Day: July 27, 2014

IMPHAL, July 27: The double bench of Manipur High Court of Chief Justice LK Mahopatra and Justice N Kotiswar Singh disposed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and has directed the Principal secretary (Health & Family Welfare) to provide clinical investigations free of cost to the people living with HIV (PLHIV) at all ART centres in Manipur, stated CoNE president RK Nolinikanta.

He was speaking at a press conference in the office of CoNE today where he described the High Court’s directive as a huge relief for PLHIV in the State.

Many PLHIVs are living below poverty line and face hardships for undergoing the clinical investigations to initiate ART and monitor the treatment’s progress.

As per the treatment guidelines of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there are some mandatory medical investigations which need to be done for ART initiation as well as routine investigation to monitor the treatment’s effect on the patients which are absent in the State, Nolinikanta said, adding that clinical investigations which are mandatory for PLHIVs undergoing ART treatment to monitor its progress are still charged in the State unlike many other States in the county where these investigations are provided free of cost.

All these medical investigations cost between Rs 800 to Rs 900 in government hospitals whereas private hospitals charged around Rs 2500 for the same.

This is an alarming trend as no one knows about the conditions of PLHIVs who drop out from ART centres, he said, adding, “Considering the issue, CoNE has taken certain initiatives to avail free investigations to improve the accessibility and quality of ARV treatment in the State.”

Nolinikanta further stated that as of September 2013, the total number of HIV positive people in the State is 43882 whereas the number of PLHIVs registered at all ART centres till the end of August 2012 is 19629. However, the number of PLHIVs who have initiated ART treatment is 11673.

He mentioned that it is also the State’s obligation to avail these medical investigations free of cost.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/hc-directs-free-clinical-investigations-for-plhivs/

IMPHAL, July 27: Protesting the report of a New Delhi based magazine about the Al Qaida recruiting Muslim youth from the State, several Muslim organisations have sought clarification on the report.

The All Manipur Muslims Development Organisation, Pangal Students’ organisation and the All Manipur Muslim Welfare Association today jointly called a press meet at the Manipur Press Club on the issue.

Speaking to the media, advisors to AMMDO and All Manipur United Club Organisation, KT Rahman today strongly condemned the publisher of the Delhi based monthly magazine ‘First Word’ Sujit Chakraborty and sought clarification on the news report, terming it baseless and fabricated.

He said since the report was published, several organisations had surveyed and cross-checked the report and found it to be untrue.

The news has not only disturbed the peaceful atmosphere of the Muslim community in the State, especially in Lilong area, but it is also humiliating and unfortunate at the same time for the community, he asserted.

Although, the State Home minister had declared that there are no traces of the Al Qaeda in the State, the government should not remain silent on the issue, but take up actions against the publisher of the magazine, so that such baseless and unfounded reports are not repeated in the future, he said.

The government is meant to ensure peace and welfare of the public and the State and be committed to its responsibilities, he said before urging that the government need to assert that the report was published with a wrong propaganda.

AMMDO, PSO, AMMWA jointly appealed to the government to take up action in time.

The Muslim bodies have also decided to take legal action against Surjit Chakraborty, the bodies said.

He further appealed to the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit in the State at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/muslim-bodies-want-clarification-on-al-qaida-report/

IMPHAL, July 27: The Human Rights Alert (HRA) has said that the non-appearance of Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of HRA, before the Privilege Committee, wais due to an urgency to attend a meeting of the Working Group in Human Rights in India (WGHR), at New Delhi.

A press release of the HRA said that, by the time it recieved the summon letter on July 25, the executive director was already on his way to Delhi.

It said the WGHR meeting dated for July 26 was fixed months ago and by July 16, flight tickets for Babloo Loitongbam was already booked by the WGHR secretariat.

The programme executive of HRA has also stated in the press release that he had submitted a written representation to the secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly informing the inability of Babloo to attend the committee meeting and seeking a fresh date to appear in person.

He even sought a copy of the notice of breach of privilege and contempt of the House raised by Dr I Ibhalbi Singh, MLA, which was mentioned in the letter to have been enclosed but did not come through, he added in the press release.

The next date for hearing, to be fixed by the Privilege Committee, is awaited by HRA with an assurance to co-operate with the proceedings of the Committee to dig out the truth and meet the ends of justice, said the press release.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/hra-clarifies-babloo-loitongbams-non-appearance-before-privilege-committee/

IMPHAL, July 27: BJP, Manipur Pradesh today organised a public discussion on the proposed setting up of a Sport University in the State, at the Sangai hall, Imphal Hotel.

The discussion was participated by several renowned sports persons and others placed their concepts for the establishment of a world class Sports University in the State.

Delivering the key-note address, the BJP State unit general secretary administration Ashwanikumar said a long cherished dream of the party for which actions had been initiated since September, 2013 to have a Sports University in the State is about to be realised.

He continued that the Rajnath Singh who was the BJP national president had chaired a two day brainstorming seminar on the issues confronting the North East India at Guwahati.

The remedial measures for the problems of the region were brought up during the seminar, he said.

The vision document was later included in the national manifesto of the party for the recently concluded 2014 Lok Sabha poll, he continued.

It was then reflected in the first budget of the NDA government to establish a world class Sports University, he said.

Now that the dream is about to be realised, the BJP Manipur Pradesh is seeking political wisdom of the Manipur public, Ashwanikumar said.

BJP State president, Th Chaoba said the discussion aims to propose introduction of indigenous games like thang-ta, mukna in the university before the Central government.

RK Ranendrajit said what type of a university it should be.

He continued, the university should be named after a hero of the State.

He further expressed his desire to introduce educational facility in the university citing that national and international players from the State seem to have problems while interacting with the outside media due to language problem.

The proposal should be for a much better university existing anywhere else in the world in terms of equipment, infrastructure, he said.

The Central government has the political will, and now the State should have the political wisdom to make the university world class, he said.

Later, the discussion took some concrete resolution to propose to the Centre for a world class sports university and that the name should be in one of the brave heroes of the State, that a special act regarding the university should be passed in the Parliament, and that the university should be autonomous under the Ministry of Sports and Affair and not under the UGC.

The discussion had also resolved to demand that the university should not be lesser than the Beijing Sports University.

The resolutions were aimed at producing more Olympians from the State.

The day-long discussion was also attended by former Speaker H Borbabu, Ranendrajit, Loken as presidium members.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/bjp-discussion-proposes-world-class-status-for-announced-sports-university/

Imphal, July 27: Forum for Our Journey (FFOJ) has expressed its displeasure over the killing of late M Ngalangzar, former Vice Chairman of Ukhrul ADC and member of Ukhrul ADC by unidentified gunmen at Finch Corner on July 12.

The Forum expressed its displeasure over the killing of the former ADC vice-chairman decision after a meeting on July 27 unanimously resolved to do so.

The Forum further appealed the State government and especially the district administration of Ukhrul for immediate revocation of Section 144 CrPC imposed in and around Ukhrul Headquarters and withdrawal of Police Commandos and IRBs from Ukhrul district as normalcy has returned in the district.

The press released further said that the continued deployment of Police Commandos and IRBs in the town only create fear psychosis and panic among the students, men and women.

The Forum cautions that continued militarisation of Ukhrul headquarters by deploying a large number of Manipur State security forces does not help in any way in keeping the people calm and the environment normal for which the Ukhrul DC should take immediate steps to revoke Section 144 CrPC.

Prolong deployment of Police Commandos and IRBs may simply cause unprovoked incidents of unpeaceful and disturbing situation for the people as a whole.

It also urges the Government of Manipur and the people to uphold peace and tranquillity across length and breadth of the lands, FFOJ convenor Chonmi Ranleng said in a signed press statement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/cso-wants-security-forces-withdrawn-from-ukl/

IMPHAL, July 27: Five district and session judges today inspected both the Sajiwa Central Jail at Khabeisoi and the Manipur Central Jail, near the 1st Manipur Rifles campus.

During the visit, the judges met with the inmates at both the jails and asked them about their grievances.

The team fist went to the Sajiwa Central Jail around 11 am and after listening to the grievances of the inmates there, the team visited the Manipur Central jail and spoke to the women inmates there.

The team of judges are district and session judge/ Manipur East A Guneshwar, district and session judge/ Bishnupur M Manojkumar Singh, district and session judge/ Manipur West K Brajakumar, district and session judge/ Thoubal S Ingocha and district and session judge/ Senapati Gaiphunsillu Kabui.

The judges inquired the inmates about their term, and if they would like to apply for bail and who would like access to free legal aid.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/judges-inspect-state-jails/