Month: March 2015

IMPHAL, March 3: The National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme was launched in Manipur as part of its nation-wide launch to improve the electoral roll, said State`™s Chief Electoral Officer O Nabakishore, also the additional Chief Secretary today.

After announcing the launching of the same programme in the state, the CEO said that his office will work its best to check multiple registration of electors`™ name, repeating images, repeating EPIC number etc. in the electoral roll under this programme.

He said that under NERPAP, facility will be provided for voluntarily disclosure of multiple entries by the voters.

Addressing media persons at a press meet at his office in the New Secretariat building, he said as per the directive of the Election Commission of India to every CEO of various States to formally launch NERPAP today, it was launched in the State also.

With an objective of bringing an error-free and authenticated electoral roll after considering the inputs of various CEOs, ECI has decided to launch the comprehensive National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme from today with a clear timeline and well-defined goal, he stated.

He said the major objective of NERPAP is to link and authenticate EPIC data of electors with Aadhar data of UIDAI only. If there is any duplication of electoral rolls, such cases would be disposed off within 15 days by the concerned EROs after intimating the concerned electors, he added.

It will conduct the correction of errors or any relevant entry pertaining to electors within 15 days on the production of cogent documentary evidence, he said, adding electors can improve quality of their images by following due procedures. The mobile numbers and email addresses of the electors will be obtained and fed in the ER database so that periodic information of poll day revision schedule, deletion/correction notice etc and other facilitation service can be provided to them, the CEO said.

He said the means of feeding Aadhar numbers and EPIC card numbers by electors through the national voters`™ service portal through the website of ECI or through SMSes to `51060` or e-mail and mobile apps is under development and is likely to be available by first week of March. The ECO, Manipur has already directed every DC of the State to conduct the rectification of electoral errors, he said.

He further stated that under the voters`™ education programme, the month of March will be focussed on `women to be proud as voters`™ awareness campaign. He said on the International Women`™s Day on March 8, women voters in large numbers will enrol in the electoral roll through the awareness programme.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/nerpap-launched-in-state/

IMPHAL, March 3: The Human Rights Defender, Manipur is likely to lodge a PIL at the Manipur High Court soon against the Transport Department if it doesn`™t withdraw the order issued by its Director that made the High Security Registration Number Plates on vehicles mandatory in the State.

Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club, HRDM general secretary Moirangthem Rakesh said the order issued by the Director has created an avenue for the police personnel, VDF personnel and traffic control police personnel to earn sizeable incomes.

The memory chip devices which are to be installed in high security plates are not easily available. Many vehicles installed with high security plates have been stolen but the department has not been able to trace the vehicles, he said.

Even as the installed high security plates have failed to function properly in the State, police and traffic police and VDF personnel are demanding money from vehicle owners by citing the non-installation of the high security number plates as the reason, he said.

He further stated that police and VDF personnel demand to know from vehicle owners whether they have proper verifications of their vehicles and have got the high security number plates installed while checking vehicles instead of finding out any unwanted elements.

It is not their duty to find the details about vehicles, he said, adding in a similar vein, traffic control police personnel whose job is to control traffic flow have also started checking vehicles.

All these activities must be done by the Transport Department, he said, adding their unwarranted activities are creating lots of hindrance to the people. This must be stop at the earliest, he emphasised.

Many Treasury Rules (TRs) have been drawn by the traffic police, police and VDF personnel but in which account the money thus collected have been put in, he demands to know.

Moreover, the department also connived with the company to fleece money by befooling people in the name of installing high security plates for security reasons, he said.

HRDM chairman Joy Chingakham said the State`™s Human Right Commission is defunct for many years now and thus human rights have been violated with impunity.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/human-rights-body-to-file-pil-against-govt-order-for-compulsory-installation-of-high-security-number-plates/

IMPHAL, March 3: A joint press statement issued by Kuki Students`™ Organisation, General Headquarters and All Naga Students` Association Manipur has stated that the government has to deliver first before expecting any positive actions from the agitating students, refusing to call off their agitations as the government which gave assurances after assurances on the IGNTU issue has failed to honour its promises.

The press release further stated that a joint team of the KSO, GH and ANSAM met IFCD & Stationery minister Ngamthang Haokip at his office around 9:30 am to discuss the demands of the IGNTU Students`™ Union, KSO and ANSAM at the invitation of the government on Monday in connection with the IGNTU issue.

Ngamthang Haokip assured the student leaders to construct the approach road from NH-2 to the University Campus at Makhan at the earliest possible date, requesting the student bodies to call off their agitation of picketing the PWD offices at the hill districts, it said. Appreciating the minister`™s initiative and concern shown by him, the student bodies, however, refused to call off the agitation as the government`™s assurances had repeatedly failed to materialise, it added.

The student bodies requested the government to first deliver on its promises and then start expecting positive actions from the agitating students. It further stated the IGNTU students have been boycotting classes since early January, demanding electricity, water supply and construction of the approach road from NH2 to the University campus at Makhan so that the next academic session of the university starts at its permanent site at Makhan in Senapati district, the press release said.

The class boycott were of no help in getting their demands; so, KSO and ANSAM were compelled to start picketing PWD offices at all the hill districts of the State since February 27, it said.

The released further stated that a joint meeting of KSO-GHQ and ANSAM will be held tomorrow to further discuss the issue and their mode of agitations.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/ksoghq-ansam-to-intensify-agitation-on-igntu-issue/

IMPHAL, March 3: Langthabal Kendra MLA Karam Shyam has questioned whether the high ranking officials of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) are appointing staffs against the rules.

The MLA raised this question during the question and answer hour of the House today.

The MLA questioned the number of sanctioned post in BOSEM, as on date and number of employees filled upon regular basis and appointed/engaged on ad-hoc/contract beyond the sanctioned post.

Replying to the question, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro said the number of sectioned post is 93, number of employees filled is 87, number of employees on ad-hoc is nil and number of employees on contract is only one.

The MLA further questioned was there any anomalies in the process while appointing employees recently in the BOSEM.

The Education Minister clarified that actions have been taken up against those officials who are found guilty.

While informing that BOSEM is run by a committee and its expenditures are not borne by the government, the Education Minister said the official of BOSEM cannot act as they pleased.

It may be mentioned here that in 2013, BOSEM Chairman P Dhanakumar Singh, IPS, issued notification for appointment of staffs on contract basis but were appointed as regular staffs.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/is-bosem-appointing-staffs-against-rules-mla-shyam/

IMPHAL, March 3: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the government is taking all the necessary action to keep land and order and that there is no difference in the treatment of bomb blast victims among hill and valley people.

While giving ex-gratia the government has to follow at least some minimum formalities. The government will release financial assistance as soon as those formalities are received added the Minister in response to the calling attention motion moved by MLA Dr I Ibohanbi Singh on the need to provide assistances to the victims of bomb blast incident in Ukhrul District on February 5, 2015.

In another calling attention motion, MLAs L Ibomcha Singh and Karam Shyam drew the attention of the Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio, on the reported increase in excesses committed by Assam Rifles in Imphal-Moreh road.

While clarifying on the matter the Home Minister said that free movement of people, media and even of VIPs are sometimes disturbed by the increase in excesses of Assam Rifles, and instruction has been given to the authority to decrease the check posts on the Imphal-Moreh road.

He further said that this issue has been apprised to the Union Home Minister who had recently visited Manipur.

Apart from inconveniences caused to commuters/media personnel and even to detain VIPs vehicles with national flag post means dishonouring the national flag. Process is underway to make the Assam Rifles personnel responsible acountable and suitably punished, added the minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/mlas-draw-attention-on-reported-increase-in-excesses-committed-by-ar-in-imphalmoreh-road/

IMPHAL, March 3: In a joint press release, Manipur University Tribal Students` Union and All Manipur Tribal Students` Union have stated that it has come to their notice that the recently held PhD entrance examination at Manipur University was fraught with discrepancies and lacked transparency.

Most ST candidates for the PhD program in Manipur University have been denied admission in the department of Chemistry, English and Life Sciences which is in direct contravention to the ST reservation norm of 31% of the University, it said, adding while they are fully aware that cut-off levels for ST/SC, OBC and General candidates may be set to ensure the quality of candidates.

However, MUTSU feels that until and unless such decisions of the Pre-PhD Admission Committee with regard to this and other relevant information for candidates are not shared either through departmental notifications or the University`s PhD prospectus, such so-called criteria for admission or selection to the PhD program are highly questionable in terms of transparency and accountability and as such open to manipulations at the wishes and whims of the members of the committee, it said.

The current practice of revealing the cut-off level and other specific criteria by the department of Chemistry, English and Life Sciences only after the announcement of the result of the PhD entrance test is and can be viewed as insidious attempts to deny tribal students the chance and opportunity to pursue higher studies in the university, it said.

In the press release, the two student bodies said they strongly questioned as to how most ST candidates failed to get the desired mark to cross the cut-off level considered the most crucial in getting selected for Pre-PhD and also questioned why some departments have no cut-off levels thereby affording tribal students an opportunity to pursue higher studies in those streams while some other departments happen to have particularly high cut-off levels and that too with no prior information on the existence of such cut-off marks. It said they were, therefore, forced to ask whether there exist a discriminatory practice that surreptitiously segregate tribal and non-tribal students with a tacit believe that some departments must be considered as avenues for the more developed and apparently advanced community which must be denied to tribal students.

Finally, MUTSU and ATSUM demands that such discrepancies must be given prompt and proper attention by the university authorities, it said, adding they demand that ST seats should be given to the highest scoring ST candidates whether they cross the cut-off marks or not. ST quotas are for the STs alone and utmost efforts should be made that they continue to stay that way failing which strenuous steps will be taken up by the students` unions, said the release co-signed by MUTSU president Thohrii and ATSUM president Muan Tombing.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/mutsu-and-atsum-lament-discrepancies-in-selection-of-phd-students-in-mu/

IMPHAL, March 3: The ongoing 10th Session of the Tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly which was scheduled to adjourn on the fifth day today has been extended for another two days.

The Business Advisory Committee, in its meeting held today recommended, the Assembly be extended for another two more sittings on March 13 and 16 for transacting the business of the House.

All the members of the House unanimously agreed to extend the ongoing session to discuss a Bill for the implementation of a law to safeguard the indigenous people of the State.

Leader of the House, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, speaking about the extension of the Assembly session in the House today said, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) with the support of the public has been demanding enactment of a law for safeguarding the indigenous population of the State.

`The government understands the spirit of the people in this demand and in regard to this, all necessary steps have been taken up by forming an All Political Party Committee to discuss the issue and opinions of experts have also been collected,` he said

Further All Political Party Committee has submitted their report to the govt, he informed.

`We have now decided to extend the Assembly session by two more days.`

The Chief Minister then presented the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) report to the House for the extended period.

According to the report, the ongoing session will be further extended for two days and will be held on March 13 and 16.

There will be Question and Answer; other business, if any; introduction of Bill, if any; private member`™s resolution; and considering and passing of bill etc.

This BAC report presented by the CM today is the 13th report.

The Chief Minister further said, even the United Nations (UN) find it difficult to exactly explain the meaning of the word `indigenous`™ but anyhow a suitable legislation is the need of the hour to safeguard the indigenous population of the State.

The said legislation will be framed acting on the power bestowed upon under Article No 19(5) readwith Article 19(1)(d)(e), he said.

The Bill comes under Financial Bill because a separate Directorate needs to be set up in order to implement/enforce the rules and regulations of the said Legislation.

The Governor`™s assent is also need for said Bill, he added.

After the Bill has been introduced in the House, the Governor as well as the members of the House can go into details. The time of Yaoshang holidays will provide the time required, he said.

It will also provide the Governor the required time to consult with legal and Constitutional experts, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/assembly-session-extended-by-two-days-to-discuss-bill-on-safeguarding-indigenous-population/

IMPHAL, March 3: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has demanded the rescheduling of the written test for the selection of Research Scholars in the Manipuri Department, Manipur University today, terming the written test unfair.

Speaking at a press conference held today at its head office, DESAM general secretary Pukhrambam Premchandra said the Manipuri Department of MU issued a notification for the selection of 14 candidates for Pre-Phd on December 10 last year. The selection test carried 50 marks and candidates must secure at least 25 marks (50 %) to get selected as per the University norms, he added.

Exceeding the number of notified seats, a total number of 18 candidates were selected when the result was first declared on February 26, he said.

The same result was declared again on 28 February in which only 17 candidates were selected where one ST candidate was disqualified for securing only 13 marks, he added.

Among the 17 selected candidates, there were four candidates who did not secure the minimum marks to get selected as per MU norms, he said, stressing that the students body can`™t accept malpractices in selecting research scholars.

Premchandra further stated that partiality or favouritism in such kind of selection cannot be accepted as it should be conducted in a fair and genuine manner.

DESAM also appealed the concerned authority to take up strict actions against those who are found guilty, alleging that the vice-chancellor and the Registrar of Manipur University should resign from their posts on moral ground.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/desam-demands-rescheduling-of-written-test-for-selection-of-research-scholars-in-mus-manipuri-dept/