Month: August 2017

IMPHAL | Aug 4

All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) observed The 20th Manipur Integrity Day  at MDU Hall, Yaiskul police lane, Imphal today. Floral tributes were paid to the Integrity Pillar, near Pologround, Imphal.

Two minutes silence was observed to honour the martyrs who sacrificed their life to safeguard the integrity of the state.

The function was attended by Ph. Deban Sharma, president, AMUCO, and several community leaders as presidium members. Deban Sharma said, “Every community living together should co-exist together leaving aside personal interest and stand firmly as one to safeguard the integrity of the state.”

The function was also attended by L. Memchoubi Devi, president Poirei Leimarol Meirapaibi Apunba, D.P. Shahid Ahamed, president, All Manipuri Muslims’ Development Organisation and joint secretary, All Manipur Bar Association, Amu Kamei, president, Zeiliangrong Union (Assam-Nagaland-Manipur), Lalkhomang Serto, president, Komrem Union, Shokholun Mate, finance secretary, Kuki Inpi, Manipur and several other people from valley and hill areas.

IMPHAL | Aug 4

A total of 40 projects have been completed under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources scheme in Manipur during the last three years. The total expenditure incurred on these schemes is Rs. 256.62 crore.

This was stated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent charge) on the floor of the Rajya Sabha yesterday. He was replying to a query raised by state MP Ksh. Bhabananda Singh pertaining to infrastructure projects in Manipur.

The minister continued that during 2014-15 three projects have been completed, during 2015-16 a total of 29 projects has been completed and 8 projects completed in 2016-17.

In replying to another question, the minister stated that there are 48 ongoing projects in the state of Manipur. The projects are in various stages for implementation.

The project includes 9 in education with approved cost Rs. 5309.09 lakh, 4 project of health with approved cost Rs. 3857.56 lakh, 3 projects under miscellaneous with approved cost Rs. 2700.04 lakh, 13 projects of Power with approved cost of Rs. 53174.14 lakh, 6 projects in road and bridges with approved cost Rs. 20578.62 lakh, 4 project under sports with approved cost Rs. 3470.9 lakh and 8 projects are under water supply with approved cost of Rs. 4075.14 lakh.

Total entitlement of three times normative allocation for the state of Manipur in the financial year 2016-17 is Rs. 208.08 crore and the state has submitted 19 (nineteen) project proposals amounting to a sum of  Rs. 293.11 crore, out of which 4 (four) projects costing Rs 27.09 crore, have been sanctioned.

In addition, 11 projects costing Rs. 155.25 crores pertaining to financial year 2016-17 have also been retained. The state government is in the process of preparing projects for the balance entitlement amount. This was stated by by minister of state (independent charge) of the ministry of development of north eastern region (DoNER) Dr. Jitendra Singh in response to a question raised by Shri K. Bhabananda Singh.

Ningthoujam Prasant & Elangbam Nikita

IMPHAL | Aug 4

A two-day festival of music and art on “environment”— Where have all the flowers gone?— beginning from Saturday (today) is creating excitement and immense interest among music enthusiasts. The fest is organised by Imphal Talkies, an Imphal based folk-rock band that deals with contemporary issues of the state and Folksy Triumph, a non-profit event management organisation based in Imphal.

The fourth edition of the festival will be held at Khurkhul(Makha Leikai Maning Sabal Lampak) from tomorrow. Its previous editions took place in Chingnungkhok, Andro and Phayeng.

“Where Have All the Flowers Gone is not just a festival to celebrate the work of American folk singer late Pete Seeger but also to bring awareness of the environment to the people. The festival focuses on bridging the gap between rural and urban life, community involvement, providing platforms to youth, supporting indigenous culture and tradition, bringing together various communities under one platform, exploring unexplored rural areas,” said Akhu Chingangbam, vocalist of Imphal Talkies who breathes music, politics, and physics.

Every year the festival takes place in a chosen rural area of the state and the venue is changed every year, he said.

“Even the state tourism department and other event management teams have started doing events in Andro after Where Have All The Flowers Gone took place at Andro in 2015.” claimed Akhu.

He said the festival tries to provide a platform for the local people to get exposed to various forms of art and ideas during the festival and in the process, they can think of generating new ideas on how to promote their own arts, tradition and culture to the outside world.

The festival incorporates a various array of how it will flow keeping in its centre reason—awareness about the importance of the environment. The celebration which additionally gives a chance to explore the life of different indigenous individuals of the state and features their specialities and artworks including different sorts of activities running from tree plantation, photo exhibition, painting competition to music concert to film screening.

The festival will kick off with a cycle rally from Palace compound to Khurkhul on its first day. The celebration will likewise integrate programmes such as children’s painting competition, art/photography exhibition, an introduction to Khurkhul by Khulakpa Phuritsabam Somorjit and an account of Khurkhul: its tradition and culture by Dr Shantani Louriyam.

The day will end with music concert which will be performed by Uday Benegal (Indus Creed), Nassif Ahmed, Guru Rewben, Mangka, Sh@ne and Anungla. The womenfolk of Khurkhul will also perform Khunung Eshei.

The second day (Sunday) will follow with tree plantation, film screening and music concert featured by Tapta including Pebet, Eyoom and Cajon Diaries.

One artist among the performing bands said that such festival of art and music is a good platform to showcase the talents of artists and will integrate the people from different communities through music.

Around 25 food stalls selling indigenous food particularly of Khurkhul will be opened. “It’s a treat for me. Music plus indigenous foods is a great combination,” said one music enthusiast looking forward to the festival.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

Demanding review of the DM University Bill 2017 students and Dhanamanjuri College of Teacher Education stormed at directorate of university and higher education, Nityaipat Chuthek near Raj Bhavan at around 1.30 pm today.

The bill was passed by the Assembly session yesterday.

Speaking to the media persons, a trainee of DMCTE, Ranita Pangambam said in the cluster college for the formation of DM University, DMCTE was included. But when the bill was passed yesterday DMCTE was excluded from the cluster, she said.

“The decision of the House is totally meaningless and should be re-considered before it turns into act,” she demanded. DMCTE is a NACC accredited college and one of the oldest teachers training colleges in the state.

DMCTE is a part and partial of Dhanamanjuri College and DMCTE will never accept if the government proposed DMCTE to convert into a private college.

Ranita appealed to the state government, ministers and governor to re-consider the university bill before it turns into an act at the earliest. If necessary actions are not taken in time, then several democratic forms of agitation will continue till the re-consideration of the university bill.

During yesterday’s session chief minister N. Biren had urged members of the House to give approval to the Bill in the interest of the state. He also stated that certain desirable clauses could be inserted in the Bill from time to time after converting it into an Act.

Students staged the protest by holding placards “no divide and rule policy must not be applied in education system”, “include DMCTE in DM University” and others.

A police team led by additional SP (L/O) Priyadarshini Laishram brought the situation under control.

From Our Correspondent

MOREH | Aug 4

The 64th Indo-Myanmar field level officers meeting on drug control was held today at the conference hall of Trade Centre, Moreh, organised by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Imphal.

During the meeting, the zonal director of NE division NCB, Guwahati, Rakesh Chandra Shukla spoke on the topic ‘Exchange of information on drug law enforcement’. Various ideas and suggestions were also shared among the delegates and the meeting was resolved with an objective to end the menace of cross border drug trafficking.

The same kind of meeting was earlier organised at Tamu, Myanmar on December 31, 2016.

Nine Indian delegates and five Myanmar delegates took part in the meeting and it was conducted safe and sound under tight security.

IMPHAL | Aug 4

 The Manipur Appropriation Bill, number 4 has been moved in the House today by deputy chief minister Y Joykumar and 15 members from the opposition bench participated in the proceeding. The bill has been passed unanimously.

During the motion , various queries related to many government departments and programs were asked from the opposition bench.

The Chief Minister replying to the queries mentioned that the government is trying to restore flight to Silchar and also to other states of Mizoram and Dimapur.

He also added that the Pawan Hans is being approached to make operational helicopter services.

The Manipur Committee for schedule tribes is already in operation with a three member team and the ministry of tribal affairs has replied back to the state in 2013 regarding the SC/ST demand status.

The recommendations are being sought also from the state then, Biren added that the last bill for the protection of indigenous people will be discussed and rectified.

For the case of missing rice quota, he said that a 3 member team led by a commissioner is being set up to investigate the case.

The government is also to set up four grievance centres for any law and order related problems and the public can avail any emergency help.

He said that the government has already purchased land for building a bhawan at Mumbai, and a deputy resident commissioner, a localite is being deputed to look after the Delhi Manipur bhawan.

He said that Hill Area Development scheme under DoNER is taken up to look after the development of the hills districts.

Three districts have been recommended for taking up the projects.

The Chief Minister mentioned that some government officials are not sincere nor have a sense of nationalism, it is a main problem of the state, he said and pointed that there will be no doubling of records in the electoral roll. 

The leader of the opposition, O Ibobi Singh on the floor of the House said that his previous government had given maximum funds in bringing about development in the hills.

He said that there have been problems in acquiring funds by the state and there is not much revenue collection. He maintained that there is only the ministry of DoNER and the North East Council from which funds are sought for development for the state, the state also faces immense problems in sanctioning the state share monetarily to match the central funding’s.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

A team of the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) conducted a spot inquiry yesterday at Sainik School, Pangei, in connection with the unnatural death of a minor student who was found dead in a pond near the school campus.

A statement issued by the SK. Sharma, chairman MCPCR, stated that the spot inquiry was conducted with an objective to ascertain the facts behind the unnatural death of a minor student namely master Wangkhem Imocha Meitei, 16, son of W. Khogen Meitei, a student of sainik school Imphal, reading in class IX.

The team met the principal and staffs of sainik school Imphal and took the stock of the progress of inquiries and other actions taken up by the school authority so far, it said.

The team also repotedly went to Nongren village, Imphal East and met the parents and guardians of the deceased student and heard their statements.

The five official team of the MCPCR was led by its chairperson, S. Saratkumar Sharma, while three other members were S. Shyamcharan Singh, Keisam Pradipkumar and Ch. Nabachandra Singh.

In the light of such an unfortunate incident the MCPCR reiterated to all the authorities of both government and private run educational institutions, and persons who look after the students’ hostels and boarding to take all precautionary measures strictly to avoid such untoward incidents.

Further it is appealed to the respective authorities to provide all the school going students with age appropriate basic life skills including swimming, sports climbing, horse riding, self defense, adventure sports and first aid technique as a part of co-curricular activities.

31. Khogen was found dead in a pond situated near the school campus July 31. He death sparked controversy following the delay of the school authority to inform the death of the school boy to family.