Day: June 5, 2014

IMPHAL, June 5: State Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing today urged the officials concerned of the department of AIDS Control to devise a strategy for the inclusion of Hepatitis C treatment program in the National AIDS control program.

The Health minister was speaking at the closing function, of Northeast Conclave at the conference hall of the Classic Hotel. The three day conclave was organised by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the Department of AIDS Control.

Minister Phungzathang Tonsing said that Viral Load Testing facilities are provided in the State capital now and routine testing of People Living With HIV/AIDS is being conducted free of cost in every government health institute.

He also said everyone is aware that the HIV/AIDS situation in the State is at an alarming stage, although Manipur has a small population which accounts just 0.2 percent of the country’s total population.

Elaborating further on the subject, he said around 90 percent of the State’s population is aware of HIV/AIDS, its routes of transmission and preventive measures.

The most common mode of HIV transmission in the State is through sharing of needles among injecting drug users, which everyone is already aware of, he commented.

However, the epidemic has also penetrated into the general population through the sexual route of transmission, resulting in the increase of HIV infection among women and children, the minister expressed.

The first case of HIV infection in the State was reported in the year 1990 and till March 2014, there are 44624 HIV positive cases, of which 12693 are women and 2944 are children, he said.

The state government has been actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS by joining hands with various NGOs, he said.

He also said that the state health department and the state AIDS Control Society have been providing free treatment and taking proper care of the people living with HIV/AIDS in some government hospitals.

Several NGOs have also contributed their valuable services to the State government in these regards, he continued.

He also said that it is very unfortunate that the epidemic of HIV/AIDS is affecting the youth of the society in every nook and corner of the State and the increasing number of People Living with HIV/AIDS and those who have died due to the Hepatitis-C co Infection of HIV AIDS is alarming in Churachanpur district, he said.

Today’s closing function was also attended by joint secretary Department of AIDS Control, Government of India, KB Agarwal as the president.

UNAIDS Country Coordinator in India, Oussama Tawil, deputy director general (TI) department of AIDS control, Dr Neeraj Dhingra, CDC, Dr V Sampath Kumar were also present as the guests of honour.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/health-minister-urges-inclusion-of-hep-c-treatment-in-nacp/

IMPHAL, June 5: The drug mafia still uses the postal service system as possibly the easiest route for drug trafficking in Manipur. Imphal West District Police has seized 15,000 capsules of banned Spasmo Proxyvon (SP) from a post office delivery van at Lilong on Thursday.

According to a highly placed source, four medium sized parcel boxes containing contraband items were received at the head quarter of the Post Office in Babupara on Wednesday. The parcels were to be delivered in three places at Chandel and in a place at Pallel. The parcels were being delivered to their respective destinations when the Imphal West District Police team intercepted the parcel at Lilong.

Police sources said the parcels containing the SP capsules were seized after an intelligence input and the seized capsules were brought back to the head quarter of post office at around 1 pm.

After a thorough verification, the police found that the parcels weighing 3 kg contain SP capsules.

Police put the total number of the seized capsules to 15,000. Police sources said the parcels were sent from Chandigarh. But, according to a highly placed source the parcels were sent from Delhi at fake addresses in Chandel and Pallel.

The capsules were deposited at the Imphal Police station on Thursday.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/postal-service-still-a-safe-haven-for-drug-traffickers/

IMPHAL, June 5: The Kuki National Liberation Front, KNLF armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation, a signatory of the tripartite Suspension of Operation agreement with both the Centre and the State had never broken the SoO ground rules since signing it on September 9, 2013. No group should try to disturb the peace process of the outfit and create tension.

This was stated by KNLF general secretary Tonglenlal Haokip alias Lalmoi during a press conference somewhere in Chandel district.

He said Kuki Chiefs Association, KCA, Chandel District, Kuki Peoples’ Forum, KPF, Chandel Thadou Students’ Association/Chandel, Kuki Women for Human Rights, United Zou Organisation, UZO and other Kuki civil society organisations have been wrongly pressuring for the shifting of the KNLF’s designated camp at Khengjoy sub-division.

The development is unfortunate not only for the KNLF but for the entire Kuki society, he asserted before adding that there is an agreement against involvement of civil bodies of the Kuki Society during the signing of SoO agreement.

Lalmoi said the Kuki civil bodies are not making their own statements, but the United Kuki Liberation Front, UKLF in trying to stay alone in Chandel district had forced the leaders of the organisations to sign on the statements they had already written.

It is learnt that such acts have been deliberately carried out by leaders of UKLF including Khupmang, JM Thadou, Ngamcha, Sonminthang, Kennedy and its Joint Monitoring Group member, Jacob, he alleged.

He continued, the KNLF is a peace loving SoO signatory, however, this doesn’t mean that the unarmed 40 KNLF cadres at the Semol Designated camp have surrendered.

The cadres have been staying peacefully with the neighbouring villagers with the approval of the DGP, Manipur and IGAR (S), he said and added at present, the camp is being guarded by 26 Sector Assam Rifles and 6 Dogra regiment for which the KNLF is grateful to the DGP and IGAR (S).

Elaborating on accusations that the cadres present at the Semol designated camp are imposters, he said the cadres are all approved after verification by the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India and Intelligence Department of the government of Manipur.

Further declaring the charges as baseless and void, he said the cadres all received stipends every six months.

The Kuki Peoples’ Forum is not a civil organisation of the Kuki society, he said before alleging that it was formed by the UKLF for its own use, which is to misguide the public.

The KNLF has no faction till date, however, before its signing the SoO agreement, 13 cadres of the outfit had surrendered before the 6 Dogra Regiment along with nine arms, he said.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/uklf-forcing-csos-to-demand-knlf-camp-shifting/

Imphal, June 5: “Actors should be honest and down to earth. Through our work, our duty is to spread the message of love across the world”, said Seema Biswas, on the concluding function of the acting workshop at the Manipur Film Development Corporation auditorium, today evening.

Biswas said she has not come as a teacher to teach, but to share her experiences with the young artists. Manipur is already rich in art & culture and also in sports, there are lots of talented artistes both in the field of theatre and cinema, she said.

She is proud to belong to Northeast and when she was approached to be a mentor to the upcoming artistes of Manipur, she can’t deny it, Biswas said during the concluding function. She requested the MFDC authorities to give space for the upcoming artists so that they can groom themselves.

RK Nimai, Commissioner of Art & Cultute, Government of Manipur was the Chief Guest of the function. Speaking on the occasion, he said he cannot promise anything as his tenure in the public service is getting over in three months. But he said he will look into the needs of the young artistes.

K Sobita, Managing Director of MFDC presided over the function. While L Surjakanta, President of Film Forum, K Gunileima, President Cine Artist & Technical Association were on the dais. Altogether, 23 participants from different parts of Manipur took part in the ten day workshop.It started from May 27.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/actors-should-be-honest-and-down-to-earth-seema-biswas/

CHANDEL, June 5: In defending the voice of the people of Chandel district, members of the ADC Chandel have appealed to the State government to respect and consider the people’s voice echoing against setting up of new designated camps in the district.

While addressing the media today, Paokhosei Haokip, member of Songjang District Council Constituency said that as there is an old saying that two tigers cannot hunt their prey at the same place, there cannot be two designated camps of different underground outfits in the same area.

If two camps are setup in such close proximity, the people of the region cannot live peacefully. Instead of peace and tranquility in the region, an apprehension of fear and chaos will prevail among the people, said the ADC member.

He further said that, the region of Khengjoy sub-division witnessed many bloodshed as a result of factional killing among different underground outfits during the past few years.

But peace and normalcy returned in the region recently after underground outfits signed the tripartite agreement of Suspension of Operation with the government, he continued before adding therefore, the government should withdraw its stands for setting up a new designated camp close to the designated camp of particular outfit.

Meanwhile, Tolbung District Council Constituency member, Seikhothang Haokip said that “in a democratic state, the government should respect the voice of its people as the voice of the people is regarded as the voice of God.”

“So, government should not go ahead to set up new designated against the wishes of the common people. Rather, more developmental works should be taken up in the area instead of setting up new designated camp” he added.

The ADC Member went on to say that, setting up of more and more new designated camp will not bring us development. But it will only encourage the young unemployed youths to float more and more new under ground outfits which in turn will result in mushrooming of designated camps in the state.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/adc-members-lend-voice-to-call-against-new-designated-camps/

Imphal, June 5: As in other parts of the world, the World Environment day was also observed widely in the State.

The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) also started its yearlong ‘Environment Literacy Campaign’ on the occasion today.

As a part of the campaign a cycle rally and tree plantations were taken out at different locations.

The cycle rally was flagged off from Keishampat by RK Nimai, Commissioner Art & Culture, Govt. of Manipur along with the executive members of the DESAM. Cleanliness drive was carried out along the Nambul River with tree plantation from Keishampat Bridge area to Keishamthong area.

There was also a public meeting after the rally got culminated at Cheiraoching of Thangmeiband. A pamphlet containing vital information related to environment was distributed to the public, published by the publicity sub-committee of the campaign.

UKHRUL: In line with its global objective of creating mass awareness on protecting environment, the World Environment Day (WED) 2014 was observed amid fervent calls for an immediate end to all forms man-made destruction or exploitation of existing forest, natural resources and biodiversity of Ukhrul district here on Thursday.

The day’s program was organized by Ukhrul based Forum For Change in collaboration with DRDA, VVD and UDCRMS/IFAD at Ukhrul Town Hall.

Delivering a key note address, Aran A Chihui, convenor Forum For Change highlighted the grim prospect of impending threat to ecology of the district in the absence of any initiative to salvage the already degrading environment.

“It’s time we all stop exploiting our natural resources and wildlife for commercial purposes and personal gains for these are all for momentary benefits but bound to affect mankind for generations to come, ” he pleaded.

Living up to his credibility as the district administrator, DC Hrisheekesh Modak, IAS promptly responded with an assurance to support the conservancy initiative in every possible way.

It is a good thing that such initiative is being taken up, he said while assuring that the district administration would continue to stand by civil organizations in preserving the district’s ecology.

Expressing his being dismayed by chronic water scarcity in Ukhrul town, Modak traced the cause of the water situation to widespread practice of felling trees for firewood and timber trading among the people of the district.

In his address, Artax A Shimray, president Tangkhul Naga Long also highlighted various effects of unchecked deforestation while calling for the need to take action.

“We cannot stop global warming which is affecting the whole world but at least we can mitigate its impact by taking action to conserve our environment, ” he asserted.

Ashok Y Tipnis, member founder & promoter VVD, also spoke on the urgency of collective decision and well guided action plans on the part of the Tangkhul Nagas towards conserving their forests.

Meanwhile, in connection with the occasion, tree sapplings were by DC Hrisheekesh, Artac Shimray and Ashok Tipnis at Town hall campus and Gandhi avenue circular at Phungreitang while tree sapplings were distributed to the public.

Thereafter, DC Hrisheekesh flagged off a motorbike rally which was held as part of the observance which will continue till the weekend.

Senapati Joins Observation of World Environment Day

Tree plantation drive organised by Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) with All Private Schools Association Senapati (APSAS) under the aegis of Deputy Commissioner, Senapati was carried out today at District Headquarter as part of the observation of World Environment Day.

The programme was participated by D.C, S.P, President of NPO, SDWA, SDOAM, SDKAWA.SDPAM, SDCC, Students’ bodies of various communities, teachers, students, social activists and nature lovers who planted over 300 tree saplings along the roadside from mini secretariat to Mini Stadium.

BISHNUPUR: A marathon for differently abled persons was held at, Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur District on June 5 to mark the day.

The marathon was jointly organised by the Chanura Women Welfare Association, Ningthoukhong, Red Shield Division 5th Battalion of the 9th Gurkha Rifles, NHPC Loktak Power Station Kom Keirap. The race started from Phubala playground and finished at Ningthoukhong Community Hall and was participated by a total of 385 differently abled people.

A formal function was held at the hall and cash prizes were presented to the winners who were divided into 6 different categories.

The prize distribution function was attended by Govindas Konthoujam-minister of Veterinary and animal Husbandry as chief guest, Colonel JBS Rathi as guest of honour and Chanura Association president-RK Noyon Devi as president were present.

In relation to the program, Govindas Konthoujam had stated that the rise of temperature and climate change in the atmosphere is due to deforestation. Scarcity of water is also due to deforestation said the minister.

He further stated that the only solution to control the drastic changes in the atmosphere is to plant more trees.

In another related issue, Laimanai (Thingpui) village of Churachandpur district has demonstrated a rally to stop poaching of wild animals and birds as part of World Environment Day.

The rally was organised by Department of Forest-Wild Life Wing, Government of Manipur, Indian Bird Conservarion Network (IBCN) Manipur, Pole Star Guardian’s Assocaition (POSGAT) Thinungei, Centre for Conservation of Nature and Cultivation of Science and was attended by L. Joykumar, IFS DCF, Park and Sanctuary, Government of Manipur, Dh. Gachung-Headman of the village, RK. Birjit, State Secretary of POSGAT and P.Gaigangpou Khunpu of the village as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

P Gaigangpou Khunpu and Dh. Gachung-Headman of the village have taken an oath to stop the killing and torture of wild animals and bird.

The day was also observed at the Langol Shabi, Loktak Lake organised by the ALLAFHUM under the slogan “We have a solution, stop pollution.”

The program was attended by Phunindro Konsam, Committee of Human Rights, N Churamani of HERICOUN, ALLAFUM Women wing secretary S Leinungshi.

Speaking at the function, IFP correspondent Dr Romenkumar representing the People Resource Development Association said the pollution of Loktak Lake is not because of the fishers, but because of the polluted rivers flowing into it especially Nambol River.

Post the construction of Ithai Barrage, indigenous local fish varieties have disappeared from the lake along with certain edible vegetation, he continued.

In order to make the lake self-sustainable, we need to check overfishing of fishlings from the lake, he said.

AR observes day in Jiribam

JIRIBAM: The World Environment Day was observed at Jiribam organised by the 27th Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 22 Sector in collaboration with the Child Welfare Ashram, Jiribam at the Auditorium Hall of Jiribam Higher Secondary School.

As part of the World Environment Day observation, an essay competition was held under the theme of “Co- existence with nature” for the students of class IX- XII, in the essay competition more than hundred students took part in it.

Following the observance of World Environment Day a painting competition was also held for the students of class I – VIII on two categories basis on the theme of “Save Environment for brighter tomorrow, where more than 50 students took part.

Tree saplings were also planted at the campus of Jiribam Higher Secondary School.

The function attended by H Romesh Singh, CO, 27th Assam Rifles, Kadamtala; L Ranjit Singh, Principal Jiribam Higher Secondary School and H Anita Devi as a chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

H Romesh Singh delivered a message to the young generation to promote awareness on the importance of preserving the bio- diversity.

Prizes were awarded to the winners of the essay and painting competitions.

Meanwhile the Centre for Guidance on Higher Studies (CGHS), Jiribam branch also observed the World Environment Day in collaboration with Bio- diversity Environment Ecology Network (BEE- NET), Manipur, today at Kasturba Girls’ High School.

As part of the observation, more than 100 students took part in a social work and planting of saplings inside the campus of Kasturba Girls’ High School as a part of awareness campaign for the importance of bio- diversity.

The 27 Assam Rifles along with the Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) also organised the day at New Kaiphundai, Tamenglong district and Khengbor, Ccpur district.

Both the villages have been chosen to make them ‘Model Green Village’ in the near future.

Projects like ‘Mini Hydel Project’, ‘Biomass Gas’, ‘Eco Tourism’ etc will be implemented in these two villages in near future.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/world-environment-day-observed-throughout-state/