Manipur Mail – Page 27

Yearlong Silver Jubilee Celebration of NYK Thoubal

With the attainment of 25 years of Nehru Yuva Kendra in Thoubal District, Manipur L. Tilotama, Vice – Chairperson of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India officially launched the yearlong Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the NYK in a function held at the NYKS Zonal Office, Imphal on the 5th July, 2013.
Y. Laksman Singh, District Youth Co-ordinator highlighted the major achievements of the Kendra and Co-ordination Programmes organized by NYK with other Departments / Agency in Thoubal District. A copy of the report of activities were also presented to Hon’ble Vice Chairperson of NYKS, Delhi
Jackie Ruivah, Zonal Director appreciated the efforts made by the Kendra for establishing better linkage and co-ordination with the District Administration for successful implementation of Youth programmes in Thoubal District
On the auspicious ocassion, Km. L. Tilotama Hon’ble VC felicitated Shri. Y. Laksman Singh-District Youth Co-ordinator of NYK Thoubal. Shri Y. Laksman Singh received the prestigious National Award for Best Awareness Campaign from the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
The Award was given to NYK Thoubal for the courage, commitment & commendable service in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse in Thoubal District, Manipur. Km. L. Tilotama advised the Zonal Director and the District Youth Coordinators for preparing suitable project proposals for better implementation of Youth Programmes in North East India.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/yearlong-silver-jubilee-celebration-of-nyk-thoubal/

Man succumbs to injury

IMPHAL, July 6 MNS NNN: A 20-year-old man, who was seriously wounded in a police firing during a commotion that occurred in front of Churachandpur District Police Station on June 30 in the aftermath of the Khuga Dam sex tape video, died here in a private hospital after undergoing treatment for five days.
Lunmisiam Guite, hailed from Jenhang locality under Lamka in Churachandpur district, had been treating in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Shija Hospitals and Research Institute here since he got bullet injuries in the incident that happened when angry local residents tried to storm the district police station in protest against four India Reserved Battalion (IRB) personnel who allegedly captured the sex video clip.
The security personnel reportedly captured the video when a couple was in the act inside a restricted place in Khuga Dam complex in the district a few weeks back.
Meanwhile, Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing visited the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) mortuary to condole the death of Guite on Saturday.
Guite’s body was sent to the RIMS mortuary for autopsy.
Tonsing talking to reporters outside the mortuary said the Government will do everything related to the death and that all the police personnel involved in the firing, which has claimed Guite’s life, will be brought to justice.
Both the Chief Minister and Home Minister will be consulted on the matter, Tonsing assured.
Home Minister Gaikhangam had recently said a case had already been registered with the Churachandpur District Police Station against the four IRB personnel in connection with the incident after being placing them under suspension before taking them into custody.
It had been reported in certain media here that the sex tape video got posted on the internet and went viral.
After the video was found uploaded on the social networking sites, angry local residents of Churachandpur town tried to storm and torch the district police station on June 30. But the police defused the situation by using live rounds and heavy tear gas shells to quell the protesters, wounding one person critically.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/man-succumbs-to-injury/

Old age pension to be put directly to bank

IMPHAL, July 6 NNN: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today said the Government has taken steps to put the Old Age Pension money and that of other benefits into personnel accounts of all beneficiaries in banks directly through the Centre.
Ibobi was speaking during a one-day state level political convention of Mahilla Congress held at the Congress Bhavan here.
The Manipur chief minister said the reason for this move was for the convenience of the pensioners.
Meanwhile, Ibobi emphasized on the need of women participation to accelerate the development pace and enhance the status of women in the society as well.
“Although there is 30 percent reservation for women in the country, it has not been able to fully provide it to them,” he regretted.
The Mahilla Congress is one that can work hard toward that end, he said and mentioned that the Mahillas have great role to play in spreading awareness about the flagship programmes of the UPA Government at the Centre.
He said the district as well as the block level Mahilla Congress Units need to organize mass awareness and workshops on the flagship programmes throughout the state.
Ibobi said with an aim to guarantee all the benefits given under the UPA Government’s welfare schemes to the public, the Government has taken steps to put the Old Age Pension money and that of other benefits into personnel accounts of all beneficiaries in banks directly through the Centre.
The Chief Minister also talked about the current ban imposed on tobacco products in Manipur by the state Government saying that all the Mahillas of the Congress should assist the Government agents to make the ban more effective.
Deputy Chief Minister and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Gaikhangam, Manipur Pradesh Mahilla Congress Committee president RK Ranisana Devi, general secretary MPCC in-charge Mahilla Congress D Korungthang, MP (Outer) Thangso Baite, Deputy Speaker MK Preshow Shimray, MLAs and active workers of Congress were also present during the convention.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/old-age-pension-to-be-put-directly-to-bank/

Voluntary blood donation best means of saving life

MNS: A one-day workshop on voluntary blood donation for media personnel jointly organized by State Blood Transfusion council and MACS was held at Manipur Press Club today.
Dr. L.R.Kom DD/MACS Dr. L. Tomcha Khuman, DD/ MACS Dr. A. Meina Prof. & head dept of IHBT, RIMS, Irengbam Arun, Senior journalist spoke as resource persons.
Dr. Tomcha, said a person can donate blood four times in a year. There is no harm when one donates blood as it can increase the beauty of complexion of the donor. Besides, regular voluntary blood donation can save the donor from various diseases while donating blood, a life can be saved.
He also said while donating blood, one should be checked whether the donor has the symptom of Hepatitis B,C, malaria and syphilis, unhealthy persons, pregnant woman, heart patients etc. should not donate blood.
Dr. M. Meina prof. & head dept of IHBT, RIMS who spoke on blood bank and its functions said there are four blood banks in the state. The govt. has the proposal to set up three more blood bank in Manipur.
Dr. Shailesh kumar Chourasia, project director, MACS in his inaugural speech said, we need blood for many reasons. For an urgent need, we should know the importance of blood. The blood is required at all places. Comparing with other states like Tripura, Mizoram, the states of blood collection in Manipur is very poor. Blood donation camp is mostly done by organized groups but can’t promote it among various people. He also appealed the media both electronic, and print to provide space for blood related news. If we have sufficient blood it can a boon to the population of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/voluntary-blood-donation-best-means-of-saving-life/

Rajiv panchayat sashaktikaran abhiyan will bolster election commissions

Dr. H. R. Keshavamurthy
Director (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Kolkata.
The State Election Commissions constituted under Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution of India have functions, responsibilities and authority to conduct elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies at par with the Election Commission of India. However, the institutions of State Election Commissions have not been strengthened to the extent of the Election Commission of India. This strengthening is central to conducting free, fair and regular elections to the Local Self Governments.
An initiative in this direction was the setting up of a Task Force by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to suggest measures for strengthening the institution of the State Election Commissions. The Task Force submitted its Report on 14th October, 2011. The Standing Committee of State Election Commissioners gave their views on 9th December, 2011. Some of the important recommendations given by the Standing Committee as accepted by Ministry of Panchayati Raj are:
The State Election Commission (SEC) should be authorized under Law to notify the dates to conduct elections, enforcement of codes of conduct, filing of nomination, withdrawal of nomination, scrutiny, final list of candidates etc. The SEC shall appoint polling personnel either by itself or by delegated authorities. SECs should be given the status of a High Court Judge. They should also have the salary, allowances, perquisites and all serving/retirement benefits of a High Court Judge.
The tenure of SEC should be for five / six years or upto 65 years of age whichever is earlier and without any provision for extension.
Personnel from Public Sector Undertakings and Central Government offices located in the State should be drafted for conducting Panchayat elections and in view of the law and order issues, sometimes encountered during the Panchayat elections, central paramilitary forces as in the case of Assembly and Parliamentary elections may be deployed.
SECs should have the flexibility to utilize funds as per their priorities without having to seek approval of the Finance Department of the State Government in every instance. In case of elections, the freeze on non-plan expenditure enforced in the months of February and March should not be applied to SECs and funds of SECs should not lapse at the end of the financial year, as in the case of government departments, as this causes serious difficulties for elections organized in April and May.
In 12th Five Year Plan, the State Election Commissions should be given a grant from the proposed scheme of Panchayat Shashaktikaran Abhiyan (PSA) if the following conditions are satisfied at least by the second year of the Plan: The State Election Commissioner must be full time; He should have a tenure of five / six years or up to 65 years of age whichever is earlier; There should be no provision for extensions; The protection given to the SEC under Article 243K must be available under the state law or rules governing the State Elections Commissions; the SEC must have the status of a High Court Judge.
Allocations for SEC including expenditure on conduct of local self body elections and on administrative expenses should be clearly provided in the States’ main budget, since the period when general election is due is known in advance and SECs should have the flexibility to divert funds between different heads of accounts while incurring election-related expenditure. They should have the flexibility for procurement etc. similar to ECI norms.
Release of funds from Central Finance Commission can be recommended if the conditions like the structure of SEC recommended above and also the following conditions: Panchayats and Municipalities should not be superseded en masse; There must be at least one third reservation for women: Constitution of State Finance Commission; Both direct and indirect elections should be through SECs.
The SECs should call for Observers for elections to Panchayats and Municipalities from the Government of India through Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Urban Development and DoPT who shall work under the supervision and control of the SECs, as is the case with the Election Commission of India.
SECs should be vested with powers for delimitation of wards, reservation of seats and their rotation. The policy of delimitation should, however, rest with the State Government.
Some of the states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand have already given the status of High Court Judge to the State Election Commissioners. It is heartening to see that a State like Mizoram which was not required to have State Election Commission to conduct elections to Village Councils and District Councils has now constituted a State Election Commission and has vested these powers with it.
In order to strengthen the Pahchayati Raj system and also to address critical gaps that constrain it, Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated the Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikran Abhiyan (RGPSA) which will be implemented during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period. RGPSA aims to enable States to strengthen their Panchayati Raj systems in their context by choosing from among a menu of activities. States would have access to funds on the basis of perspective and annual plans prepared under the scheme. States would be required to fulfill the following essential conditions for accessing to funds:
Regular elections to panchayats or urban local bodies under the superintendence of SEC
1/3 reservation for women in panchayats or other local bodies
Constitution of State Finance Commission(SFC) every five years and placement of Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations of the SFC in the state Assembly
Constitution of District Planning Committees in all districts
RGPSA will provide performance linked funds from 2014-15 onwards. Activities that would be supported under RGPSA include: Strengthening of State Election Commission; Administrative and Technical Support at the Gram Panchayat level; Construction /renovation of Gram Panchayat Buildings; Capacity Building and Training of Elected Representatives and Functionaries; Institutional Structure for Training at State, District & Block level; E-enablement of Panchayats, etc.
The funding of RGPSA for State plans is envisaged on a 75:25 sharing basis by the Central and State Governments respectively. For NE States, the ratio will be 90:10. Gross Budgetary support of Rs. 6437 crore has been allocated by the Planning Commission for 12th Five Year Plan period, out of which Rs. 6200 crore is proposed to be spent as Central share for Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan. The schemes of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana(RGSY), e-Panchayat, Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme(PEAIS) and Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA) will be subsumed in RGPSA from 2013-14.
(PIB Features.)

Education free zone

The rally, which was taken out today for making education free zone, under the sponsorship of DESAM, will go a long way in making all concerned realise the hindrances that stand in the speedy promotion of education in Manipur. Some see education as money minting ground, others for exploiting the hapless groups of people, who take up teaching profession. Primary level, junior level education has become very costly affair in Manipur. The absence of Government schools has compelled poor parents to send their children to private schools. A young widow, when she is asked to react about the killing of her husband, say loudly I will not be able to care up my three children without my husband, who is no more. She knows she will not be able to send her children to private schools, which charge escalated fee. Primary level education cannot be left at the mercy of private schools. There should be healthy competition between Government and private schools. Government teachers, who shirk duty must be punished. There are large numbers of teachers, who draw pay without doing anything. If all these shirking Government teachers are fed to private schools while giving pay by Government will the private schools agree to cut down the admission and monthly fees? Private school owners will check the performance of the Government and they in turn will render the service for which they are appointed. Well clad Government school teachers enter dilapidated school buildings, which are kept neglected by the authority. Matching with the condition of the school buildings very few students all poorly clad come to the school. Surely the teachers might be finding awkward to lecture on them. A system needs to be found to ensure that primary level education does not reach the scale of unaffordable. Food security bill and various other schemes introduced by the government are for extending help to the needy people. Then there is RTE. How will poor parents get the benefit of RTE, when there are no properly functioning Government schools in the state capital? In the remote areas the Government schools might be seeing the good turnout of students. Unless policies are introduced to make education vibrant and kicking Manipur will land in a precarious condition in future. It is a serious matter, which should be looked into by the highest authority of the land.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/education-free-zone/

India’s First Dedicated Navigational Satellite IRNSS-1A

M.V.S. Prasad, Joint Director, PIB, Chennai With inputs from ISRO. With the launch of IRNSS-1A satellite, India has joined a select group of nations with indigenously developed navigation systems. India’s first dedicated navigational satellite the IRNSS-1A developed by the ISRO was successfully put into orbit on the night of 1st July 2013.This is the first […]

M.V.S. Prasad, Joint Director, PIB, Chennai
With inputs from ISRO.

With the launch of IRNSS-1A satellite, India has joined a select group of nations with indigenously developed navigation systems. India’s first dedicated navigational satellite the IRNSS-1A developed by the ISRO was successfully put into orbit on the night of 1st July 2013.This is the first of the seven satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Overview of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
IRNSS is an Independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India. It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 Km from its boundary, which is its primary service area. The Extended Service Area lies between primary service area and area enclosed by the rectangle from Latitude 30 degree South to 50 degree North, Longitude 30 degree East to 130 degree East.
IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all the users and Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorized users. The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 metres in the primary service area.
IRNSS consists of a space segment and a ground segment. The IRNSS space segment consists of seven satellites, with three satellites in geostationary orbit and four satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbit. Thus, IRNSS satellites revolve round the earth at the height of about 36,000 km from the earth’s surface.
IRNSS ground segment is responsible for navigation parameter generation and transmission, satellite control, ranging and integrity monitoring and time keeping. Applications of IRNSS include land, sea and air navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, provision of precise time, mapping, navigation aid for hikers and travelers, visual and voice navigation for drivers. It can track people or vehicles and can be of immense use in disaster situations like the recent one in Uttarakhand. Even the Railways may find it useful to track its wagons. Apart from India, its benefits would extend to a range of 1500 km in the region.
IRNSS-1A
The satellite is based on ISRO’s I1K satellite bus and has two solar panels with Ultra Triple junction solar cells that together generate about 1660 Watts of electrical power. A rechargeable Lithium ion battery of 90 Ampere-Hour capacity is also part of the power system of the satellite. Sun and Star sensors as well as gyroscopes provide orientation reference for IRNSS-1A. Special thermal control schemes have been designed and implemented for some of the critical elements such as atomic clocks of the satellite.
The Attitude (orientation) and Orbit Control System (AOCS) of IRNSS-1A maintains the satellite’s orientation and its propulsion system consists of a Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and 12 thrusters. After injection into the circular geosynchronous orbit, the satellite will be located at 55 degrees East longitude with an inclination of 29 degrees with respect to the equator. The mission life of IRNSS-1A is about ten years.
IRNSS-1A was built at ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore with important contributions from VSSC, LPSU, IISU and Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS). The payloads of IRNSS-1A were developed by Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.
Payloads
IRNSS-1A carries two types of payloads – a navigation payload and a ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1A will transmit navigation service signals to the users.
This payload will be operating in 1.5 band (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz). A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
The ranging payload of IRNSS-1A consists of a C-band transponder which facilities accurate determination of the distance to the satellite (ranging). IRNSS-1A also carries Corner
Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.
The other mission, launch of IRNSS 1B navigational satellite will be decided based on the performance and in-orbit testing of IRNSS-1A.
(PIB Features.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/indias-first-dedicated-navigational-satellite-irnss-1a/

Four children rescued

DIMAPUR, July 4 NNN: Four more children from Manipur that include three girls aged 8, 12, 19 and one 15 year old boy were rescued from the ‘home’ of one Rajkumari Ronica Robinson in Jaipur, a former friend of Jacob John, where they were being exploited and kept as a domestic servitude. FXB Surakha India rescued those four children and following that two members of Tangkhul Shanao Long, Delhi (TSLD) went to Jaipur to provide psycho-social support and to counsel the children.
In March this year, 51 children were rescued from the children homes run by Jacob John in Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Delhi (TSLD) informed Newmai News Network that three children hail from Alang village and one from Pungba Khunou who is the senior-most among them.
According to the senior most rescued girl, she would supervise the chores in the house of Ms. Robinson. The 19 years old girl said, she first came to Jaipur in the year 2000 and stayed at the Grace Home, an alleged shelter for children which was run by Jacob John, who was arrested after 51 children were rescued from the ‘homes’ this March.
One of the girls who is 12 years old revealed during the counseling that they were ill-treated and physically abused. The 12 years old girl and 8 years old girl said they were brought to Jaipur by one Mr. Anem from Ukhrul district of Manipur, whose sister is married to Jacob John’s brother. They were all brought to Jaipur for free quality education.
Ms Robinson had rented out to Jacob John from where he was running the Grace Home but they had some altercation over some issues and the two parted ways according to the children. “It is a mystery to us how they were moved from Grace Home to Ms. Robinson Home,” the rescued children added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/four-children-rescued/

Budget session concludes

Imphal Jul 4 MNS UNA : After passing the Manipur Public Servants Personal Liabilities (Amendment) Bill-2013, the extended budget session of the Manipur Assembly which was commenced from June 10 last concluded on Thursday.
The Manipur Public Servants Personal Liabilities Act has been enforcing in the state since 2006. The Act has been enacted with the objective of penalizing government servants for their irregularactions in the form of appointment or engagement of persons, award of works, supply orders, payment of bills, signing and execution of contracts, providing grants, benefits, compensation, and such other acts in the name of government or its agencies.The liability amount would be recovered from the personal incomes including salary and other entitlements of the public servants responsible for creation of such liability under this Act.
The Manipur Public Servants Personal Liabilities (Amendment) Bill-2013 was introduced by chief minister O Ibobi Singh who is also holding the finance portfolio in the house of the state Assembly on July 1, the day on which the house was scheduled to conclude.
Moving the motion for passing the bill, chief minister O Ibobi Singh said that the Act, Manipur Public Servants Personal Liabilities Act, has been in practice since 2006 and the amendment bill was being tabled as the need was arose for making the Act for effective after years of enforcement of the Act. Before the enforcement of the Act, there were a total of 42 cases, which could be deal by such an Act and after the Act was enforced in 2006, there has been a financial liability of Rs 290 crores by the state government from the state government employees. Stating that more than Rs 20 crore was yet to be recovered from government officials who have been found liable for financial indiscipline, he added that, the officials penalized under this Act
were mainly from the state education, home, rural development and panchayati raj departments.The chief minister said that government was deducting 50 per cent of the monthly pay from the serving defaulting officials and in case of pensioners, one third of their monthly pension amount being deducted for the recovery of the liabilit ies.
He further made point by clarification to the observation made by the opposition members on the bill before passing the house unanimously passed the bill.
Following the passing of the bill, Speaker Th Lokeshwar Singh announced adjourned of the session of the house sine die.
The Assembly session which commenced from the June 10 was scheduled to end on the July 1 but was extended till today with a decision of the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly to enable the house to discuss and pass the bill. There were 17 sittings which chief minister O Ibobi Singh who also holds the finance portfolio presented the state deficit budget estimate 2013-14 which proposed Rs 9397.78 crores on the first day of the session.
During the 17 sittings, two obituary references, 102 for star questions, 12 for un-star questions, two short notice, 12 paper presented before the house, 5 committee report, 13 calling attention, one short duration discussion, 13 token cut, one discussion on matter of public interest and one privileged motion were taken up.
The address of the Governor which was given in the first session of this year was discussed and passed a motion of thanks by the house.
Elections for three financial committees were also conducted. Six bills introduced by the Govt were also passed during the session. Election for the post of vacant Deputy Speaker was also held.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/budget-session-concludes/

KSDC to launch economic blockade

IMPHAL, July 4 NNN: The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) has decided to resume and intensify its stir, with the committee announcing bandh and economic blockade along National Highways leading to Manipur from July 8 to 9, but the economic blockade is likely to extend till July 11.
Flaying the Government of India for not realizing its written assurances given to the Kuki people, KSDC spokesperson K Khongsai said, “We have decided to resume our earlier agitation by imposing general strike and economic blockade from 5 am of July 8 to 5 pm of July 9. We may extend the economic blockade stir till 5 pm of July 11.”
Flanked by TS Kuki, vice-chairman, KSDC and its general secretary K Gangte, Khongsai expressed unhappiness over repeated failure of the Government to meet its long-pending demands while talking to newsmen somewhere in Churachandpur district on Thursday.
He said KSDC has taken the decision as it intends to put more pressure on the Government for a peaceful solution for the Kuki community.
“Only the media and medical related activities will be exempted from the purview of the strike,” he said.
KSDC will enforce blockade on Imphal-Ukhrul road, Imphal-Tamenglong road, Imphal-Moreh road, Imphal-Chandel road, Imphal Senapati road, Imphal-Churachandpur road and Imphal-Jiribam road, he said.
Khongsai also said the committee appeals to all like-minded social organizations, sympathizers and supporters, and friends of the Kukis to support the movement for a ‘peaceful solution.’
KSDC had earlier imposed parallel bandh but suspended after the state Government gave it assurance to fulfill its demands by March 2013. The committee has been demanding both the state and Central Governments to start peace parleys with the Kuki armed groups—The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF)—which are signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) involving both the Central and state Governments.
The KSDC spokesperson further said that the committee had on June 16 urged all concerned authorities to begin political dialogue with the KNO and UPF as assured by the Ministry of Home Affairs however it failed.
He said the committee will never negotiate with the Government unless the latter this time gives a fresh assurance on its demands with a fixed date to meet them.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ksdc-to-launch-economic-blockade/

National Youth Award 2011-12

President, Pranab Mukherjee presenting the National Youth Award 2011-2012 to Mrs. Soraishanm Taruni Devi, Manipur, at a function, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on July 04, 2013.5

Mail News Service
New Delhi, July 4 : President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred the National Youth Award 2011-12 on 27 individuals and one organization at a function held at the historic Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Jitendra Singh and several other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. It is for the first time the National Youth awards have been given by the President of India.
National Youth Awards, instituted in the year 1985 are conferred on youth each year who have demonstrably excelled in youth work in different fields of youth developmental activities and social service. The award carries a pure silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 40,000/- in case of individual awardee and Rs. 2.00 lakhs for voluntary organization. The selected young individuals are expected to possess leadership qualities and use them in successfully carrying out voluntary activities in the field of Youth Development. This award is a source of encouragement to the awardees, as well as an example and catalyst to others in future. Selection of Awardees is first made at State level and then at National level. At the National level, a Screening Committee headed by the Joint Secretary scrutinizes the proposals recommended by the State Govt./UT administration at first. These screened proposals are thereafter placed before the Central Selection Committee headed either by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports or Secretary, Youth Affairs that makes the final selection of youth awardees. The Central Selection Committee may, at its discretion, consider on merits, individuals or youth organizations not recommended by a State Government/UT, for the Award.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/national-youth-award-2011-12/

Bandh called to protest killing of NSCN (K) cadres

Burning of effigies of 10 AR personnel in protest against the Shonglong incident.

Imphal, July 4 NNN: A public meeting held today at Noney bazaar in Manipur’s Tamenglong district related to the recent killing of six NSCN-K militants decided to call a 24-hour total bandh in the Zeliangrong tribe majority areas of the North Eastern states including Manipur beginning July 8 midnight.
The meet participated by hundreds of people from different walks of life of the district also called for immediate justice to the families of the victims and an independent inquiry into the incident by instituting an impartial Special Investigation Team (SIT) to book the security personnel under the law of the land.
The 10 Assam Rifles had claimed that the six NSCN-K militants were gunned down in an encounter in Shonglong village about 50 km from Noney bazaar on June 22.
At the same time, the meet urged the Government of India to expedite the Indo-Naga peace talks to resolve the vexed Naga political problem at the earliest.
All the AR posts should be removed from the entire Naga milieu, most of the speakers demanded.
The participants afterward burned effigies of Col Ajay Sharma of 10 AR and Major Gagan in protest against the Shonglong incident.
The public meeting was jointly organised by Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZBM), All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (AZSU), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur (ZSUM).
The six NSCN-K militants killed in the reported gunbattle were Chujanglung Dangmei, Leikampao Thaimei, ST Moningam Anal, Majadi Panmei, Ngoubui Newmai and Laban Rongmei.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bandh-called-to-protest-killing-of-nscn-k-cadres/

Landslide on NH-37 disconnected Imphal with Jiribam

Imphal Jul 4 UNA : Landslide has cut-off Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 at Nungdlan, 70 km towards Imphal from Jiribam in Tamenglong district.
The landslide occurred on the night of June 1 and despite the hectic efforts to clear the mud by the BRTF workers, vehicular movement remained suspended for the last three consecutive days. A source here said that the road was likely to open for traffic by tomorrow.The Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 has been becoming the lifeline of the people of the state after most of the truckers and transporters abandoned the NH-2 owing to various disturbances like blockade and illegal taxes.The Centre was also spending a huge amount of fund to complete repairing work along Imphal-Jiri section of the highway with a target to complete the improvement work by this current year2013. However, the condition of the highway continues to remain in its worst due to poor progress in work .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/landslide-on-nh-37-disconnected-imphal-with-jiribam/

Guilty should be punished in Ishrat Jahan case: Shinde

New Delhi, July 4 (ANI): Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said those guilty of carrying out the alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan should be punished.
“Facts are facts. Guilty should be punished,” he told the media here, when asked about the CBI’s submission to the court in this case.
The Union Home Minister’s comment assumes importance as the Ministry of Home Ministry officials have been maintaining that there was not enough evidence against Intelligence
Bureau Special Director Rajendra Kumar and three others in the alleged fake encounter case.
The Home Ministry has been maintaining that CBI does not have enough evidence to prosecute Rajendra Kumar in the alleged fake encounter case.
The CBI has said that the Ishrat Jahan encounter was fake. The investigating agency, which yesterday filed a chargesheet in the case, contended that the encounter was a joint operation between Gujarat Police and Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, SIB.
The CBI further said that charges have been established against ADGP PP Pandey, suspended police officers DG Vanzara, GL Singhal, Tarun Barot, NK Amin, Anaju Chaudhary and JG Parmar.
The CBI also said that investigation is on against Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau Rajinder Kumar and four officers of the agency. According to the chargesheet, Ishrat Jahan was not a terrorist, but the three others killed along with her had alleged terror links.
No political leader has been named in the CBI chargesheet.
Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old college girl from Mumbai, was killed in an encounter along with three others on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in 2004.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/guilty-should-be-punished-in-ishrat-jahan-case-shinde/

Hmar peace talk on July 18

AIZAWL, July 4 NNN: Even as the present terms of Suspension of Operation (SoO) between the Hmar Peoples Concention-Democratic (HPC-D) and the government ends in July, peace-talks between Mizoram Government and Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) will be resumed on July 18.
Lalbiakzama, Joint Secretary, Home Department of Mizoram disclosed this information.
Continuation of Suspension of Operation which requires extension by July end, is likely to be the main agenda of the talks.
The last meeting between the HPC-D and the government was held in April.
It worth mentioning here that for the first time on February 9, 2011 the Suspension of Operation’ (SoO) was signed betwen the two parties for six months. However, after signing the earlier SoO, the relation between the HPC-D and the Mizoram government experienced a rough weather. In view of that, the SoO was never extended again even after the lapse of the six month period.
Since 1986, the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) has been demanding for the creation of Hmar Autonomous District in Mizoram. In spite of the Peace Accord that was inked between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC, there was no concrete solution to address and redress the rights of the Hmar People. “As a result, the HPC (D) has been continuous the same demand in Mizoram to redress the historical and political injustices. Acknowledging the matter, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) has been pressurising the Government of Mizoram to settle the political issues of the Hmars immediately. Following this and to pursue the unfinished agenda, the Government of Mizoram and the HPC (D) signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) on November 11, 2010 for a period of six months. The SoO document was signed by Lalropui, Army Chief HPC (D) and the Home Secretary Shri. Lalmalsawma, Government of Mizoram,” HPC-D leader L Sangma Hmar had stated sometime in last October.
The Hmar outfit leader had then alleged that the Government of Mizoram had failed to nurture the peace process with seriousness, which resulted in derailing the hard earned peace process.
Taking note of this, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs) continued to pressurise the Government of Mizoram to settle the Hmar political problems. The government of Mizoram digressed from peaceful approach and acted untowardly when the HPC (D) on the other hand, is made to engage in finding the channels for political dialogue with All Party Leaders of Mizoram, he stated. While handing out the carrot, the Government of Mizoram arrested the HPC (D) Army Chief Lalropui and Deputy Army Chief Lalbiaknung from Silchar airport on June 16, 2012 by the Mizoram police. Similarly HPC (D) Chairman Zosangber was again arrested from Delhi Airport by the Mizoram police when he was on his way to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of Mizoram has severely failed to respect the peace process that has seemingly built, the HPC-D had rued.
In the context of Manipur, the HPC (D) political interest is collectively shared with the United People’s Front (UPF), currently under SoO with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur. The UPF demands for an Autonomous Hill States within the state of Manipur. The HPC (D) did not sign the SoO documents in Manipur alone but as UPF, the document is collectively shared and signed along with the UPF members: KNF, KRA (U), UKLF, ZDV and ZRA. The HPC (D) has its designated Camp in Ankhasuo with ninety four (94) cadres enlisted. In Manipur, the HPC (D) will continue to abide by the goals shared within the UPF.
“The HPC (D)’s goals and objectives are independent in all its respective context and is free from the other. The SoO terms and conditions in Manipur, has no validity in other States. Therefore, the HPC (D) Manipur Region is not answerable for the HPC (D) of other regions/States as the HPC (D) Manipur Region is particularly confined in Manipur under UPF,” L Sanga Hmar had also stated.
For all time to come, the HPC (D) Manipur Region as signatory of SoO in Manipur cannot be made responsible or related to any acts of the HPC (D) of other regions, L Sanga Hmar had added.
According to HPC-D leader, after India gained independence, the Hmar peoples are fragmented by different political boundaries, without their consent, and are compelled to negotiate political marginalisation in their respective states – Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. This historical and political subjugation have severely reduced our political entity, distancing us from securing our constitutional rights, stated L Sanga Hmar who is one of the members, Joint Monitoring Group of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement between the Government of Manipur and the Government of India Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC -D).
HPC-D leader L Sanga Hmar had also said last year that the urgent need to realise ‘our constitutional rights to redress our dignity’ as peoples has been the driving force behind the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) objective to demand for ‘Autonomous District Council’ for the Hmar peoples in Assam, Manipur and Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
In the pursuit of securing this end, the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) – Assam Region, has also initiated a political dialogue involving the Government of India and the Government of Assam after laying down arms by 56 cadres of HPC (D) which was hosted by the Government of Assam in the presence of the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at Guwahati on January 24, 2012. The first round of talks of the HPC (D) delegates – Government of Assam – the Central Government was held on September 27, 2012, Sanga Hmar had disclosed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hmar-peace-talk-on-july-18/

The crime that is on the rise

Crime against fair sex is on the rise. That is shameful. The perpetrators of the crime happen to be the relatives of the victims or someone known to the victims. Their thoughtless actions have butchered the trust the fair sex had on men. How can this menace unleashed by male folk be controlled? This has become an added problem. Ours is male dominated society. At hotel at public places the focus of talk is on the ever increasing crime against women. Such type of incident, like elders raping minors or relatives molesting minors did not occur quite often in the past. Now it has become a regular feature. The perpetrators of the crime happen to be fully grown and married man. They cannot grasp the fall out of the crime committed. Animals cannot understand social stigma attached to commission of the crime of such nature. But men are different from animals. If the law is made more stringent will the crime of such be controlled? Nirbhaiya rape cum murder case, which happened in Delhi sent shock wave across the globe. Since then crime against women had reduced drastically in other parts of the country. As if Manipuris have different hearts and minds the incident did not touch our hearts and minds. Manipur continues to hear the news of rape every day. Something needs to be done immediately to understand why such type of incidents happens daily. In the open society such type of incidents do not occur. Ours is a very conservative society where sister in laws cover head with clothes when they move in front of elder brothers-in-law. In the west their people follow different custom and tradition. In this conservative land like ours we had heard the reports of sister-in-law killing brother-in-law for making sexual advances. It shows something is wrong somewhere. It is time the youths and elderly men are taught regularly the need for respecting the emotion of women. Too many of these Manipuri male falk are really foolish. They even play with the emotion of the infants. It is taught in book not to play with the emotion of a child. Yet these grown up male and female ridicule even the small child saying she or he was picked from river or roadside. They continue to play with the emotion of the child until baby cries. Such grown up male will commit heinous crime if they find the occasion. Because they have not learnt anything from what had been told them. Crime against women will be controlled when we all realise the need for respecting feminine gender.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/the-crime-that-is-on-the-rise/

Pir-Panjal Railway Tunnel – Gate Way to Kashmir Valley

H. C. Kunwar
Deputy Director (Media & Communication), PIB, New Delhi.
The Indian Railway added another feather in its cap with the historic milestone of connecting Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region. The Prime Minister dedicated the newly constructed railway line between Banihal (Jammu region) – Qazigund (Kashmir valley) section and flagged off the first DEMU train from Banihal through the Pir Panjal tunnel- the longest transportation tunnel of India, from Banihal Railway
station on 26th June 2013. On commissioning of this section, the first rail link has
been established between the Jammu Region and Kashmir Valley providing all weather connectivity with significantly reduced travel time through the Pir Panjal mountains.
This is an alternative connection between the two regions for the Jawahar Tunnel too, which is often snow bound during the winter months. With this section the distance between Banihal-Qazigund section has been reduced to 17.7 kms by railway line instead of 35 kms long road length. With the completion of this section the Kashmir Valley has come a step closer to being connected to the remaining Indian Railway network, signifying the dedication and resolution of Northern Railway in providing rail connectivity to the farthest corners under its jurisdiction.
Ircon International Ltd., a PSU under the Ministry of Railways, has been the principal executing agency for Northern Railway to execute the work of Dharam-Qazigund Section of USBRL Project through an agreement signed in 2004 which includes planning, survey, design and construction of the entire project. The Kashmir Valley railway is a 119 km long modern railway line that became completely operational in October 2009. So far it is an island railway, not yet connected to the Indian Railway network. It connects Baramula in
the western part of Kashmir to Qazigund at the other end of the Valley, via Srinagar.
The extension of this railway line beyond the Pir Panjal mountains in to the Jammu region provides connectivity between the new railway section Qazigund-Banihal.
On 28th December, 2012, the first trial run train was operated on this section which is 17.7 kms long, of this 6.5 km is on cutting and embankment including bridges.
This section mostly consists of a 11.2 km long, Tunnel T-80 which pierces through the Pir Panjal range, providing a direct rail connection between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. About 11,78,500 cubic meters of earthwork in cutting and filling has been done.
The maximum depth of cutting on this section is 15.20 meters and maximum height of embankment is 16.70 meters. 39 bridges have also been constructed in this section which include two major bridges, 30 minor bridges and 7 Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges.
The total expenditure of Rs. 1691.00 cr. has been incurred by the railways to complete this section.
Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (Tunnel T-80) has been provided the State of the Art systems with CCTV
cameras at every 62. 5 m, linear fire detection system, fire fighting system with fire hydrants at every 125 m, emergency telephone with communication to control room at every 250 m, fire extinguishers and fire alarm at every 250 m, air quality monitoring system at every 500 m, escape route signs to guide the shortest escape route in emergency at every 50 m, emergency lighting and normal lighting and public address system. A 3.0 m wide road along the track for rescue and maintenance purpose has been constructed with a 772.0 m long escape tunnel to provide additional escape route. Tunnel ventilation system has been provided which consists of 25 fans along the tunnel, installed in the ceiling of tunnel in groups of 5 each.
Falling in difficult and mountainous terrain, the State of Jammu & Kashmir has always been a challenge to transportation providers. Other factors which increase the difficulty in providing modes of mass transportation is that the area is geologically unstable, prone to tremors and earthquakes, with deep gorges alternating steep between rocky mountains. For any construction activity, the weather is quite inclement too. Long months of incessant rains and heavy snow can put life on hold for many. But there is a positive fall out of this difficulty too. The residents of these areas have evolved fine traditions in handicrafts in the periods of being home bound and have made established themselves as the finest craftsmen in the world.
Northern Railway has worked in these circumstances and has created the most modern railway line in the Kashmir Valley which provides economical, all weather connectivity. This is something the residents appreciate, especially when other facilities grind to a halt in deep snow. While building this railway line, Northern Railway have to cope with the difficult terrain, geology and the weather. Since it was found to be imperative to complete this railway line at the earliest, construction was started simultaneously at
different sites and as the stretch in the Kashmir valley rail link was completed before the rail link which
would connect it to the remaining Indian Railway network, all rolling stock and other equipments required
for construction and running of trains was transported by road and reassembled once it had reached there.
But the result is gratifying.
The commissioning of this section would help realize about 114 year old dream of connecting Jammu region with Kashmir valley. It was Maharaja Pratap Singh who first explored the possibility of connecting Jammu to Kashmir Valley with a Railway Line way back in 1898.
(PIB Feature).

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pir-panjal-railway-tunnel-gate-way-to-kashmir-valley/

MLA’s cousin killed

A cousin of Manipur Congress MLA was found murdered this morning in Chandel district.
According to reports received, DK James (57), s/o late DK Koin of Laiching Minou, Machi Block of Tengnoupal subdivision, Chandel district was found murdered some 2 km away from his village at around 9:30 am.
Deep cut marks were found in his head and neck, said the reports.
DK James alias Mosilpha, the first cousin (brother) of Tengnoupal assembly constituency MLA DK Korungthang, had left home for Imphal this morning, according to his family members.
A case has been registered in this connection.
Meanwhile, civil organisations of Chandel district have formed a joint action committee in this regard and have demanded from the government to book the culprits within 48 hours or else intense form of agitation will be taken up.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mlas-cousin-killed/

Maoist claims responsibility for bomb attack

Imphal Jul 3 UNA : The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur Wednesday owned up the bomb blast at the residence of chairman of the Board of Directors of Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank (IUCB) at Koirou Leikai in Imphal East district on last Monday night. Claiming the blast incident, a statement signed by its publicity and propaganda secretary Nonglen Meetei, alleged IUCB chairman of involving in “massive corruption, appointment of relative to the banks fraudulently” and for his high handedness towards the party cadres.
The bomb they have triggered at the residence of the chairman was a remote control one and was planted by the cadres of the party. It has been triggered at the midnight taking care of casualty to be affected to the neighbours.
The statement, however, clarified its cadres had not use any gun and the gun shot that was reportedly heard by the locality was fired out by the chairman Thokchom Dilipkumar and his men.
The statement further said that the Maoist had already aware the people about the misconduct of the chairman Dilip.
He had appointed his own two sons as employees of the bank within this short span of two years as chairman by tempering the address of his sons. Besides this he had appointed 40 persons so far in the bank without following the rules and regulations of the bank.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/maoist-claims-responsibility-for-bomb-attack-2/

Tangkhul bodies against DC

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 3 : The Tangkhul Frontal Organization comprise of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), Tangkhukl Shanao Long (TSL) and Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) issued a press release today urging the government for immediate transfer of the Deputy Commissioner Ukhrul, R. Sudhan on or before 10th of July 2013 failing which intense agitation will follow suit and for the outcome of any consequences the government will be held responsible.
It has been over a years that Ukhrul District Administration has failed in all fronts to cite some, killing of two Kongkan hunter by UNLF, the Napetpali incident, accidental death of SSA staff inside the mini secretariat, partying inside mini secretariat, transit camp compound, encouraging drugs and alcohol sale and trafficking etc. It charged that the DC is irregular. How could a district administrator attend his office for one or two days in a week it questioned . He does not wish to be associated with any Social organization to solve any problems as the administrator of the district. More horrible is the use of abusive language and putting VDF in the lock-up. The VDF were on duty to safeguard the mini secretariat when some SDOs were partying with some girls inside mini secretariat, transit camp. After bearing for long hours the officials never stop partying loud. That compelled the VDF to intervene the situation. Surprisingly, the DC, instead of chastening the officials he sent the police force to arrest the VDF. We were wondering why and from which head/source he is spending such a huge amount on composite inspection team (CIT) unnecessarily when the people are deprived of development fund. Is the Deputy Commissioner posted here to destruct our community by implementing divide and rule policy?
The use of teachers under ZEO and ADC, in-service teachers of school are utilized as the SSA staffs without replacement to the parent school has immensely affected the students’ career.
The require percentage to be deducted from the office for (VAT/C ess,ect.) were already deducted from the first installment under BADP scheme. However, the DC again deducted another 2/3 amount from the final bill in the name of miscellaneous taxes that really shocked the entire populace of concern denizen. Moreover, the DC deducted unreasonable amount of Rs.SOOO/from all the agencies for painting of signboard. Are such not a type of extortion and daylight robbery?These are some and few question why the Frontal organization requests the concern authority to transfer the extortionist Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ukhrul. Failing the ultimatum, the Frontal Organization will compel to take up the last resort of agitation until the genuine demand is meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tangkhul-bodies-against-dc/