Month: October 2013

IMPHAL, Oct 1 NNN : The detention of Irom Sharmila Chanu, , for close to thirteen years for her prolonged hunger strike is a continuing reminder of India’s intolerance to dissent, Amnesty International India said today.
Raghu Menon, Networks and Advocacy Coordinator of Amnesty International in India said, “Irom Sharmila is a Prisoner of Conscience, who is being held solely for her peaceful expression of her beliefs,” said Shashikumar Velath, Programmes Director of Amnesty International India. “Authorities must drop all charges against her, and release her immediately and unconditionally.”
Irom Sharmila has been on an indefinite fast since 2 November 2000, demanding the lifting of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA).
She was arrested by the Manipur police shortly after she began her hunger strike and charged with attempting to commit suicide – a criminal offence under Indian law. In March 2013, a Delhi court also charged Sharmila with attempting to commit suicide in October 2006, when she staged a protest in Delhi for two days.
Irom Sharmila has never been convicted of attempting to commit suicide. However, as the offence is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year only, she has been regularly released after completing a year in judicial custody, only to be re-arrested shortly after as she continues her fast, the Amnesty International said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/india-intolerant-to-dissent-ai/

Imphal, Mar 1 MNS/NNN: The health minister Phungzathang Tonsing said, the government is trying to improve the health sector. The govt. has taken up works to set up a blood bank each in Senapati and Moreh.
He was speaking as chief guest at the national voluntary blood donation day at DM College multipurpose hall today. Blood is most important in the life of human being. Govt. is trying to supply more blood. Blood banks have already been set up at RIMS, JNIMS and Churachandpur district hospital.
Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) and State Blood Transfusion Council jointly observed the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day today at Multipurpose Hall, D. M College campus here under theme “Voluntary blood donation will cost you nothing but it will save a life”.
Speaking on the occasion, Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing highlighted that like many other countries developed in medical science, Manipur too is growing rapidly in the field with the introduction of highly advanced machines and technology for medical treatment. Mentioning of three blood banks existing at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and one at Churachandpur District Hospital, the minister declared that three more blood banks will be set up, one each at Senapati, Thoubal and Moreh districts. The minister appealed the need of people between age group 18-65 years to donate blood in order for the blood banks to survive.
Dr Suhel Akhtar encouraged that people between the age group of 18-65 years who are free of disease and who have the weight of 45 kg and above should donate blood every three months as blood is precious and humans cannot invent blood even in this advanced technology. He also added that more awareness camps are needed to give knowledge of voluntary blood donation.
The club 25 inter Manipur organized a cycle rally in Imphal in connection with the national blood donation on the theme to promote young blood donors.
The rally was flagged off by RK Nimai, commissioner, art and culture from Kangla gate. The rallyists passed through B.T road, Uripok, Naoremthong, Tera, Kwakteithel, Keishamthong, Yaiskul and later assembled at Kangla.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/more-blood-banks-to-be-opened/

Imphal, Oct 1 MNS/NNN: The social welfare minister AK Mirabai said it is inhumane to treat senior citizens badly. Atrocities on olders have been reported in this state. To reduce such incidents, it is necessary among us to make aware of the same.
The minister was speaking at the international olders day at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Sanglen today.
The govt. by taking up various schemes is trying the make senior citizens live happily. Every district has opened tribunal which will extend compensation to those older who were driven out from their respective houses. Altogether 16 old age homes have been set up in nine districts.
Mirabai said the state Government has recently initiated a policy to set up tribunals for elderly people in all the districts so that all these people, who have been forced out from their homes by their own children, can get suitable compensation through these proposed courts.
Mirabai said the Social Welfare Department has so far given pension to 72, 514 aged persons in the state under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme and another 45, 905 persons have availed pension under the state’s own similar scheme.
Admitting that elderly people are facing increasing harassment and maltreatment from their own children in the state, Mirabai said this type of ill-treatment and spite meted out to their own old parents is nothing but cruelty.
The minister was speaking on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons 2013 observed at Iboyaima Shumang Lila Shanglen, Palace Compound here. This year’s edition of the observation was held on the theme “The Future We Want; What Older Persons are Saying.”
She also called for a joint effort of the Government and the public to mitigate cases of elderly people in the state who have been victimised by their own children.
Informing that the Social Welfare Department has been taking up various schemes to take care of older people, Mirabai said the department has initiated a latest policy to establish tribunals in every district to deal with their cases so that they can get proper compensation.
She further informed a total of 16 Old Age Homes have been kept open by the Government in the all the nine districts of the state to nurture older people.
Many older persons from different parts of the state were honoured by presenting shawls on the occasion. Md Fajur Rahim, chairman, WAKF Board, Manipur, Yaiskul constituency MLA E Chand, Social Welfare Director L Ibobi, Manipur Women Commission chairperson Dr L Ibetombi, Manipur State Protection of Child Rights chairperson A Nabachandra were also present on the occasion.
Md. Fazrool Rahman, L. Ibobi, director, social welfare, Dr. M. Ibetombi, chairperson, MSWC and Nabachandra of Manipur state protection for child rights were the presidium members.
The day organized by Senior Citizen for society was also observed at Shija Hospital Langol.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/love-the-senior-citizens-mirabai/