Month: June 2015

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL, June 8: In 2000, he left Imphal with just around Rs 14,000. In a strange land, he swept floors just to survive, he was with his better half and they subsisted on just one square meal a day. This man returned to Manipur to build a textile factory and he opened his showroom at Thangmeiband today with his own brand titled `Manipur Creations.`™

This is a brief story of Koijam Vasunraz, a self made man, textile entrepreneur. He owns a factory at Tirupur, a district of Tamil Nadu and also known as the `textile city`™ of India. There, he has a work staff of more than 200 employees. In his power looms, he has made such designer apparel with names like Van Heusen ,Pantaloon, Polo etc. He opened his own brand titled `Manipur Creations`™ and the apparels are designed by his better half , Koijam Sanjita, `Behind every successful man they say there is a woman ! For me, it was her, she is my strength !` Vasunraz said.

Today, Vasunraz and Sanjita opened their showroom at Thangmeiband near DM college campus, and a visibly impressed Industry minister, K Govindas inaugurated the shop. In a true rag to riches story which could inspire every youth seeking a job in the State, Vasunraz`™s ability to fight the odds and establish his presence in untested waters proves that when there is a will,there is indeed a way.

He has acquired land measuring 25,000 sq feet at Phumlou Siphai , Lamshang, Imphal West for building his factory. Besides this, he has also been offered another 10,000 sq feet of work space with dedicated power supply at Takyel Industrial estate by the State government.

Vasunraz said that the objective of opening up a factory is not entirely about profit alone but to start an industrial revolution assuring jobs and promoting the State through its colourful attires.

`We have produced garments at par with other renowned companies. We will compete with any other brand available in Manipur. The theme is to promote the handloom and handicraft of Manipur, my showroom design is based on our cultural heritage, the straw roofing and the bamboo, cane etc. used is to further promote the craftsmen who are dying out due to unemployment.` He added that his carry bags are also made from recycled paper to conserve the environment.

At the function today, minister Govindas said that Vasunraj is a promising entrepreneur of the state. He applauded that the modest showroom will expand to the rest of the other districts and will have a good market in future, which will also generate employment from the public. `I want to encourage this entrepreneur and have given him all the necessary infrastructure to do so, in the hope that there will be more employment generation in the State, we need more investors like him to promote the Industry sector in Manipur. I applaud his courage and determination of setting up a factory here. We cannot let his factory die away either, this is the land of economic blockade, bands which is a hindrance to progress, to development, there can be various agitations, but the economic blockade is dangerous starting from farmer to the businessmen of the State, it is our sole loss and hinders all development. Blockades and Bandhs are a number one enemy of the State.` Govindas said.

The minister mentioned that all major departments of the State are tying up together to form a program to eradicate unemployment in the State. `We want to explore the potential of the resources of this State, a Fragrance and Flavor development centre is coming up for the second time in the country. We have so much potential but don`™t know how to utilize it.`™ He added that a positive change will happen in the industry sector by next year.

MLA of Thangmeiband constituency , Kh Joykishan said that he never expected a Manipuri to have the capability of running a factory in another state of India. He said that our state is not self reliant and that we survive on the money given from the centre, however if we prioritize on developing industry and entrepreneurship, we can improve the financial condition of the State and along with it the living standards of the public.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/textile-son-of-manipur-to-start-first-hosiery-factory-in-state/

IMPHAL, June 8: A day after the National Investigation Agency commenced its probe of the June 4 ambush site with a spot enquiry, a forensic expert team of the agency led by a high level officer arrived in the State today.

It is also learnt that a team of the agency led by an inspector general level officer will be arriving in the State to inspect the ongoing investigation of the NIA.

A reliable source has informed IFP that the forensic expert team has brought along several high-tech equipments and will be joining the six-member team of the agency, already in the State, in the investigation.

The forensic experts will examine the gun, empty cases of bullets and empty shells of lathod gun recovered from the ambush site and will determine the details of the origination, year of manufacturing, power etc of the weapons recovered so far, the source said.

The source also informed that some individuals have been picked up during the combing operation conducted by the security forces which has been continuing in the area ever since the ambush.

The individuals are under stern interrogation to verify whether they are civilians or UG cadres involved in the ambush, the source added.

It may also be mentioned that 11 individuals were picked up yesterday during the operation, however, they were individually identified by the ADC chandel as civilians and later released.

It may be mentioned that a combined team of the NSCN/GPRN, KYKL and KCP had laid an ambush on a convoy of the 6 Dogra regiment of Moltuk post on June 4 in between Charlong Village and Paraolon Village, 35 kms from the Tengnoupal Police Station along the New Somtal Road in Chandel district killing 18 personnel including an assistant commandant and injuring scores of others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/nia-forensic-experts-arrive-to-help-earlier-team-in-probe/

BISHNUPUR, June 8: In yet another instance of poor quality maintenance in building construction in the State, a part of roof ceiling of a room on the first floor of Bishnupur District Hospital which is not even one year old since its inauguration, collapsed yesterday around 11 am.

It may be mentioned that the room is frequently used by pregnant women as a rest room.

Since the day was Sunday, there were very few people in the hospital when around 2 meter in diameter large roof plaster of the room ceiling suddenly collapsed. However, no one was injured in the incident. Had the incident been took place in other day, there would have been severe casualties.

According to some patient parties, the plaster ceiling may have collapsed due to unbalance proposition of cement and sand used in its construction. Certain part of veranda roof at the building where the Superintendent works had already been collapsed in the past.

Notably, the Bishnupur District Hospital was jointly inaugurated by Chief Minister O Ibobi; Health Minister Phungzahang Tonsing and Commerce & Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam on July 19, 2014.

Following the incident, patient parties and people who work in the hospital urged the concern authority to look into the matter and ensure that such incident that could cause injury to the people is not occurred in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/ceiling-collapses-at-bishnupur-district-hospital/