Month: February 2015

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, February 11: At a time when the rate of prevalence of Hep C infection cases remains alarmingly high in Ukhrul district, the emergence of growing cases of coinfection of Hep C with HIV has become a greater concern to health workers here.

In an interaction with this IFP correspondent at his office today, nodal officer, ART Centre, Ukhrul District Hospital Dr. Diamond Sharma said that cases of Hep C infection in the district are continuing to be alarming and so are HIV cases but the more worrying aspect is the growing rate at which patients are found infected with both diseases at the same time.

He continued that with the introduction of ART treatment, chance of prolonged survival of HIV patients is much improved today but despite this many such patients have died not due to HIV but because of coinfection with Hep C.

“Which is why we at the ART centre here have come to focus on coinfection of the two diseases which is responsible for the continued cases of death among the patients, ” he disclosed adding that while the accurate data is yet to be worked out, it is believed that the percentage of coinfection among patients might be somewhere in between 35 to 40 in the district.

Expressing apprehension, he maintained that injection drug use remains largely responsible for transmission of the disease in the district or elsewhere.

On being asked about the best way to prevent mass transmission of the viral illness, he advocated that adequate awareness be created among the general public because in the absence of vaccine for Hep C, it is the only available mechanism to protect people from the disease.

He further informed that in view of the alarming situation here, an Ukhrul based NGO DOULOS under the guise of the State Epitimology department and Imphal based CONE, conducted a five-day Hep C screening camp here in October last year where 41 persons tested positive out of a total of 88 screened.

“Even then it is still upto the individual to go treatment of the illness since the cost of treatment is very high and only very few can afford the charge. ”

Dr. Diamond then bemoaned the lack of any initiative from the government side toward containing the cureless viral disease, while also informing that CONE is currently pressing the government for introduction of reimbursement policy for all such patients irrespective of their categories.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/coinfection-of-hiv-and-hep-c-a-graver-concern-to-health-workers-in-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, February 11: Some of the State ministers haven`t slept properly since the schedule for the visits of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju were fixed for February 13 and 14, said State BJP president Th Chaoba.

He was speaking during a BJP mass enrolment drive at the Sora village of Kakching Assembly Constituency in Thoubal today. Speaking as the chief guest, Chaoba said the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has inspected the various centrally funded development projects. Just after the inspection visit of the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju both have fixed their schedules for visiting Manipur.

There are some reports that some Cabinet ministers of the State are spending sleepless nights as they are having nightmares about what would befall them if their corrupt past records come back to haunt them.

The visits of Union Ministers to the NE states, especially to Manipur, are not simple visits but a means of conducting a thorough inquiry on the developmental works of centrally sponsors schemes under the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State BJP chief said.

Assuring the people of Sora that no National Sport University would be allowed to be built in the 44-Yaithibi Loukon without any genuine reason and the consent of the local people, he said the Chief Minister or the MLA of Kakching couldn`™t establish a world class Sports University in a polluted area, as it can have an adverse affect on the energetic sportspersons of India.

The random actions of the Chief Minister can`t succeed because the adjacent areas are occupied by hundreds of brickfields which have polluted the area with smoke emitted from their chimneys. If the State government truly intends to establish the university at Yaithibi Loukon then its intention is to kill the budding players with the polluted air, he observed.

During the visit of Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, she asked the concerned minister to take consent from the public while developing any infrastructure in the area, Chaoba said, adding he will apprise Rajnath Singh and Kiran Rijiju during their visits about the controversy surrounding the Sports University, which construction is yet to start due to an ongoing land dispute

Chaoba said the enrolment forms of the BJP taken by the minority Muslims have crossed one lakh and the hills people have also taken more than one lakh forms, The total number of forms which have been issued by the State BJP have approximately reached three lakhs till date, he said, adding the total number of BJP Manipur members would cross four lakhs by the end of March 31 when the nationwide enrolment drive draws to a close.

The State BJP chief said the results of the Delhi general elections have made Congress irrelevant with the party failing to win even a single seat. Instead of regretting about its defeat in the hands of APP, the BJP is happy that the corrupt Congress party has been eradicated from the political scene in Delhi, he maintained.

Now, that the Congress has fizzled out in the National capital, how long the State Congress would be able to stand, he asked, adding the AAP and BJP have similar ideologies of eradicating corruption from the country. He was quick to put that the BJP was still a political force to reckon with in Delhi and hasn`™t lost its potency.

Assuring the people of Sora that if the BJP comes to power in the 2017 general elections in the State that their desire for proper irrigation in their paddy fields will be fulfilled, and potable drinking water will also be provided, he said the 13 years long Congress government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has neglected the people of Sora. Making amends to the people of Sora by fulfilling their demands would be one of the main objectives of Manipur BJP, he promised.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-ministers-having-nightmares-about-union-home-ministers-visit-to-state-claims-chaoba/

THOUBAL, Feb 11: A public meeting was held today at Thoubal Kiyam Tangjem in connection with the death of Geetarani organized by the JAC formed in connection with her death.

The meeting was attended by representatives of various civil society and students`™ organizations including UCM, ICHAL, UPF, NUPI Samaj, KWWA, TBL district united women development association, KHUKANPAL, Tami-chingmi Apunba Nupi lup, AMKIL, NIPKO, WiNG, DESAM and KSO etc.

The meeting resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister with a charter of demands.

The demands include, arrest of Getarani`™s in-laws family members for thorough investigation, submit charge sheet as soon as possible, punish the accused persons immediately and issue one copy of post-mortem report to the Getarani`™s parental side.

The JAC has also given a deadline for the government to take some positive actions in the case on or before February 13 failing which various forms of agitation will be launched, meeting resolved.

It may be mentioned here that 28-year-old Geetarani was found hung to death at her own house at Tosen Tampak under Sugnu PS on February 7 by her husband Telen Ashok Kom, a rifleman of 4th IRB Battalion, at around 6:30 am. She is survived by two children.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/public-meeting-on-geetaranis-death-demands-action-from-govt/

IMPHAL, February 11: The schedule of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh`™s two-day visit to the State has been officially confirmed. The tour will begin on February 13. In this connection, an advanced security team of the Union Home Minister is likely to arrive today, a highly placed source said.

As per the schedule of the Union Home Minister`™s visit, he will land at the Tulihal Airport at around 12.15 pm on a Special BSF aircraft. After landing at the Airport, he will take off for Moreh directly by a helicopter to inspect the border town.

The source added that he will be there at Moreh till 2.15 pm and will later meet Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at the Chief Minister`™s official chamber after which he will attend a joint meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts in Manipur.

Another meeting with top officials such as the State`™s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), DGP, GOC IG, CRPF, and DIG, BSF to discuss the law and order situation of the State will also be held.

After the meeting with top officials of security forces and bureaucrats of the State, the Home Minister will again hold a meeting with the Chief Minister which will conclude by 6 pm. Then, he will leave for Raj Bhawan to refresh for 20 minutes.

The source further said that he will meet various representatives of state political parties and selected public leaders which have been invited already from 6:30 pm to 7 pm at the Raj Bhawan.

During his visit, he might meet the State BJP unit leaders at the Raj Bhawan or at the Office of BJP Manipur Pradesh and will later have a traditional State dinner.

The source said that during this visit, the Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju may accompany him but it hasn`™t been confirmed officially. On February 14, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will leaved Imphal for Delhi at around 9 am by a special BSF aircraft.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/advanced-security-team-ahead-of-union-home-ministers-state-visit-likely-to-arrive-today/

CHURACHANDPUR, February 11: A look at the Accredited Social Health Activists working in Churachandpur would reveal a lot is still left to be desired, proven by the fact that the number of deliveries with the aid of ASHAs in the maternity ward of the district hospital have dropped considerably, and many expectant mothers in the town are not aware of ASHAs who are there to help facilitate their deliveries by providing information and helping them avail the benefits of different government schemes.

Even though the staffs in the maternity ward maintain that it`™s not a season for deliveries, many would not agree with such assumptions as there are also some active ASHAs like Mrs Niang Tonsing who perform their job with perfection by looking after pregnant women till the time of delivery. She is even reported to go out of her way to `hunt out expectant mothers`™ and help them.

A resident of Khominthang, Mrs.Sangboi who is expecting a baby next month and Mrs Vungliamching, also expecting her first child the same month, told IFP that they were not aware about the government helping delivery through the ASHAs and that they had never been approached by such workers in their locality at Bethel Veng .

It may be recalled here that ASHAs are expected to find out pregnant women in their areas and take them to hospitals for check-ups, beginning from the first three months of pregnancy till the ninth month.

Pregnant women are entitled to get monetary compensation at the tune of Rs, 600 or more depending on the kind of delivery, and the government is to facilitate their transportation while also providing them nutritious food supplements and medicines at subsidised prices and avail free pregnancy related tests.

Other women who talked to IFP informed that they would very much want to avail the benefits of the schemes but were helpless as they were not even aware there were ASHAs in their area while also admitting that came to know about the scheme only after being asked by this IFP correspondent.

Talking to IFP, DFWO Churachandpur Dr VC Pau Tonsing said that there were more than 627 ASHAs in Churachandpur and admitted that the majority of them were not doing a good job, which was due to political interference. He also added that the main problem was also due to the absence of ASHAs from the area of operation, and proxy deployment of untrained ASHAs in some areas.

He also stressed on the problem of opening a bank account that was the norm for any expectant mother, because when it comes to people in the villages where there is no bank, they have to open an account at Churachandpur town for which they have to spend more than they are entitled to get.

He also informed that in Parbung, Singat and Thanlon areas, the ASHAs were doing their jobs well while expressing his reservations on some other areas.

A first-hand study on the performance of ASHAs at Khominthang and Hebron veng etc of Churachnadpur has revealed that they have been very negligent in discharging their duties. Some people informed that many ASHAs were unhappy about certain things like their working hours, salary etc but that didn`t compensate for the hardships that the people in general and the poor expectant mothers in particular have to endure on account of their dereliction of duty.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/negligence-by-ashas-a-big-concern-in-churachandpur/

IMPHAL, February 11: The Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank Employees Association will launch a strike from today for violating Supervisory Action Framework instructions to curtail expenses including administration and operating expenses by absorbing or regularising 17 contractual staffs which were appointed in June, 2013, stated the president of the Association, Loitongbam Indrakumar at a press meet at the Manipur Press club today.

He further stated that the association held an immediate general body meeting and submitted to the general manager an ultimatum on February 6 against the untimely service or regularization of the 17 contractual staffs that were regularised on February 5 under order no. IUCB/7(c)/ 2014-15 demanding to revoke or review their regularization within five days, a demand which remains unfulfilled.

The Association will submit another ultimatum again, giving the authorities a 10 days ultimatum to revoke the order. Even after the three-day bank strike and the 10 days ultimatum, if the authorities doesn`™t change its stance and revoke the order, the association then will hold an indefinite strike, he said.

He also added that the association will not tolerate such negligence of SAF instructions and will struggle against those who violate the instructions.

Loitongbam Indrakumar said seven out of the 17 contractual staffs are relatives of the Board of Directors, with one being the son of the general manager of Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank. The Board of Directors is going to retire in June and hence this sudden regularization orders in violation of SAF instructions, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/iucb-employees-launch-strike-to-protest-against-regularisation-of-contractual-staffs/

IMPHAL, February 11: At least four persons including two minors were injured when a bomb accidentally went off this morning at Yumnam Khunou Makha Leikai, Imphal East.

Yumnam Khunou is about 15 km from Imphal and falls under the jurisdiction of Sagolmang police station .

The injured have been identified as one Laishram Pilot Singh, 20, son of L Shyam Singh of Yumnam Khunou Makha Leikai and his wife Laishram ongbi Jina Devi, 18, belly.

The two minor boys are identified as Laishram Ishorchandra Singh, 14, son of Laishram Nanao and Tourem Suresh Singh, 15, son of T Binoi Singh, chest and hands.

Of all the injured, the condition of Jina and Ishorchandra are said to be serious. Jina sustained injury at her belly, thigh while Ishorchand sustained injury below his chest, abdomen and right thigh.

All the injured have been evacuated at the JNIMS hospital.

Reports said that the incident occurred 11.45 am when Pilot along with the two injured minors hammered a rusted metal ball not knowing it was a grenade.

The rusted object covered with dirt was reportedly dug up by Shyama Devi, Pilot`™s aunt, while digging up her backyard.

Curious to find what the rusted ball was Pilot today tried to break open it by hammering it which resulted in the explosion. The explosion taken place at Pilot`™s courtyard.

Soon a team of police commandos and Assam Rifles from the nearby post also rushed at the spot.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/four-including-two-minors-injured-in-accidental-bomb-blast/

IMPHAL, February 11: The High Court of Manipur has today directed the Assam Rifles authority to appear before the court on February 17 to explain the reason of detaining a Cabinet Minister of the State, even after a statement has been made by the Joint Secretary (Home) and DGP that there is free movement now with the restriction timings having been withdrawn, and also to explain the viable security measures that could be taken up without troubling passengers.

This was stated by Advocate Khaidem Mani during a press conference at his office today.

He further stated that the counsel of the respondents (Union Defence Secretary, Union Home Secretary, CO 9 AR, CO 24, AR, CO 26 AR), assistant solicitor general, Salam Rupchandra appealed the court to complete the proceedings of WP (PIL) 2/2015 stating that AR is not continuing its restrictions and there is a free movement of people and vehicles now.

The restriction imposed along the Imphal-Moreh highway was due to an order by former DGP, Yumnam Joykumar during his tenure that the movement of vehicles from Pallel to Moreh and vice-versa will be limited from 8 am to 12 am for heavy vehicles, and from 8 am to 2 pm for light vehicles, which means that no heavy vehicles would be allowed to proceed from Pallel towards Moreh and from Moreh to Pallel after 12 am, and no light vehicles would be allowed to proceed from Pallel to Moreh and from Moreh to Pallel after 2 pm, Khaidem Mani quoted the counsel of the respondents as arguing in the court.

However, presenting a copy of IFP which contained a report about the Cabinet minister and his entourage having been detained at Khudengthabi, before the division bench of Laxmikanta Mahapatra and Justice N Koteshwor, , he drew their attention pleading to not complete the hearing on the PIL before the AR authorities give valid reason for detaining the Cabinet minister even as a notification of withdrawal of the restriction has been made by State government authorities, Khaidem Mani told media persons.

Khaidem Mani stated that a restriction order was in place earlier but after the bandh imposed at Tengnoupal, the controversial order has been withdrawn. In this regard, a high ranking official must clarify on February 17, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/high-court-seeks-explanations-from-ar-officials-for-detaining-cabinet-minister/