Day: April 25, 2015

IMPHAL, April 25: Indian Journalists`™ Union (IJU) national secretary Geetartha Pathak has earnestly appealed to the State government to support the implementation of the recommendations of the `Majithia Wage Board`™ in the State which has already been accepted by the government of India on October 25, 2011.

Speaking at a press conference held today at the Manipur Press Club, the IJU national secretary stated that the journalist community deserves a decent pay for a `decent living` and enjoy proper pay which is a ppropriate to their efforts made day and night in gathering and processing news reports.

He said the working journalists of the State should stand united and raise their collective voice to fight for their legitimate right.

Considering the present skyrocketing prices of commodities in the market it would be difficult for the State journalists with the minimal standard of pay to even maintain their lives, he said.

The IJU national secretary is on a visit to the State along with Press Council of India member Keshav Dutt Chandola to assess the conditions of the working journalists in the State.

Keshav Dutt said that it would become difficult for the small and medium newspaper establishments in the northeastern region if their respective State governments continue to maintain the low advert rates as compared to the rates of the Directorate of Audio-Visual Publicity rate card.

He highlighted that while the current rate of DAVP advert is Rs 10.69 per square cm, the Manipur government`™s advert rate is a mere Rs 10 per column centimeter which is quite less when compared to the former.

He further appealed to the State government to allocate the advert rate in accordance with the current DAVP rate card in the interest of the journalists and news publishers as a whole and help them to survive without much economic pressure.

The PCI member further appealed to the State governments of the NE region to implement the recommendations of the wage board in the larger interest of the working journalist and also assured that the PCI will always be there to extend any assistance for the welfare of the journalists`™ community.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/help-media-houses-implement-the-majithia-recommendations-iju-urges-state-govt/

IMPHAL, April 25: Combing of infected zone and surveillance operations of the surveillance zone have been started simultaneously from today as mopping operation which started yesterday ended successfully.

Official sources from the directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, said that during the mopping operations altogether 278 fowl were culled and 60 eggs along with 400 Kgs of poultry feed were disposed of by the Rapid Response Teams .

While the mopping operation was conducted by four groups of RRT, combing operation of the infected zone along with police personnel started today.

At the same time, adhering to the action plan to control and contain the avian influenza, another four groups of RRT have started surveillance operation in surveillance zone which falls under 10 km radius from the epicentre, ICAR Lamphelpat.

The same source informed that on the first day, the surveillance operation covered 20 areas lying in both Imphal West and East districts. The areas are Ucheckon, Irilbung, Keikhu, Pangong, Naharup, Kshetrigao, Thambalkhong, Potsangbam Khullen and Awang Potsangbam, Maibakhul, Mongjam, Khonghampat to Pheidinga, Yurembam, Phayeng, Haorangsabal, Sanjenbam, Loitang Khullen, Spinning Mill, Mantri Leikai and Khamaram.

Altogether, 20,859 fowl were culled and 2335 eggs, 5759 Kgs poultry feed have been destroyed since April 19 after the declaration of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Bird Flu, outbreak with ICAR poultry unit of ICAR Lamphelpat, as the epi-centre.

Meanwhile, in continuation of the house to house survey being conducted by health officials following the confirmation of the Bird Flu outbreak which was first reported from the Poultry Unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Lamphelpat on April 18, a total of 37, 485 people of 6606 families in Imphal West and East areas within 3 km from the epicentre were surveyed on flu related diseases today.

According to State level Monitoring Cell under Health Services Manipur, altogether 1, 18, 793 people have been surveyed so far. However, no one was found having symptoms related to Bird Flu disease during the survey.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/bird-flu-operation-combing-of-infected-zone-underway/

KOHIMA, Apr 25 (NEPS): Today, another Assam Rifles jawan was shot dead at broad daylight near Red Cross, Kohima by unidentified gunmen. The incident took place at about 1 PM when the jawans were patrolling. The jawan who was shot dead is identified as Rawat.

Eyewitnesses told NEPS that three unidentified gunmen were seen fleeing through the thoroughfare towards Mizo Church after committing the crime. So far no arrest has been made.

Security has been intensified and heavy frisking going on in the state capital.

Luckily much before the incident, this morning at about 8 there was a procession in connection with World Malaria Day Awareness from Fira Hotel to Old MLA Hostel Junction by hundreds of school students and passing through the very route where today’s unfortunate incident took place. Some panicky students asked, “What would be the consequences if this unfortunate incident took place when such procession was going on?”

It may be mentioned that one month ago on March 26, unidentified miscreants also ambushed on the Assam Rifles jawans near IG Stadium causing injuries to four jawans, two of them seriously.

Just 10 days ago on April 15, a crude bomb exploded at National High Way 2 near Larie Junction, Kohima but no one injured. Again the next day on April 16, another bomb went off at the same National Highway 2, again near Larie Colony, Kohima, injuring at least three innocent people.

The citizens of the state capital, Kohima, start feeling insecure now.

Meanwhile Home Minister Y Patton strongly condemned today’s incident and urged the state police to nab the culprits. He also urged both the Government of India and the NSCN (K) to extend the ceasefire which expires on April 27 this month for the larger interest of the settlement of the long drawn out Naga political issue once and for all.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/kohima-steadily-slipping-into-insecurity/