Day: November 28, 2017

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Members of Press Council of India (PCI), Press Association, Indian Journalist Union (IJU) and Editors Guild of India, who visited the State to take part in the two-day Inter-Regional Media Interaction Programme, called on governor Najma Heptulla at Raj Bhavan here today.

The delegates presented a memento from Press Association to the governor. The team recounted recommendations of the interaction programme between Myanmar and India held from November 27-28 at Hotel Imphal.

Later, the team also met chief minister N. Biren at the CM’s secretariat. The senior journalists not only had a candid interaction with the CM but also presented him a memento. They urged the chief minister to improve road connectivity.

Jiri News Network

JIRIBAM | Nov 27

While the BJP-led state government is trying to bring unity, fraternity and equality among the hills and valley people of the state, many government schemes are found to be not properly delivered to the people of Pangkotphai village of Tamenglong district.

The official data record of the number of households of Pangkotphai village under Tousem sub-division of the district was found to be mismatched with the actual number of households, when a media team visited the village and scrutinised the official record.

The media team noticed that the actual number of houses in the village is seven with a total population of 30 people. However, according to the government’s census record, there are 23 houses with total population of 87 people in the year 2011. Moreover, according to official records, there are 48 numbers of job card holders under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the year 2013-14.

The team also found in the official records that each job card holders had received a sum of Rs. 19,808 for five years from 2008 to 2014, whereas, as per official record, the total expenditure amount was Rs. 20,91,482.2 and the total MC and wages was Rs. 25,42,719.2. However, the villagers had not procured the benefits appropriately but extra numbers of people were included in the government record.

To dig out more information regarding the contrasting records, the media team made an effort to meet the village chief but the attempt failed. Later, the team interacted with one of the locals and he revealed that there are only seven houses in the village with a total population of only 50 persons. He continued that fund has already been sanctioned for the month of October this year under MGNREGS but the card holders have received wages only for two days, which is Rs. 500.

It is worth mentioning that there could be irregularities in delivering funds to the deserving villagers by some government officials by teaming up with village chief or authority. A joint survey of government officials, CVOs and media person is highly needed in the particular remote areas to stop the unfair practice and make the state free from the cluster of corruption.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Manipur’s famous traditional water sport ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ (Boat Racing) was held today as part of Sangai festival at Wangkhei Thangapat Imphal East.

Education Minister Thockchom Radheshyam Singh who attended the program as the chief guest said ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ is a traditional sport of the state. He expressed fear that in the coming days the rich tradition and culture of the state might get engulfed by the surge of modernisation.

He urged the organising committee not to stop organising such types of events for the sake of the future generation.  

The education minister asserted that during the ancient times in the state, water transport was one of the most common ways of transport.

While speaking on the occasion as the president of the function, the titular king of Manipur Leisemba Sanajaoba said the game has been played to recall the traditions and culture of the state.

He said that during the reign of King Hiyangloi Ningthou it became a sport. He mentioned that the beginning of the race dates back to the states folklores during the time of Luwang Ningthou Punsiba who crafted the first boat in the land.

He cited that the game fell into oblivion for over a century and during the reign of Maharaja Chandrakriti the game resumed. The game was followed by his son Budhachandra, he added.

He said that in the next year’s Sangai festival there will be no more issues while organising the ‘Hiyang Tanaba’ as the venue has been fixed to be held at the same place. Pointing out that the canoes used in the game were borrowed, he appealed to the government to provide canoe to be used in the game in the next edition of the festival.

The event was attended by chairman directorate of tourism, Rajen Sapam Singh, Mayang Imphal MLA Kongkham Robindro Singh, Sekmai MLA Heikham Dingo Singh, Yaiskul MLA Th. Satyabrata Singh and Thockchom Eliza Singh attended the event as the guest of honour.

The event was organised by Manipur Artist Association with the department of tourism.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Lamphel Super Market Development Joint Committee, a committee of vendors at Lamphel market voiced their strong opposition against the recent announcement made by chief minister N. Biren Singh to construct a separate market at Lamphel for the Mao community.

A handful of the agitating women vendors today marched towards the chief minister’s bungalow this morning but police stopped them from further proceeding near Nupi Lal Memorial Complex.

Later selected representatives of the market committee were allowed to table their memorandum to the chief minister’s office.

The memorandum strongly condemned the chief minister’s decision to construct separate Mao Market at Lamphel Super Market in Imphal West.

It said the development joint committee would appreciate if the government takes up step to construct market for every community besides appealing to construct temporary market during the construction of markets of all communities.

It is learnt that about a total of 800 vegetable vendors and business runners are running the Lamphel market under the sky. The development committee has been reportedly urging the government to construct a new market complex in tandem with the planned Mao Market at Lamphel.

The memorandum also urged the chief minister to provide license and necessary documents to the vendors at Lamphel.

The vegetables vendors from Mao come to Nagamapal on Tuesdays and Fridays after their market was shifted earlier following Southern Angamis of Nagaland launched a blockade against their community on June 23, 2015. The Southern Angamis of Nagaland imposed the blockade after the Mao opposed the construction of a road by Nagaland in the Manipur portion of Dzukou Valley along the Manipur-Nagaland border.

Due to traffic congestion at Nagamapal the Mao vendors shifted their market at Lamphel Supermarket and Tera Keithel. Some of them are still selling vegetables and fruits at Nagamapal.

The chief minister made the announcement to construct Mao Market at Lamphel market area at the cost of Rs 1-2 crore soon, at the inaugural function of the 3rd Flower Festival cum Manipur 1st Cherry Blossom Festival held at Kayinu Village, Mao Gate, Senapati on Saturday.

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Nov 28

Locals residing at the downstream of Thoubal Multipurpose project dam, which is built at the source of Thoubal River, went into panic when they were notified by the authorities concerned that the water being held up by the dam will be released in a few days.

In this regard, advisor of Moirangpurel Panthoibi Youth Club, Sobha Hijam who lives at Moirangpurel village located at the downstream said the people who had been residing at villages like Moirangpurel, Tumukhong and Itham used to earn their livelihood by collecting sand from the river before the multipurpose project dam was built.

The work at the river used to give support to many poor families, and help the education of their children. The sand collected from Moirangpurel village, was quite popular as “Moirangpurel gi leingoi.” However, the black sand ran out in the last two years after the dam blocked the river and it was no longer found in Moirangpurel and Tumukong villages, he said.

It may be mentioned that the people who were facing the odds, having no other means of living, turned to collecting the red sand from the hills to go on with their lives. But unfortunately, the forest department put a ban to their work. Since, they have no other means of living they are now struggling very hard to make both ends meet.  

 She further said what came out of the blue, is the notification being given to the villagers by the workers of IFCD department, that the water on the other side of the dam will be release towards the downstream in a few days.

Leaflets that warned the villagers to remain alert were handed out. Upon asking the workers of the department as to why the water was going to be released, they were told that some of the pipes had been blocked up and they needed to release the water for cleaning the pipes.

The reason why the villagers are getting panicked at the notification is that the released water from the dam will submerge most of the paddy fields and destroy it. The villagers are losing their sleep as the water will not allow the fields to grow any vegetables after the harvesting is done.  All their dreams of earning some extra money in the winter season are put at peril.

Making the situation even worse, if the water is released the villagers of Moirangpurel will no longer be able to cross the river as there are no bridges and this will directly cut off all means of earning to a lot of people.  

The locals appealed to the government to send in an expert team and take a detailed survey before the water is released and its potential dangers.

From A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

The 2-day inter regional media interaction programme between Myanmar and India which began yesterday at Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal ended today with seven recommendations unanimously adopted by the delegates and participants of the meet.

The recommendations includes further stronger relationship between India and Myanmar: to support the implementation of Act East Policy, visa-free regime between the two countries, particularly for media fraternity, to conduct more media exchange programmes in the future, to vouch for better transport facilities between Myanmar and India, to utilize all possible media resources for free flow of news, and to boost tourist circuit between the two nations.   

Prior to the adoption of the said recommendations, three sessions were held.

In the first session, director, ISBD, ministry of science & technology, Dinabandhu Sahoo, dwelt on the importance of cautious implementation of Act East Policy, taking into consideration the unique biodiversity of the region.

He urged the media fraternity to focus on environmental issues and science & technology and also remarked that without a state of the art infrastructure in the area, Act East Policy cannot be implemented successfully.

In the same session, news editor, AIR Imphal, A.Ibomcha Sharma deplored the lack of attention on NE India by the national media and also stressed the need for a change in policy outlook towards the states in the Northeast. He also pitched for joint media ventures and intercultural communication amongst India and the Asian nations.

In another session, on capacity building of media personnel in Myanmar and India, San Muang Than highlighted the power of media in sensitising the world of the 2007 uprising in Burma calling for an end to military rule. He also mooted for further support from India in equipping the journalists in Myanmar.

Concerning the Act East Policy, secretary general, Editors’ Guild Manipur, Rupachandra Yumnam explicated the need for media personnel in both Myanmar and India to gauge the dynamics of trade and the political changes sweeping across not just between the two countries, but in the entire Asian region.

Throughout the entire meet that was held since yesterday, all the panellists vouched for more people to people and media to media interactions between the two countries. Noted media personnel, Kosuri Amarnath, even mooted a necessity of creating an Indo-Burmese news agency to facilitate communications in the region.

Lastly, member of Myanmar Journalists Network, Zaw Khan Hein, remarked, “Journalists don’t need to wait for government’s push. They themselves have to take initiatives.”

The said recommendations which were adopted today was read out by the general secretary, Editors Guild of India, Prakash Dubey, in the presence of the delegates from Myanmar, Press Council of India, Editors’ Guild of India, students from Mass Communication department, MU, & State Institute of Journalism, DIPR, along with the media fraternity of the state.