Day: November 4, 2017

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Nov 4

Member of parliament, Thangso Baite was apprised about the various challenges faced by the university since its inception in 2009, yesterday at the fresher’s meet of the university in the state.

The MP was attending the fresher’s meet organised by the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus Manipur Students’ Union ((IGNTU-RCMSU)) as chief guest at the varsity library hall at Makhan village, Kangpokpi district. While, director of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus Manipur, Ramjeevan Singh Thakur and associate professor and HOD of Pol. Science department, Ngalengnam were guest of honour and president respectively.

The main programme of the event was introduction of fresher, followed by performance of various cultural dance and music and a feast. Lunkholen Baite of Political Science department and Lhingneineng of Computer department were declared Mr and Miss Fresher’s 2017.

During the programme, IGNTU-RCMSU submitted a memorandum to the MP to address their grievances in the interest of the tribal students of the state in particular and the student community as whole. The memorandum was duly signed by the president of student body, Haokhomang Chongloi and general Secretary, Waingir Chothe and it highlighted that the tribal students in the state saw the light of the day after years of demand for establishment of a tribal university when Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus Manipur was established in 2009.

It said that though the demand could not be met in the form of full-fledged autonomous university, the government finally considered by way of regional campus Manipur which is the extension of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University based in Madhya Pradesh. It started its beginning by renting structures at Adimjati Complex until it was shifted to the present university campus at Makhan in Kangpokpi district in March.

It continued that the university regional campus Manipur is run by Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh through a temporary director appointed on deputation from time to time with lots of infrastructural deficits.

In the memorandum, the student union has demanded for appointment of full-time director for the regional campus Manipur with greater financial autonomy. It also mentioned about the inconvenience of distance in relying on the head office even for a petty issue every now and then. Other demands included construction of hostels and staff quarters, opening of new departments and appointment of full staffs and reservation policy.

While conveying the failure of several representations submitted to the authority concerned in the past, the student body has appealed the MP to look into the pressing demands and address the infrastructural deficits of the university at the earliest.

IMPHAL| Nov 4

Making strong allegations that PDS items were thieved by the PDS minister hand in hand with several revolutionary organisations, Maoist Communist Party Manipur said the general strike that will begin from 5 am till 5 pm tomorrow is called against the alleged Minister and the revolutionary organisations.  

Tomorrow’s  general strike is the first of its kind where one revolutionary organisation has called against other revolutionary organisations, and it will mark the beginning of the cleaning up of the dirt the lies within the revolutionary organisation, said a release signed by the coordinator, standing committee, Kyonghan Mangang.

Under the State government, 120327-Metric Tons of rice has been distributed monthly through Public Distribution System (PDS), it said. If the rice were actually delivered to every household of Manipur, then there would have been no starving family and the prevailing issues could have been prevented, it further said. For the past several years, such huge amount of rice had been stolen by related minster, the thieving revolutionary organisations and the so called nominees, the release alleged.  Such acts must not be tolerated by the people of Manipur, it said adding the people are suffering as their voice could not be raised by any organisation or a leader, it added.  The harsh reality is that the rice meant for the poor have not been properly delivered to them anywhere in the state, it further said. This has caused the hard working people to suffer through extreme hardships, it continued.

The rice meant for the poor is being stolen through the agents of revolutionary organisations otherwise known as ‘nominee’ hand in hand with the PDS minister, it alleged.  This proves that revolutionary organisations along with the politicians had been oppressing the people of Manipur, the release further alleged.

It has been told that if the people start consuming the rice provided by the government, they will let go of the habit of working hard, it said. On the other hand, the construction work of sewage system for the hard working farmers had been taken up by contractors who claimed to be members of revolutionary organisations, only to embezzle the funds by taking partnership with high ranking officials without doing any of the actual work, while some of the completed works start crumbling down in the next season, it further said. 

The saplings, seasonal crop seeds, water pumps and other benefits that would provide immense help to the poor farmers, had been stolen by the minister in partnership with revolutionary organisations, the release alleged. The general strike being called is a war of survival for the hard working people, it said.    

The year had witnessed flood for four times and current state of affair will definitely led up to food shortages, it said. The party has urged the people to support the general strike which has been called for the first time against the thieving revolutionary organisations and a minister in order to prevent corruption, it added.

IMPHAL | Nov 4

High Court of Manipur has put a complete ban on cutting down of trees on reserved forests and excavation of hills for any purpose.

A release said, the order was issued by High Court of Manipur on October 30 in the public interest. It further ordered to appraise the court even if the authorities desire to grant permission for tree felling or excavation of hills.

Anyone found indulging in such activities against the court order shall be prosecuted, said the release.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 4

The members of NPF and BJP who opposed the leadership of Lukhosei Zou, chairman autonomous district council (ADC) Chandel allegedly stayed away from the inauguration programme of ADC Chandel.

A joint statement issued by the NPF and BJP, said a joint meeting was held today where the leaders and the members of NPF and BJP of the district decided to stay away from the inauguration programme of ADC Chandel, by chief minister N. Biren Singh.

It further alleged that the ADC Chandel led by Lukhosei Zou is running the council at Imphal giving much inconveniences to the people of the district.

Even as the public are fully aware that the infrastructure and construction of the district council is yet to be done but still the chairman organise the inaugural programme without the consent of the members staying at the council headquarters, it asserted.

To voice the people’s disapproval and protest over the high handedness of the chairman, the NPF and the BJP members stayed away from the programme, it said adding it regretted that such incident happened in times of CM’s visit to the district.

Nevertheless, it appreciated the chief minister’s visit to the district and lauded his bold initiative under the slogan “Go to the hills”.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 4

Despite the differences in religious belief, political opinion the people of the state must not forget that we are one, said former minister Govindas Konthoujam.

Govindas stated this while speaking as the chief guest of Saikul Block Level Kut celebration held today at Saikul block ground.

The post harvest festival of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo (CHIKIM), Chavang Kut was celebrated amidst fanfare.

The celebration was scheduled to be held on October 30 however it was postponed following incessant rainfall.

Govindas Konthoujam, further in his speech said that India has a unique character envied by several developed countries which is the unity in diversity, which according to him should be preserved by everyone.

“We are one, we don’t have differences. It is religion that divide us and politics venoms that keep us apart”, he opined.

The Congress MLA called on the people to celebrate the Kut, which is the symbol of unity, for peace, harmony tranquility and prosperity.

Taking the opportunity of the celebration, he also expressed the need to preserve nature before appealing to the people to take part in protecting the natural environment surrounding us.

The event was also attended by Saikul MLA, Yamthong Haokip as president and Thangjakam Misao chief of Thangkanphai village as chief host (Kut pa).

The Kut celebration” was officially declared opened by chief host followed by a reenactment of paddy harvesting by the chief guest his entourage.

The celebration under the theme “Celebration o Cultural Heritage and Brotherhood”, was orgnaised by Saikul Block Level Kut Committee.

A large number of people from different parts of Saikul block and other parts of the state turned up to witnessed the Kut celebration at the Saikul block ground.

The Kut celebration was marked with musical performances by renowned Kuki artists, cultural troupes including Nepalis, Gorkhas residing in the Saikul area and Miss Kut beauty pageant.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 4

The minister from Chandel representing NPP, Letpao Haokip name has been left out from the plaques of construction of the Autonomous District Council complex, the Women Market at Chandel and the Chamdil Town Hall.

The Chief Minister along with his cabinet ministers, MLAs and executive staff inclusive of the chief secretary went to Chandel district today and held a cabinet meeting, at the same time inaugurating certain developmental works taken out at the district.

During the inauguration and the foundation stone laying, it was noticed that the name of the incumbent minister Letpao Haokip representing Chandel assembly constituency was missing from the various plaques which were inaugurated by the chief minister at Chandel district.

NPP supporters talking to Imphal Free Press stated that that it is welcome that the coalition government led by BJP has taken governance to another step by holding a cabinet meeting for the first time at Chandel. However, the NPP supporters maintained that the name of the minister left out form the various inauguration sites reflects as discriminatory because Letpao Haokip represents the constituency as minister and his name being left out from in the memorial plaques points to political nepotism.

CHURACHANDPUR | Nov 4

Guru Nanak Gurpurab which is also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti was celebrated by the Sikh community in Churachandpur today.

The most sacred festival of the Sikh religion was observed with a backdrop of Guru’s words, ‘Before becoming a Sikh, a Muslim, a Hindu or a Christian, let’s become a Human first “.

The main of event of celebration was held at the 6 Sikh Light Infantry (Sikh LI) army base of Singat sub-division. However it was celebrated widely at Khuga dam, Bliss School of Mata village and other villages near the international borders with Myanmar namely, Zoukhanao, Theigotang, C Lancha and Hiangtham Khanou.

The festivity began with changing the chola or flame of Nishan Sahib, which is a symbol of Sikh religion, followed by Ardas or prayer and the much awaited ‘Guru ka Langer’ which means kitchen of god where a special lunch was served by volunteers from the 6 Sikh LI. The sacred festival was attended by many locals of Singat sub-division at the Khuga battalion head quarter and it was organised for the second time at the same place like last year.

IMPHAL | Nov 4

Chandel district headquarters has become the second hill district headquarters which has hosted a state cabinet meeting after Churachandpur.

In another historic meeting held at Mini Secretariat Complex, Chandel with chief minister N. Biren Singh in the chair, the state cabinet approved the industrial and investment policy of Manipur, 2017.

The policy has been formulated to strengthen the State government’s mission to act as facilitator to accelerate industrial development and its allied sectors in the State through development of infrastructure, enhancement of human resource, provision of incentives, garnering of more investments and establishing a strong and committed administrative support network for all round socio-economic development of the people.     

The cabinet also gave its nod to creation of 32 posts of lecturers or assistant professors in Manipur University of Culture. Moreover, it also gave post-facto approval to the engagement or appointment of 30 lecturers and assistant professors and nine non-teaching staff on contract basis.

 The state cabinet also granted creation of posts of academic staff and non-academic staff for smooth functioning of Manipur State Film and Television Institute.

 The cabinet also resolved to rename the nomenclature of ‘Lungthul-Suangdoh Sub-Division cum TD Block’ as ‘Suangdoh Sub-Division cum TD Block.’

 Later, a review meeting of the development projects of Chandel district was also conducted. Chandel DC, Krishna Kumar made powerpoint presentation at the meeting.

It may be mentioned that the first ever cabinet meeting in a hill district headquarters outside the state capital was held at Churachandpur on July 14.