May 2013 – Page 4 – Manipur News

Kin allege murder, refuse to take away Manipur girl’s body – Times of India

Kin allege murder, refuse to take away Manipur girl's bodyTimes of IndiaNEW DELHI: Even two days after the mysterious death of a 21-year-old Manipuri girl in a rented apartment in Chirag Dilli, her family members have refused to remove the body fro…

Kin allege murder, refuse to take away Manipur girl's body
Times of India
NEW DELHI: Even two days after the mysterious death of a 21-year-old Manipuri girl in a rented apartment in Chirag Dilli, her family members have refused to remove the body from the AIIMS mortuary and claimed police were trying to pass off a murder as …

Manipur CM draws Myanmar attention on drug trafficking – Nagaland Post

Manipur CM draws Myanmar attention on drug traffickingNagaland PostManipur chief minister O. Ibobi has drawn the attention of the government of Myanmar over curbing the menace of drug trafficking in the Indo-Myanmar border areas. He has also urged Myan…

Manipur CM draws Myanmar attention on drug trafficking
Nagaland Post
Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi has drawn the attention of the government of Myanmar over curbing the menace of drug trafficking in the Indo-Myanmar border areas. He has also urged Myanmar government for a collective effort in checking illegal drug trade.
Okram Ibobi Singh asks Manipuris in Myanmar to preserve cultureTimes of India
Maoist-PLA links broken, says governmentDeccan Herald
Nagaland & Myanmar promotes economic relationMorungExpress

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State CM meets Manipuri communities at Mandalay

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MANDALAY, May 30 (MIC): In a historic moment for the Manipuri communities settled in Myanmar, a meeting of the Manipur delegation led by the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh with Manipuri communities settled in Mandalay was organised by the … Continue reading →

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In his welcome address, U Htun Shwe alias Sunder Sharma on behalf of the Manipuri Community of Mandalay said , ” In my life time of 75 years, this is the first visit of a Manipur leader in Myanmar after 1938 visit of Manipur leader Hijam Irabot of Nikhil Maniipuri Mahasabha under the patronage of Manipur King Churachand.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh along with the Manipuri communities settled in Myanmar on Friday

He reported that there are about 20,000 Manipur Meitieis in Mandalay and its nearby areas.

They organize all Manipuri festivals like Cheiraoba, Kang, Jhulon, Krishnajanma, Radhastami, Deepavali, Maharas, Goverdhon Puja, Basanta Panchami, Durga Puja, Shiva Ratri and Holi along with Yaosang, he said.

Traditional and ritual ceremonies like Swasti Puja, Yum Shengba, Luhongba, Poiloiba, Phiroi, etc are also observed by the Manipuri communities in Myanmar.

In regard to occupation, he said, “Manipuris occupy from lower clerk level to Director level. Some are Doctors, Engineers, Army Captains and Majors. Some are employed in foreign countries like Singapore, Malaysia, England and USA”.

He further stated, “Although our community people are prospering, we are lacking in cultural activities like our language and literature. Most of the younger generation cannot read , write and speak Meitei language. Our identity is absorbed in that of other communities due to the policy of our country.”

He further said, “We are happy that a new change has happened in Myanmar and it is our faith that there will be more avenues for developing business and other interest in the new set up. It is heartening to note that the profile of the Consulate has changed in the last two years. With active support of the Mission, the Consulate has been able to do a lot of activities relating to education, health, commerce, social welfare and other sectors. We are also committed to help the Indian people to do their business in Myanmar”. He expressed his happiness to meet the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his delegation.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh stated that he was very happy to meet Manipuri communities settled in Myanmar.

He appealed to them to preserve Manipuri culture, courage and rights so that they could live as Manipuris.

He said that Manipur Government with the approval from the Indian Government will send a Manipuri cultural troupe to Mandalay to promote Manipuri culture.

He said, that Manipur University is a Central University. It has a department called the Centre of Myanmar Studies, which would be the only centre in Indian Universities.

He invited the Manipuris in Myanmar to study in Manipur University and expressed his hope that the Mandalay- Imphal Bus service would materialise in 2016 and Visa on arrival facility at Moreh would be in operation in the near future.

In due course, there would be a close tie between Manipuris in Manipur and Manipuris in Myanmar, he said.

The function was followed by the screening of award winning Manipuri film- ISHANOU directed by Aribam Syam Sharma.

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JD (U) calls meeting: NPF and BJP to attend it

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IMPHAL, May 30: With the term of the current parliament of India having less than one year to go, a joint meeting to be attended by representatives of all political parties will be held to discuss on how to defeat … Continue reading →

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According to a source, Tombi Singh, President of Janata Dal (United) will conven the meeting which will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Imphal hotel and two prominent representatives of non-congress National and state political parties each will attend it.

The All Political Party sans Ruling congress in the state is formed by 11 political parties joining hands together but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quit the body and remained separate since some time back.

However, two representatives of BJP and NPF each will attend the meeting to be held tomorrow.

The Convenor of the all political party (opposition) is Dr. M. Nara Singh, Secretary, Communist Party of India/ Manipur State Council CPI/MSC even as tomorrow’s meeting is being convened with the President, JD (U) as convenor. A discussion on how to defeat candidates of Ruling Congress in both seats of inner and outer constituencies as preliminary round will be held at the meeting tomorrow. Representatives of the political parties will be invited to air their opinions.

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Central team to visit Tipaimuk dam site

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LAMKA, May 30: According to a highly reliable source, a core central team will visit the Tipaimukh dam site at the Manipur-Mizoram border to assess the situation in detail and analyze the soil, rock etc on June 3 and 4. … Continue reading →

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An advanced party of the state officials numbering 15 members from the department of Forest, Agriculture and Power will also go to the project site via CC Pur . A team of the district administration of CC Pur will also accompany the team from Imphal on June 1.The Tipaimuk dam has been proposed on the river Barak in the state of Manipur commission in1984. The construction was opposed by the locals who are mostly Hmar Tribes of the area who claimed that the Government of India is violating their rights and on the grounds that it will damage the ecosystem of the region. The UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination had urged the GOI to stop the construction.

The dam will be 163 m high with a capacity of 1500 MW after completion which will be the second biggest dam in terms of power production in India, next only to Lower Subansiri dam in AP and will submerge 286 sq km of prime farmland while 40 million Baladesh will also be affected.

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Media`s weak spots

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Given the growth of the media in the country in terms of its reach and the manner in which it shapes opinion, it gets to a point where it becomes imperative to take stock of the nature of media coverage in the context of various issues. One layer of the media scrutiny and area of discussion is on whether women journalists bring a different perspective while reporting on issues that are related to various forms of violence against women. While it is true that a journalist’s main duty is to report first and then follow up with additional reports, analysis and opinion pieces regardless of the beat and the issue that is being covered, it goes without saying that the social and cultural norms often come in the way of male journalists being able to get women to talk with them and share their experiences. This is more pronounced when the subject of a story happens to be women who have been subject to sexual violence and even holds true for women who may want to address areas of sexual reproductive health.

Having said this, there are various aspects to media representation of reportage on violence against women since media mindsets are also patriarchal in nature. Along with this of course, media houses operate in ways that are dictated by market forces and sensationalism. The later is true particularly of electronic media where the race is for a greater effort to render ‘breaking news’ that may well end up being more provocative in terms of content and language. The other end of the spectrum in media coverage are the language papers that often falls out of the loop of being scanned by media watch groups and hence escape censure or being engaged upon for their style of coverage. One more increasing truism is the nature of what is an issue of ‘national importance’ given that what happens in Delhi often ends up being discussed, dissected and acted upon. While the nature of laws for protection of women was always an area of importance, it took the brutal case of the Delhi gang rape incident to bring things to a head. No other incidences of other brutal rapes have got the attention or engagement inside and outside of media circles earlier. This attitude may be what is keeping the matter of security excesses that led to violence on women in heavily militarized states including the North eastern states, Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and others being taken up with the seriousness it deserves. The spurt of ‘sensitive’ media coverage of sexual violence against women in any case did not have much commentary on the ways and means by which women in trouble torn areas of the country were being violated sexually and left without any recourse to justice. When the Justice Verma recommendations were placed before the Government, the area on the impunity that armed forces resort to were left out out totally and in essence can only mean that women in the areas where the security forces are given impunity by law, can continue to be violated.

As much as it is imperative that media reports with fairness and in keeping with what is ‘current’, it is critical that there are continuous efforts to study media reportage to be able to take stock of what is going right and what isn’t. While many point out an ‘increasing media sensitive reporting’ by taking the case of the growing spotlight on crimes against women, there are other pointing out rightly so, that current media interpretation is primarily on the brutality that women face and that there is no attempt to look at ways and means of creating media spaces for what leads to such incidences and what can be done about them. In a constantly changing world, it is just as important that the media also grows out of its traditional role of being a mere reporting and informing medium but grows into a space for spreading sensitivity and engaging in looking at solutions. It is only apt that the media output, which is today consumed at every point of our lives also factor in the growing needs of the society it operates in.

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Chief Minister meets Manipuri communities at Mandalay

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MANDALAY(Myanmar), May 30 (MIC): It was a great and historic moment that took place at the meeting of the Manipur delegation led by the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh with Manipuri communities settled in Mandalay at Amrapura Ballroom, Hotel Sedona here today. Because, it was a meeting of Manipuris from Manipur led by the Chieh Minister with Manipuri communities settled in Myanmar nearly two centuries ago.

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Zeliangrong Union decries

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TAMEI, May 30 (NNN): The Zeliangrong Union, Tamei Zone has rued that no development fund under Autonomous District Council (ADC) has come so far in Tamei subdivision. The ZU-Tamei Zone said after 25 years the defunct ADC was revived and … Continue reading →

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TAMEI, May 30 (NNN): The Zeliangrong Union, Tamei Zone has rued that no development fund under Autonomous District Council (ADC) has come so far in Tamei subdivision.

The ZU-Tamei Zone said after 25 years the defunct ADC was revived and there were high expectations from the people but till date the function of ADC is not noticed.

According to Zeliangrong Union, Tamei Zone, devolution of powers and functions to the ADCs have been approved by the state cabinet and the decision to devolve functions of 26 departments to the six ADCs was made but to everybody`s astonishment, no development schemes under ADC in Tamei area are implemented although the present tenure of the District Councils are almost completed.

“This Union urged the concerned authorities to check why development schemes under ADC have not reached the grass-root level till date,” the ZU-Tamei Zone statement said.

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Assam Rifles open recruitment rally for hill districts continues

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IMPHAL, May 30: A press release issued by Public Relations Officer, HQ IGAR (South) said that its first of its kind open recruitment rally is being organised by SSC in Ukhrul, Chandel and CC Pur districts where candidates will be able to undergo all the three phases, i.e. filling up of forms, undergoing physical tests and subsequently written examination at the same centre itself.

Sensing the difficulties faced by aspiring candidates in filling up the application forms online on the website, the same has been done away with in this particular rally, it informed, adding that filling up of forms is already in progress and a total of 114 candidates have already enrolled at Ukhrul, 89 at Chandel and 323 at CC Pur.

It continued to say that a total of 244 vacancies for male candidates have been offered with 122 in General, 32 in OBC, 7 in SC and 83 in ST categories and filling up of application forms shall continue till May 31 followed by physical tests and written test from June 3 to June 8 at the Assam Rifles Centres namely HQ 10 Sector AR in Somsai in Ukhrul district, HQ 26 Sector AR in Chandel District and HQ 27 Sector AR in CC Pur District.

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Annual meritorious prize distribution

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IMPHAL, May 30: Educational Guide Centre (ECG), Thoubal Moijing has said in a press release that its Annual Moijing Prize Distribution ceremony will be held on June 16. It continued that awards will be given to those who secured 70% marks and above in the HSLC examination – 2013 under BOSEM and CBSE and to the three students who got the highest marks in HSE – 2013 under COHSEM.

It informed that students under the concerned EGC jurisdiction should submit an attested Xeroxed mark sheet and an admit card each within June 10. The centre will also felicitate Md. Helaluddin Shah who was the topper in HSLC examination, 2013 conducted by Nagaland Board of School Education during Annual Moijing Prize Distribution ceremony-2013.

It added that 2nd state level open quiz competition for the students upto class x to be organised the centre will be held on June 16 and detailed information can be obtained from the office or mobile nos. 962274690/985636814 can be contacted.

Joint meeting of political parties on common candidate for parliament election.

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Census meeting

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IMPHAL, May 30 (NNN): The 6th Economic Census Meeting of Senapati District Level Steering Committee was held at the office chamber of the district Deputy Commissioner, PK Jha. In the Census Operation, 355 enumerators, 113 supervisors, charge officer six were … Continue reading →

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IMPHAL, May 30 (NNN): The 6th Economic Census Meeting of Senapati District Level Steering Committee was held at the office chamber of the district Deputy Commissioner, PK Jha.

In the Census Operation, 355 enumerators, 113 supervisors, charge officer six were used. Training for the enumerators and supervisors from Sadar Hills West, Saitu, Ganphajol and Sadar Hills East Sub-Division was conducted from June 5-6.

Census for the two sub-divisions will begin from June 7. Training for the enumerators and supervisors of Mao, Maram, Paomata and Purul Sub-Divisions will be conducted for two days from June 7-8. Census for these sub-divisions will start from June 9, according to a release from Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Manipur.

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Irregularities in post matric scholarship

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IMPHAL, May 30 (NNN): The Thadou Students Association (TSA) Imphal & Sadar Hills said they would like to draw the attention of the concerned authority to look into the mis-transaction of the students’ Post Matric Scholarship in the A/c holders. … Continue reading →

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“Many students’ A/c was debited twice the same amount with the previous ones, which many students whose A/c were debited twice, claimed that they had been paid their scholarships in two installments,” TSA-Imphal and Sadar Hills said.

“It is also worth mentioning that, as per information culled from the students, their names in the Bank Passbook does not correctly match with their A/c no. in their Passbook after checking at the particular Bank Branch where they opened their account,” they added.

The amount which has been already debited the second time were withdrawn from their A/c without the signature of the A/c holders, the Thadou students` bodies said. Moreover, many students A/c avails blank even though most of the students A/c were doubled debited.

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Mt. Everest team meets Minister, DoNER

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 30 : Team members of 1st North East India top of World Mt. Everest Expedition have started arriving in New Delhi after summiting the Mt. Everest by 11 intrepid mountaineers of North East India. The team members were accorded a warm welcome by Paban Singh Ghatowar, Hon’ble Minister of DoNER, Govt. of India at Committee Room, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in the presence of Shri UK Sangma, Secretary, DoNER, Shri Ameising Luikham, Secretary, NEC and Shri DS Poonia, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur apart from all the high ranking officials of Ministry of DoNER and NEC, Shillong.
Welcoming the successful expedition team, Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar appreciated the role taken up by the Government of Manipur and Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association in initiating such a remarkable venture. He said this is for the first time that Ministry of DoNER has funded such a project and he is delighted that it has succeeded with remarkable feat thereby leaving a legacy to look upon. He expressed his belief that the expedition will definitely encourage the younger upcoming generation to explore new heights.
The Minister expressed that, Manipur as a State has been continuously giving the country the best sportsperson, and todays success is a moment of pride for the country.
Shri DS Poonia briefed about the expedition to the dignitaries present and expressed the steps being initiated by the State Government to encourage the upcoming mountaineers and also about the awards being announced by various State Governments.
Dr. L. Surjit, Leader of the Expedition and President of MMTA submitted a Memorandum to the Minister, DoNER, Govt. of India requesting for incentives and award to the team, a recurring Grant in Aid to MMTA to continue working towards enhancing the adventure sports and adoption of MMTA’s Manipur Mountaineering Institute as a regional centre for mountaineering and Adventure Sports so as to enable them to impart courses to the populace of the region. On the memorandum, the minister has assured to look into the matter.
The function ended with a group photo session and a warm reception.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mt-everest-team-meets-minister-doner/

UNC members tour Senapati

Imphal, May 30 MNS/NNN: The final leg of the political tour of the UNC in Naga areas was undertaken in Tahamzam(Senapati) district in association with the Naga Peoples’ Organisation and the 5 constituent tribes councils of the region from the 27th to 29th April, 2013. The areas covered in the tour included Senapati District Headquarters, Mao Gate, Tadubi, Tunggam, Tungjoy, Liyai, Maram and Willong. As in the earlier legs of the tour in which Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong district were covered, an on the field study of the socio-economic conditions of the Nagas which is weakening by the day was undertaken and verification made on the tall claims made by the Government of Manipur on schemes/projects submitted in the tripartite talk as development initiatives taken up by them in tribal areas.
The tour programme concluded with a joint meeting with frontal organisations including the Naga People’s Organisation, The Senapati District Women’s Association, Senapati District Students’ Association, Senapati- Karong Town Committee, the Tribe Councils of the Region and social leaders. The contours of the tripartite talk process on the demand for an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur was highlighted in the joint meeting which also emphasised on the need to be organised and be in continued preparedness for taking forward the people’s movement to its logical conclusion.
The joint meeting reiterated the condemnation on the inhuman manner in which eviction of the bona fide residents of Naga River Colony was carried out by the Government of Manipur on the pretext of construction of a 5 star hotel. The eviction of 28 houses left more than 100 school going children homeless and 3 churches mowed down. The eviction was systematically carried out by first coming out with non-existent fault finding on land “patta”, then issuing back dated eviction orders which did not allow the resident to salvage whatever is possible from their houses and the meeting termed it as a clear move to grab the legitimate homestead of tribals and place of worship of Christians. Even standing court ruling of maintaining status quo was not honoured. 5 Stars hotels are not supposed to disown people of their homes. The meeting maintained that Government of Manipur’s communal agenda for the eviction, veiled behind the 5 stars hotel project was reflective of their wider design to disown tribals and Christian of their lands and emphasised on the dire need to take up suitable course of actions to protect tribal rights.
The entire tour programme was hosted by the Naga People’s Organisation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unc-members-tour-senapati/

ATSUM differences widen

IMPHAL, May 30 NNN: Quagmire over the proposed June 3 agitation of All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) persists as the faultline of pro-ATSUM agitation and those oppose to it has sharpened.
Echoeing the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) today dismissed the ATSUM as ‘pseudo-ATSUM’ formed by few individuals to serve their vested interests while the All Colleges Tribal Students Organisation (ACTSOM) said today it will fully support the ATSUM agitation saying ATSUM’s movement is for all the tribals of Manipur. “We are here all out support to ATSUM and we will stand behind it till the end,” ACTSOM said. Again, Indigenous Peoples Front (IDF) too said the steps taken up by ATSUM is not only students’ movement but it is the movement of the whole tribal community working for tribals’ rights in Manipur.
On the other hand, All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) asked its constituent units not to lend support to the proposed ATSUM agitation saying it is the ‘pseudo-ATSUM’ not mandated by people which is making mockery of the name of ATSUM. The June 3 agitation is a fake bandh, said ANSAM president Kumo Sha while talking to Newmai News Network tonight. The ANSAM leader also said the proposed bandh will only glorify few individuals behind the ‘pseudo-ATSUM’ at the cost of the tribal people.
It can be noted here that the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) or Tangkhul Students Union, Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM), Thadou Students Association-General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) and Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU) had pledged to support the ATSUM agitation while Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) have strongly voiced to oppose the agitation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/atsum-differences-widen/

Entry of outsiders to be restricted

IMPHAL, May 30 NNN: From June 1 no non-locals will be allowed to enter Manipur either by surface transport or by air and this agitation will continue for 5 days. From June 6 till June 10 movements of non-locals in streets and neighbourhood in Manipur will be restricted.
Non-locals here means the people from mainland India.
With the dateline of the ultimatum given to Manipur Government to clear its stance on introduction of Inner Line Permit system in the state is ending, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has on Thursday decided to go ahead with its earlier decision to forbid visiting of non-locals to the state from June 1-5 and disallow outsiders to enter into the lanes and neighbourhoods within Manipur from June 6-10.
Representatives of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System met the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and other Cabinet ministers on May 20 during which it had discussed seriously about the ultimatum served to the Government regarding its stance on implementation of ILP system in the state, the committee’s convenor Sapamcha Jadumani told reporters here.
He said that during the meeting the Government side called for withdrawal of the committee’s decision to ban coming of non-Manipuris to the state.
Jadumani lashed out at the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for allegedly being double standard and accused the Ibobi led Congress Government of ignoring the resolution of the state assembly with regard to introduction of the ILP system under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.
“Ibobi says he wants to implement ILP system in Manipur and at the same time he says the system will be demanded by other states and India may breakup if it is introduced in the state. This clearly indicates his Government is not willing to introduce the system in Manipur,” he said.
He alleged that the Chief Minister wants Manipur to be died out in order to save India and his remarks on ILP introduction shows that he is an anti-Manipuri.
The design to convert Manipur a ‘hybrid state’ is never right and the integrity of the nation can only be protected only when there is ILP system, Jadumani affirmed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/entry-of-outsiders-to-be-restricted/

Manipur woman harassment case adjourned to June 3 – Times of India

Manipur woman harassment case adjourned to June 3Times of IndiaRELATED. MADURAI: The Madras High Court has posted to June 3 hearing on the anticipatory bail application of M. Gnanavaram, principal of the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary here in a case o…

Manipur woman harassment case adjourned to June 3
Times of India
RELATED. MADURAI: The Madras High Court has posted to June 3 hearing on the anticipatory bail application of M. Gnanavaram, principal of the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary here in a case of alleged sexual harassment of a tribal woman from Manipur.
Seminary Dean accused of sexual harassmentThe New Indian Express

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Say no to Tobacco

Sarita Brara
Nearly six million people across the world die because of direct or indirect use of tobacco every year and the figure could go up to eight million by 2030 unless urgent action is taken says WHO. In India one out of 10 Indian adults dies of tobacco related diseases and Tobacco is cause for 1.5lakh cancers, 4.2 million heart diseases, and 3.7 million lung diseases every year. Our country has one of the highest rates of oral cancer.
According to Tobacco Intervention Initiative statistics, 4300 lakh tobacco is consumed in the form bidis, chewing tobacco, gutka and snuff and smoking cigarettes. Fourteen crore men and 4 crore women are addicted to tobacco in India according to official figures. Over half of the male population around 57 per cent in the age group 15-49 years uses tobacco in some form and over one tenth of women in this age group also use tobacco. More than 5,000 youth in our country take to tobacco use every day.
The health ministry estimates that by 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India and says that without any intervention, more than 38.4 million bidi smokers and 13.2 million cigarette smokers are likely to die prematurely. Second-hand smoke also remains a big problem. The misconception about certain tobacco products being safe also encourages many to consume tobacco in one or another form.
India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme in the 11th five year plan. It has ratified the WHO convention on tobacco control which recommends several strategies to reduce the demand and supply of tobacco. India was among the first few counties to set up a chain of tobacco cessation clinics at the district level. Several legislations are also in place for reducing tobacco usage and manufacture. These include Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations of 2011, made under the Food Safety and Standards Act and Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2012.
As per the Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations of 2011, made under the Food Safety and Standards Act, gutka, zarda, pan masala, gul, bajjar and such other toxic and addictive forms of chewing tobacco are mandated to be banned by various states.
Although 24 states and five union territories have so far banned gutka and paan masala containing tobacco, there is a question mark over the implementation of the ban. Whether it is the capital Delhi or other town where the ban is in place, gutka is being either sold openly or clandestinely in different names and pouches which is the people addicted to are even willing to pay a higher price.
The Supreme Court had last month sought compliance reports from all state governments that have banned the sale and manufacture of gutka and paan masala containing tobacco.
According to the new Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2012, notified on September 27, 2012, all tobacco product packs in the country are to carry new pictorial warnings which focussed in detail the portion of the human body affected by tobacco use.The health ministry had also for the first time inserted the word ‘Warning’ in the new pictorial warnings and mandated that this word be printed in ‘red’ colour along with the messages – ‘Smoking kills’ and ‘Tobacco kills’.
The new notification makes it mandatory for all tobacco makers both smoking forms and smokeless to maintain pictorial warnings in the states format and also to place the health warning in at least 40 per cent of the principal display area of the tobacco package.
At recent consultations several government and non-governmental organisations called for a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in the country. The consultation was by HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) and Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare ministry and the WHO Country Office for India. It was felt that despite the regulations, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is very rampant and youth-centric. The urgent need to strengthen the existing provisions of COTPA and a multi-sect oral and inter-governmental synergy was stressed to effectively implement a complete ban.
Advertising of tobacco products is restricted under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, (COTPA).
It is also established that a majority of smokers as many as 70 per cent desire to quit, but only 30 per cent of them actually try each year, and only 3 to 5 percent actually succeed in quitting, states WHO.
The theme of this year World No Tobacco Day is: Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.A comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is required under the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for all Parties to this treaty within five years of the entry into force of the Convention. Evidence shows that comprehensive advertising bans lead to reductions in the numbers of people starting and continuing smoking. Statistics show that banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand and thus control its usage.The objective of 2013 campaign is also drive local, national and international efforts to counteract tobacco industry efforts to undermine tobacco control, specifically industry efforts to stall or stop comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Of the six million people who die of tobacco related diseases every year globally more than 600 000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke.The ultimate goal is to contribute to protect present and future generations not only from these devastating health consequences, but also against the social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
So until all forms of consumption of tobacco cease through regulations and laws the goal of tobacco free India cannot be fulfilled. There is therefore a need for all stake holders in public health to coordinate their effort for everyone to emphatically say No To Tobacco.
(PIB Features.)
31st May – World No Tobacco Day

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/say-no-to-tobacco/

Forget everything concentrate on your surrounding

Everyone knows what flop means. Yet they do not find time and occasion for using this word. Today I will be using this word in describing the performance of the engineers of the engineering departments of the Government of Manipur. Why they waste time without doing anything. If they do not have fund for repairing of roads or for construction of bridges they must think of demanding it from the Government. On The contrary they remain waiting for cut from the poor contractors. Think what is ailing the state and its people. If you have the gut just conduct a simple survey it will bring to light who is buying precious land and building in the heart of Imphal city. A state exists to serve interest of all including those who have nothing to support themselves. Why this food security bill is being introduced. It is being implemented to take care of the most unfortunate people of the country. Congress party having ruled the state for more than 11 years in the state might have known what is afflicting the state and its people. The man neighbouring me does not have not anything to support himself and those dependent on him. But he wants a Government that will be lasting and that will understand the sufferings of the masses. Can you hear the voice that is feeble that is not loud. Think for the masses. They cannot do anything even for their well being. 80 percent of the people are poor people. They cannot collect even the rice allotted to them. This is a very serious situation. It you talk to them you will understand how many of our people are languishing. But a Government survives to make everyone happy. This should be taken as a direct appeal to the men at the helm of affairs. Enough is enough. We expect something that is for the betterment of the society,

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/forget-everything-concentrate-on-your-surrounding/

Preparation for Mizoram Elections

AIZAWL, May 30 NNN: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has started its preparation for the conduct of assembly election in Mizoram. Mizoram will go to poll in the later part of this year.
The Election Commission of India has finalized for conduct of Electoral Roll Special Summary Revision. In this connection, Joint Chief Electoral Officer (Jt CEO) H Lalengmawia today interacted with the media.
As per the direction of ECI, Special Summary Revision will begin by July 1, and the final roll is to be published on August 16.
At present, Mizoram has 6, 83, 801 voters, which is 60.11% of the total population, from which is learnt that 39.09 % are not in the Roll, and therefore, many people are yet to enter in the electoral roll.
Jt. CEO Lalengmawia said that despite several criticisms, EVMs are planned to be used in the assembly elections in the state as per the wish of the Election Commission of India.
He added that out of the 1500 EVMs in Mizoram, 187 needed to be repaired, and are now processed to be sent to ECIL Hqrs. Hyderabad. And, as per permission of ECI, 200 EVMs are planned to be borrowed from Tripura.
The JT. CEO invites the media persons to cooperate in ensuring that each and every citizen exercise their franchise.
As it is mandatory that photos of every voteer be shown in the Electoral Roll, therefore each district is informed to take strong steps in this regard, JT. CEO Lalengmawia said, adding any new voter must submit at least 2 copies of passport photographs.
As the Election Commission of India has made arrangement for Public Grievances Redressal Mechanism to which people can approach in Election-related matters, toll free telephone connections are made in every district.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/preparation-for-mizoram-elections/