Manipur News

IMPHAL, November 16: One day seminar on “Ngasigi Manipuri Khunnaida Nupisingi Thoudang Amasung Mapham” was held at Youth Hostel, Conference Hall, Khuman Lampak, the Seminar was organised by Ereipak Enaat Chanura Loinsinlon, EECHAL, here today.

Addressing as the chief guest during the seminar MC Rita, president Leimakol expressed grave concerns over the increasing crime against women that either woman are actually living or dying.

The present alarming rate of crime against women in the state should underlined the need for identifying root causes of such unfortunate incidents to combat the menace otherwise it would continue she added.

She also stated that development of technology is also another means of such violence against women.

The function was also attended by O Ibemcha, as the president and MC Arun, Dept of Anthropology, MU as the moderator.

During the technical session, Dr Homen Thangjam, assistant professor, Political Science, MB College as a resource person spoke on the topic ‘Lamdamsigee Chaokhat Liklamda Nupisinggee Thoudang : Ngarang, Ngasi Amasung Hayeng’, Anjulika Samom Media Person on ‘Lamdamsigee Senmitlonda Amasung Khunnailonda Nupibu Ot-neiba asigee Maiyokta amasung Nupigi Ningtamba’, Dr Aheibam Koireng, assistant professor, manipur Studies Centre, MU on ‘Leisemlongi Awonba Purakpada Nupigi Thoudang and Lukhram mamta, research Scholar, Centre for Maniopur Studies, MU on ‘Lamdamsigee Phurupki Saktam Ngakpada Nupisingee Thoudang.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/seminar-discuss-rising-crime-against-women/

IMPHAL, November 16: Despite a Manipur High Court direction March 21 this year for the NACO to install a Viral Load Testing Machine at the RIMS Hospital within a period of three months from the date of the order, the concern authorities of the NACO still have not complied and the machine still remains uninstalled at the hospital.

As per the concern authorities of RIMS and MACS after the directive of Manipur High Court a delegate from NACO had come to Imphal during June 3 to 5 2014 and gave the assurance to the MACS and RIMS authorities the installation kits for the Viral Load Testing Machine would be provided at the soonest.

They had also sent the maker of the machine ROCHE Company, to send technicians to give training to MACS and RIMS for using machine. The RIMS is also the recommended designated labs for NE states except Assam and Sikkim for Viral Load testing machine.

After three month of the Manipur High Court’s order, volunteers of Community Network for Empowerment, CoNE met the Microbiology official of RIMS and MACS several times to nudge them to speed up the process of installing the machine. Unfortunately there has not be any favourable response so far and the machine continues to remain uninstalled, CoNE president RK Nalinikanta said.

He said CoNE has since served another legal notice to the concerned authorities of the two institutions to have the Viral Load Testing Machine installed.

The CoNE spokesman said MACS and RIMS authorities informed the organisation they are most willing to install the machine but NACO has not issued any official notification letter and or sent the promised installation kit for the machine.

Nalinikanta said CoNE has also submitted a reminder to the NACO highlighting the numerous issues faced by the PLHIV in the State and the additional problem the non availability of the machine has caused.

He said that Viral Load Testing Machine or Polymerase Chain Reaction machine is needed for the confirmation that a patient undergoing ART treatment no longer responding positively to the treatment.

In the past the State used to send blood sample of patients to NICED lab Kolkata for Viral Load Testing. Unfortunately this has also been stopped from June of this year.

The State at this moment has 60 patients waiting for Viral Load Testing. Among them 45 patients are old cases and 15 are new.

The attitude of the NACO has demoralised PLHIV patients in the State, and they feel discriminated, Nalinikanta said. Against such insensitivity, the Government of India’s target of zero new infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related death, is destined end in embarrassing failure, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/naco-fails-to-provide-viral-load-testing-machine-despite-lapse-of-manipur-high-court-order/

IMPHAL, November 16: All Tribal Students` Union Manipur has served and ultimatum to the government in a memorandum submitted on November 12 to the government, calling it to consider tribal problems pending for the last eight years as agreed with the ATSUM earlier.

The ATSUM spokesperson Joseph said if the government failed to do this it would launch an agitation.

Speaking to the media at the office of the ATSUM at the Tribal Market New Chekon Imphal he said ATSUM under the leadership of Emboi Serto regrets that the government is turning a deaf ear to their demands.

He said these demands include regularisation of 1285 contract teachers recruited in year 2006 for the various post of the school in hills. Even though the government has conducted physical verification for regularising the teachers, no follow up action has been forthcoming since.

Keeping in view the demand for merger of hills schools to the Nagaland Board, the State government and ATSUM had signed an agreement to have a separate Directorate for the hill schools. The additional director was to look after the issues of Hills schools but during the tenure of former education minister Jayenta and Director Education Hare Krishna the matter of forming an additional Directorate has been forgotten.

On the question of grant-in-aid problem, of the 18 government schools, the government had approved eight schools for the benefit, but till date no school has been upgraded as per the approval the ATSUM spokesman said.

Now tribal students from the villages have to spend Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 to study in their district headquarters, he said.

Joshep said that government is taking advantage on the disunity of tribal organisations and students bodies to continue with its delaying tactics.

The Tribal Language problem is also one of the concerns which ATSUM raised. Nothing much has been done to promote tribal languages too, he said.

He said, the Autonomous District Council, ADCs, are also in a sorry state now, though the State government as no power is devolved to them.

He also talked of the pending issues of reservation for tribals in education. The State government had agreed to constitute a sub-committee with the Chief Secretary as chairperson and other officials to look into the 200 point roster plan of ATSUM in February. But this too has been forgotten, he said.

The ATSUM warned that if November 12 memorandum is not given any attention, it will launch an agitation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/atsum-to-launch-agitation-if-government-does-not-respond-to-its-demands/

IMPHAL, November 16: This year’s edition of Chinjak Festival came to an end today evening at Yaipha Lamjing Lup Ground, Pishum Ningombam Leikai Imphal, organised by the Innovative Youth Society in association with Boss Juices.

According to the organisers, the 11-day long food festival was visited by around 15,000 visitors, who tasted 140 different types of indigenous foods, including 10 international menus. At the end of the festival, business sales record touched around Rs 12 lakh, maintained the organisers.

Thounaoajm Rita Devi of Top Khongnangkhong Makha Leikai was adjudged the best participant of the year for her Chempak Singju Mathel. By winning the title, Rita takes home a case award of Rs 2000 with a citation of merit. It may be mentioned that Rita had also introduced a new variety of sweet made from Chak-Hao rice.

The organisers pointed out that some of the most popular food during the festival were Ginseng Coffee, Shark fin Soup, Jinsung Soup, Japanese curry rice, Tom yam Kung and Satae of Thai and Singapore stalls. Among the local indigenous items were Kakching Chak Hao matum and Jiri Chempak. Among the beverage, Andro’s Pukyu Waiyu, Ukhrul’s fermented juice of Kiwi, Heikru, Passion fruit, Heitroi and Laphoi, which were loved by young and old.

In the closing function, Chinglen Maisnam, Asst Prof of MU, L Haridas, President of YLL Club and Khuraijam Athouba, Managing Director of IYS were the presidium members. A grand feast marked the culmination of the annual food event event.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/chinjak-fest-comes-to-end-with-rs-12-lakh-record-sales/