that the entire nation stood witness to and found an appreciation for the ethics, values and beauty that has long described our nation” said Lunkholal Chongloi, General Secretary Haijang Youth Club.
Thangkhopao Chongloi, Chief of Haijang Village described Lina Lamneilhing Chongloi as “Beauty with Brains.”
“May this triumph serve as a way for others to come to appreciate not the just the beauty of our Haijang people in particular and the Kukis in general, but that of our Nation. On behalf of the people of Haijang village, we are proud of you and we see even greater things ahead of you” added The Haijang Village Authority and the Youth Club.
Haijang is a remote village of Kangpokpi sub-division under Sadar Hills, located just 5 Km. away from Kangpokpi Town.
But as far as development is concerned the village has been left out from many developmental works. A small Inter Village Road is the only road that connect he village to the outside world. But this remote village produced many youths who contributed various credits to the State and the Nation in different fields.
The 21 years old Lina Lamneilhing Chongloi is a loving daughter of Lhunkhopao Chongloi and Phallhing Chongloi of Haijang Village. They are farmers. She was born as the fifth children to her parents on 16 March 1992.
Lina L. Chongloi competed with 26 stunning ladies from the North East states except Sikkim and Tripura at the 4th Miss India North East 2013 at ITA Machkhuwa Hall, Guwahati on 28 July 2013. While Lina L. Chongloi won the 4th Miss India North East 2013 title, Ipsheeta from Jorhat, Guwahati was crowned the 1st runners-up title and Kiran Laishram born and brought up in Guwahati became the second runners-up at the Pageant power by t2 in association with hotel gateway grandeur and sponsor by hero Honda. The Event Director was Mr Pratishyam Das.
While speaking with the UNA, Lina L. Chongloi said that, “Today’s pageant contestants are more educated and competitive than the past. Earlier, there were a high school students contestants but we have a bunch of better contestants nowadays.”
“There is no guaranteed formula for winning. Contestants/candidates have to work it out. “

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lina-wins-4th-miss-india-north-east-2013/

Security beefed up in wake of Independence Day celebrations

Imphal, Aug 2 MNS UNA : As the countdown for the nation’s Independence Day celebration begun, security in and around Imphal city has been beefed up and routine combing operation to flush out the militants has been started on Friday.
A mass combing operation was conducted today afternoon at Masjid road and Paona bazar area in Imphal west district by a strong team of Imphal west police.
The police team was headed by DSP Dr. S. Ibomcha Singh who is also an overall command of Imphal west commandos.
All the shops keepers and passers-by at the area were called out and stopped and frisked during the operation.
The stretch of the Masjid road was cordoned for hours and search operation was conducted one by one in order to detect any militants present mingled in the crowd.
At least 50 individuals were detained during the combing operation and were taken them to the city police station for further verification said the police officers.
DSP Dr. S. Ibomcha speaking to the media in the side line of the search operation said that search operation in the city area is a part of security measures specially taken up for the smooth conduct of the country’s Independence Day celebration and similar kind of sudden cordon and search operation will be conducted until the Independent Day celebration is over.

Students warned to stay away from unapproved institutes

Mail News Service
Imphal, Aug 2 : P Vaiphei , Commissioner Education has advised students not to take admission in unapproved educational institutes. He said in a press statment that ,”The issues relating to some Private Universities and Study Centres claiming to be learning centres of Private Universities and some advertisements thereof have been under examination by the Dept. of Higher Education for sometime of late and after due consideration of the genuineness/non-genuineness and legality/illegality of such centres of learning, the Dept. had issued an Order vide No. 3/3-567/89-EDC (Pt.l) dt. 21st June, 2013 that, amongst others, had drawn the attention of all College Lecturers/Teachers to the fact that the Acts authorizing setting up of Private / State Universities passed by State Legislative Assemblies are valid within the territorial boundaries of the concerned State only and any Research / higher study can be undertaken by their Study-Centres opened outside the State where such Private / State Universities are set-up are illegal and not acceptable.
Therefore, all applicants including serving Assistant/Associate Professors, etc. of all Colleges of Manipur are hereby informed to exercise due caution to ensure that they do not undertake higher study / pursuit of M.Phl/Ph.D degrees through such illegal Study Centres or Private/State Universities operating outside the limits of the territorial boundaries of the State that authorize them to be set up.
This caution is issued in public interest in general and in the particular interest of the students & teaching communities of Manipur in particular to prevent them from unnecessary trouble, waste of time, money & energy and embarrassment on being caught later on.
For the benefit of all the students & teaching faculties in particular and the people of the State of Manipur, it is hereby informed to the general public and all concerned that University Grants Commission (UGC) vide its Public Notice No. F.27-1/2012(CPP-II) dated 27th June, 2013 that “the Commission has come across many advertisements published in National Dailies offering opportunities for the award of university degrees through various franchise programmes conducted by certain Private Institutions.
These private establishments claiming themselves as Study Centres or learning centres of different Universities enroll students for various degree programmes and also claim to be responsible for teaching and conduct of examinations. The faculty and the infrastructure belong to these private agencies. The concerned Universities except providing syllabus and teaching materials, has no mechanism to monitor and maintain the academic standards of teaching being imparted at these centres.
The blatant compromise with the standards of education has led to widespread criticism. The Commission has taken a serious view of these misleading advertisements appearing in various newspapers.”
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has, “therefore, clarified for the information of all concerned, including students and parents that:
a) A Central or State University can conduct courses through its own departments, its constituent colleges and/or through its affiliated Colleges;
b) A University established or incorporated by or under a State Act shall operate only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it under its Act and in no case beyond the territory of the State of its location;
c) The private Universities and deemed Universities cannot affiliate any College or institution for conducting courses leading to award of its diplomas, degrees or other qualifications.
d) No University, whether Central, State, private or deemed, can offer its programmes through franchising arrangement with private coaching institutions even for the purpose of conducting courses through distance mode.
e) All Universities shall award only such degrees as are specified by the UGC and published in the official gazette.
f) Universities should conduct first degree and Master’s degree in accordance with the regulations. Details are available in UGC website.

AMTU on border

IMPHAL, August 2 NNN: All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) has expressed its grave concern on the Indo-Myanmar border fencing saying it is ceding away portions of tribal traditional land of Manipur.AMTU suggested that both, the central and state government must take the matter seriously with appropriate measures reflecting the plight of the border tribal villagers.
“It is pertinent to keep in mind pensively that the indigenous tribal lands of Manipur bordering Myanmar should not be traded away further preceding the colonial British government trading away Kabow Valley approximately in the year 1834. This was done so in consideration to appease the spirit of amity and goodwill of the Ava King despite the British conviction that Ningthee River formed the proper boundary,” AMTU pointed out.
“Monthly stipend was given to Manipur Raja. However, after India’s Independence the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru waived off the stipend during a joint visit to Manipur with his counter part Unu merely for a diplomatic flourish,” the tribal body recalled. It then advised that the government must trace each concerned village demarcation boundaries in the hills department of Manipur government minutely by consulting local village chiefs of their land documents and retrieve back such artificially ceded lands from Myanmar. “Lest, it may provoke a political havoc in the state as we no more want to part away with our tribal brethren’s land as it did in colonial supreme rule. They deserve land protection within the ambit of U.N Human Rights,” AMTU stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/amtu-on-border/

MPP urges PM to protect Manipur’s land

IMPHAL, August 2 NNN: The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has on Friday urged the Prime Minister to take steps to immediately halt the current works on Indo-Myanmar border fencing, stating that a vast area of Manipur on the Indian side has been encroached by Myanmar in the process.
An 11-member team of MPP visited the surrounding villages in the disputed Indo-Myanmar border area in Manipur’s Chandel district from July 31 to August 2 to oversee the present status of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing, now in dispute between the two neighbouring countries and to have an actual report on the international border line that has been reportedly constructed by encroaching as much as 10 km into the Indian side. India and Myanmar share a 369 km long border.
So far, about 10 km of the 369 km long Indo-Myanmar border fencing works has been completed, MPP president N Sovakiran told reporters here. He said the construction of the fence began from 2003-2004.
Nine villages of Chandel district have been taken away by Myanmar in the fence construction process, Sovakiran said, naming the villages as Govajang, Yangnoi, B Bongjang, Morphei, Nungkam, Saitang, Tatyang, Yangoupokpi and S Moljol.
The MPP president demanded that the Chief Minister should disclose on the mass crossing of border land by Myanmar to the people of Manipur as has promised to the people that a single inch of land would not be given to the neighbouring country.
He pledged that the party with the support and cooperation of the people will launch agitation against the Centre and state Governments if the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh fails to stop the ongoing fence construction works.
The11-member MPP team included its general secretary N Singhajit and the party’s Working Committee’s member, N Ojit, MPP Youth president Ronel, who were also present at the press meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mpp-urges-pm-to-protect-manipurs-land/

Committee to protect border formed, government flayed

Imphal Aug 2 UNA : To protect the Land of the state Manipur, a Committee on Protection of Land in Border fencing, Manipur
(CPLBF) was formed by various organizations. A memorandum was submitted by the newly formed committee to Chief
Minister O. Ibobi Singh against the Indo-Myanmar (international border fencing) for encroaching into the land of Manipur on Friday.
The committee was jointly formed by Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM), Rural People’s Development Federation (RPDF) Pallel, (KSO) Moreh block, Eastern Maring Organisation (EMO) Chandel, and Kuki Chiefs’ Association Moreh Block today.
The committee demanded the government to intervene and stop the process for luring the village chiefs with peanuts of
compensation at the costs of Manipur’s land, Joint survey and demarcation of the traditional boundary of Manipur and
Myanmar, based on historical documents should be conducted by both Indian (Including State Government’s civil organisation concerned) and Myanmar’s authorities said the memorandum.
Construction of the fence should be halted until the traditional boundary between India and Myanmar is clearly identified and demarcated. Representatives of the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing, Manipur be included in the survey.
Speaking at a press conference held at ICHAM office, the convenor of the CPLBF, Brojendro Ningombam said if the state government does not intervene immediately regarding the demand of the committee, it would amount to opening of Pandora’s box on the vexed border issue..
The convenor further said the committee welcome the state cabinet’s decision to conduct re-survey on the boundary and fence. And the committee would like to reiterate here that the committee is not against construction of the border fence but that we just don’t want to lose vast areas of Manipur once again, the Manipur people’s anguish over the gifting away of Kabaw valley to the then Burma (now Myanmar) by the government of India in 1953 following the Indo-Burma Treaty of which details had been kept as secret till date, is still fresh in the mind of people of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/committee-to-protect-border-formed-government-flayed/

Better days are ahead

Public awareness has been created, a change will be seen. Two days back a discussion was held to make Imphal a safe place for living. The nature of discussion was really interesting. Everyone present aired their views. Focus of attention was mostly on infringement on the right of pedestrians, who constitute majority of population. Footpaths are not properly maintained. Even the few stretches of footpaths constructed in the heart of town have been used by roadside hotels or shops for parking vehicles or for showing the shop materials. Pedestrians are angry they say the roads and lanes are not for two wheelers and four wheelers only. How can space be made available for cyclists and pedestrians? The discussion continued. When the public transport system is improved after introducing latest model buses, which can be used by middle class family a change may be seen. But the low floor transport system failed someone pointed out. Will privatisation help then? The numbers of four wheelers, two wheelers and three wheelers are on the rise. If the problem is uncontrollable now, imagine what will happen after five years. That will be a hell like situation. Addition of parking spaces at the public place will not be the solution. Someone from planning group said, plans are afoot to fix the rate of parking fee according to the time taken by a vehicle. This is a wonderful idea. This will go a long way in easing traffic congestion. As per the reports available the owners of shops and those working in the shops are playing nuisance on the road parking their vehicles on the roadside from dawn to dusk leaving no space for the consumers to park their vehicle. According to the new rule the parking fee will reach three figures. When that rule is applied no owner will unnecessarily occupy the vacant portion available in front of the shop. That rule should be applied without delay. Then there are employees of banks and public undertakings who also park their vehicles in front of their office during office hours causing hindrances to the users of the road. They too will not like to part away one quarter of the pay in giving away parking fee. If the parking fee is increased they too will think of coming to offices using private vehicles. They will start using public transport vehicles. Therefore it will not be wrong to say that the traffic congestion on the important roads in bazaar areas can be eased by increasing parking fee. Do it without delay.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/better-days-are-ahead-4/

IRB assaults driver

A truck driver ferrying essential goods from outside the State along Imphal Jiribam road sustained injuries on his eye after he was reportedly beaten up IRB personnel deployed as security escorts for trucks along the National Highway Source Hueiyen …

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=32&src=030813

Fuel rationing

In view of the shortage of fuel at the IOC depot in the State, following the road sink near Heritage village along NH 2, the State Government has decided to ration sale of fuel to the public Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=16&src=030813

TPOM hails

Tribal People Organization, Manipur TPOM has extended its warmest greetings and good wishes to Ashwani Kumar and P Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=30&src=030813

AMTU concerned

All Manipur Tribal Union AMTU has expressed its grave concern on the Indo Myanmar border fencing saying it is ceding away portions of tribal traditional land of Manipur Source The Sangai Express Newmai News Network

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=15&src=030813

Zeliangrong bodies on fuel allocation

Zeliangrong Youth Front Assam, Manipur Nagaland and All Zeliangrong Students’ Union have taken serious note over the nature of petroleum allocation carried out by the Government Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=28&src=030813

Imposter pulled up

An imposter who collected money in the name of All Manipur Students’ Union AMSU has been pulled up by volunteers of the students’ union Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=14&src=030813

IDay boycott stand unchanged Joseph

With talks between the frontal organizations and the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong over the demand for developing Tamenglong Khongsang road failed to arrive at an amicable solution, the stance to boycott the forth coming Indian Independence Day cel…

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=26&src=030813

Miscreants lock school at Ghari

Some unidentified persons locked the gate of Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School, Ghari last night in connection with a monetary demand of Rs 30 lakhs Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=13&src=030813

AMTU objects to ceding land to Myanmar

All Manipur Tribal Union AMTU has expressed its grave concern on the Indo Myanmar border fencing saying it is ceding away portions of tribal traditional land of Manipur Source Hueiyen News Service NNN

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=24&src=030813

VA, YC hail beauty queen

Haijang Village Authority and Haijang Youth Club today sang the praises of Miss Lina Lamneilhing Chongloi who consecutively won the tiara as Miss Bharat 2013 and 4th Miss India North East 2013 titles recently Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=12&src=030813

Civil cops rob fish traders in guise of Commandos

Two constables of Waikhong Police Station in plain clothes reportedly robbed three fish traders in the guise of Police Commandos on the night of July 29 last Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=22&src=030813

Kuki chiefs negate

In connection with the news item ‘KSO Questions wage delay’ published in The Sangai Express on August 2 edition, the Kuki Chiefs’ Association KCA , Khengjoy Sub Division, Chandel Dist has clarified that there is no delay in releasing of wages as alleg…

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=11&src=030813