Manipur News

Imphal, Jan 5: NNN The All Tribal students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has condemned in the strongest term the brutal killing of Laishram Ibohalbi at Hatta village near Finch Corner in Ukhrul district, who had been missing since December 29.
“It also demanded fast and swift investigation on the murder by the concern authorities and book the culprits at the earliest. The ATSUM fails to understand as to why killings, kidnappings and other crimes continue unabated under the present state government,” ATSUM president Muan Tombing wonders.
Muan Tombing then said the All Tribal students’ Union, Manipur will be ready to carry out any form of necessary action if the state government continues to remain a mute spectator to such frequent crimes in the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/atsum-condemns-killing-of-ibohalbi/

IMPHAL, Jan 5 NNN : Under a new policy the Directorate of Transport, Manipur is all set to minimize carbon monoxide emission and other health related problems confronting in the state capital Imphal caused by air and noise pollution at the highest level.
Formulation of a new policy called “Manipur State Transport Policy” is nearing completion and it would be submitted to the state Government by March this year for final approval, M Luikham, Director, Directorate of Transport said on Saturday. He said the policy is being initiated in view of the traffic volume, present condition of transport and environment in the Imphal.
A drafting committee with A Shivadas Sharma, Deputy Director, Transport Department as chairman was constituted to formulate the new policy about a year back, M Luikham said, adding the innovative policy will also provide guideline to the public.
He said the 25-page policy having 18 different sections will be duly submitted to the Government to seek its final approval by March this year. Soon after that, the Transport Department will begin giving instruction to the public and will try to minimize carbon monoxide emission especially from running out vehicles and other health related problems caused by air pollution in Imphal city at the highest level.
The Transport Department is also looking for increasing the number of mass passenger public carrier vehicles in the city to replace passenger light vehicles like diesel autorickshaws and Tata Magic vans which are creating problem by increasing unnecessary traffic volume in the city, he said.
The total number of registered vehicles including both heavy and light vehicles is 2, 24,056 till December 2012 in the state and of this, around 1.05 lakh of vehicles were registered from Imphal West district alone while around 19,000 vehicles were registered from Imphal East in the Transport Department, the Director further informed.
Altogether 1,08, 446 two wheelers were registered from Imphal West while a total of 12, 339 were registered from Imphal East as of August 2012. Another 14, 371 and 1, 801 autorickshaws were registered in the department for the two capital districts respectively. At the same time, 17, 086 and 2, 074 cars were registered from both the districts respectively.
In the year 2012, the department collected total revenue of Rs 12.45 crore from different sources like issuance of vehicle registration certificates, licenses and permits, he added while further informing that the department has set a target to collect total revenue of Rs 18.34 crore till March 2013.
In Imphal West district, the traffic police collected Rs 36, 82, 450 as fine from the public, an official report from Traffic police, Imphal West district said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/new-transport-policy-on-the-anvil/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Jan 5: The Longdimei Lu Peace Cymbal of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland Region today said the rape of a woman last year at Tamenglong is a serious one. G. Abonlu, Convenor LPC today said the case is moving at a snail’s pace at the Court of Session Judge, Manipur West.
Regarding the Delhi gang rape case it was added that necessary charge sheets have been submitted to Saket court and the same is likely to transfer to a fast tract court seeking death for the accused persons. How fast the Delhi Police take action against the culprits in framing both the charge sheets having 33 pages with annexure running over 1000 pages and arresting of the six accused in a short period say within a month? In Manipur rape case by four persons during the last year is still pending and hearing is going on. No action against the culprits is so far given to them and charge sheets for the four minor girls of the rape case at Khoupum valley and other similar cases in the state are still pending it was stated.
The Judge had after observing all parameters rejected the bailout application of an accused and it espoused hope that justice will be met. Rape trials should not take more than 15-20 days it was added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lpc-wants-quick-processing-of-rape-cases/

IMPHAL, Jan 5 MNS NNN: Autonomous district councils members want powers to be devolved in the real sense. The members under the aegis of Autonomous District Council Co-ordination Committee Manipur (ADCCCM), set January 11 deadline to fulfill their demands which included among others autonomy of the six autonomous district councils in the state.
Other demands were separate budget ,separate demand heads for each ADCs, adequate devolution of powers in respect of Central sponsored schemes in hill areas to six ADCs and adequate devolution of powers for 26 subjects provided under section 29(1) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Third Amendment) Act 2008.
Addressing a press conference Hemjathang Khongai, secretary ADCCCM, said that the four point charter of demands was submitted in the form of a memorandum to the Chief Minister O Ibobi a year back but had not been translated into work even though an assurance was given to them.
He said that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act 1971 was meant to give autonomy to the hill areas of the state. However, from the present scenario it seems like giving autonomy only on paper and not in action. “The Act is not followed in its light and spirit,” he added.
The state government has devolved a series of powers in the year 2010 and 2011 to give effect to the devolution of powers to the six ADCs in term of sub-section (1) of section 29 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Third Amendment) Act 2008.
However, the power so devolved for district councils is ineffective without financial assistance or allocation of funds as devolved and provided in the Act. “It is found out that the 26 subjects inserted in section 29(1) of the Act, only two subjects, Tribal Affairs, Hills and Arts and Culture have been minimally reflected in the state budget, he alleged.
The statutory provisions of section 29(1) of the Act were seemed to be defeated. The government needs to take positive measures in empowering the district councils, he added.
Section 34 and 35, part-III of the Act provided for preparation of its’ own budgets by the ADCs. The budgets submitted by district councils have never been taken into consideration by the state government. As such, the councils were unable to carry out its statutory functions for the development and upliftment of the peoples at grassroots level, the ADCCCM secretary alleged.
Out of the 26 subjects inserted in section 29(1) of the Act, only two subjects, tribal affairs, hills and arts and culture have been minimally reflected in the state budget. The meager budgeting provision was far insufficient for taking up any development works in hill areas, he said.
As an autonomous district council, allocation of separate budget and separate demand sub-head for each district council was necessary for its sustainment, maintenance and streamlining of the functionaries of district councils.
“The establishment, maintenance and management of schools up to class-VIII stipulated in section 29(1) of the said Act remains only on papers and not in action,” he said, adding that no formal orders devolving powers, transfer of primary schools upto class-VIII or junior high schools in this regard has been issued.
Education being fundamental right of citizens, the needs for community participation in ensuring adequate and quality education could not be over emphasized. “It is our firm conviction that ADC will have the major role in this regard,” he said urging the government to devolve powers as provided by the Act at the earliest.
If the state government fails to consider their demands within the next seven days, the ADCCCM will launch a series of democratic forms of agitations. This might follow other forms of agitations which would make headache the government, he warned.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/adc-members-want-powers-devolved/