Day: January 5, 2018

State hopes to reap economic boom from export

By Phurailatpam Keny Devi

IMPHAL | Jan 5

The first exclusive fully air-conditioned organic shop in the North East ‘Organic Outlet’ that was inaugurated on November 20 last is moving on the path success. Department of horticulture and soil conservation is putting immense effort for the promotion of organic products inside and outside the states including abroad.

The Organic Outlet was opened under Mission Organic Chain Development for North East (MOVCD-NER), launched by ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare with the vision of promoting organic farming in the entire North East. It is opened at the directorate of horticulture and soil conservation, Sanjenthong.

Project officer of Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) K. Devadutta Sharma told Imphal Free Press “as of now we have around 200 registered costumers who are the regular buyers and on an average Rs. 4000-5000 is the daily income from this outlet. Lack of awareness about the benefit of organic product could be the undeniable reason of paying less attention in these products. And the products are yet to be certified which is mandatory for export.”

He continued that it is not easy to reach this level. This project was started two years ago and for this 5000 organic farmers were selected from hills and valley districts.

The outlet is not directly controlled by the department. An interconnected group of people are involved. He described this complex steps as “according to norms of central government state league agency under the Manipur Co-operative registration act has to be form and hence MOMA was formed.”

The main role of MOMA is to select service providers who are well verse in organic farming, formation of farmers cluster, guiding farmers, certification procedure, expertise in internal control management system and formation of Farmers Producer Company (FPC), he added.

So far four service providers were already selected and they are the one who directly select the farmers and take full responsibilities of farmers from beginning till the end, he stated.

“Every farmer needs to have at least 1 hectare of land. And for valley their land should be located in the elevated or upland area while for hilly region it should be near highways. Both in hilly and valley a cluster of farmers should be formed that consist of at least 20-25 people.”

The selected 5000 farmers where divided into 10 groups of Farmers Producer Company (FPC) that consist of 500 farmers each. Of these 10 FPC, 4 are functioning in four valley districts and produce only aromatic black rice while the remaining FPC operates in 6 hilly districts under the jurisdiction of only horticulture crops, he explained.

The ministry had sanctioned sum amount of money every year. With this 5000 farmers had made to open bank accounts so that Rs. 2 crores sanctioned by the Centre every year from last two years may get through direct benefit transfer.

After putting so much of hard work and dedication, these 10 FPC is successfully producing pineapple, king chilli, ginger, thai guava, pea, turmeric, lemon. But this Organic Outlet didn’t focus only to local product. One can also get organic product produce from other states.

Underscoring the reason of not being able to export despite having huge demands he said “it usually takes three years to get the final certification as organic products from National Programme for Organic Product.

“Our project is only two years old. By next year the produces would be certified. Once it is certified there is a big hope of booming economy of farmers and states as well,” he said.

He said all the organic produces of Manipur can be marketted in any part of India as these already got certification from participatory guarantee system, he added.

He said “just to make our society a healthy one in every sphere including health, environment, soil and so on, we take up this endeavour. Our main responsibility is to connect between farmers with consumers by opening a market.”

After analysing the steps that is being taken up by central government for the promotion of organic products in North Eastern states, IFP observed that if our state government give some interest and take some initiative in the undergoing organic project instead of just relying on central government plan the success rate would be higher. Everyone is well aware that Sikkim got the title of organic state in January 2016 before implementation of MOVCD-NER.

IMPHAL | Jan 5

Directorate of Education (S), government of Manipur has ordered the zonal education officer (Zone-III) to lodge an FIR against Waikhom Haripriyo Singh for alleged fraudulence and wrongful withdrawal of pay and allowances under appropriate clauses of IPC within a period of one month from today.

The order has stated that Haripriyo, who is the son of Waikhom Nabachandra Singh of Thoubal Achouba Bazaar Makha Leikai, Thoubal district has been reportedly pursuing MBBS course at JLN Medical College, Ajmer, Rajasthan before his appointment as primary teacher of SSA under department of Education (S), Manipur.

Haripriyo was appointed as primary teacher on the recommendation of Class-III DPC held on February 26, 2012 and posted at Chandrakhong Primary School, Thoubal district. Later he was transferred to Chingjaroi Primary School on September 25, 2012. His brother has been working as teacher in his place while he was pursuing his MBBS course in Ajmer, said the statement of orders by Directorate of Education (S).

The appointment of Haripriyo has been treated as null and void, and the zonal education officer shall recover the wrongfully drawn pay and allowances and deposit in the relevant head of accounts within six months from today, it added.

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Jan 5

Principal, Padma Ratna English School Kakching, Khumuckcham Sundari Devi has been given the Bharat Vidya Rattan Award by the international Business Council (IBC) New Delhi.

Kh. Sundari Devi, being in the teaching profession for 42 years, has been given the award for the exceptional contributions she has made in the field of education.   

A felicitation programme was organised on December 11 at Krishna Menon Bhavan Bhawan, Opposite Supreme Court Gate Number C Bhagwan Das Road, New Delhi.

Kh. Sundari came to the teaching profession in 1975 as an assistant teacher at Padma Ratna English School, Kakching and after becoming the headmistress for some time, now holds the position of the principal of the school, which has produced many topers in HSCL examinations. She is the wife of social worker, Naorem Amuba Singh from Kakching Ningthou Leikai. She has been already conferred the State Merit Award, Chingu Khongnangthaba Award, Naorem Amuba Singh Teacher Award etc.

The managing committee, teaching and non teaching staff, and the students of Padma Ratna English School, Kakching have expressed their happiness on the receiving of the award by Kh. Sundari Devi.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 5

Special judge, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Th. Simon on December 11 last year sentenced five Myanmar nationals to rigorous imprisonment of different periods each and fined Rs.50,000 each for possessing psychotropic drugs illegally.

The accused Mynamar nationals are identified as Wingning, 35, son of late Chheta Wing, Nanchami, 34, son of late Teng We, Diha Joo, 24, son of late U. Saw, Ye Aung, 31, son of late Oo Tin Aung and Ta Mong, 32, son of U. Tan Shwe all residence of Tamu, Myanmar.

They were reportedly apprehended by the personnel of customs preventive force, Moreh in different year starting from 2011 from Moreh area.

The court in its final judgement mentioned that term of imprisonment for Wingning is five years with effect from March 18, 2011 till December 11, 2017, for Nanchami is 4 years 6 month with effect from Nevember 12, 2013 till December 22, 2017, for Diha Joo is 5 years with effect from July 5, 2012 till December 11, 2017, for  Ye Aung is 4 years 6 months with effect from March 1, 2013 till December 22, 2017 and for Ta Mong is 4 years 6 months with effect from August 5, 2013 till December 22, 2017.

The order further mentioned that all the five Myanmar nationals have been convicted for the offence punishable under section 22(b) of NDPS Act vide by the judgement of the same court announced on August 31 last year.

It is also ordered that in case of non-payment of fines, the convicts are to undergo imprisonment of another 6 months.

The court further stated that “the case property be also confiscated or disposed of as per law after the expiry of the period of limitation for filing of the appeal or subject to the outcome of any appeal to be filed against the judgement and the order on sentence and the orders of the appellate court as case may be.”

IMPHAL | Jan 5

Municipal administration, housing and urban development (MAHUD) and town planning minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar today introduced mobile bio-toilet in a function held at Kanglapat road, opposite to Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) office.

Shyamkumar said the mobile toilets has been installed after discussion with the chief minister along with MAHUD and IMC to ease the inconveniences faced by the general public, including those who come to enjoy the Imphal Evening.

He said all together 9 mobile bio toilets (3 pair each) costing Rs 79,305.44 each (inclusive GST and transportation charges) have been installed along the road stretch from Raj Bhavan to Khuyathong. The minister gave assurance that more mobile bio toilets will be installed at various strategic locations in the state. He also stressed that the mobile bio toilet will not pollute the Kangla moat. One can use the toilet by spending Rs. 10 per usage, he added.

Gitkumar, MAHUD director said the technology of the mobile bio toilet has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and imported from Belgaum, Karnataka, where it has been developed. The portable septic tank (bio tank) attached with the toilet has a capacity of 700 litres while the attached overhead water reservoir has a capacity of 200 litres which can be refilled. He added it took 2 months for the mobile bio toilets to be delivered and maintained that it will not pollute the environment.

Gitkumar said the technology uses a process where specially developed bacteria acts on the human waste to convert it into odourless liquid form which can be removed using a special machine. The toilet does not need any sewage connection. The developers have claimed that the clean and odour-less liquid extracted after bio-degradation can be recycled for irrigation in gardens, he added.

Ng. Uttam Singh, joint director, MAHUD along with department officials and IMC officials and corporators attended the event.