Manipur News

Come November 30, 2013, and the State Cabinet has to update the status of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the seven Assembly constituencies in Imphal municipality. After the series of bomb blasts in Imphal recently where human fatalities occurred, the state administration had made veiled threats that the escalation in violence will be damaging to its case in defense of keeping away the Act from Imphal municipality. The follow-up public statements given by political heads of the state tried to give the false impression that it is succumbing to steady pressures applied from the Centre to review its decision. At the same time, a proscribed organization created more frenzy to the debate on the possibility of re-introduction of AFSPA while making a claim that the series of bomb blasts was orchestrated by the security forces to create a suitable atmosphere for drawing a conclusion that the ‘disturbed tag’ was justifiable in the seven Assembly constituencies of Imphal as well. In retrospection, the public did receive the whole episode in a casual manner. They did not perceive the dangerous prospect of the return of the draconian law and rightly so.  In many ways, using the series of bomb blast as a justification for re-introduction of AFSPA in the seven ACs will be illogical. One of the reasons is that the recent violence was not restricted to the areas from where the Act had been lifted. The menace of bomb blasts has cast its shadow at Ukhrul and Bishnupur among other places where the Act is very much in force.

Moreover, the re-introduction of AFSPA will lead to an instantaneous rejuvenation of the anti-AFSPA movement which seemed to have hit a small bump following the squabble involving the Just Peace Foundation. Public unrest and violence and a massive challenge for the whole apparatus of the administration is predictable. In all probability, the Cabinet meeting will go through the motion of discussing the pros and cons of extension of withdrawal of the Act from the constituencies. However, there is unlikely to be polarization of opinions or long-drawn discussion owing to lack of consensus or even indecisiveness in drawing a decision. The topic of the spurt in violence in the seven constituencies will indeed be touched. But the decision on November 30 will be pretty straightforward. Nobody can fault the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues for sticking to the existing state of affairs, not even the Centre. The foreboding of violence will be the savior for the Cabinet.     

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/11/single-choice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=single-choice

Leader Writer: Vedajit Yumnam

In Manipur blood donation sessions take place at various places such as health centres, local community centers, clubs, educational institutions etc so as to generate awareness among masses and to promote voluntary blood donation. Mega blood donation camps are also held on special occasions and special days like World Blood Donor Day, Red Cross Day, and Independence Day and on festivals besides the camps on the regular daily basis. World Blood Donor Day which is recognized by The World Health Organization  falls on June 14 each year to promote blood donation. Karl Landsteiner  who discovered the ABO blood group system was born on June 14. The tenth anniversary of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) was celebrated on June 14, 2013 on the theme “Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood”. Factories cannot make or produce blood so awareness of blood donation needs to be raised and there is a necessity for generous blood donors to contribute towards the society and save precious lives. The short shelf life of most of the components of blood used for transfusions leads to a persistent problem. Organizing blood donation camps is indispensable for fulfilling the demand for the continuous supply of blood.

 People who want to donate blood have to meet some criteria. Certain formalities have to be gone through before potential blood donors give blood. They – the blood donors – must be, in short, healthy persons. The blood which is collected is more often than not stored in a blood bank. Blood is a vital component of the body that the loss of an excessive quantity of blood can lead to death and it is the fact that human blood has no substitute and blood donated by blood donors can save precious human lives. And it is imperative to motivate people to give blood and save human lives. Tens of thousands of units of blood are required on the daily basis to save life.  Perhaps sickle cell patients need repeated blood transfusions throughout their lives. As many as 100 units of blood can be required by a single vehicle accident victim. Blood donation is one of the noble and commendable contributions you can make. Blood transfusions are necessary for surgery and for the treatment of vehicle accident victims, sickle cell patients and so on. Only human beings can donate and provide blood for transfusing into human beings. The blood donor-you are appreciated. Donate blood to save life; life is beyond price.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/11/blood-donation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blood-donation