Manipur News

IMPHAL June 27: Armed USRA insurgents presently at SoO with the government is disturbing the peace at Kanvai and Torbung area which comes under Bishnupur district along the Tiddim road, United Committee Manipur (UCM) alleged in a press release.

It said that a public meeting was held at Torbung community hall yesterday and attended by UCM functionaries and public of the area including Panchayat members of the area.

At the meeting residents of Torbung voiced that Phoukakchao, Ikai, Torbung, Bangla, Waikhurok areas of Bishnupur borders Churachanpur district, the villagers are living apprehensively and developments are left wanting at the areas, the release added.

Further, an unwanted incident had happened on June 18, the diesel autorickshaws plying between Moirang and Torbung have been allotted parking space by the Torbung Area Development Committee, and for development of parking area have been collecting Rs 5 from the passenger vehicles, however on June 24 the USRA threatened the villagers and the parking association that the parking fees should be given to the outfit, the release added.

It further alleged that the villagers, Pradhan and taxis have also been warned not to proceed beyond Kangvai from today if the demands are not.

Further, the cadres have assaulted drivers, wrecked the autos and have even resorted to firing from their weapons under the command of USRA area commander s/s Johnny, violating the ground rules of the SoO, the release alleged.

UCM questions whether the violence perpetrated by the USRA cadres have been given permission to do so by the state government and has Torbung area been handed over to the USRA.

At the meeting, UCM president Y Dilipkumar stated that the motto of the organization is to bring about peace, unity and integrity in the state and has been striving towards the goal since 2001.

Dilip further stated that the central government is carrying out communal politics to disturb the congenial atmosphere of the state and the communities should unite to stand against such dubious agendas.

Further, the state government should avoid the tripartite talks scheduled on June 30 at Senapati, as it is an endeavor to bring disintegration of the state, it added.

It also stated that the USRA cadres should refrain from carrying out anti social activities and adhere to the SoO ground rules, the state government must also check such perpetrations and the concerned SPs of Bishnupur and Churachanpur must keep their jurisdictions under constant vigil to prevent the unwanted activities. The 119 batallion of BSF should also maintain alert in the issue, the release said.

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IMPHAL, June 27: The various Kuki underground outfits operating under the recognized Kuki National Organization, (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF) that are also signatories of the Suspension of Operation with the government will be pressurizing the government regarding various demands including completion of construction of approved designated camps and other benefits for its cadres. 

According to a high official source, another round of talk between the groups and representatives of both the state government and the centre is scheduled to be held at the 1st MR Banquet Hall on July 1 at around 11 am.

The source further maintained that the scheduled talk will categorically discussed the demands of the SoO signatory militant outfits including the completion of the construction of all designated camps as assured by the government in all the previous SoO talks, clearance of the cadres monthly stipends and the finalization regarding the issue of Id cards for the cadres of all outfits incorporated by the KNO and the UPF.

The talk will be attended by representatives of both the army and the para-military forces who are engaged in the counter insurgency operations in the state, the source added.

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By Rongreisek Yangsorang
The present Manipuri society is certainly and greatly alarmed at the poorly managed government schools with wild rumour painted in the darkest colours that the local education system will be unnecessarily discredited. It is feared that the mounting pressure of hostile public opinion about the schools which are unable to rise to the mark may render closure of government schools. In the HSLCE/11, there are, of course, quantitative gains, the percentage of pass in government high schools rising by some degrees, though continuously falling standards. The sentiment of the guardians on the heated issue of failure is becoming frenetic by the day. The one thing sadly lacking is support—whose or what support? It is the supportable base encircled by a team of bureaucrats of clean image and a few selfless law makers in the state legislative assembly who have a vision of a glorious future in the education sector. Whether the state has men of such stature to revive the unproductive educational institutions? Surely, it does have.

What a cursed profession teaching in government schools has become and what a thankless job it is——laments a head mistress of repute of Imphal city area. At a time when the responsibilities and functions of Head Masters of Government High Schools have become greater, they are placed in a pitiful grade following the implementation of new pay scales which have completely demoralized them. They have felt deceived and their status in the society withdrawn. They are not demanding what shouldn’t be theirs. They are only demanding that the pre-downward revision scale of pay of Rs.7500 with a corresponding Grade Pay of Rs.4800 PM should be restored at once as is in the case of their equivalents in the same department. Why is this discrimination? In every revision, injustice of every sort has been done to them. In fact, the existing head masters are occupying their posts after clearing tiers of departmental promotion and after having put in more than thirty years of service on an average, quite unlike those officers in other government departments. Straight away, I can say that it is their lifelong achievement in the profession.

It is difficult to believe that the downgraded head masters of government high schools in Manipur will contribute extra stamina to give a face-lift to school education in the state. The grade pay of Rs.4400 meant for them is one hundred rupees less than that of senior trained graduate teachers which is in sharp contrast to central pay structures. It is nothing but a step further for abolition of the posts of head masters of high schools in Manipur. Can we expect a better education without head masters in our society? It is impracticable. Manipur alone will be the state in the country to downgrade head masters without justification. Let us recall the status and pay scale of head masters in the past. Also, as per the modified Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008: dated 12.3.2009, trained graduate teachers are placed in PB-3 with a Grade Pay of Rs.5400 PM.

In the most unlikely manner, the recent orders of the Finance Department (PIC) of Manipur: dated 9-6-2011 has not covered the head masters of high schools in Manipur. It is really saddening. The dictum that performing employees deserve better pay scales will have no rationale and merit. There are many departments whose officers with bulky pay are failing in many respects, and are unable to provide the basic needs of the people. Why to blame only teachers, not those who have destroyed the very foundation of educational structure for poor performances of students in the Board Examinations? There are various factors responsible for it. One factor—High School Teachers are often called out for different Governmental assignments while teaching in the schools. While private high schools are generally able to perform better, overt commercialization of education has greatly affected the quality of education. It is important to note that the rot in the government schools has also spread to private schools. Despite charging hefty fees, the corresponding input in teaching cannot be achieved. Invariably, students have to resort to private tuition to attain proficiency and the ability to appear in examinations. Education of that fashion is beyond the means of low income groups. In most of the two hundred government high schools in Manipur, there are no clerks, and no head masters. Some sixty high schools have headmasters of their own while the rest of them have none. There are schools which have no mathematics teachers.

Over a hundred posts of head masters have been lying vacant in the department for so long with no arrangement in sight to fill the said posts as well. In the early 2013AD, two-third of the head masters out of sixty will retire from service on superannuation. At the same time, more than a hundred posts of assistant head masters of high schools cannot be filled in the absence of seniority list as yet. There will be no assistant head masters who can be promoted to the posts of head masters of high schools in that year. In this way, a large number of govt. high schools in Manipur will be head masterless in 2013. Under the circumstances, it is hard to imagine the overall set up of those schools by that time. A thousand graduate teachers of different streams may be appointed in the years to come without having to bother for promotion of teachers to higher posts. The school education department will not attract talented persons to become teachers when there is no planning or arrangement for promotion of teachers to higher posts in spite of a fat budget for big spending with the allocation for school education in the state budget estimates for 2011-12 being more than Rs. 613 crores.

On helpless head masters: They are having a hard time in the schools and find it difficult to cope with the situation whenever erratic teachers revolt for their own conveniences flexing their muscles. Head masters are not allowed to function freely in the management of school affairs due to disturbances from different quarters worsened by growing student indiscipline as a chronic malaise. Becoming the soft-targets of of any bloc, they work only on the diktats of political heavy-weights and ultras. They have suffered a lot and have become sacrificial lambs at the hands of the “many.”In my enquiry, I have found that the existing Head Masters and Head Mistresses hardly have the backing of strong men in the Council of Ministers or the State Bureaucracy to strengthen their platform. That’s why their position looks utterly feeble and awkward. With the advent of electronic media in everyday life, responsibilities of head masters have compounded. They are occupied with huge works. Their primary objective is to improve teaching and learning in the schools, but due to shortage of teachers and without adequate infrastructure like computers, they are handicapped and are all helpless to move forward. At this juncture, the attention of the head of the department may be drawn that a head master is not supposed to prepare pay bills of the employees and go to treasury offices to negotiate with, every time. Besides, they are to be conversant with computerization of data, data-bank and websites when the gadgets are not easily available in most of the government high schools. The department of school education of Manipur seems to be unfazed by these increased work-loads of head masters.

Till the late 70s, Govt.aided high schools were better managed, and working discipline was very much intact. By the missionary zeal of the efficient teachers appointed for the 109 high Schools taken over by the state govt. of Manipur in August, 1978, the capacity of the students was enhanced through internal assessment, constant counseling and other similar techniques. In my vivid memory, Head Masters of High Schools of yester years were pivotal earning respect from their colleagues, and teachers too were committed to the profession. Their advantage was that the department of that time did not adopt an over centralized approach. In other words, a cordial working relationship was evolved between the directorate and the head masters.

Today, however, the shape of education if to refer to govt. schools has drastically changed and enough is already known relating to the failure of the system when the underprivileged class mostly ends up in these institutions. Due to unabated political interference, inappropriate recruitment of teachers without filling the vacant posts for years together, adding of more teachers to the overstaffed schools and lack of essential facilities, a sizeable number of such schools have now been reduced to mere enrolling offices. Or there is every chance of Govt. High Schools becoming dead-wood as students can make a choice to switch over to ever expanding private high schools in Manipur. There are scores of pressing issues that require a quick overhaul. Will it be a pipe dream to reform the system—-fighting a lost battle?

Born a minority in the ocean of major communities here in Manipur, I have no political backing, and mine is of a poor background. The only wealth I am in possession of is the legacy of my semi-literate dad’s spirit whose dedication to the spread of modern education in a hill hamlet remains worthy of introspection. In 47, among the prominent political figures in Manipur then was a liberal thinking Toijam Heitonbi Singh of Nambol in the Imphal valley whose teaching as a leader was inspirational for my father to start a vernacular school. Later, the leader was elected to the territorial assembly of Manipur. Let my investigation, my passion for innovative ideas, and still what could be the fearless spirit but not in any spirit of boastfulness fire the imagination of many a student and teacher in Manipur—–to save government schools from decay for the sake of children of poor parents and those who have no money in their purses otherwise poor students of the present and the coming generation will find themselves at the ultimate losing end. It is a caution for all.

Lastly, the centralized edifice of decision-making in which even minute procedural matters to be directed by the department will hinder every scheme of school education. It is only fair if the department reconsiders its over-centralized approach and allows heads of institutions to execute their functions without too much strictures. The head of the department may skillfully employ different meters to suit the fast changing educational scenario in Manipur. A good head of the department, who is convinced of the imperfection of human nature, must be conscious of the great liability to error in managing the affairs of the vast education sector which is like a mini empire: and therefore he will be anxious to afford to every individual the readiest means of bringing to his notice whatever may require his intervention. To secure this selective objective, he will never be one-sided to distribute sweets among his employees equally. The kind of venture initiated by a high profile officer of high grade will be always rewarding.

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IMPHAL, June 27: At a glittering inauguration ceremony presided over by Maj Gen DS Hooda, a football ground dedicated to the memory of C Kipgen, IAS (retd) was inaugurated at village Pansang.  

According a release of PIB, the football ground has been constructed under the military civic action program by 9 engineers regiment, to provide sports and recreational facilities to the villagers of Pangsang, the village of C Kipgen who was the first IAS lady of Manipur and was called the “Pride of Manipur”.

The function began with the unveiling of a statue of C Kipgen, followed by the inauguration of the C Kipgen Football Ground by Gen Hooda.

Speaking on the occasion, the general said that Kipgen is an example for all to emulate and shows how incase one has a desire; it can be achieved by hardwork and dedication.

He further added that there are large number of opportunities for all to work and achieve the maximum. He concluded the address by stating that the Red Shield division would be happy to make more such football grounds so that sports enthusiasts can get a further fillip in the state added the release.

The function was attended by a large number of important dignitaries which included TS Kipgen husband of C Kipgen, Thangminlen Kipgen, MLA, brigadier AK Narula, commander 59 Mountain Brigade, col Ajay Chowdhry, PRO (Imphal), col AD Sharma, CO 43 Assam Rifles, col Abhijeet Sharma, CO 9 engineers and T Kipgen, chief of Pangsang cillage, added the release.

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By Amar Yumnam
The author is celebrating his 25 wedding anniversary today and we wish him many happy returns of the day

To an academic, a semInar is a success if it scores at least on forcing us to ponder on the issues of the seminar not only during the seminar but even after the seminar as well. This is one ground on which I would award a high grade to the recent seminar on the Loktak organised jointly by the Loktak Development Authority and the Loktak Brigade. There are other additional reasons on which the seminar should be valued to which I would turn.

The Tragedy: The Loktak Hydro Electric Project based on the Ithai Barrage is no doubt one of the biggest development wrongs in India and the biggest tragedy for Manipur. The poor foundation of the rationale of the project is getting unfolded increasingly. Almost all the developmental tensions and moves and counter moves at least in and around the adjoining areas of the lake relate to the fall-outs of this ill-conceived project. Today the efforts to address these negative fall-outs have to be necessarily a State-wide one so that any sustainable solution can be achieved.

While searching for solution to the negative impacts of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project, it is no longer feasible to bomb and blast the Ithai Barrage. We have to look for solutions in interventions in areas and aspects other than the project itself. It is in relation to this issue that the recent seminar has turned attention to in a positive way.

Public Good and Development: Intervening into the First Nature in order to create a Second Nature according to our needs always produces shocks, positive and negative. But in the case of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project the negative ones have dominated over the positives, and the impacts linger.

Here it must be mentioned that lakes usually are public goods entry to which is free, unrestricted and non-excludable. Being so, there is usually the problem of over exploitation and free-riders; most of the people living on the lakes tend to extract maximum in the shortest possible time without contributing to their development. But the fall-out of the Ithai Barrage and the years of non-regulation after the commissioning of the hydro project have only aggravated this problem of free-rider associated with the Loktak being a public good. But this is not a sustainable situation for the people as well as the lake. Some regulation and some pricing have to be put in place so that the free-riding is avoided. The present tensions surrounding various policy interventions relating to the Loktak basically relate to this.

The articulations in the seminar by the representatives of the people in and around the lake make subtly clear the desires of the local population. They have enjoyed the benefits of the public good over a period of time, and naturally they would like to revert to the period before the commissioning of the hydro project or at least the absence of the recent legislation by the government and the various interventions through the Loktak Development Authority.

The conflict today is between protecting the interests of the people in and around the lake and the need for regulation to address the various ecological issues. While the important interests of the people are basically local, the ecological issues are necessarily State-wide and global. The challenge before us is striking a balance between these two interests, and thus take the well- being of the people forward.

The Loktak Development Authority has done a good job in straightway organising the Seminar in situ and taking their views to the public. Now there are certain things to be done on the side of the Loktak Development Authority itself.

First, it should not project itself as an implementing agency of programmes envisaged by the government only. We should remember that it is not a department of the government. It should be able to project itself as an agency fully involved in articulating and protecting the interests of the people as well, particularly of those living in and around the lake.

Secondly, the agency itself is in urgent need of empowering further. The dimensions of issues to be attended to by it are so huge that the present nomenclature does no longer do justice to the responsibilities. It should now be renamed as something like the Lake Regulatory Authority with additional powers for intervention in forests, fisheries and of course water.

Third, in order to do justice to the second, the agency should now be broadened with active in-house presence of social scientists and environmentalists. The agency can and should no longer function as stooges of any external authority; it should possess in-house capability to at least address major issues in so far as first round implications are concerned.

Fourth, now that the concerns and resistance of the people in and around the lake a resilient the agency should now be applying its mind on addressing the issues. There is a big collective action issue involved here, and the objective should be to channel this collective action energy towards the goals that serve the interests of the local population while not compromising on the ecological aspects.

There are certain other considerations where the application of the individual as well as collective mind of the local population is paramount. To begin with, we must accept the fact that the practices before the contemplation and adoption of recent interventions were not satisfying the sustainability principles both for the ecology and the people. It is true, whenever certain changes are introduced in any prevailing atmosphere and accompanying set of practices, the interests of some people would invariably be affected adversely. Having said this, I must add that it by no means imply tolerance of decline in well-being of any set of population; no this simply is not acceptable. The issue is adopting certain kinds of policies and programmes whereby the well-being of the adversely affected set of population is ensured at least at the level before the current interventions were put in place. This is where the Loktak Development Authority should be working closely with the local population, and evolve a dynamic package of schemes attuned to the emerging needs of the population.

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