Day: September 10, 2013

Mail News Service
Imphal, Sep 10 : Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Governor of Manipur and Nagaland today presented Governor’s and RK Sanatombi awards at Asha and Jina hall. Addressing the function he said “It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to be here today, at the presentation and felicitation ceremony of the prestigious awards, to the brightest students, best teachers, outstanding sports persons and the most dutiful traffic woman.
My heartiest congratulations to all the awardees and all the prize winners who have been conferred the awards and prizes today. It is no easy task to climb the highest peak in the worjd and it is no easy task to stand first in the class and to so excel in sports that you defeat all your competitors. We all know that it requires a lot of hard work, courage and dedication to make it to the top. Dear awardees, prize winners and summiteers, what you have achieved is creditable not only for you but the entire state of Manipur. It is time for you to feel happy and congratulate your self. At the same time, please do not forget to thank those who have helped you to reach this height. While you struggled, your parents were praying for you. Your teachers, mentors and coaches gave you all the guidance you needed. I am sure you received moral and financial support from your families. Without these, you will agree with me, it would have been difficult or even impossible for you to succeed. Therefore, this is the time to acknowledge the contribution made by others in your success and express your gratitude to those who have helped you in your journey to the top.
On behalf of the Government of Manipur, on behalf of the people of Manipur and on my own behalf, I compliment the individuals and Institutions for making this happen. At this stage I must thank the members of the selection committee for helping me decide the recipients of Governor’s Award and the same committee for selecting the R.K. Sanatombi Awardees. They have done their work in choosing the best candidates in a most transparent and impartial manner.
I also thank the Managing Committee of RKSD Vidyalayas, especially it’s Chairman, Padmashri Haridas Singh ji, for inviting me and my wife to participate in these celebrations. You have given us an opportunity to visit this place called the Asha-Jina Complex. Had it not been for this invitation, we would not have known who is ‘ Asha’ and who is ‘ Jina1 and how important this complex is for Imphal.
Ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a privilege to be given this opportunity to distribute the awards and address all of you gathered here today. I am aware that among the audience we have so many intellectuals, educationists, leaders of political parties/civil society, media persons and most important of all, the best( teachers and students. I have been most impressed reading about the social work being done by The Leirik Memorial Charitable Society in the field of Health and Education. I have been told that this Society and RKSDV institutions have been providing excellent services to the community in Health and Education since the early 1980′s.

These days we come across many,individuals and Institutions whose only task is to keep criticizing others and pointing out what is wrong with us and what is -wrong with Our society. They specialize in finding faults rather than in finding solutions. On the other hand, here in Manipur, we are fortunate to h.ave with us, the perfect example of individuals and Institutions, who have been voluntarily doing the noblest task, of looking after the sick and educating the students. We are indeed lucky to have amongst us illustrious personalities like Padamshri Haridas Singhji and his two daughters, Ashaji and Jinaji,. In fact, what they are doing is also a perfect example of how to pay lasting tribute to your partner and to your parents.
7. Two days ago, on 8th of September, the world celebrated the International Literacy Day. An interesting article in a newspaper, made a comparison of the literacy rates prevailing in various parts of the world. I was happy to read that our State of Manipur has made tremendous progress in the last few years. However, in comparison to many countries and states, we are still far behind. As per the comparative statistics, the world Literacy rate in 2011 was 84.1%. Whereas, the literacy rate of Manipur was only 79.85%. Our two neighboring states of north east India, Tripura and Mizoram have high literacy rates of 94.65% and 91.58% respectively. Similarly, the male literacy rate in the world was 88.6%, whereas, the male literacy in Manipur was 86.49%. The female literacy rate in the world was 79.9%, whereas, in Manipur it was 73.17%. Therefore, we all need to work much harder under the “Saakshar Bharat’ program to ensure that no one remains illiterate inManipur. We should implement the plans in right earnest and our target should be to make Manipur 100% literate in the next few years.
8. Dear students and dear friends, the best way of changing people and transforming society is through education. However, there are some individuals and groups among us, who believe in bringing about change through the use of force, through use of violence and through use of bullets and guns. Any change brought about through these means will not be lasting. It will be only temporary. History is testimony to the fact and our scriptures also say it, “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.” It has been established through sociological studies, that the most effective and quickest way to change and transform society, is through the education of girls and women. It is said if you educate a woman you educate the whole family and Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of United Nations has said, “To educate girls is to reduce poverty.” In management, they say educating females has a multiplier effect. »
9. I have had the opportunity of discussing the education scenario in Manipur with Shri Haridas Singh ji. He has also been kind to give me a written note pn the need to improvejtha quality_of education being imparted in the schools and colleges of our State. As per his analysis, there has been a decline in the quality and standards of our education in the last few years. I will urge the’ Govt. of Manipur, the Dy. CM and the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, present here today, to consider the various suggestions being made to improve the quality of education. I think there is an immediate need to link our courses and curriculum with the issues of livelihood and employment. We need to lay greater emphasis on vocational education and finding avenues of livelihood and self employment for all the girls and boys passing out each year from our Schools, Colleges and Universities.
10. I have something to say particularly the girl students of R.K.S.D. Vidyalayas. Dear girls, you are lucky having had this opportunity of studying in Schools like this. Shrimati RK Sanatombi Devi Ji, was not so fortunate, neither was my mother. You are also the brightest girls we have in our State. We are all proud of you and we have lots of hopes from you.
We are sure you will be the harbingers of change in our society. We hope, when you leave the precincts of this Institution, you will provide leadership to all your siblings and family members. Please remember to be always honest and truthful. Never tell lies. Remember to be always respectful to your parents, elders and teachers. However, high position you may attain in life, always remainhumble. We will pray for you. Our blessings and good wishes will always be with you.
11. In the end, I will like to once again congratulate all the award winners and prize winners. May you continue to achieve still greater heights in your chosen fields of study and sports. Those who missed the prizes or did not get any award need not feel disheartened. Sky is the limit for you.
There will always be a next time. I am sure each one of you is capable of the best and each one of you will get an opportunity to showcase your talent and make us and your parents proud of you. With these words and my blessings –

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/governors-r-k-sanatombi-awards-given/

NNN: The ongoing 72-hour Manipur hill districts bandh imposed by All Tribal Disabled Students’ Union (ATDSU) has been suspended today. “The bandh which began since Monday was suspended following numerous appeals from various quarters,” said ATDSU president Momo Tangtago.
According to Momo, ATDSU has decided to suspend the ongoing bandh considering the hardship faced by the people.
“However, we will resort to other forms of democratic agitation if our demands are not met,” warned Momo.
Momo then expressed his gratitude on behalf of the ATDSU to the public for their co-operation in the last two days.
Anguished over Manipur Government’s negative response on its series of demands, the All Tribal Disabled Students’ Union (ATDSU) has called the 72-hour bandh in the hill districts of Manipur from September 8 midnight as the August 30 dateline set by the union to the Government ended.
ATDSU said the Government is not responding to the union’s legitimate demands that prompted it to take up the agitation. Due to lack of education, the tribal disabled people are unable to claim their rightful job quota in the Government establishments and these post vacancies have remained filled up by general candidates, it accused.
ADTSU had also on July 19 last sought an appointment from Social Welfare minister for discussion on its demands, but no positive response has been given till date, it said.
It has urged the state Social Welfare minister to realize the decentralization of the authority for issue of disability certificates and to set up a special school with hostel facility for tribal disabled students in one of the hill districts in the state, the union added. It said that physically challenged persons are first examined and treated at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) Imphal and then related medical documents are submitted to the office of the Social Welfare which issues disability certificates to them after taking about four months time in the process.
This procedure adopted by the state Government has denied disability certificates to more than 70 percent disabled persons residing in far flung areas of the hill districts, it alleged.
At the same time, the union has demanded for setting up of a special school with hostel facility for the tribal disabled children and students in one of the hill districts of the state, it added.
It further said that there are a number of tribal disabled children in the hill areas intending to go to school, but they have failed to do so since they have certain problems of physical inactivities and the society at the same time discourages them to get education.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bandh-suspended/

IMPHAL, Sept 10 NNN: The NPF Manipur State unit demands immediate halt to the construction of border fencing in Chandel district of Manipur, bordering Myanmar until such time the international boundary is clearly demarcated by competent authorities of the two countries namely, India and Myanmar.
“It is matter of surprise that that so called construction of border fencing commenced immediately after the visit of a team led by O Ibobi, the Chief Minister of Manipur to Myanmar,” NPF, Manipur state communique signed by its serectary Athuan Abonmai said.
According to NPF, in the visit, Ibobi had offered to construct a hospital if the Myanmarese authorities could provide land. “Apart from that, sadly, what are the things transpired in the visit could not be for the benefit of the people. But, what is clear is that he had donned the role of a prime minister or external affairs minister of a country as the visit showed. An the construction of the border fencing discreetly,” the NPF added.
The NPF then said that it was only after a report on the illegal border fencing by an organization called Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (ICHAM) that the state Government was quick enough to claim that it was only for security purpose.
“The question here is, if it is for security purposes why did the state Government set up the border fencing committee? And why and how should the Chief Minister and his deputy apprised the Prime Minister on this issue? It is all an eye wash and for how long the people have to be taken for granted by the Ibobi led Congress Government. Now, the security fencing could not control the infiltration/enchroachment of the Myanmarese as the Myanmar army has constructed base camp at Haolenphai village inside Indian territory right under the nose of the Indian authorities,” the NPF stated.
“When the people of Manipur particularly those at the border area are suffering due to loss of huge chunks of their land to Myanmar because of the border fencing, the state Government is claiming that it is only security fencing. Can it afford to barter away thousands of hectres of land to Myanmar in the name of border fencing? The NPF takes serious view over the nonchalant attitude of the state Government towards the pathetic plight of the people,” the NPF further said.
Notwithstanding the myriad ills already affecting the people of the state at large arising out of the total mismanagement of the Congress led Government in all fronts, it is even more unfortunate with regard to the latest issue of losing our territories along the international border due to the weak and corrupt policy of the state Government, it pointed out, adding., “At last, we wonder if New Delhi is aware of all these”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/npf-demands-halt-of-border-fencing/

Churachandpur, Sept 10 MNS/NNN : Manipur Health minister Phungzathang Tongsing today said the Churachandpur District Hospital will be upgraded to a medical college soon.
Tonsing said this to newsmen after carefully making an assessment of the Churachandpur District Hospital during a visit. He said that the 100-bedded hospital will be raised to 300 beds soon.
The minister also said 10 more seats will be added to the 145 seats currently provided to the state for medical courses and therefore the total number of the seats will become 155, informing the Medical Council of India (MCI) has already given approval to this effect.
Tonsing further said the Government is all set to broaden the area of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal complex to 10 more acre.
The minister was accompanied by Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, Parliamentary Secretaries M Pritiviraj and Vungzagin Valte, and Principal Secretary (Health) Dr Suhel Akhtar, Deputy Commissioner, Churachandpur district Jacintha Lazarus and other officials of Health Department and Family Welfare.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/medical-college-at-ccpur-soon-phungzathang/

London Olympics bronze medalist MC Mary Kom had an operation at a private hospital here to remove stones from her gallbladder early Tuesday morning. Doctors at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute successfully removed 26 stones from Mary Kom’s gallbladder through a keyhole surgery that lasted about an hour, Medical Superintendent of the private hospital, Dr Jugindro told NNN.
He said, “Mary is fine now. We took for about an hour to complete the operation. A total of 26 stones were successfully removed from her gallbladder.” Her body will be normalised in four days, he said, adding the boxer will not be weakening owing to the surgery.
The pugilist, a mother of three, including a 4-month-old baby is now strong and healthy, Dr Jugindro said. Mary said that she was brought to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute for a health check-up yesterday after she had a complaint of pain in her upper abdomen and then she was diagnosed with bladderstones after a test at Babina Diagnostic and Research Centre here. She said her body was in good physical shape after the operation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mary-kom-operated-upon/

IMPHAL, Sept. 10: NNN Inspite of strong opposition from some quarters in observing “13 September Kukis’ Black Day”, with the onset of September a social networking giant Facebook group photos of Chin-Kuki groups viz “Kuki Kahi Kakipah E” (I’m Proud to be Kuki), BOMBIEL and VOICE OF THE HILLS have gone black with “KUKI BLACK DAY” inscribed on it, while group members mostly students, employees and professionals have too blackened their prolife pictures to commemorate and as a tribute to the 900 plus Kukis killed during the early 1990s ethnic violence.
September 13 has been observed as Kuki Black Day for several years now by the Kukis as on this day maximum number of Kukis were killed in 1993 in the 1990s ethnic problem between the Kukis and the Nagas.
Meanwhile, when asked by NNN as to why they have blackened their profile pictures, a young student activist Mangcha Baite said, “As usual for several years Kukis have been observing September 13 as Kukis’ Black Day and as we feel it is our moral obligation to commemorate we’ve blackened our profile pictures in reverence to the departed souls who were killed during the early 1990s ethnic violence at the least through this social networking site and it’s very unfortunate that since the last couple of years some sections have misconceived the observance of the Kukis Black Day saying it could instill negative impression to the younger generations.”
He further said that, “There’s nothing as such, instead the day is observed as a day of prayer to the Almighty and purely in remembrance of the departed souls and a day of introspection.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/commemoration-of-kukis-black-day/

Imphal Sep 10 UNA: Plantation and export of Marijuana (Ganja) is likely to legalize in Manipur under certain guidelines considering its medicinal value. The Centre is communicating with Manipur government regarding the matter, an official source said Tuesday.
Plantation and export of Ganja is being banned in the state but nonetheless the same is being carried out illegally.
Ganja is producing in Manipur on a large scale and has a high demand in other parts of the country considering the quality of contraband item produced in the state.
The Central government considered that the quality of Ganja produced in Manipur is the best quality in India as the land and its climate is best suited for the plantation of the same.
Following a recent instruction from the Department of Science and Technology, government of India, authority of state council of scientific & industrial research (CSIR) has furnished a report the plantation and production of Ganja in the state.
The Department of Science and Technology, government of India called the report so as to look into the matter of declaring Manipur as the best suited place for plantation of best quality Ganja.
The CSIR, in its report to the Department of Science and Technology, government of India reportedly mentioned that Manipur has the most suitable soil and climate for the plantation of Ganja.
Even though the plantation of Ganja has been done in a secretive way since it is illegal, many of the farmers in state are expert in this business. The quality of Ganja produced in the state is the best compared to that produced in other states of the country.
Although Ganja plantation is done throughout the year, the same sown and reaped during the months from September to February is the best and there is high demand for it.
The trend of planting Ganja has been carried out in the state since early days. It is not only used in smoking but also used as medicines in curing swelling and various other infections, the source added.
Though it is quite certain that the Central authority would give its legal approval considering the medicinal aspects of Ganja, yet the legal authorization would be granted after a serious deliberation and taking into consideration of security measures as Ganja can also be misused.
The step has to be taken up in a like manner where plantation of poppy plants is legalized in some states of the country, the source added.
Though it is not clear as to when the legalization of Ganja in the state would be approved, yet considering the medicinal value of the plant, it is most likely that the approval from the Central government would be arriving at the earliest, the source hoped.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/centre-considering-for-legalization-of-plantation-of-ganja/