Day: December 26, 2014

LAMKA, Dec 26: An eight-member executive team of the United Club Manipur (UCM) led by its president Y Nabachandra and accompanied by media persons had visited and provided aid to the Neihsial Veng villagers on the occasion of X-Mass celebration and handed out gift to the Village people particularly the elders.

Speaking to this IFP correspondent, general secretary UCM Joy Chanda said the organisation visits villages in the interior parts of the State on Christmas every year and provide aid to the villagers.

This year, the organisation decided to visit neihsial Veng which lies on the outskirt of Lamka town on the banks of Tuitha River, he said.

The UCM team gave 10 blankets to 10 elderly women of the village who were above the age of 70 years.

The team also provided 10 kgs of sugar, 10 kgs of salt, a 500 litre water tank.

Speaking on the occasion, the president of the UCM said it is of utmost importance for the larger tribes to care for the smaller ones.

He said co-existence of the different tribes in the State irrespective of their size or population is a must which is also the aim and objective of the UCM.

He further dwelt on the importance of peaceful co-existence among the different communities of the State and that the UCM will always make efforts to facilitate the unity and peaceful co-existence in the State.

It may be recalled that a team of the UCM had visited the village during its silver jubilee celebration earlier this year.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/ucm-provides-xmass-gift-to-ccpur-village/

IMPHAL, December 26: The Centre has already extended the deadline for the States to implement the National Food Security Act in a few months, however, the State could face severe financial difficulties in implementing the Act Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told media persons during an inspection of the Sangaiprou FCI godown today.

Replying to media queries, he said the Act could be anytime implemented in the State now considering the Centre`™s directive to all States, however, it would be next to impossible to implement the Act in the State without any Central assistance, as the State is reeling under financial contraints at the moment and as the State has no independent economic resources.

Under the NSFA, the Below Poverty Line households will get rice at Rs 3 per kg instead of Rs 8 per kg and as such the government has to bear a loss of Rs 5 per kg, he said adding that the State government is in no position to do so unless the Centre provide some subsidy.

Some States have already begun implementing the Act, however, Manipur is among those States which are unable to implement the Act on their own, the Chief Minister said.

He said over and above the price of the item, the government will have to spend more to transport the supplies to the district head-quarters.

The FCI is responsible for the transportation of goods upto the district head-quarters whereas the State has to bear the charges for transportation to the sub-divisional head-quarters, he continued.

While, some districts like Senapati and Ukhrul have their own godowns, others like Imphal East, Bishnupur, Tamenglong and Chandel are awaiting approval for the construction of godowns although the sites have been already identified, Ibobi said.

He continued that his visit was to identify more sites for godowns as the existing godowns are not equipped to store the State`™s required capacity.

His government, Ibobi said, is planning to construct another 5000 MT capacity godown adjacent to the FCI godown, Sangaiprou.

Meanwhile, the concerned minister Moirangthem Okendro said the government is trying to import 50000 MT of rice from Myanmar, and contractors have already been selected through tenders and the transportation of the rice was set to start from December 20, however, it has been deferred till the early part of January 2015.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/cm-unsure-of-states-financial-capacity-to-implement-national-food-security-act/

IMPHAL, December 26: The All Manipur Newspapers Sales`™ & Distributors`™ Association, AMNSDA observed its 30th foundation day at the Community Hall of Youth Welfare Club, Kakwa Ningomthong Sairom Leirak today.

Delivering the chief guest speech during the observation, Thongam Biswajit Singh, MLA of Thongju said that newspapers distributors have equal responsibility like any other profession in shaping a society.

It is impossible for a society to move forward without collective effort from all sections of the people, he said.

Biswajit pointed out that Manipur cannot remain unaffected by the rapid change the world is going through. Unity and discipline are very much needed in the present Manipuri society, he said. He lamented that sense of discipline among the people has been degenerating day by day, which is evident even within a family.

Taking note of the immediate grievances put forwarded by one of the representatives of the association earlier during the function, the MLA assured that he will personally look into the matter. He exuded confidence that members of the association can avail the PDS items by approaching the authority concerned.

Konsam Ibotomba Singh, president of AMNSDA stressed that newspaper firms and newspaper distributors are like the two faces of a same coin. `The growth of a firm depends on the hawkers, and the same is true for the hawkers`, he said. He asserted that one should work with dignity. `We should be aware that we are not working just to earn money; no doubt that earning is important. But we must also remember that our job is entrusted with big social responsibility`, he said.

Senior members of the association who have worked for a long time were honoured during the function, along with two women members namely Sharmilla and Somolata. Gifts were offered to representatives of newspaper houses as token of love by AMNSDA.

The observation was also attended by Ng Kishan, Bashikhong Zilla Parishad, Y Thoibi, Thongju part -I, GP Pradhan, N Chingkhei, Thongju part `“ II, GP Pradhan and L Sunil, Torban Kshetri Leikai, GP Pradhan along with several invitees.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/newspaper-distributors-role-highlighted-during-amnsdas-30th-foundation-day/

IMPHAL, December 26: Workers at the compound of the erstwhile Tombisana High School were left dumbfounded yesterday evening as they recovered human skulls, skeletons and other objects while digging earth for the construction of the fourth Ima Keithel.

The seven skulls and some skeletons were recovered around 2:30 pm yesterday while another skull was recovered this morning from Mantripukhri where the excavated earth from the site were dumped.

The school compound is located opposite to the Assembly Secretariat (Old Assemly Campus) just behind the Imphal Municipal Council compound and is about 100 metre far from the City Police Station.

According to a caretaker of the work implementing agency M/S Simplex Project ltd, the fourth Ima Keithel will also have similar designs as the previous three Ima Keithels.

The only difference would be the inclusion of a car parking in the ground floor of the fourth keithel, he said.

Excavation work had started since December 13, after the State PWD handed over the work to the company, he said.

He said a JCB was initially used for the excavation work, however, on December 17, the company started using a poclain machinery in order to expedite the process.

He said the earth excavated from the site were transported in trucks to the under construction New Secretariat Building at Mantripukhri. The company is also involved in the construction of the New Secretariat building.

Labourers of the company found a human skull and some skeletons while leveling the earth at the Mantripukhri site. Six more skulls were recovered from the erstwhile school campus. Another skull and some skeletons were also found this morning from the excavated earth at the Mantripukhri site, he continued.

It is also learnt that the skulls and skeletons were recovered from the earth excavated on December 24.

Meanwhile, the locations from where the skulls were recovered had been marked by erecting sticks.

Soon after getting information, addl SP (ops) Imphal West district had inspected the Mantripukhri site yesterday.

A team of the Imphal East police led by an SDPO also visited the site.

The police said they were informed about the recovery by the State Works minister who was informed by the company.

Meanwhile, the Heingang Police registered a case in this regard and deposited the recovered skulls and skeletons this afternoon around 2:45 at the JNIMS Morgue for the conduct of forensic tests.

It may be mentioned that the compound of the school was used to camp central para-military force including CRPF and the later by State Police Commandos.

Meanwhile, scholars of Anthropology department, Manipur University had inspected the skulls and skeletons recovered, but there is still no official confirmation or identification of sexes and age of the skulls and skeletons.

Meanwhile veteran politician O Joy said although the exact dates cannot be ascertained it is believed that there was a mortuary where the Mass Hotel stands now.

He said there are also stories of a powerful minister of a king living where the Speaker`™s residence stands now.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/skulls-skeletons-found-while-digging-tombisana-high-school-campus/

IMPHAL, December 26: The State government has already announced Rs 5 lakhs each for the victims of recent bomb blasts in the State capital, but continues to remain silent on the killing of Manipur Peoples`™ Party vice president (L) Manisana, observed MPP president Nongmeikapam Sovakiran today.

He was speaking at the party`™s 47th foundation day celebration held today at its office.

He said (L) Manisana was shot dead on November 13 last year following which a JAC was formed to pressure the State government.

The JAC had been demanding from both the Chief Minister and the deputy Chief Minister to provide compensation to the bereaved family of the leader, however, there has been no positive step taken up by the government, he asserted.

However, whenever a non-local or a migrant worker dies, the State government is ready to announce compensation he said questioning the government as to whether the lives of the non-locals are more valuable than the lives of the locals.

The MPP is suspicious of whether the government gets percentage cuts from such compensation money he said adding that although the number of victims killed in bomb blasts is quite high, neither the NIA nor the CBI are able to find the culprits till date.

This is because of negligence on the part of the government to take appropriate action, Sovakiran continued.

The deputy Chief Minister had earlier during an Assembly session had announced that Manisana`™s killers have been arrested and even mentioned the name of the involved group, however, the question is whether the government has taken appropriate actions in the case or not, he said.

The MPP president also continued that the party will go to the court seeking compensation to the family.

He said the MPP was founded this same day in 1968 and is one of the most influential regional parties in India.

Although there are several national parties present in Manipur none of them are working for the benefit of the State.

He said that the MPP was founded on this same day in 1968 and it is the 3rd most influential regional party in India. He also said that even though there are innumerable national parties in Manipur, none of them are working for the interests of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/mpp-chief-charges-govt-of-neglecting-manisana-killing-case/

By Dnbir

IMPHAL, December 26: Tuberculosis patients in the State are unable to undergo the Mantoux Test at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences due to wrongful administration and conduct of the hospital authorities.

This comes as a surprise as high ranking authorities of the hospital during the 43rd foundation day celebration of the institute on September 14 had claimed several achievements of the hospital and that efforts are being made to upgrade the hospital to the stage of AIIMS.

Many patients who turned up at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS of Imphal, have to returned home disappointed with the hospital authorities failing to provide Mantoux Test for Tuberculosis disease today morning.

A large number of patients have turned up following the Christmas holiday on December 25 to avail Montoux test which is available on regular days at the institution. Long queue of patients were seen at the OPD counter. Some of them who have specifically booked their tickets to avail the said test were left high and dry.

It was learnt that BCG technician who was supposed to conduct the test is on a month-long leave. Talking to IFP, some of the patients disclosed that they were also told by the hospital staff that there is no other technician who can conduct the Montoux test.

Further, efforts were made to contact the higher authorities of the institute such as the Director and the Medical Superintendent by this reporter. But no contact could be established with them as it was learnt that they were busy in a meeting over a `mark tabulation`™ work.

However, after much effort IFP was able to talk with the Director of the institution, Prof Ch Arunkumar over the phone. After briefing him about the prevailing situation regarding the unavailability of Montoux test facility, the director passed on the phone to Prof M Amuba, who is the MS of RIMS.

According to Prof Amuba, no such case of was reported to him regarding the test. But Prof Amuba at the same time assured this reporter that he will take stock of the situation within five minutes.

It may be mentioned that no official statement regarding the incident has been made available by the RIMS authorities at the time of filing this report.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/administrative-loophole-debars-patients-of-mantoux-test-at-rims/

IMPHAL, December 26: The State government`™s failure to provide the required land for the construction of the National Sports University could result in the Centre shifting the university to another State like the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sarwananda Sharma`™s native State Assam, a high level source informed.

The establishment of the Sports University in the State was announced by the present NDA government earlier this year much to the joy of the people, however, it has been put off after the State government faced objections from certain sections especially the locals over the site selection.

The Centre had instructed the State government that the selected site should not have any dispute.

The people`™s dream of having a National Sports University in the State could be denied in case the State government fails to identify the site which meets the term set by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, the source said.

The State government had already identified the site for the proposed university at Yaithibi Loukon in Thoubal district and had already submitted its proposal to construct the university at the selected site, but the proposal faced much objection from the locals.

The government had to drop the site as possible site for the university after the objection from the locals coupled with a recent directive from the High Court of Manipur against the use of the agricultural land for the construction of the university.

The Union Minister had earlier showed a keen desire to transfer the establishment of the proposed university from Manipur to his native Assam and there is a high possibility that it would be shifted to Assam if the State fails to identify the required site within the next few months, sources said.

Acknowledging the State`™s high caliber-performance in any sports, the NDA government led by Narendra Modi had already reflected Rs 100 crore in the Union budget for the construction of the university in the State.

It may also be noted that while the govrnment face objection at Yaithibi Loukon, people of Koutruk Sanjam Chirang and Moirang Lamkhai had welcomed the establishment of the university in their areas, although the government seems to neglect such invitations.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/proposed-sports-university-could-be-shifted-to-assam-if-govt-fails-to-identify-site-soon/