Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 19: The Supreme Court, while hearing a PIL filed by retd director, Health Services, Manipur, Dr Th Suresh Singh regarding the implementation of Article VIII (3) of the Merger Agreement signed between Maharaja Bodhachandra and the Indian Dominion on September 21, 1949, has directed that the petitioner should approach the State High Court.

Addressing a press conference today at the office of the BJP, Manipur Pradesh, the retired director, Health Services said that the double bench of the apex court consisting of Justice BS Chouhan and Justice SA Bobbe has directed the petitioner to first approach the State High Court and take its opinion and to come to the apex court after completing due process at the state High Court.

Dr Th Suresh said that on September 10, 2013 he submitted a PIL at the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of Article VIII (3) of the Merger Agreement particular clause which states “The government of India also undertake to make suitable provisions for the employment of Manipuris in the various branches of the public service. They also under take to preserve various laws customs and conventions prevailing in the state pertaining to the social, economic and religious life of the people”.

He further said that the matter was heard at the Apex Court on the December 17, 2013.

The double bench of the apex court was kind enough to hear patiently the case and observed that it is an important one and deserve further hearing as it involves Merger Agreement.

The bench also observed that around 567 states approximately have also merged into India during the days.

He said that learned Pinky Anand, senior advocate Supreme Court who is working for the BJP will handle the case in Supreme Court after the completion of due process at the state High Court.

BJP Manipur Pradesh will prepare to file the case at Manipur High Court as directed by the Supreme Court, he said.

Meanwhile, former president BJP, Manipur Pradesh, Sh Shantikumar Sharma said that the party is ready to file the case with the state High Court.

He, however, added that the move is not political but has been taken up in the interest of the general public.

Till date the clause included had never been publicised, however, following the case to be filed, the clause will get all the publicity it needs, he said.

If by any chance the hearing of the case goes against the petitioners, than it will mean that the Merger Agreement is invalid and void, which means that Manipur will go back to the status it had before the agreement, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/sc-has-directed-to-approach-hc-on-merger-agreement-pil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sc-has-directed-to-approach-hc-on-merger-agreement-pil

By Ruwngthung Hrangbung

CHAKPIKARONG, Dec 19: In connection with the forth coming Christmas festival, MG-NREGS Job card holders of Chakpikarong Sub-Division in Chandel District today repaired a road stretch from Sugnu to Aigejang village via Chakpikarong Sub-Divisional Headquarters.

The repairing work was started from 9.30 in the morning and continued till 4.00 in the evening under the initiative of 41 A/C Chandel MLA StVictor Nunghlung and SDO/BDO Chakpikarong Hmangte Lerte Kom.

The event was jointly organized by Gunpi Area Kuki Chiefs Ass., Anal Naga Chiefs Association Chakpikarong, Kana Area Kuki Chiefs Association and Kangbunglon Anal Naga Chiefs Association Chakpikarong Sub-Division.

A large numbers of MG-NREGS  Job Card holders including women armed with spade and  shovel came out of the road, cleaning the roadside and filling the pot holes by using sand and pebbles which were transported by shaktiman truck.

While briefing the media persons, SDO/BDO Chakpikarong Hmangte Lerte Kom, said that the road repairing was done voluntarily by the MG-NREGS Job Card holders under the initiative of the local MLA St Nunghlung Victor and organized by both Kuki and Naga Chiefs Association of Chakpikarong Sub- Division.

RD. Thumdang president of Anal Naga Chiefs Assn. Chakpikarong Sub-Division while expressing his gratitude to all the Job Card Holders, SDO/BDO Chakpikarong, Ts. Warngan Social Worker, Maj. Sunil 32 AR Salluk Post for arranging JCBs, also thanked the Shaktiman owners for generously contributing for the said road repairing,

He also appealed to the concerned authority to release 26 days wages of the Job Card holders on or before coming Christmas festival as 30 days work has been completed under MG-NREGS 2013-14.

Later SDO/BDO Chakpikarong accompanied by his staffs and the Naga Students Union Chandel visited the repairing site from Chakpikarong to Sajik Tampak and interacted with the job Card Holders at work.

The officer assured them of releasing 26 days wages of the Job Card holders on or before coming Christmas festival.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/job-card-holders-of-chakpikarong-repair-road/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=job-card-holders-of-chakpikarong-repair-road

IMPHAL, December 19: The Anganwadi centres, run with 100 percent central funding under the Social Welfare department, are in pitiable conditions. There are 1554 anganwadi centres. Buildings of anganwadi centres in Imphal East and Imphal West which were supposed to be constructed under the fourth phase are yet to be constructed. In such a scenario, anganwadi workers and helpers of Keishamthong a/c are seen eating in the fields along with the children.

This was stated by Keishamthong MLA I Ibomcha Singh in the House raising a Calling Attention Motion on failure to properly implement centrally sponsored schemes of Social Welfare department today.

Further in his motion, the MLA also said that it has been nine months, since the distribution of supplementary nutritious items to be provided to the children, pregnant women and feeding mothers stopped.

He also continued that it has been long since the distribution of 10 kg of rice each to the aged persons under the Anna-Purna scheme had stopped.

It would be humilitating if in case someone files a Public Interest Litigation before a court on this issue, he continued.

He further continued that the banks have failed to disperse the amounts for the Old Age pensions in time.

The pensions are provided for months together at a time, he said.

Some pensioners have even died trying to follow the frequently changed rules of the banks and the department, he said.

The problem must be more severe in the hill districts than in the valley districts, the MLA continued.

He further appealed to the concerned department to look into the issues at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/mla-raises-calling-attention-motion-on-failure-of-centrally-sponsored-schemes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mla-raises-calling-attention-motion-on-failure-of-centrally-sponsored-schemes