Manipur News

IMPHAL, March 3: The National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme was launched in Manipur as part of its nation-wide launch to improve the electoral roll, said State`™s Chief Electoral Officer O Nabakishore, also the additional Chief Secretary today.

After announcing the launching of the same programme in the state, the CEO said that his office will work its best to check multiple registration of electors`™ name, repeating images, repeating EPIC number etc. in the electoral roll under this programme.

He said that under NERPAP, facility will be provided for voluntarily disclosure of multiple entries by the voters.

Addressing media persons at a press meet at his office in the New Secretariat building, he said as per the directive of the Election Commission of India to every CEO of various States to formally launch NERPAP today, it was launched in the State also.

With an objective of bringing an error-free and authenticated electoral roll after considering the inputs of various CEOs, ECI has decided to launch the comprehensive National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme from today with a clear timeline and well-defined goal, he stated.

He said the major objective of NERPAP is to link and authenticate EPIC data of electors with Aadhar data of UIDAI only. If there is any duplication of electoral rolls, such cases would be disposed off within 15 days by the concerned EROs after intimating the concerned electors, he added.

It will conduct the correction of errors or any relevant entry pertaining to electors within 15 days on the production of cogent documentary evidence, he said, adding electors can improve quality of their images by following due procedures. The mobile numbers and email addresses of the electors will be obtained and fed in the ER database so that periodic information of poll day revision schedule, deletion/correction notice etc and other facilitation service can be provided to them, the CEO said.

He said the means of feeding Aadhar numbers and EPIC card numbers by electors through the national voters`™ service portal through the website of ECI or through SMSes to `51060` or e-mail and mobile apps is under development and is likely to be available by first week of March. The ECO, Manipur has already directed every DC of the State to conduct the rectification of electoral errors, he said.

He further stated that under the voters`™ education programme, the month of March will be focussed on `women to be proud as voters`™ awareness campaign. He said on the International Women`™s Day on March 8, women voters in large numbers will enrol in the electoral roll through the awareness programme.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/nerpap-launched-in-state/

IMPHAL, March 3: The Human Rights Defender, Manipur is likely to lodge a PIL at the Manipur High Court soon against the Transport Department if it doesn`™t withdraw the order issued by its Director that made the High Security Registration Number Plates on vehicles mandatory in the State.

Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club, HRDM general secretary Moirangthem Rakesh said the order issued by the Director has created an avenue for the police personnel, VDF personnel and traffic control police personnel to earn sizeable incomes.

The memory chip devices which are to be installed in high security plates are not easily available. Many vehicles installed with high security plates have been stolen but the department has not been able to trace the vehicles, he said.

Even as the installed high security plates have failed to function properly in the State, police and traffic police and VDF personnel are demanding money from vehicle owners by citing the non-installation of the high security number plates as the reason, he said.

He further stated that police and VDF personnel demand to know from vehicle owners whether they have proper verifications of their vehicles and have got the high security number plates installed while checking vehicles instead of finding out any unwanted elements.

It is not their duty to find the details about vehicles, he said, adding in a similar vein, traffic control police personnel whose job is to control traffic flow have also started checking vehicles.

All these activities must be done by the Transport Department, he said, adding their unwarranted activities are creating lots of hindrance to the people. This must be stop at the earliest, he emphasised.

Many Treasury Rules (TRs) have been drawn by the traffic police, police and VDF personnel but in which account the money thus collected have been put in, he demands to know.

Moreover, the department also connived with the company to fleece money by befooling people in the name of installing high security plates for security reasons, he said.

HRDM chairman Joy Chingakham said the State`™s Human Right Commission is defunct for many years now and thus human rights have been violated with impunity.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/human-rights-body-to-file-pil-against-govt-order-for-compulsory-installation-of-high-security-number-plates/

IMPHAL, March 3: A joint press statement issued by Kuki Students`™ Organisation, General Headquarters and All Naga Students` Association Manipur has stated that the government has to deliver first before expecting any positive actions from the agitating students, refusing to call off their agitations as the government which gave assurances after assurances on the IGNTU issue has failed to honour its promises.

The press release further stated that a joint team of the KSO, GH and ANSAM met IFCD & Stationery minister Ngamthang Haokip at his office around 9:30 am to discuss the demands of the IGNTU Students`™ Union, KSO and ANSAM at the invitation of the government on Monday in connection with the IGNTU issue.

Ngamthang Haokip assured the student leaders to construct the approach road from NH-2 to the University Campus at Makhan at the earliest possible date, requesting the student bodies to call off their agitation of picketing the PWD offices at the hill districts, it said. Appreciating the minister`™s initiative and concern shown by him, the student bodies, however, refused to call off the agitation as the government`™s assurances had repeatedly failed to materialise, it added.

The student bodies requested the government to first deliver on its promises and then start expecting positive actions from the agitating students. It further stated the IGNTU students have been boycotting classes since early January, demanding electricity, water supply and construction of the approach road from NH2 to the University campus at Makhan so that the next academic session of the university starts at its permanent site at Makhan in Senapati district, the press release said.

The class boycott were of no help in getting their demands; so, KSO and ANSAM were compelled to start picketing PWD offices at all the hill districts of the State since February 27, it said.

The released further stated that a joint meeting of KSO-GHQ and ANSAM will be held tomorrow to further discuss the issue and their mode of agitations.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/ksoghq-ansam-to-intensify-agitation-on-igntu-issue/

IMPHAL, March 3: Langthabal Kendra MLA Karam Shyam has questioned whether the high ranking officials of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) are appointing staffs against the rules.

The MLA raised this question during the question and answer hour of the House today.

The MLA questioned the number of sanctioned post in BOSEM, as on date and number of employees filled upon regular basis and appointed/engaged on ad-hoc/contract beyond the sanctioned post.

Replying to the question, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro said the number of sectioned post is 93, number of employees filled is 87, number of employees on ad-hoc is nil and number of employees on contract is only one.

The MLA further questioned was there any anomalies in the process while appointing employees recently in the BOSEM.

The Education Minister clarified that actions have been taken up against those officials who are found guilty.

While informing that BOSEM is run by a committee and its expenditures are not borne by the government, the Education Minister said the official of BOSEM cannot act as they pleased.

It may be mentioned here that in 2013, BOSEM Chairman P Dhanakumar Singh, IPS, issued notification for appointment of staffs on contract basis but were appointed as regular staffs.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/is-bosem-appointing-staffs-against-rules-mla-shyam/

IMPHAL, March 3: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the government is taking all the necessary action to keep land and order and that there is no difference in the treatment of bomb blast victims among hill and valley people.

While giving ex-gratia the government has to follow at least some minimum formalities. The government will release financial assistance as soon as those formalities are received added the Minister in response to the calling attention motion moved by MLA Dr I Ibohanbi Singh on the need to provide assistances to the victims of bomb blast incident in Ukhrul District on February 5, 2015.

In another calling attention motion, MLAs L Ibomcha Singh and Karam Shyam drew the attention of the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio, on the reported increase in excesses committed by Assam Rifles in Imphal-Moreh road.

While clarifying on the matter the Home Minister said that free movement of people, media and even of VIPs are sometimes disturbed by the increase in excesses of Assam Rifles, and instruction has been given to the authority to decrease the check posts on the Imphal-Moreh road.

He further said that this issue has been apprised to the Union Home Minister who had recently visited Manipur.

Apart from inconveniences caused to commuters/media personnel and even to detain VIPs vehicles with national flag post means dishonouring the national flag. Process is underway to make the Assam Rifles personnel responsible acountable and suitably punished, added the minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/mlas-draw-attention-on-reported-increase-in-excesses-committed-by-ar-in-imphalmoreh-road/