Day: September 6, 2017

IMPHAL | Sept 6

Rotary Club of Imphal conferred ‘Nation Builder Awards’ to government school teachers with an aim to ensure total literacy and quality education in India through T-E-A-C-H programme under Rotary India Literacy Mission.

A release said, the five winners of Nation Builder Awards 2017 were H. Minakumar Singh of Bhairodan Maxwell Hindu Primary School, Imphal, H. Victoria of Budhimanjuri Junior High School, Sagolband, A. Sorojini Devi of Khunthoknganbi Upper Primary School, Thangmeiband, P. Dhanapati Devi of Laijing Ningthou Junior High School and L. Bimola Devi of Lilashing Khongnangkhong Primary School.

The awards will be distributed to the winners during the observation of International Literacy Day on September 8 at Rotary Multiservice Centre, Mantripukhri, it added.

8th Sirarakhong Hathei Phanit kicks off

IMPHAL | Sept 6

Commerce and industries minister, Thongam Biswajit inaugurated the 8th Sirarakhong Hathei (Chilli) Phanit today at the Sirarakhong Village and ensured all forms of assistance from the government to the chilli growers.

Addressing the inaugural function, Biswajit encouraged the chilli growers to work harder. He assured that he will discuss with the chief minister ways to promote the festival so as to increase production of the chilli and provide a market.

He pointed out that the chilli variety grown in the village is not found anywhere else which is indigenous to Sirarakhong Village and the same variety, when planted at other places, loses its uniqueness and production as well as taste, flavour and size.

Biswajit also spoke on the feasibility of producing hybrids of the chilli. He continued that it is unfortunate that no initiative has been taken to open a common facility centre. In this regard, he said the CM will be appraised and also look into what the KVKs, ICAR have been doing so far.

Biswajit also spoke elaborately on the Zero Defect, Zero Effect scheme and also urged the Shirarakhong chilli growers to apply for registration of their products under ZED which will only increase the marketability of their products in the global market.

He continued that we can easily find markets for chillis, but we have to attract investors and entrepreneurs to improve production. He said that he will submit a proposal for setting up of a CFC project, adding there is need for entrepreneurs and investors.

Further, the minister maintained that without a stable economy there will be no peace. The government is there to provide jobs to the youth, however, government job alone is not employment, and we need to open more self-employment avenues.

Biswajit also said that the government is committed to achieve 1.5 lakh employment generations in a year in the State under the various government departments. This will ensure 7 lakh employment generations in five years.

Explaining welfare schemes including the KISAN SAMPADA, the minister said that there is a need to spread awareness of the schemes to the people.

There are many schemes of the government, but we are not informative and lack of awareness of the many schemes of the government, he continued. We are unable to explore our resources and talents, he said. He continued that it is unfortunate that we have failed to properly exploit the nature provided resources available to open more employment avenues for the youth.

The inaugural function was also attended by Keirao MLA, L. Rameshwor Singh among others.

The festival organised with an objective to promote the indigenous variety of Shirarakhong chili will continue till September 8. The first day of the festival was also attended by people from various parts of the State.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 6

The Manipur Home Guard Employee Welfare Association has pledged to take up intense agitation from October 2 if the government fails to increase their monthly allowance following the Supreme Court verdict within this month. 

Speaking to media persons today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal the association’s president, Y. Mangi said that a memorandum has been submitted to the chief minister on August 30 demanding to pay the duty allowance of home guard personnel at a minimum of the pay to which the police constable of the state are entitled.

Increasing of their monthly allowance by Rs. 3000 cannot be accepted as it is very less to support a family by just a monthly income of Rs.5000+3000, he added.

The president expressed hope that the government will give positive response within this month considering the hardship faced by the home guard personnel in running their families.

Nagaland police, retired superintendent of police (SP), Potsangbam Sonamani, who was also present in the press meet, said that the current monthly allowance of a Nagaland home guard personnel is Rs. 15,650.

It is very unfortunate that the home guard personnel of the state which is the neighbour state of Nagaland is currently getting a monthly allowance of only Rs. 5,000, he added.

Moreover the neighbour state Nagaland has established Nagaland Civil Defence and home guard has framed separate service rule in 2016 and its own cadre with effect from 1988, said the retired SP.

Sonamani said that the home guard personnel of the state are going through immense hardship in managing their livelihood with a meagre monthly allowance that they are currently getting.

Stating that the nature of duties performed by home guard is equivalent to the duty being performed by the regular police, Sonamani said that the need for enhancement of their duty allowance stands highly justified.

He appealed to the chief minister, the governor and the officials of home department to look into the matter of the home guards and take up positive action to their demands.

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL | Sept 6

The first ever tripartite talks at the ‘political level’ with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) is likely to be held either by the end of this month or early October, according to sources.

Only one meeting has been held after Dineshwar Sharma was appointed as interlocutor of the ongoing tripartite dialogues between KNO and UPF was appointed. “No political discussion” took place in the August 9 meeting.

According to ‘negotiator’ of KNO Dr. Seilen Haokip, Dineshwar Sharma had told him verbally that the tripartite talks are likely to be held either by the end of September or in the first week of October. Suspension of Operation (SoO) terms with KNO and UPF were extended for another one year which became effective from August 31. 

Meanwhile, Dr Seilen Haokip has expressed the desire to make the joint monitoring group (JMG) to be active and vibrant once again. He expressed regret that the JMG has become “inactive”.  Dr Seilen Haokip also said that matters related to the ‘ground rules’ of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) should be confined only within the ambit of the JMG.

The KNO leader’s expression was reflective of the August 9 meeting between the government and the SoO groups in New Delhi where ‘matters related to ‘ground rules’ dominated the better part of the discussion.

Interestingly, the next tripartite talks at the political level will be held at the back drops of various tribe based organisations expressing their seriousness on the talks.

It may be recalled on August 31, Hmar Inpui (the apex body of the Hmar tribe), the Thadou Inpi (the apex body of the Thadou tribe) and the Zomi Council (the apex body of Gangte, Kom, Mate, Paite, Simte, Tedim-Chin, Thangkhal, Vaiphei and Zou tribes) had urged Dineshwar Sharma, interlocutor of the ongoing tripartite dialogues between the United People’s Front (UPF), Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the government, to expedite the dialogues for “an early political solution”.

They also had urged the interlocutor to engage UPF leadership with “utmost sincerity to arrive at a pragmatic political autonomy for the tribal of Manipur within a given time-frame”.

On August 7, Kuki civil organizations had urged the “Kuki armed nationalists” to “unequivocally present the Kuki people’s demand for statehood”, according to Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM).

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 6

The first ever media and parliamentary reporting seminar was held today at the conference hall of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chingmeirong organised by the State legislative secretariat.

Speaker of State Legislative Assembly, Y. Khemchand Singh attended the inaugural function as chief guest. He said that bureau of training for parliamentary reporting will be introduced soon for the media fraternity so that they will be well equipped with parliamentary reporting etiquettes.

He also said that the establishment of bureau will enhance the parliamentary reporting ethics of journalists in the future. After consulting with his secretary and other legislators he will try his best to maintain the best quality of the assembly, added the speaker.

MLA and former speaker, T.N. Haokip said that media has the capability to determine the rise and fall of a leader but the responsibility should be taken wisely. He also said that media and legislators are interdependent, so they need to go hand in hand.

Guests of honour of the function, former chief minister of the state, Radhabinod Koijam and former MLA, O. Joy Singh appraised Khemchand for his initiative in organising the first ever parliamentary reporting seminar for media persons in the state.

Giving her keynote address, Mutum Ramani stated media as the fourth pillar of democracy. She also listed out the dos’ and don’ts of the parliamentary reporting. She further alerted that reporting sector is a specialised and sensitive sector.

In the technical session, associate professor of LMS Law College, Pramod Singh spoke on ‘Constitutional Provisions on the privilege and parliamentary reporting’. While Radhabinod spoke on ‘Parliamentary procedures’ and O. Joy Singh lectured on ‘Reporting of the proceedings of the House and breach of privilege and contempt of the House’.

The programme was attended by almost all media houses of the state including both print and electronic media except for hill areas.

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Sept 6

In a major breakthrough, Press Councils of India and Myanmar today signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of media, during the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s first official visit to Nay Pyi Taw today.

This was informed by C.K Nayak, member Press Council of India from Nay Pyi Taw, this evening over telephone to N. Tombi Raj, advisor, All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU).

The first such MOU between the two neighbours assumes significance for the Northeastern region of the country. Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of Northeast states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.

The MOU was signed by justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, chairman, Press Council of India and first vice-chairman of Myanmar Press Council, U Aung Hla Tun in the presence of   Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw and State counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the presidential palace in Nay Pyi Taw.

As per the MOU, the two countries will promote peace journalism and exchange information, experience and knowledge pertaining to a non-violent, peaceful journalism, coverage towards restraint in matters that are likely to escalate conflict and act as a catalyst in deescalating conflict and providing peaceful world order.

The Prime Minister in the joint statement later hoped that this MOU will go a long way for more and frequent interaction between the two press councils.

IMPHAL | Sep 6

The Editors’ Guild Manipur joins various media organisations and well-wishers in condemning the killing of senior journalist and editor, Gauri Lankesh and demands Karnataka government to take full responsibility for her murder.

A release said the EGM in a meeting held today, expressed shock at the gruesome killing of an editor known for her fearless views in her newspaper as well as various forums. “EGM considers her killing as a direct attack on the freedom of expression, and extends moral support to all journalists’ organisations protesting her killing”, it said. 

Such attack on journalists is not new in remote corner of the country like Manipur and we can understand the pains of the near and dear ones of martyred journalist, it said, adding we also stand by her media colleagues and fraternity in Karnataka as they grieve at the loss of a brave journalist.