Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 16: A two-day national workshop on sustainable development of medicinal plants sector in North East India, organised by Manipur Forest Department, was inaugurated today at the RIMS Jubilee Hall.

The State Chief secretary PC Lawmkunga, Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, Nilanjan Sanyal and former Governor of Chhattisgarh, Shekhar Dutt attended the inaugural function as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Organisers said the workshop intends to promote the marketing of the medicinal plant and products extracted from them in the North Eastern region besides exploring the potential of the medicinal plants.

In his address as the chief guest, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga said Manipur has more than 6500 plant species out of which around 1200 are medicinal plants and its medicinal plants have a lot of potential.

He further stated that the Union government is mainly focusing on NE including Manipur because their geographical positions have made them the gateway to South Asian countries and Manipur is playing a leading role in the utilization of medicinal plants. He also urged the AYUSH authorities to help the State in exploring the medicinal plants.

In his presidential speech, AYUSH secretary Nilanjan Sanyal said the ministry is initiating various steps to increase the number of the highly used medicinal plants as well as to uplift the livelihoods of the marginalized people through the cultivation of medicinal plants in the fringes of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, former Chattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt said that the workshop will highlight the importance of using medicinal plants in human development as well as the extensive use of medicinal plants increasing the life expectancy of the people.

He also appealed the gathering to explore the potential of medicinal plants in the NE region to develop the livelihoods of the people.

Six experts namely T Gapak of Arunachal Pradesh, Dr L Promila of Manipur, AK Srivastava of Meghalaya, Tiakaba Jamir of Nagaland, Dr Pritam Bhattacharjee of Tripura and Dr Arunkumar Sharma from the college of horticulture and forestry at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh gave an overview of the medicinal plants sector in North Eastern states in the day`™s first technical session which was followed by another session on global and national scenario of medicinal plants. The workshop will conclude tomorrow.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/national-workshop-on-sustainable-development-of-medicinal-plants-begins/

IMPHAL, February 16: The State unit of the Lok Janasakti Party will pressurise the Central government to repeal AFSPA, 1958 from Manipur and to streamline the disparity of PDS items in the State very soon, stated L Kheroda Meetei, the Central advisor of the LJP, Manipur.

Speaking at a press meet at North AOC, Minuthong near MMTA complex, L Kheroda said various political parties of the State have raised their voices for the repeal of AFPSA, 1958 from the State. The incumbent Congress government has the power to repeal AFSPA but unfortunately it is not interested in getting the Act repealed.

She further lashed out at the government for intentionally imposing AFSPA till date in the State. It is within the powers of the State government to get the Act repealed as it is not under the purview of the Central government, he said, adding that if the disturbed area status is removed, AFSPA would lose its potency.

Regarding the repeal of AFSPA from the State, he said, the State Unit of LJP submitted a memorandum to Union CAF & PD Minister Ram Vilas Paswan during his recent visit and the party has got the information that after his return to Delhi, he has submitted the written letter to the Union Home Minister and has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

He said the national leader of the party will soon direct members of its State unit to visit Delhi, and members of the party`™s State unit and other civil societies of Manipur fighting for the repeal of AFSPA will rush for Delhi, expressing his optimism that the Act would be soon lifted.

He further said that the PDS item distribution system in the State is in a vulnerable condition, with even the Union CAF and PD Minister expressing his reservations about it.

The volunteers of LJP, Manipur will monitor every step of the PDS in Manipur thoroughly so that the norms as laid down by the Central government are transparently and accurately followed in the State, he added.

He said the Chairman of National LJP, Ram Vilas Paswan has instructed them to strengthen the party by making it well organised in the State too. As per the instructions of the national leader, the State LJP will organise a membership drive very soon and the party will give more emphasis to educated youths so that the State can become free from corruption and transparency is maintained under Modi`™s idea of a Digital India.

The LJP has also prepared a list of potential candidates for the up-coming ADC elections in the hill districts and the party will capture at least six MLA seats in the Manipur Legislative Assembly at the Assembly Elections, 2017, stated Kheroda Meitei.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/ljp-manipur-to-mount-pressure-on-union-govt-for-afspa-repeal/