Month: December 2013

IMPHAL, December 4: In protest against the prolonged silence of RIMS in connection with the death of Devjani Devi and the unkept assurances for departmental inquiry, all roads leading to FCS godown including Tera Lukram Leirak will be indefinitely blocked with effect from December 9, 2013.

In this regard, the JAC formed in connection with the death of Keithellakpam (o) Devjani Devi has today conveyed in a press release that the dead body was cremated on November 23 following the order of the inquiry committee to inquire into the death which was notified by medical superintendent of RIMS, Prof Ch Arunkumar Singh on November 22 last.

Now, the shardha of the late Devjani was held today, although there has been no communication from the side of RIMS which shows the delaying tactics of the RIMS authority assuming that the memory of the JAC and family members would fade away soon, it said.

The press release further conveyed that Devjani died because she belonged to a poor family.

Her family failed to take her to a private hospital, where despite of the high medical bills, there is seldom any negligence on the part of the hospital authorities, it claimed.

It is further said that such act of negligence on part of the hospital staff and doctors is nothing but amounting to encouraging private clinics and hospitals.

The JAC further expressed through the press release that the non practising allowance enjoying doctors are working in the private hospitals and clinics to earn extra money by neglecting their valued patients at RIMS.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/devjani-probe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=devjani-probe

IMPHAL, December 4: Women Action for Development, secretary Sobita Mangsatabam today charged that the state police personnel have been scattering the wares of the street vendors and been collecting money from the vendors in the Imphal bazar areas on a daily basis.

She was addressing a discussion on the ‘Rights of Street Vendors in manipur’ as part of the International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence Against Women at the Manipur Press Club today.

Today’s discussion was organized by the WAD in collaboration with Khwairamband Keithel Lambi-Mataida Potpham Phambi Lup (KKLMPPL); United Mission Manipur (UNM-M); Women Action for Development (WAD); New Life Foundation (NLF); People Platform Secretariat (PPS); Self Support Group (SSG); Conflict Window Forum, CoWF; Village Women Co-ordinating Committee, VWCOC and North East People`s Forum, NEPF.

Continuing on her speech, she said due to the negligence of the state government, police have been harassing the street vendors.

Further alleging that there are certain individuals who have been taking money from the street vendors assuring a vending space, she said it needs to be checked and at the same time provide the free space available at the Ima Keithel complexes to the street vendors at the earliest.

Meanwhile, advocate, L Sevananda while speaking on the topic “Right of the Street Vendors with Special Reference to the Supreme Court of India’s Verdicts” said that the Supreme Court of India had declared that street vendors have the right to sell their wares which is legal business and it is acceptable by the Constitution of India.  

Meanwhile, several street vendors also recounted their experiences of harassment meted out by personnel of traffic police and VDF.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/police-personnel-involved-in-harassing-street-vendor/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=police-personnel-involved-in-harassing-street-vendor

IMPHAL, December 4: Co-operative and Social Welfare Minister Ak Mirabai while appealing to the agitating members of the employees association of Manipur State Co-operative Bank to resume their normal works from 10 am tomorrow, has warned that the employees will become applicable for dies non in case they ignore her appeal.

Speaking to media persons at her office chamber this afternoon, minister Mirabai said that the government will take action against MSCB staffs who failed to resume their duties on the set deadline.

Updating the steps taken up by the government for fulfilling the demands of the association, Mirabai informed that the government has considered the request for appointment of a Chief Executive Officer of the bank and the process is currently underway. At the moment, the file is with the Chief Minister office, she said. On the other hand, regarding the package of Rs 46.24 crore meant for the MSCB and 208 Primary Agriculture Co-operative Society, the minister stated that her office is waiting for ratification from the chief minister, after which the state will be submitting a formal written application to the Reserve Bank of India and Ministry of Finance.

The minister denied that government is playing delaying tactics on the appointment of the CEO of MSCB. She clarified that the problem was in finding a suitable candidate for the post satisfying all the criteria prescribed by the RBI. She reminded that the government had invited tenders of advertisement three times in local and national newspapers.

Mirabai said recently in November 22, 2013 the commissioner of Cooperative met senior official of Finance Minister in Delhi and pursuing the matter of renewal of STCCS Offer very hard. But the state official was told that the Centre has no plan for reviving the scheme as result of the critical economic situation. She further said that the scheme had expired in June, 2011 many states including Manipur have not availed the opportunity due to non-fulfillment of the benchmarks. So, the allegation of the MSCB employees that the fund was not sanctioned because of the absence of a CEO is wrong, she said. She added that there is no possibility of the scheme being extended before the coming Lok Sabha Election likely in early part of 2014.

She cautioned that employees who do not heed to her appeal for resumption of duties from tomorrow will be subjected to the no work no pay policy. Harsher punishment like legal action could follow suit and the leaders of the association should bear the responsibilities for all consequences, she stated.

Mirabai announced that from today the government will begin scrutiny of the functioning of the PACS and their functioning. Actions will be taken up if the operation of any unit is found to be below par or not complying to the criteria of a cooperative.

Submitting his opinion on the appointment process of the CEO, Register of Cooperative Th Manao claimed that the RBI had given strong warnings that states who appoint CEO outside the norms of RBI will be liable to penalty.

Earlier, the employees of the bank had threatened to call a 48-hour general strike from 6 pm of December 7 to 9 pm of December 9 demanding immediate appointment of CEO of the bank. The employees Association has already launched cease work strike from today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/ultimatum-to-mscb-employees-to-report-to-duty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ultimatum-to-mscb-employees-to-report-to-duty