Month: September 2014

IMPHAL, September 24: The State government is ready for any eventuality of natural calamity like flood, storm, etc, assured chief secretary Lawmkunga today.

Speaking to the media after announcing the National Sanitation Campaign action plan today, he said the State has also received instructions from the Centre to be ready for any natural calamity.

He said in all 35 personnel from the police department have been identified as State Disaster Response Force.

These 35 personnel will be supported by the State police force, IRB, Fire Service etc during any emergency eventuality, he assured.

Meanwhile, on being asked about the National Highway 37, he chief secretary expressed that developmental work along the important highway is still underway and about 84 km of the highway has already been blacktopped by the BRO.

However, some portions of the highway like at Sibilong, Nungbalan, etc are still in the worse conditions, he added.

He said the people seemed to be dissatisfied with the work of the BRO, however, when asked, the BRO has submitted road pictures of only the good portions to the government, he lamented.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/government-ready-to-meet-any-eventuality-of-natural-calamity-lawmkunga/

NEW DELHI, September (MIC) 24: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Textiles Santosh Gangwar discussed the provisions of the proposed New Textile Policy such as introducing flexible labour laws and setting up integrated textile parks with States in the Annual Conference of State Textiles Ministers on Wednesday at Scope Complex, Lodhi Road here.

Participating at the conference, Govindas Konthoujam, Minister of Sericulture, Commerce and Industries, Manipur introduced a brief account of the status of handloom industry in Manipur.

Referring to the opportunities so far given by Govt. of India to Manipur; he stated that the Ministry of Textiles extended the State the opportunity to implement various Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the Development Commissioner for Handlooms and Handicraft, Power loom and Sericulture directly.

Presently, the State was implementing handloom cluster development project, catalytic development project and Manipur Sericulture Project phase-II, handicrafts clusters and Guru Award among others Coming to the sericulture, Govindas said,

“Manipur is also a unique State in the country where four varieties of silk namely, Tasar, Mulberry, Eri and Muga are grown. With this potential, Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) funded Manipur Sericulture Project-I during 1998-2008 for infrastructure development.”

He proposed to Ministry to consider Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-II for covering tribal community of five hill districts of the State to make an equal growth in all areas.

Govindas proposed to introduce Mega Handloom Cluster as a National Scheme in the States where minimum weavers is more than 1.00 lakh as the eligibility criteria.

For setting up of a Textile Park under the North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS); Govindas pointed out that the Ministry had Integrated Textile Park where there were certain minimum criteria which the North Eastern States like Manipur had limitation to fulfill the criteria laid down in the guidelines.

He proposed to include the Textile Park in NERTPS to cater all sectors of power loom, handloom, handicrafts, garmenting, value addition units, finishing and packaging units.

In regards to the implementation of Handloom Schemes by State government, Govindas stated that most of the Handicrafts Schemes under the Central Plan Scheme did not require the State share in the implementation.

He proposed to the Union government to allow the State government to implement the handloom schemes of DC (Handlooms) in the similar manner.Manipur Minister of Commerce and Industry also proposed to introduce online submission of project proposal for speedy and accuracy in all the schemes of the Ministry. He hoped that the Union Minister of Textiles would be taking serious view for promotion and development of handlooms, handicrafts and sericulture in the North Eastern Region, in particular and the country, in general. He expected that the textile sector would flourish further in the near future to meet both ends of consumption and economic development under able leadership of the Union Minister for Textiles Santosh Gangwar.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/govindas-proposes-textiles-park-under-nertps-during-annual-conference-of-textile-ministers/

IMPHAL, September 24: In order to check and control pollution and unwarranted disposition of garbage by the public in public places in the State, PHED minister I Hemochandra will be inaugurating the National Sanitation campaign under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the State on September 25.

The campaign will continue till October 23.

Announcing the action plan of the campaign, State chief secretary PC Lawmkunga called a press conference at his Old Secretariat office today.

He said the State cabinet had also approved an amendment of the Municipal by-laws by which littering in the city area will be fined a sum of Rs 20,000.

According to the chief secretary, both the MAHUD and the municipal council have both failed to check the rising unhygienic behaviours of the public which is polluting the city.

Considering this fact, the decision was taken to launch the campaign on September 25, he said.

While the National Sanitation Campaign will be launched by the minister at the State level, the concerned DCs will launch the campaign in their respective districts with rallies, he said.

Awareness campaign through Audio Visual (AV) Van-Tableau and hoardings will be conducted at every district headquarter and the State capital throughout the conduct of the National Sanitation Campaign, he elaborated.

From September 26 to 30, cleanliness and IEC campaigns will be conducted in all government offices, gram panchayats, urban local bodies, Public Health Centres, Police Stations and School etc, for which the detailed programme will be prepared by all HODs including Dir/ RD & PR, Dir/ MAHUD, Dir/ Health, SPs, Dir/ Schools whereas the DCs will prepare for the district as a whole, he continued.

Lawmkunga also stressed that on October 2, the Swachhta Shapath will be administered to all employees in government offices, gram panchayats, urban local bodies, public health centres, police stations and schools.

A district-level painting competitions and street plays in all districts and a State-level painting competition will also be conducted on October 7 through the Rotary and Lion Clubs on October 7, while on October 15 the State will observe the World Hand Washing Day and Street plays.

The campaign will conclude with a prize distribution and closing ceremony on October 23, he said.

The chief secretary said a high level official meeting of at 3:30pm at the Old Secretariat conference hall attended by State officials both civil and police to chalk out the action plan.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/littering-in-imphal-made-liable-to-rs-20000-fine/

IMPHAL, September 24: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System had met the state government and the All political parties committee on ILPS on separate occasions on September 19 and 22 respectively, said a press release of the JCILPS.

Clarifying on a reported stalemate after the September 22 meeting between JCILPS and the All-political parties committee on the ILP, it clarified that there was no hostility after the first talk with the government and talks will continued.

It said however, the JCILPS had said after the September 22 talk that since the JCILPS has already submitted its views and suggestions to the All political parties committee on ILP, there was no need for talks for the time being.

It elaborated the JCILPS has been demanding the State government to implement the ILPS in the State to safeguard the interest of the indigenous peoples.

Considering the mass movement demanding ILPS in the State after the JCILPS joined hands with the public, the government had formed the All political parties committee on ILP.

Understanding the peoples’ movement and after discussing the issue, the State extended a formal invitation to the JCILPS to hold political talks, it said.

Following the invitation, around 2pm of September 19, both sides met for the first time and after a thorough discussion of the issues at hand, the meeting concluded in a positive note, it said.

After the first meeting, the government formed All political parties committee had informed the JCILPS that it has invited opinions and suggestions from several academics and experts on the issue of which many have been already submitted to it, said the press statement.

Following in the first meeting, the All political parties committee on ILP invited the JCILPS to submit its views, ideas, comments before the committee on September 22 during a talk to be held at the new Assembly secretariat, it said.

The talk was chaired by chairman of the All political parties committee Gaikhangam and was attended by 15 members of the JCILPS, it continued.

During the meeting, the JCILPS informed that its comment is implementation of a law to save the indigenous people at the earliest, the JCILPS statement said.

The JCILPS had also demanded the committee to provide a copy of the opinions and suggestions of the experts to the JCILPS, however, the committee had informed that since a logical conclusion was still yet to arrive at, the opinions and suggestions are confidential, it continued.

Further according to the statement, the chairman had also informed that once a logical conclusion is arrived at the committee will submit the opinions and suggestions to the government for recommendation.

It clarified that the JCILPS asked for a copy of the opinions it had wanted the committee members to share, with it, the same transparency they share among themselves.

What it means is that a copy should be provided to the JCILPS before the opinions and suggestions are submitted to the government for recommendation, it said.

It further lauded the State Home minister Gaikhangam who is also the chairman of the all political parties committee for assuring a flying squad under a designated police officer to check the entry of non-locals.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/jcilps-clarifies-on-reported-after-talk-stalemate-with-all-political-parties-committee/

IMPHAL, September 24: The XIX Manipur University Inter-College Literary Meet 2014 recitation and song competition under the theme “Nationalism ad Patriotism” commenced from today.

The competition will conclude on September 25.

The competition is being held at the Centenary Hall, Manipur University with students from various colleges participating.

Speaking at the function All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) president Wangkhemcha Shamjai said every citizen must have a sense of nationalism and patriotism and help in nation building, however this sense of nationalism seem to be lacking in today’s youth, he said.

The youth also lacks proper knowledge about the martyrs of the land, Shamjai said before stressing that such lack of awareness and knowledge is all due to their school syllabus.

The present school syllabus has totally neglected lessons on the martyrs, he said.

The AMWJU president also said that instead of demanding pieces of land from the State, the people should be more concern to develop the State and make it stronger.

Dean Students Welfare of Manipur University, Prof RK Hemakumar Singh said in such competitions, the participants sould not only focus on winning the prize but also try to learn the importance of nationalism and patriotism.

Joint Students’ Coordinating Committee (JSCC) convenor Th Premananda also attended the meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/encourage-a-sense-of-nationalism-amwju-president-tells-students/

IMPHAL, September 24: The Manipur People’s Party has today announced Mayengbam Amutombi as the party’s potential candidate for the Hiyanglam by-poll scheduled for October 17.

Party president N Sovakiran today handed over nomination papers to the party candidate.

Sovakiran said the party’s strategy for the by-poll will revolve around patriotism.

Citing that the Congress faced a severe defeat at the Centre after a marathon rule there, he said it will soon be the regional parties that will come to power.

The present party in power will also soon fall, he continued while elaborating that people in southern and northern parts of the country are supporting the regional parties.

He urged the people of Hiyanglam to stop believing in the national parties and instead vote for the party.

Lets’ start a new era of regionalism from the Hiyanglam by-election, he called upon the people.

The selected candidate Mayengbam Amuthoi said he wouls file his nomination on September 26.

He said Hiyanglam constituency is still one of the most backward and remote constituency.

The centre sponsored schemes are yet to reach the constituency, he claimed before adding that this is because of lack of a good political leader in the constituency.

The only Primary Health Centre is yet to be made night and day, he said.

Many a fish farmers and others continue to die because of snake bites because of lack of antidote at the health centres, he added.

As the area is one of the most insurgency prone areas, the people are often victimised by the forces, he said.

Although the constituency has abundance of nature’s gift, none has tapped the resources, he said and added the two lakes of Pumlen and Khoidum could be used to attract tourist.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/mpp-joins-hiyanglam-bypoll-fight-announces-candidate/

CHANDEL, Sept 24: Under the theme of ‘Nutritious food is basic for Nation building’ CDPO ICDS Project Chandel conducted the 33rd National Nutrition week at the conference hall of the district mini secretariat here in Chandel today.

The function attended by around 250 people including supervisors, anganwadi workers and helpers was also attended by deputy commissioner Robert Singh Kshetrimayum as the chief guest.

ADC, Chandel Nl Kashung and DPO Th Mangijao Devi also attended the function as the guest of honour and functional president respectively.

Neilenthang Kom, an IAS probationary officer was also present as an important dignitary person on dais.

Speaking on the occasion, Robert Singh said that ignoring children would mean ignoring the future of the nation.

Maintaining that children are the pillars of the future, he said nutritious food is highly required for mental development of children.

Elaborating on the role and contribution played by the CDPO, ICDS Project, the DC expressed optimism that the department could play bigger roles in making the children of the district healthier, brainy and intelligent.

In this regard, the DC suggested the department to come out with an action Plan for reaching out to children of the far flung and remote areas in the district.

ADC of CDL NL Kashung and Th Mangijaobi Devi also spoke on the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/national-nutrition-week-observed-at-chandel/

LAMKA, September 24: The three day Public Information Campaign on centrally sponsored schemes and policies was inaugurated today by Lok Sabha MP from the State Thangso Baite at the B Vengnuam Community Hall, Tuibuang, Lamka Churachandpur.

Altogether 12 departments have opened their stalls to display pamphlets, information brochures and information of the schemes implemented under the departments.

The MP also inspected the stalls after inaugurating the stalls.

He said the Centre has provided many schemes and policies through the State governments for the benefits of the public.

Now the people should understand their role to make these schemes and policies successful, he said.

He further dwelt on length of the media’s role in creating awareness on the schemes.

The MGNREGS which was implemented by the UPA is a successful scheme especially in the backward places, he observed.

Lauding the PIB for organising such a campaign, he said these schemes can succeed only if there is awareness amongst the public.

It is also needed to ensure that such schemes and policies reach the intended beneficiaries, he continued.

Additional DC Maniram Sharma also spoke on the importance of co-ordination between the officials concerned and the public for the schemes to be successfully implemented.

Discussion and sharing of information between the officials and public is also necessary, he continued.

He said the media and the educated should take leading roles in creating awareness of the schemes.

Later in the day a technical session was also held led by resource persons Tinliankham SO ,PHED CCpur, Umarani, DSWO, CCpur and L Swamikanta Singh, director of CCDU, Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/awareness-campaign-on-centrally-sponsored-schemes-inaugurated-at-ccpur/

IMPHAL, September 28: The United Committee Manipur, UCM today led a host of civil society organisations of the State to offer tribute to the martyrs of the Great June Uprising at Kekrupat Memorial Complex on the occasion of last day of the Langban Heitha Leithaba (tarpon).

Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the observation, UCM president Y Nabachandra said paying obeisance to the departed souls during Langban Heitha leithaba (Tarpon) has been a religious ritual of the Manipuri society since long.

We offer tribute to the departed souls of the 18 martyrs to commemorate their supreme sacrifices for the cause of the territorial integrity of the State, he continued.

Recently a delegation of the NSCN (IM) had arrived at New Delhi and is planning to bring about a solution to the 17 years long unresolved peace talk between the government of India and the outfit, he said.

UCM also expects a positive outcome of the peace talk and is still longing for an amicable solution to the prolonged Naga issue, he continued.

Nevertheless, UCM will fight with all its strength if the proposed talks concludes with the disintegration of the territorial boundary of the State which has been safeguarded for long by the forefathers, Nabachandra continued.

Stating that the UCM has been rejecting the idea of bringing solution to Indo-Naga problem by disintegrating the territorial boundary of Manipur, he said that 18 martyrs had sacrificed their lives on June 18, 2001 for the cause of territorial integrity when the then BJP led NDA government in the centre and NSCN (IM) signed the Bangkok declaration extending cease fire in Manipur.

The BJP led NDA has once again come to power now and is all set to bring about a solution to the Naga issue through talks with NSCN (IM). However, the proposed talk between the GOI and IM should not manage to repeat the 18 June incident, he said.

Regarding ILPS issue, the UCM president, while lauding the step of the State government to bring a solution to the issue through peaceful talk with the agitating ILP activists, he said that implementation of ILP system is a must to protect the minority indigenous people from extinction due to uncontrolled influx of foreigners and non-locals.

ILP doesn’t mean to prevent the entry and stay of the non-locals forever, but to allow their entry under a systematic rule. Government should frame a suitable regulation/rule to check the influx of migrants without further delay, he demanded.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/ucm-reiterates-stand-on-territorial-boundary-ahead-of-goinscn-im-talk/