Day: September 16, 2017

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI |Sep 16 

Following the alleged failure of the Manipur University authority in fulfilling their assurance over the reservation issue on August 31 meeting, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur has decided to re-intensify agitation over the issue.  

Earlier, the student body had suspended its 48 hours ultimatum over the issue following the assurance of the vice chancellor and heads of department in a joint meeting held on August 31 at the vice chancellor’s office chamber.

The apex body of the tribal students of the state, ATSUM and Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union (MUTSU) have been demanding 31 percent reservations for ST students in admission to various courses in the university and the MU authority to follow the High Court directives and the Central Educational Institution Reservation Act, 2012 in the admission process.

Vice chancellor of the varsity, Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey had promised to fulfil the tribal students’ demands and also assured to strictly follow the High Court directives and CEIR act, 2012 rules from the next session during the August 31 meeting to the student body representatives.

Seiboi Haokip, general secretary, ATSUM while speaking to media persons this afternoon at Kangpokpi said that keeping faith once again upon the MU authority; the student body had suspended its 48 hours ultimatum on August 31 following the assurance of the authority concerned. 

“However, the assurances have turned out to be MU authority’s display of disloyalty and unreliable attitude”, visibly disappointed Seiboi asserted before adding that the repeated duplicity of the MU authority have totally tested the tolerance of the tribal students.  

He continued, “We have now decided to take extreme form of agitation if the MU fails to convert its assurances into action within a short period apart from resolving to begin mobilisation for the cause of tribal student’s rights.”

In connection with the mode of agitation, Seiboi Haokip said that it will be make known to the public after due consultation with its units and hill districts based civil bodies on Monday.

He recalled that ATSUM had demanded the MU authority to put in abeyance the admission process until such time and the results declared for the academic season 2017-2018 are rectified to the guidelines and reservation norms of the government.

He further recalled that despite the MoU signed between ATSUM and MU authority on November 7, 2016 where both party agreed to adhere central education institution (reservation in admission) act, the recent announced admission lists in the various departmental entrance test results explicitly indicates that most of the departments has overtly defied the central act as well as failed to honour the spirit of MoU.

The ATSUM leader expressed the student body’s displeasure over the state government under the leadership of chief minister, N. Biren Singh for keeping mum on the issue till today.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

The regional directorate of Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development (DTNBWED), ministry of labour and employment today organised the state level 59th Workers Education Day at Kuki Inn.

The function was attended by parliamentary secretary for health and family welfare, Soibam Subhaschandra Singh as chief guest. In his speech, he said that NGOs, trade unions and social activists have a big role to play in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor in the society.

Briefing media persons on the sideline of the programme, regional director of DTNBWED, Wangkhem Iboyaima Singh said that this day is like a training day for the workers, to be a smart and better worker, to sensitise workers’ rights, labour laws among others.

He said that DTNBWED was earlier known as Central Board for Workers Education till last year August. CBWE was established on September 16, 1958 and this foundation day is celebrated since then as Workers’ Education Day.

DTNBWED have workers of organised, unorganised and rural sectors and some of its objectives are to empower the workers as employees of the organisation and to develop sense and belongingness as effective instruments of amicable industrial relations and maintaining industrial peace and to meet the needs of workers to have access to ways of acquiring and continuous upgradation of knowledge and skills that they require to find a job among others.

Highlighting the three main challenges that workers of Manipur have to face, economist N. Mohendro stressed that collecting, counselling and contribution as the immediate concern and thorough revision by the present government.

Emphasising on the total contribution of the unorganised sector is 90 percent and that of organised sector is just 10 percent, director of ICM- Lamphelpat, Ranjana said that there is a need to organise more awareness programmes for skill development and educate them about various schemes and related to their welfare activities concerning health and human rights.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

At least four people sustained injuries when unknown miscreant exploded a hand grenade this evening inside a building at Mantripukhri, Imphal East district.

Reports said the grenade was exploded around 5 pm targeting the office of Hindustan Construction Company which is inside the five storey building belonging to one Mukesh Sharma.

The building is situated just opposite to 69 CRPF battalion Mantripukhri.

Altogether four persons, all of them staffs of Hindustan Construction Company, sustained splinter injuries and were evacuated to Rajmedicity. However, all of them are said to be out of danger.

Later in the evening, chief minister, N. Biren was accompanied by MAHUD minister, Th. Shyamkumar, additional chief secretary Suresh Babu and MLAs of the ruling party visited the injured at the hospital.

Speaking to the media chief minister, N. Biren said that it is fortunate that there are no major casualties. Condemning the act of exploding bomb in residential area the chief minister said that such action is an act of uncivilised attitude.

According to reports there were cases of monitory demand by an outlawed group and regarding the matter the Imphal East, S.P, K. Kabib is investigating to make arrest of the culprits involved in the blast, added Biren.

He further gave assurance that the culprits will be arrested very soon.

The injured have been identified as one Japhar Sekh, (44) of West Bengal, Bijay Kumar Gogo, (49) of Tejpur Assam, Chun Chund Prasad Mandal, (41) Jhakhand and Tapan Bardhan, (50) West Bengal.

State gears up for Mera Houchongba celebration

IMPHAL | Sept 16

In continuation to the review meeting to assess the projects being taken up by various departments, chief minister, N. Biren today chaired the review meeting of 14 departments to discuss the targets of the developmental to be completed in the current year 2017-18.

The review meeting was held at the cabinet hall.

During the meeting, N. Biren asserted that the need of the hour is to give priority on the public oriented developmental works for the growth and progress of the State. He stated that if the government cannot provide or deliver good governance and benefits to the poorest of the poor of the State then there is no significance of the having a government. 

While discussing the schemes under IT department, He said that IT is one such area which is in the priority list of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without Information Technology we cannot bring a digital revolution in the State.

Further he said that the Common Service Centres (CSCs) operating in the State should act as service points for various welfare schemes of different departments. He said that any Nationalised bank that are willing to provide assistance to the people would be given advantage to open up their branches in the hilly areas of the State.

The review meeting continued for around four hours which include IT, TA and hills, tourism, higher and technical education, school education, YAS, SCERT, health, revenue etc. setting up of digital village, digitisation of cadastral maps and integration with records of rights, decentralised recruitment of teachers, transparent and automated transfer policy etc. were discussed during the meeting.

Cabinet ministers, chief secretary, administrative secretaries, commissioners and directors of various departments attended the meeting.

Houchongba preparation:

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh also chaired the first State level organising committee meeting for the celebration of Mera Houchongba on October 5

During the meeting, N. Biren mentioned the significance of organising State level Mera Houchongba, one of the oldest living festivals in the world, in bringing unity and solidarity among different communities living in the State.

He said that celebrating such festival would build and revive the unity and integrity of the State by sharing and reconnecting the traditional values of various communities of the State.

Chief Minister further directed the all the deputy commissioners to organise, mobilise and to make proper transportation of the people from various districts to make a successful participation in the festival.

A State Level Mera Houchongba committee was also constituted during the meeting with chief minister as chairman, minister for art and culture as vice chairman, commissioner art and culture as member secretary, all cabinet ministers, all MLAs, all DCs, director (Art and Culture, TA & Hills, IPR), 7 representatives of Sana Konung Thousillup, 2 representatives of Sanamahi Temple Board and 2 representatives of Kangla Fort Board as members of the Committee.

Minister for art and culture, L. Jayantakumar Singh, chief secretary, R.R Rashmi, commissioner art and culture, M. Lakshmikumar, deputy commissioners, director art and culture, K Sushila, director IPR, K. Meghachandra, representatives of Sana Konung Thousillup and Sanamahi Temple Board attended the meeting.

State gears up for Mera Houchongba celebration

IMPHAL | Sept 16

In continuation to the review meeting to assess the projects being taken up by various departments, chief minister, N. Biren today chaired the review meeting of 14 departments to discuss the targets of the developmental to be completed in the current year 2017-18.

The review meeting was held at the cabinet hall.

During the meeting, N. Biren asserted that the need of the hour is to give priority on the public oriented developmental works for the growth and progress of the State. He stated that if the government cannot provide or deliver good governance and benefits to the poorest of the poor of the State then there is no significance of the having a government. 

While discussing the schemes under IT department, He said that IT is one such area which is in the priority list of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without Information Technology we cannot bring a digital revolution in the State.

Further he said that the Common Service Centres (CSCs) operating in the State should act as service points for various welfare schemes of different departments. He said that any Nationalised bank that are willing to provide assistance to the people would be given advantage to open up their branches in the hilly areas of the State.

The review meeting continued for around four hours which include IT, TA and hills, tourism, higher and technical education, school education, YAS, SCERT, health, revenue etc. setting up of digital village, digitisation of cadastral maps and integration with records of rights, decentralised recruitment of teachers, transparent and automated transfer policy etc. were discussed during the meeting.

Cabinet ministers, chief secretary, administrative secretaries, commissioners and directors of various departments attended the meeting.

Houchongba preparation:

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh also chaired the first State level organising committee meeting for the celebration of Mera Houchongba on October 5

During the meeting, N. Biren mentioned the significance of organising State level Mera Houchongba, one of the oldest living festivals in the world, in bringing unity and solidarity among different communities living in the State.

He said that celebrating such festival would build and revive the unity and integrity of the State by sharing and reconnecting the traditional values of various communities of the State.

Chief Minister further directed the all the deputy commissioners to organise, mobilise and to make proper transportation of the people from various districts to make a successful participation in the festival.

A State Level Mera Houchongba committee was also constituted during the meeting with chief minister as chairman, minister for art and culture as vice chairman, commissioner art and culture as member secretary, all cabinet ministers, all MLAs, all DCs, director (Art and Culture, TA & Hills, IPR), 7 representatives of Sana Konung Thousillup, 2 representatives of Sanamahi Temple Board and 2 representatives of Kangla Fort Board as members of the Committee.

Minister for art and culture, L. Jayantakumar Singh, chief secretary, R.R Rashmi, commissioner art and culture, M. Lakshmikumar, deputy commissioners, director art and culture, K Sushila, director IPR, K. Meghachandra, representatives of Sana Konung Thousillup and Sanamahi Temple Board attended the meeting.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

As observed and celebrated all over the world decrease depletion of earth’s ozone layer, World Ozone Day was celebrated in the state today at Ghanapriya Women’s College, Old Lambulane.

The state level function was organised jointly by directorate of environment and G.P Women’s College under the theme “Caring for all life under the sun”.

Minister for forests and environment, horticulture and soil conservation, Th. Shyamkumar, attending the function as chief guest said it is the need of the hour to save our earth and its environment.

 He also said that theories of protecting and preserving the mother should be put into practice and not postpone it further. He said that using organic products and planting more trees will be the immediate solution.

In the keynote address, deputy environment director, Th. Bhogen Singh said that the rate of depletion of ozone layer is faster than before. He explained in detail how Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) produced by everyday products like body sprays, industrial smoke among others, creates chemical reaction with ozone layer and leads to depletion of the layer.

He went on to explain when Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 by all countries with proof from NASA’s satellite mapping, to save the continuous and dangerous depletion of ozone layer.

He said this day is mainly intended to spread awareness of the depletion of the ozone layer and search for solutions to preserve it.

Additional chief secretary (forests and environment), Shambhu Singh, removing Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) costs India Rs 1,500 crore and removing Hydro Fluoro Carbon (HFC) costs India Rs 3,500 crore.

He also mentioned the harms that the western world has inflicted on the environment and by letting the poorer countries pay for their comfort. Shambhu further said that we need to find better solutions and work on it to save the earth before it gets exhausted of its own.

Chief secretary for forests and environment, Shambhu Singh, principal of G.P. Women’s College, B. Lalhari Sharma and director of environment, Y. Nabachandra Singh attended the function as presidium members.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

As observed and celebrated all over the world decrease depletion of earth’s ozone layer, World Ozone Day was celebrated in the state today at Ghanapriya Women’s College, Old Lambulane.

The state level function was organised jointly by directorate of environment and G.P Women’s College under the theme “Caring for all life under the sun”.

Minister for forests and environment, horticulture and soil conservation, Th. Shyamkumar, attending the function as chief guest said it is the need of the hour to save our earth and its environment.

 He also said that theories of protecting and preserving the mother should be put into practice and not postpone it further. He said that using organic products and planting more trees will be the immediate solution.

In the keynote address, deputy environment director, Th. Bhogen Singh said that the rate of depletion of ozone layer is faster than before. He explained in detail how Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) produced by everyday products like body sprays, industrial smoke among others, creates chemical reaction with ozone layer and leads to depletion of the layer.

He went on to explain when Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 by all countries with proof from NASA’s satellite mapping, to save the continuous and dangerous depletion of ozone layer.

He said this day is mainly intended to spread awareness of the depletion of the ozone layer and search for solutions to preserve it.

Additional chief secretary (forests and environment), Shambhu Singh, removing Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) costs India Rs 1,500 crore and removing Hydro Fluoro Carbon (HFC) costs India Rs 3,500 crore.

He also mentioned the harms that the western world has inflicted on the environment and by letting the poorer countries pay for their comfort. Shambhu further said that we need to find better solutions and work on it to save the earth before it gets exhausted of its own.

Chief secretary for forests and environment, Shambhu Singh, principal of G.P. Women’s College, B. Lalhari Sharma and director of environment, Y. Nabachandra Singh attended the function as presidium members.