Manipur News

IMPHAL, Apr 20: The JAC Against Character Assassination of Laishram Chaoba Singh and his Family Members of Tentha Marongband, Thoubal district convened a public meeting at Samaram Maning Leikai Public Ground on April 16 and adopted certain resolutions in connection with the dramatic appearance of Konthoujam Naobi Devi of Tentha Marongband, who was presumed death but later found living with a new husband.

The meeting was attended by Laishram Inaocha Singh, Member of Ward no 9 of Tentha Zilla Parishad as chief guest; Khoinaijam Dijen Singh, Pradhan of Samaram Gram Panchayat as president; Naorem Pradipkumar Singh, Pradhan of 22-Tentha Gram Panchayat and Waikhom Meipak Devi, president of Khunai Kanba Apunba Meira Paibi Lup as guests of honour.

The meeting unanimously resolved to form a Joint Action Committee against the deliberate attempt made to ostracize Chaoba and his family members from the village and serve a jail term by accusing Chaoba of killing Naobi which is not true at all.

It also resolved to take up action against the culprits involved in character assassination of Chaoba in accordance to law at the earliest.

The meeting also resolved to demand the government to pay a compensation amount of Rs 30 lakh to the family of Chaoba before April 26 failing which the JAC in association with civil society organizations, clubs and NGOs will launch different forms of agitation if the demand is not fulfilled within the set deadline.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/jac-threatens-stir-over-character-assassination-of-aggrieved-husband/

IMPHAL, April 20: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today called on the people to promote work culture, a sense of discipline and patience.

He was speaking at the 8th foundation day of the Kanglei Economic Development Organisation at the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel no 2.

There should be no shame in taking up any occupation, he said.

He continued that it is the income generated through hard-work which is fulfilling as well as it will help in improving the State`™s economy, he said.

On the issue of non-locals, he said once the people start taking up whatever jobs are available the non-locals will themselves feel the pinch and start returning to their own States.

The youth should not keep waiting only for government jobs and instead should work hard to stand independently, the deputy Chief Minister said.

Gaikhangam also lauded the work taken up by KEDO and said the youth can draw inspiration from them.

In his key-note address, secretary general Elangbam Bhorot said KEDO was established by a group of educated youth on April 2, 2007.

Ever since then, KEDO volunteers have been involved in several activities like selling tea, popcorn, guarding the vendors`™ belongings at night, etc.

The observation was also attended by Planning and Development Authority, government of Manipur, chairman T Mangibabu Singh, Imphal Municipal Council, chairperson Aribam Nimai Sharma, Poknapham, editor A Robindro Sharma, Sangai Express, editor Kh Khomdram.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/gaikhangam-urges-youth-to-promote-work-culture/

IMPHAL, April 20: The production of various varieties of sericulture cocoons has seen an increase which is a sign of farmers taking interest in sericulture, said Sericulture minister Govindas Konthoujam today.

Addressing the inaugural of a four-day long Cocoon Buyers and Sellers Meet, 2015 at the Project Management Complex Sangaipat, the minister said farmers are the most important section of the society in the country.

He said the farmers need to be aware of the scientific methods in order to improve their yield.

The Sericulture department will initiate extensive farmers`™ training soon, he said adding that the training will aim at improving the quality of cocoon production in the State.

He said he was himself ready with department officials including the principal secretary, director to ensure transparency and accountability in projects and programmes undertaken by the department.

The minister also exuded confidence that people will be able to see a lot of positive changes in sericulture in the State soon.

Promising that there will be no middle men between the government and the farmers in provision of schemes and other items, he said any farmer can now directly approach the director, principal secretary or the concern minister himself if the farmers have any complaints against the officials of the department.

He said the only demand of the farmers for long have been proper implementation of schemes in the State.

The farmers, he said have to play vital roles in the success of sericulture projects.

The minister also announced a reward of Rs 5000 as incentive for the best cocoon farmer.

Both the hills and the valley have the potential for good production of cocoon, he continued.

Sericulture director, Waikhom Ibohal said the meet was organised so as to provide a proper platform for the buyers and the sellers to meet.

This will enable the farmers and their potential clients to meet directly and do business upfront, he said.

During the past some years, cocoon production in the State has witness improvement. There has been increased in production in all districts, he said before adding that this has been possible only because of the efforts of the farmers.

The production of cocoon varieties like double hybrid, bi-volatile and leimaren have increased in all districts, he said.

The department was expecting around 400 kg production from the Imphal West farmers but the farmers managed to produce around 1400 kg, he said.

The director added that Imphal East district farmers have produced around 400 kgs which is also above their target while Thoubal farmers have produce around 300 kgs.

The plan was to conduct the meet in two phases `“ April 20 and 21 for the farmers from the valley districts and then for the hill districts later on April 24-25, however farmers from Senapati and Kangpokpi arrived today since their cocoon had all matured due to proper feeding.

This is a good sign, the director said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/minister-govindas-exudes-confidence-of-positive-changes-in-sericulture/

IMPHAL, April 20: Authorities of the Catholic schools refused to resume classes for fear of the threat after students bodies and parents associations appealed for the normal classes to resume starting today.

The students of Catholic missionary schools return home dejected as the school could not resume normal classes even after student bodies and parents`™ association have appealed the school authorities to reopen the schools from today.

The Catholic schools in Manipur valley have been closed since April 1 following an indefinite ban imposed by Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC) group.

The imposed ban has affected at least five schools that accommodate a total of about 17,000 students.

Following appeals made by the Democratic Students Alliance Manipur to the guardians to send their children to their respective schools and to the school authorities to open all the catholic schools concerning the academic career of the students but the schools authorities refused to resume classes for the fear of the threat .

H. Budhichandra, assistant teacher of Nirmalabas High School, speaking to media persons said, `We want to reopen the schools but we do not know what will be the consequences once the schools resume classes. We cannot do anything until the ban is lifted by the particular outfit.`

He further said that the school will have a meeting and urged the government to provide security and if the government is responding to our grievances and extend help the school authorities will definitely resume its classes.

While speaking to the media Warthing Jajo, a guardian of a ward of Nirmalabas also said that, `The silence of the government at this hour is strongly condemnable when thousands of students lost the right to attend schools and violate right to education.`

She further questions why showed indifference to the Catholic schools students, the students are also the pillar of Manipur.

The students of Nirmalabas High School before leaving for home gathered at the gate and shouted slogans; `We want to study` `Don`™t disturb education`.

One of the student of the school(NBS) said, `Please reopen our school for the sake of our future and our syllabus would not be covered, but our exams is knocking at the door`.

The Guardians of the student of St. Joseph School located at Sangaiporou in Imphal West district also staged a sit-in protest demanding to let their children free from disturbances and urged the government to make security arrangement at the school.

A guardian said if the schools authorities cannot do anything on this matter, they should find an alternative arrangement for the students studying in Catholic schools or provide Transfer Certificates (TC) so that the students can shift to other schools. The guardian also expressed great disappointment against the government silence.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/students-return-dejected-as-schools-refused-to-resume-classes/

IMPHAL, April 20: The All Manipur Students`™ Union (AMSU) would form a `Human Chain`™ by April 22 to safeguard the Catholic Schools in their effort to resume normal classes if the schools fail to reopen by April 21.

Expressing serious concern over the chance of the students losing academic career studying in catholic schools, AMSU president Sanasam Subhashchandra during a press conference held at AMSU, head office stated that the Catholic Schools have stopped their classes since April 1 and this is not the time to remain as silent spectators over the issue.

However, if the schools cannot resume normal classes by April 21, then the student body will form `Human Chains`™ if necessary around each of the Catholic schools to guard them and enable normal classes to resume.

AMSU president further said that it is important for all the guardians of the State; others allied individuals or organisations to extend their support and cooperation for the Catholic schools to reopen.

The AMSU president later added that the demand of the particular UG group may have been considered if it was placed not only against the catholic schools but the demand was enforced only to the catholic schools but not to other private schools.

The student body (AMSU) further appealed to the particular UG group to review their decision or arrange an alternative means so that it will not hurt or harm the academic careers of the students as there are about 17000 students missing their classes due to the impasse.

Subhashchandra explained that the decision was taken by the students`™ body not to challenge any individual, group or organisation but for the welfare of the students.

As the State has no industrial resources and others means to bring up the society except through Human resource the students should be given the right to education and make education a disturbance free zone he added.

He lamented that although there have been many appeals for the schools to resume classes there has been no assistance from the government`™s side.

AMSU also appealed to all the Catholic schools authorities for the immediate resumption of normal classes by April 21.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Students`™ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has said in a press release that classes in some catholic schools were resumed today following a prolonged closure.

The student body has also expressed belief that the remaining catholic schools will also resume classes from April 21 without further delay.

DESAM has appealed to the parents and school authorities to actualize this belief and for all schools to continue normal classes from April 21.

The organisation also strongly disapproves of teachers who did not come to school on time and has appealed the teachers to come on time from next day as usual, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/amsu-to-form-human-chains-to-guard-schools/

IMPHAL, April 20: ICAR joint director Narendra Prakash told IFP that the first incident of death chicks was found on April 6, following heavy rains accompanied by hail stone.

Around five chicks were first found dead within the poultry unit of ICAR before that there were no such cases, he said.

While the ICAR assumed that it could have been due to the rough weathers, the death of chicks became frequent thereof adding that most of the chicks were two to four weeks old.

Informing that there were altogether 940 chicks at the poultry unit including 560 in unit number one and 380 in unit number 2, the joint directors disclosed that of the total 125 chicks have been transported to KVK Churachandpur.

The chicks were transported to Churachandpur a couple of days after deaths of the chicks.

Following the series of deaths, the ICAR sent the samples of the chicks to Bhopal laboratory of National Institute of High Security Animal for testing and the result came positive yesterday.

Immediately after receiving the information, the remaining 115 chicks at the poultry unit of ICAR were culled, said Narendra Prakash, joint director ICAR.

Subsequently, the information was immediately passed on to the directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/first-incident-of-death-chicks-found-on-april-6-icar/