Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 27: Members of the Joint Students`™ Committee for Justice who have been barred from appearing in the exams conducted by the CBSE this year are going to apprise about their problems to Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani today.

A team of the student`™s body is scheduled to meet the Union Human Resource Development Minister to apprise about their problem which could ruin the lives of more than 2300 students of the State. Source said the students will request the Union Minister to consider their grievances and if possible postpone the CBSE exams for one more month and issue their admit cards which will enable them to appear in the exam.

The students have already sought the appointment to meet the Union Human Resource Development Minister and will request her to save their careers.

The Joint Students`™ Committee for Justice is constituted of five students each from unrecognised CBSC schools such as the Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School, Ghari; Central Institute of Science, Keishampat Hodam Leirak; Akash Higher Secondary School, Changangei; and Akash Institute of Science and Arts, Uchekon.

The source further said that the actual number of students who haven`™t received the admit cards are 1000 but more students from different other schools are also reported to have not receive their admit cards.

If these students are added, the number of students runs into around 2300.

The source further mentioned that the representatives of the students met the Education secretary yesterday and talked with him about the matter. He is however reported to have stated that the State government can`™t do anything about it because matters concerning the CBSE are beyond its purview.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/joint-students-committee-for-justice-to-apprise-their-problem-to-union-human-resource-development-minister-today/

IMPHAL, February 27: Even though the Leimaram-Irangbam Water Supply Scheme construction was completed more than two years ago, people of the area still cannot get the benefit of it due to non`“availability of pipelines.

This issue was raised in the House today by opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh as an agenda under the heading `a discussion on the need to provide pipes for supplying water from Leimaram-Irengbam water supply scheme,`™ during the discussion on a matter of public interest.

He further informed the House that the work for the Leimaram-Irengbam Water Supply Scheme started in the year 2008 after sending a detailed project report (DPR) to the DoNER Ministry.

The sanction was given by the Ministry according to the DPR on February 5, 2009 and the State PHED started the work in February 8, 2010.

The two acres land needed for the scheme was also donated by an individual however the PHED is now acting as the owner of the land, he said.

The construction work of the scheme completed in 2013 however, due to the non-availability of the 5.57 kilometres long 1.25 mm pipes the villagers still could not get the water from the scheme.

According to the officials the amount sanctioned by the DoNER Ministry was not enough to buy the pipes, he added.

Replying the MLA, PHED Minister I Hemochandra Singh said that the department does not have 1.25 mm pipes in its store but have other sizes of pipes in plenty.

This particular pipe size is needed for that scheme and to buy it will cost around Rs 60 to 65 lakh, the Minister informed.

This amount could not be including in the financial year 2014-15 which will end on March 31 due to lack of funds. However, the government will try to include in the financial year 2015-16 which will begin from April 1, the Minister clarified.

Even though the State`™s share in the scheme is only 10 percent due to the lack of fund the scheme failed to complete, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/completed-water-supply-scheme-unable-to-provide-water-due-to-nonavailability-of-pipes-dr-ibohalbi/

R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, February 27: In an ambience filled with the Tangkhul traditional fervour, a five-day TBCA Youth Union Triennial Conference 2015 got underway Thursday at Wunghon village in Ukhrul district.

Held under the theme of biblical ” Fire”, the triennial conference is being participated by more than 1500 delegates from around 50 Churches from across the district.

Lighting of the symbolic Fire of the conference and subsequent blowing of trumpet at 6 pm marked the opening ceremony of the event on 26 February.

Bringing the theme exposition, Rev. Yarngam Muivah, TBCA executive secretary, harped upon the spiritual fire and how our contemporary believers, especially the youths are in need of this fire.

Day second saw an awesome spiritual awakening in the virtually jampacked mammoth conference hall even as Rev. Mathotmi Vasha invoked the Holy Spirit while calling upon the congregation to open up hearts and submit to the Almighty. Elaborating his topic “Consuming Fire”, he advocated that every believer gives in to the call of God to lead a Holy Spirit filled life, lest His wrath befall.

Calling upon each Tangkhul youth to hone their god given talents, CH Huileng, SDC Ukhrul advocated that it takes a healthy spiritual life to succeed in life.

The day second also witnessed a talent display hosted by stand up comedian Pakmi Mahongnao. Amongst the participants were Generation Squad, Wung Hira, Sothingngam Shaiza, Kahorpam Horam, master Wolempam Shaiza, Thotreichung Kaping and baby Ngashan Chiohang,

The conference will continue till March 2, 2015.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/tbca-youth-triennial-conference-gets-underway/

IMPHAL, Feb 27: Thangmeiband MLA, Kh. Joykrishan quizzed Works Minister, Dr. Kh. Ratankumar Singh on the matter of Thangmeiband constituency being neglected in the road repair works the department has been undertaking in the Imphal area.

The MLA observed that while elsewhere, roads have been dug up to upgrade them, in Thangmeinband this has hardly been the case, and much or the roads dug up for the Sewerage Project remain unrepaired.

He questioned the minister if the PWD and CPWD are following any Works Manual and if so to table before the house a copy of it. He further asked if it was possible for the PWD to take up work which are not listed in the CPWD emergency work list, and therefore without proper sanction, in his Starred Question No. 348.

The Works minister in his reply said the State PWD follows the works manual of the CPWD and in this regard, furnished a copy of a notification by Th. Amalkumar Singh, under secretary (works) Government of Manipur, No. 52/10/2008-W, dated October 24, 2008.

He also clarified that the State PWD is empowered to take up work even though it is not listed in the CPWD urgent works list.

A heated exchange of words followed in which the Thangmeiband MLA questioned why if the PWD is empowered to take up these works, how have so many roads in his constituency been left unrepaired after being dug up.

The Minister replied that the roads have been dug up for the sewerage project but because the PHED has not deposited the required money with the Works department for repairing these roads they dug up, which is why the delay.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/works-minister-quizzed-on-unrepaired-thangmeiband-roads/

IMPHAL, Feb 27: The Manipur government has without fail always kept aside 10 percent of its new job recruitments for its die-in-harness scheme, the Chief Minsiter, Okram Ibobi told the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the third day of its 10th session today.

The debate was initiated by AITC legislator, Th. Shyamkumar Singh as a discussion on a matter of public interest.

Shyamkumar had tabled the matter in the house under the agenda of `on the improper implementation of die-in-harness scheme in the State.`

In his answer, the chief minister said the State`™s Department of Personal, DP, has been from time to time, in accordance to need, have been formulating rules to ensure the die-in-harness scheme is appropriately implemented. This is necessary because the rule cannot be applied to every vacancy which crop up from time to time in the government departments.

He said before 2006, there was the provision only five percent of the government vacancies to be filled under the die-in-harness scheme. The rest was left for fresh recruitments. However, because of the mounting number of eligible candidates for the scheme, from 2006 onwards, the percentage had been increased to 10 percent, he explained.

This new rule is current even today, the Chief Minister further said.

He said the die-in-harness recruitment is made as a compensation for government employees who die while in service, and can be availed only by the direct descendants of the deceased employee.

He said though nobody would want to weigh the value of life against jobs, unfortunately for the State, with each passing year, the number of eligible candidates for government jobs against die-in-harness scheme is ever on the increase.

These jobs can be applied for by eligible candidates within a year of the demise of a government employee, he further said, and such a candidate cannot be less than 18 years of age.

He further explained that only Grade III and Grade IV jobs are open to be filled under the die-in-harness scheme.

However, because of the bad financial situation in the State then, the scheme was kept in suspension during 2002 and 2005, the chief minister said.

At the moment, there is a beeline of a few thousand candidates vying government jobs under the scheme, he said. In the education department itself, there are over 1000 candidates in the waiting list, he added.

The government is trying to accommodating as many of these candidates as possible as a onetime measure, but the government is limited by the availability of vacancies in its various departments, the chief minister said.

Under the circumstance, the only option left with the government is to create new jobs, but this is solely dependent on the financial resources in the government`™s command, he further said.

The government however has been to the extent possible been trying to make exceptions through cabinet decisions and make suitable government jobs available to next of kin of employees who die in counter insurgency related duties. The nature of the jobs is also dependent on the educational qualification as well as physical fitness of such candidates, he said.

He said besides keeping by the rules of the Department of Personnel, such appointments have to mandatorily have the approval of the concerned ministers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/the-government-has-always-left-aside-10pc-for-dieinharness-scheme-in-its-recruitments/

IMPHAL, February 27: On the third day of the ongoing session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly today, the House has passed Demand for excess grants, 2010-11 and 2011-12 amounting Rs 118,17,39, 956 together for seventeen departments.

The Demand for excess grants, 2010-11 includes finance department finance department Rs 2,13,64,307 (Demand No 5), Agriculture Rs 1,77,968 (Demand No 17), Public Health Engineering Rs 7,89,92,607 (Demand No 22), Minor Irrigation Rs 50,03,03,410 (Demand No 36), Art & Culture Rs 24,95,655 (Demand No 41) and Science and Technology Rs 1,75,951 (Demand No 46).

The Demand for excess grants, 2011-12 includes Secretariat Department Rs 17,66,000 (Demand No 3), Labour & Employment Rs 43,47,376 (Demand No 13), Co-operation Rs 21,24,834 (Demand No 16), Public Health Engineering Rs 2,78,97,751 (Demand No 22), Power Rs 15,73,40,740 (Demand No 23), State Excise Rs 42,55,559 (Demand No 28), Minor Irrigation Rs 36,54,73,658 (Demand No 36), Fisheries Rs 29,24,472 (Demand No 37), Sericulture Rs 98,92,331 (Demand No 39), Tourism Rs 11,66,033 (Demand No 45) and Economics & Statistics Rs 10,41,304 (Demand No 49).

As part of today`™s assembly session, the leader of the house O Ibobi Singh laid the Annual Report of the State Vigilance Commission for the year 2014 on the table of the house.

Education Minister and Chairman of the Select Committee on Sangai National University, Manipur Bill, 2014 Moirangthem Okendro has presented the Report of the Committee.

The Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister introduced Manipur Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2015; Manipur Appropriate (No 4) Bill, 2015; and the Manipur University of Culture (No 6) Bill, 2015. The Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro also introduced the Dhanamanjuri University (No 7) Bill, 2015 in the house.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/house-passes-rs-11817-cr-demand-for-excess-grants/

IMPHAL, February 27: The State Social Welfare department has called e-tender bids for the supply of micronutrient fortified blended food in contrivance of the norms laid by the central vigilance commission by adding a clause in the eligibility criteria which restricts all India suppliers, a source said.

Various dealers have called for the removal of the clause which stated that the firm or company should have experiences of supplying the micronutrient fortified blended food in the Northeast region of India. The general condition for the tender also stated that `the supplier will have to get samples of the supplied food items tested from the NABL accredited laboratory (food and nutrition board, eastern region & quality control laboratory, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Kolkata)`.

As per the department norms, the last date for the submission of the e-tender bid for the supply of the nutrients is on March 4 this year.

The technical tender bids for the supply of nutrients will start on March 9 at 11 am.

Unfortunately, the criteria for the bids are beyond the norms of the PCW and Central Vigilance Commission. Regarding the addition of the clause, Murliwala Private Limited based in New Delhi has submitted a written complaint to the Principal Secretary (Social Welfare), Commissioner of Finance and the Director of the Social Welfare department that it might prevent the selection of the best supplier with experiences all over India.

In the written complaint, the firm has appealed the authorities to remove the added clause and help find the best dealer or firm which can provide the best and quality micronutrient fortified blended food for the children of the State. If the clause remains in the tender, there might be a compromise in the quality of food.

It may be mentioned that the matter was discussed in the ongoing session of the second day of 10th session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly. During the general observation of the demand for grant by Andro A/C MLA Th Shyamkumar has raised the issue and demanded the removal of the clause from the concerned minister. He had also further stated that the concerned department must have given a chance to other firms with experience all over India to choose the best firm.

The Chief Minister had assured Shyamkumar on behalf the concerned Minister that the matter would be looked into.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-social-welfare-dept-alleged-of-calling-etender-bids-by-contravening-central-vigilance-commission-norms/