Day: June 20, 2014

IMPHAL, June 20: A large number of womenfolk from Khongjom today forced Interstate bus ticket counters to close shop in connection with the alleged kidnapping of driver Thokchom Ingobi by suspected KCP MC (Langamba Khuman).

The counters had remained opened even after the All Manipur Night Super Drivers Welfare Association, Manipur had suspended all services demanding the safe release of the kidnapped driver since yesterday.

Thokchom Ingobi 45 of Khongjom Mamang Leikai, a driver of Zet travel was allegedly abducted during the intervening night of June 13 and 14 from a hotel at Jakhlabanda by suspected KCP MC (Langamba Khuman).

Speaking to the media at the protest site, Ingobi’s wife, Ranjana appealed to all concerned for her husband’s safe release and said that he was the only bead earner for her family.

She pleaded that her family was facing utmost difficulties and hardships in his absence.

A day after Ingobi was kidnapped, his phone has remained in switch off mode till date, she lamented.

Around 10am today, a large number of womenfolk from Khongjom led by the Khongjom Circle meira Paibi Forum came in two buses to the North AOC booking counters and forced the counters to close.

They later staged a sit in protest in front of the booking counters.

A meira paibi protestor told the media that they had come to Imphal along with family members and kin of the kidnapped driver on learning that certain bus counters are still open and plying along the Imphal Dimapur and Imphal Guwahati routes.

She said after closing the counters, some of them had gone to Sekmai in a bid to stop the interstate vehicles that had already left for their destinations.

The drivers are not the owners and they are only providing their services without any hesitation and fear day and night to feed their family, she observed.

Meanwhile, according to sources, some Tata Wingers continue to ply along the highway despite the agitation.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/women-force-interstate-bus-counters-to-close/

IMPHAL, June 20: Family members today claimed the bodies of the seven labourers of the Border Road Transport Force who were killed when the vehicle carrying 25 other labourers alongwith the seven fell down a deep gorge yesterday evening around 5 along the National Highway 37.

Five died on the spot while two others succumbed on the way to a hospital in Imphal. The unfortunate mishap occurred in between Irang Toubam and Khongsang Sagrung Village.

The vehicle lost control due to dilapidated condition of the highway which was made worse by the heavy downpour.

Post mortem was conducted today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences morgue.

The family members were accompanied by BRTF officials at the hospital.

The dead labourers have been identified as Dailakliu Kamei, wife of Meiripou Kamei of Rangkhong Village part III, Apeina Golmei, 27, wife of Pautilung Golmei of Rengpang Village Nungba sub division, Thangong Pou Rongmei, 28, son of Pousinglung Rongmei of Khongsang Village, Thunakulung Phaomei, 34, son of Pousinglung Rongmei of Khongsang Village, Gabriel Tete, 36, son of Jonus Tete of Lowakera village Gumila district Jharkhand, Meinganpheng Kamei, 33, son of Abon Kamei of Rengpang Village and Khongam Gangmei, 32, son of Dintalek of Rengpang Village.

Other than the seven dead, 15 others were injured and are admitted at various hospitals in the State capital, six of them stated to be in serious condition.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/families-claim-bodies-of-brtf-labourers/

UKHRUL, June 20: The growing concern over deteriorating environment and increased conflict situations has brought the relationship between the Church and the fight against social issues closer in Ukhrul district.

This was illustrated by the one day Church level consultation on social peace and environment held at TTA Conference Hall at Hamleikhong on Friday.

The underlying concept of the consultation program is that the Church being the prototype for all believers to emulate good christian behaviors and also it is where members of all hues can get together frequently, it has been chosen as a platform for championing the dual cause of peace and conservation in the district.

Jointly organised by Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS) and Ramungo Library Group Ukhrul (RLGU) in the backdrop of the continued degradation of forests and prevailing social issues including increased cases of inter village clashes, the consultation was attended by various local church leaders from different denominations like Baptist, Seventh Day Advantist and Roman Catholic.

The participating church leaders expressed grave concern over the escalating cases of inter village clashes which have claimed many precious lives in recent years while suggesting various measures to salvage the situation.

“We must first learn to follow our religious faith truthfully, then only will good sense prevail, ” said Arthur, a Baptist leader while SDA elder Ramung opined that lack of development is at the root of all social evils and is detrimental to peace.

“Everyone longs for peace but sadly our NGOs and civil societies are not doing enough for it,” lamented Elvis of DSSS, while calling upon church elders to play active roles in facilitating peace in all spheres of society.

Other participants urged all church leaders to start focusing on issues affecting society beyond the church ministry, while also suggesting promotion of love and compassion, justice, religious freedom, self reliance etc. among the populace to bring about peace.

Meanwhile, deliberating adverse effect of biodiversity degradation, Hungyohong of RLGU noted that climate change is beginning to affect the district while adding that this is evident from the recent heat wave and changing weather conditions experienced here.

“Toward preserving our forest and its ecosystem, we must stop forest burning and destruction of flora and fauna, ” he continued before adding that use of explosives in fishing should also be banned.

The church leaders expressed their consensual views on the need to get themselves involved as governing bodies of believers in minimizing the adverse effect of unwarranted damage to natural ecology of the district.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/environment-social-issues-draw-churchs-attention-in-ukhrul/

Imphal, June 20: A two-day farmers’ training programme gets underway today at the Directorate of Agriculture, Sanjenthong Imphal.

The training programme is being organised by Agricultural Technological Management Agency (ATMA) of Ukhrul District.

Speaking to IFP, Dr. Jiten Konthoujam, Project Director (ATMA) of Ukhrul District said, “around 70,000 families residing in the hills of Manipur practice shifting cultivation for their agricultural livelihood.

As a result the forests in the hills are diminishing. Though, there is a wide consensus that the practice has repercussion on the environment, there is no viable alternative suggested so far”

Dr. Jiten continued that the farmers also agree that it is not a good practice which involves intensive labour with low productivity.

He said if we are to train the farmer about sustainability, first we have to make them aware about the agricultural strategies involved in mitigating the climate change. We have to give the farmers an alternative to shifting cultivation, the alternative is Alley cropping, he added.

Highlighting on the theme of the training, ‘Agricultural Strategies towards Climate Change Mitigation in the Hilly tracts of Manipur’, Dr Jiten said conventional agricultural practices will not help in increasing food production.

The focus is on motivation and capacity building of the farmers, based on participatory approach module. It envisages exploring possible agricultural strategies towards climate change mitigations that are feasible in Manipur and Ukhrul District in particular, he said.

A.S Somi of Lungshangkong village of Ukhrul, who is one of the participants speaking to IFP said he look forward to learn practical lessons from the training programme. “The first session of the training was very useful, I am going to apply the methods as soon as I reach my village”, said Somi. Sharing his plight on water scarcity he experienced during the last few years as a farmer, he said last winter he planted 6 bags of potatoes but could harvest only 2 bags. And it is much the same for tomatoes and chilies that he had grown in his village. Production has been hard hit because of water scarcity, he said.

Around 39 farmers from Ukhrul District are participating in the two-day training. The training kicks off with an introduction by N.Biren Singh, Facilitator, ATMA Nodal Cell, Dept. of Agri, govt of Manipur. Dr. Jiten Konthoujam spoke on Alley Cropping System. Dr. RK. Dilip, Assoc. Prof of CAU spoke on ‘Sustainable Horticulture in Hilly Region’ in the concluding session of the first day.

ATMA is an institution empowered by the Ministry of Agri & Cooperation, Dept. of Agri, govt of India, Extension Division of Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. Its principle mandate is to connect the scientist with the farmers. Besides the District Agricultural Action Plan (DAAP), ATMA is entitled to handle fund flow and look after the works related to National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) schemes operational in the District.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/sustainable-agriculture-not-feasible-without-climate-change-mitigation-strategies/

IMPHAL, June 20: The ongoing tit-for-tat row in the State Trinamool Congress has only worsened with supporters of the different leaders joining in.

While, the Thangmeiband Block Trinamool Congress Committee announced that it is seeking Joykishan’s disqualification from the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Thangmeiband Trinamool Congress Mahila Committee was quick to retort that it was taken up at the behest of rival president, Th Shyamkumar.

The mahila committee publicity secretary claimed today that Andro MLA Thounoujam Shyamkumar had been begging for help from the Thangmeiband Block Congress Committee just to strengthen his position.

She was speaking at a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today.

Earlier in the day, general secretary of the Thangmeiband Block Trinamool Congress Committee Waikhom Nganglentombi had claimed that the committee has made a written submission to the Speaker seeking disqualification of MLA Khumukcham Joykishan from being a Member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly under paragraph/provision 2(1) (a) of the tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Speaking to the media during a press conference at the party’s Moirangkhom office, he had said that Khumukcham Joykishan was elected from the Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency with an All India Trinamool Congress ticket.

Today’s press conference was called to announce newly elected State executive members of the party and their posts at the party office at Moirangkhom.

Nganglentombi said Joykishan was elected on the hope that he would work for the interest of the public and the party. However, in total contrast to the belief, he had recently announced for his own benefit that he was not related to the All India Trinamool Congress which is an act of betraying the workers of the constituency’s party workers, he charged.

He said Joykishan has amended the party’s constitution without any authority in a whimsical manner challenging the party.

Joykishan’s act as published in the local dailies over the past few weeks are anti-party, he alleged before continuing that AITC general secretary Mukul Roy had appointed Th Shyamkumar as the party president on June 2, 2014.

Citing that Joykishan’s act is a clear violation of the party and the duly appointed party president, Nganglentombi said Joykishan’s act amounts to defection from his original party.

This new party is not subordinate or under the umbrella of AITC, he said.

During today’s meeting, Shyamkumar appointed Th Bishwanath Singh as Youth Front Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee president, S Dollendro Singh as vice-president, Oinam Romen Singh and M Merachandra Sharma as general secretaries.

While, N Promodini was elected as the president of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Mahila Congress Committee and Ksh Babita as the vice-president respectively.

Shyamkumar said that today 15 active new members of Trinamool have newly enrolled from the primary members. Recently, Trinamool Congress has extended block Trinamool congress committee at Thangmeiband A/C, and there will be more block committee, he said.

On the other hand, the mahila committee of the same block called a press conference claiming that Th Shyamkumar trying to show his strength has only presented Thangmeiband Block Congress Committee workers including a cousin of Congress candidate Waikhom Jotin.

Publicity Secretary Sundary Loitongbam, declared that the Thangmeiband Trinamool Congress Committee still exists under the leadership of Khumukcham Joykishan.

“The three new members enrolled by Th Shyamkumar without informing the Thangmeiband committee are all fakes and active Congress Workers, which is very unfortunate,” she alleged.

W Nganglentomba is the brother of W Jotin, while Somorjit Senjam is Jotin’s personnel bodyguard, she claimed while declaring that Shyamkumar has created much confusion among the people of the constituency.

The members who have been enrolled as executive members by Shyamkumar including Ng Ibouyaima, L Gopal and Sarungbam Rajen are unaware of the development, Sundari continued while asserting that the Andro MLA was expelled from the MPP after he was found campaigning for the Congress candidate instead of the party’s.

Sarungbam Rajen who claimed he is one of those enrolled by Shyamkumar claimed that he was surprise to learn that he had been enrolled to the party this morning.

He further sought clarification in this regard within three days, and threatened to file a case against Shyamkumar and his party otherwise.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/ongoing-trinamool-turmoil-gets-murkier/