Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 21: The condition of peasants remains similar to that during the days of the British Raj when they were denied their rights and their futures ruined by different factors, said Jitendra Choudhury, an MP from Tripura.

He was speaking on the occasion of the 66th Loumeegi Numit (Manipur Kanba Numit) at Rupmahal Theater which was organized by Manipur Loumee Marup (All India Kishan Sabha) today.

Choudhury who is also a member of Central Kisan Committee said before independence the conditions of the peasants were in a deplorable state and it remains the same even though they provide enough essential commodities for the people by toiling hard.

Various Prime Ministers have made promises of bringing positive changes to the lives of peasants without any substantive changes till date but the peasants continue to produce numerous agricultural products for the people, he adds.

He further said that farmers could not benefit from the various policies adopted by successive government from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru to the incumbent PM Narendra Modi’s time as a result of the government being inept.

This despite the fact that they made tall claims of providing benefits to the peasants, he adds alleging that successive governments have always neglected the farmers.

With a concern for the welfare of peasants, the government has enacted the Land Reform Act but the act is being implemented only in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, he said, adding that other states which failed to implement the act could not enjoy the benefits provided through the provisions of this act.

Choudhury stated that every year many farmers are losing their lands and those farmers who lost their lands become labourers moving from one country to another and from one state to another.

The government which hasn’t adopted any policies to control such movement of people must come up with a policy, he stressed.

Many people who came to attend the function paid floral tribute to the portrait of Hijam Irawat Singh before the event began.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/tripura-mp-bemoans-the-condition-of-peasants/

IMPHAL, September 21: The 10th Festival of Narrative Arts, 2014 was opened today at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Community Hall, Mekola Bazar.

The festival is being organised by the Theatre Centre, Manipur, Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy and Mekola Dramatic Union.

The inaugural function was attended by social activist and educationist S Manaoton Singh, chairperson Theatre Centre Manipur Wareppa Naba, Mekola Dramatic Union president B Thoibi Devi and advisor Sarungbam Ibobi as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Manaoton said reports of killings and deaths have today become the norm.

Today, we get to hear of killings even among family members for petty matters, he said.

The development we see in technology has distanced friends and relatives, he said and added the more we get developed, the more we are incline to lose our culture.

The conduct of such festivals like this one on narrative arts of Manipur will go a long way in encouraging our culture and traditions even in this digital age, he said.

Wareppa Naba said the festival honours the age old indigenous art form of Manipur.

To safeguard the gradually fading traditions and culture of our society, every individual need to help by chipping in their own ways to promote the culture, he said.

Although conducting such a large festival incurs huge amount of fund, the concerned government department had decided to extend a small amount of funding, he said.

The Arts and Culture director had last year in her speech assured more financial assistance from her department, however, this year the assistance has been only half of what was received last year, he lamented.

He further lauded the women folk of Mekola who provided the refreshment during the inaugural function.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/festival-of-narrative-arts-2014-kicks-off/

IMPHAL, September 21: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has appreciated the State government’s decision to scrap the Gazette Notification for introduction of Village Development Committee and the proposed New Land Use Policy in the interests of the Kuki People in particular and the tribals in general today.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference in Kuki Inn, Imphal, KIM general secretary Khaimang Chongloi stated that KIM has been vehemently opposing the Gazette notification for the introduction of Village Development Committee and the proposed New Land Use Policy as both the policies were incompatible with the extant traditional land norms and practices of the Kukis.

Moereover, the policies could have proved detrimental to the age-old traditional village administration system of the Kukis which has been followed since time immemorial, he added.

KIM has held a series of meetings including consultations participated by various numbers of Kuki chiefs, public leaders and civil society organizations leaders in which the resolution of opposing the policies in toto were taken, avers the KIM general secretary.

Chongloi clarified that the Kukis are not against the State government but only against its policies. The policy of the so-called introduction of the VDCs would certainly make the traditional Kuki chieftainships and its village administration system obsolete.

KIM is deeply concerned about the embezzlement of funds meant for development schemes in the hills and the Kuki dominated areas, he said.

Claiming it unfortunate, he further gave an assurance that they will extend maximum co-operation to the government in its various other development schemes in the future.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur on behalf of the Kuki people once again expresses its sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi led government for calling off its decision to introduce the VDC and NLUP by respecting the sentiments and interests of the Kukis and its traditional customs and cultures.

At the same time, KIM also thanked all the Ministers, MP, MLAs and ADC members from the Kuki community for extending their unflinching support on the issue, Chongloi said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/state-cabinets-decision-cancelling-vdc-nlup-appreciated-kim/

IMPHAL, September 21: Sagolband MLA RK Imo Singh has announced he would take up more development works for the welfare of the people of his constituency.

He made the announcement today at a function organised by the Sagolband Constituency Progressive Committee (SCPC) at his residence to celebrate his completion of two & half years as a member of the State Legislative Assembly today.

Highlighting some of the works initiated by him by utilizing the local area development fund such as the construction of many roads and the installation of 350 street lamps, he said the Chief Minister has also assured to install more from Wahengbam Leikai area to Tera Bazaar.

The drinking water scarcity faced in most parts of Sagolband over the last 10 years has been reduced by providing water to many areas and the remaining areas where the problem still persists will also be soon be provided with water, he said.

The Khongnang Hogaibi has been declared as a protected site by the State government under the Manipur Ancient Historical & Monuments & Archeologist Site & Remains Act, 1976 and the construction will soon begin, he adds.

During the year 2014-2015 under local area development fund, the renovation of the Hanging bridge at Sagolband “Babuthong” will be taken up to make it a historical one, he said asking people to make proposals for any development work.

He also appealed the people living in the State to refrain from creating conflicts under the guise of the ILP issue because any problem could be solved through dialogue and the government is trying its level best to meet the demands.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/rk-imo-vows-to-take-development-to-a-new-level-in-sagolband/