Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 13: The first Shija Healthy Baby Competition was organized successfully today at Shija Hospitals & Research Institute.

The competition was adjudged in three different age groups, children below 1 year, 1 to 2 years and 2 to 5 years in male and female categories. The total number of children participated in the competition was 179.

Renowned actress Surbala Hijam was the special guest of the competition, who gave away prizes to the winners at the end of the competition in the presence of the parents.

As part of the competition, Vitamin A supplements was administered free of cost during the comtetition to children above 6 months old and Albendazole (a de-worming medicine) to children above 1 year.

During the award distribution function, Dr T Yaikhomba, Consultant pediatrician and neonatologist, Shija Hospitals & Research Institute delivered an awareness speech on nutrition and laid emphasis on immunization schedule and exclusive breast feeding for 6 months.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/shija-healthy-baby-competition-held/

IMPHAL, September 13: K.B. Pangambam, proprietor of M/s K.B.Enterprises, a leading tour operator of Manipur, has apprised the Chairman & Managing Director of Air India Ashwani Lohani of make Air India`™s International Flight operational from Imphal International Airport.

A written request was submitted to the CMD in this regard, according to a statment of the enterprise.

It said representatives of the two had met rerecently during the Interactive Luncheon Meeting organized by the Indian Association of Tour Operators, IATO on September 12 at Park Hotel, Parliament Street New Delhi.

The meeting was also attended by Union Tourism Secretary, Government of India Vinod Zutshi and Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (Language) Girish Shankar among other high ranking officials.

The statement expressed that the meeting with the three Union Secretaries was very positive and was also a good opportunity for the enterprise as well as for the State of Manipur which is facing many hurdles in the development of tourism sector.

It may be mentioned that all the three Union Secretaries were recently appointed on August 31 this year.

K.B. also presented Sangai Mementos and traditional Lengyang Phi to the three Secretaries during the meet, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/cmd-air-india-apprised-of-starting-international-flight-from-imphal/

IMPHAL, September 13: Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will be celebrating its 44th foundation day on September 14.

Established as Regional Medical College, Imphal in the year 1972 and presently renamed Regional Institute of Medical Sciences is an institute catering to the healthcare needs of the country particularly North Eastern Region in the field of imparting undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate (MO/MS/MCh) medical education and providing healthcare facilities.

It trains personnel in all important branches of medical specialities including dental and nursing. A total of 172 B.Sc Nursing and 137 BOS students are also on the roll at present.

The institute is affiliated to Manipur University, Canchipur and is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and also fulfils the prescribed norms of the Medical Council of India (MCI).

With an annual admission of 100 MBBS and 147 Postgraduate students, the institute had produced 3003 MBBS doctors and 1199 MO/MS postgraduate doctors as on March 31in different specialities including super speciality (MCh) departments of Urology and Plastic Surgery.

The institute undertakes various research activities or projects in different specialities and presently 21 projects are continuing under various funding agencies like OBT, ICMR, NACO, GFTAM, UN office on Drugs and Crime etc.

The institute also organizes seminars, conferences, workshops and CMEs in various departments from time to time. A total of 216 publications were made by faculty and staff of the institute during the year 2014-2015 in reputed national and international journals.

The outpatient department (OPO) and inpatient department of the institute have been rendering yeomen service to the patients of the region in its 1074 bedded hospital. Moreover, the institute has medline access from WHO, Telemedicine centre, Regional Medical Library and Advanced Hospital Management System.

A total of 65 awards and prizes are conferred to meritorious students every year.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/rims-to-celebrate-44th-foundation-day-today/

KANGPOKPI, September 13: The annual Kuki Black Day or Sahnit Ni, in local dialect, was observed today in different parts of the globe in remembrance of the Kuki victims during the alleged coordinated attack on the innocent Kukis, including small children and women, by the NSCN (IM) of the 90s in the last century.

As part of the Kuki Black Day observation, various Kuki Christian communities within Kangpokpi also observed the day with a mass prayer in their churches to commemorate the alleged inhuman massacre of over 900 innocent Kukis between 1992 and 1996 by the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaac-Muivah) especially on the September 13, 1993.

Apart from a mass prayer in the morning service, members of Kanggui (Kangpokpi) Christian Church, donned in black clothes gathered again in the Church at 11 am and observed the day to mourn the massacre victims.

Rev J Lunkim, Pastor Kanggui Christian Church underlined the historical background and significance of the `Black Day` observation and pledged that until the last ritual of all the innocent Kuki victims massacred by the NSCN-IM is performed traditionally and Government of India deliver justice upon them, the Black Day observation will continue.

He said that the observance is not against anyone but to commemorate and mourn the victims and also to pressure the government to take specific measures to deliver justice to all the victims.

“™We are not mobilizing to generate hatred in our minds, but to seek justice for the departed souls. Stay at peace as children of God and you are never denied justice”, Rev. J. Lunkim asserted while encouraging the church members to maintain peace and indulge in prayers for the departed souls.

A candle light service was also held to pay homage to the departed souls before a mass prayer for justice to the victims.

Other churches within Kangpokpi including KBC Centre Church also observed Kuki Black Day with a mass prayer for the victims and their families while paying homage to the departed souls.

The Kuki Black Day or Sahnit Ni was also observed by Kangpokpi Town Committee in collaboration with the Women Welfare Organization and Youth Union of the town.

The Black Day observance in the town also meant that all business establishments were vacant and every household hoisted black flags and almost all donned in black cloths and vehicles moved around with black flags fixed on it.

A massive candle light service was also held at the memorial site later in the evening at 6 under the leadership of the Town Committee wherein Rev. J. Lunkim, Chairman of Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship; Seikhomang Khongsai, President of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and Maj Huidrom Niranjan, Post Commander 25 AR Kangpokpi Post attended the function.

Apart from the general public and members of KTC, KWWO and KYU, various CSOs, churches leaders, family members of the victims were also present at the Candle light service.

A large number of Kukis converged at Tribal Market Complex, New Lambulane Imphal, under the banner of KSO Imphal and Kuki Inpi Imphal today, joining a solemn ceremony in remembrance of the innocent Kukis killed during the NSCN-IM led ethnic cleansing in the early 90s, said Seiboi Haokip, General Secretary KSO GHQ.

He continued that the congregation led by Rev S. Prem Vaiphei observed a two minutes silence in remembrance of the departed souls and mass prayer for peace and tranquillity in the State.

Prominent leaders from the community, Dr. T. Lunkim, Chairman of Kuki Organization for Human Rights (KuHUR) and Mr. S Touthang, President of Kuki Inpi Imphal spoke on the occasion, he said.

September 13 is observed as Kuki Black Day (SAHNIT NI) since 1993 in remembrance of more than 900 hundred innocent Kukis killed during early 90s in NSCN-IM led ethnic cleansing on Kukis. It was the day when maximum numbers of Kukis were killed at different incidents, recalled Seiboi Haokip.

Zoupi village lost 88 villagers, Gelnel villagers in Sadar Hills lost 13 villagers, Santing village lost 4 villagers and Nungthut village in Tamenglong lost 3 villagers, he said, adding that altogether the death toll of the day reached 108 on September 13, 1993.

He said, `Observing September 13 as Black Day has nothing bad intention on any communities or ignite communal hatred, yet we feel it is a moral obligation for every Kukis to observe and remember our innocent brethren who died protecting their lands`™`™.

As such, we observed it as a day of prayer in every village praying for our future and to avert such unwanted incident in future`, said Seiboi Haokip.

Seiboi Haokip also lamented that with the onset of September a social networking giant Facebook group photos of Chin-Kuki group having thousands members `Kuki Kahi Kakipah E` (I`™m Proud to be Kuki) has gone black with `Kuki Black Day` inscribed on it, while group members mostly students, employees and professionals have too blackened their prolife pictures to commemorate and pay tribute to the 900 plus Kukis killed during the early 90s ethnic violence.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/kuki-black-day-widely-observed-at-kangpokpi/

BISHNUPUR, September 13: Vanguard of Initiatives and Cues for Ereicha (VOICE) HQ Ningthoukhong organized a peace rally under the theme `Lets Unite`™ at Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur district today.

Retired Assistant Teacher of Ningthoukhong High School L Dwijamani and social worker Th Ibomcha jointly flagged off the rally from Ningthoukhong Public Park.

A public meeting was also held at the public park during which oath taking of members of VOICE was conducted.

Organizing a grand feast and musical concert were also organized to mark the occasion.

`Let`™s unite to save Ereciha`™, `To develop a sound society`™, `To spread our wings`™, `To awake up from sleep`™, `To support smart Ningthoukhong`™ etc were displayed during the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/voice-ningthoukhong-rallies-for-peace/