Manipur News

IMPHAL, March 18: Retd Principal of TG Higher Secondary School, RK Pramodini has been appointed as the new president of the BJP Mahila Morcha Manipur Pradesh and the BJP Mahila Morcha conducted a reception ceremony for her at its office of BJP Manipur Pradesh on today.

Delivering a speech Adhykarimayum Sarda Devi National, vice president BJP Mahila Morcha, said that since 20 years there were no such reception of Mahila Morcha president in Manipur.

She said that as the president of BJP Mahila Morcha, Pramodini has huge responsibilities on her shoulders. She has become the common mother and leader of society Sarda said, calling upon her to take a vital role in every State issue in the upcoming months.

There is no difference between educated and uneducated women in the field of politics, she said. As a family president, she should treat the entire party as under her leadership, Sarda further said.

RK Shivachandra, state spokesperson of BJP Manipur Pradesh said that women`™s role in the political party is very vital and therefore comes with huge responsibilities. In such a situation an academic personality like RK Pramodini is needed to strengthen the BJP Mahila Morcha, he added.

We hope that the women wing of BJP will confront the all state issues which normally come as the midsummer crisis, usually during June, July and August every year, he said. We are awaiting the practical women wing leader to show her mettle on every issue, said Shivachandra.

RK Pramodini the new president of the BJP Mahila Morcha said that in her entire career politics has always been with her, but as a government employee she could not come forward to shoulder political activities. But now that she is retired from her job, this opportunity to serve as the state as leader of BJP Mahil Morcha, is a privilege, she said.

She assured workers and volunteers of BJP Mahila Morcha that she will try to strengthen women participation in BJP, which she said was very week in past many years.

She said she will treat every Mahila Worker in the same manner with no bias. Her aim is to empower women and help them face and overcome domestic violence and other crimes against women and child during her tenure as president.

In the simple reception function, Sietabhama VP, O Malesh President BJYM, Yaima state secretary BJP Manipur Pradesh and RK Shivachandra state spokesperson BJP Manipur Pradesh were present on the dais.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/rk-pramodini-appointed-new-bjp-mahila-morcha-manipur-pradesh/

IMPHAL, March 18: Strongly protesting against the bomb blast at Khwairamband Keithel Temporary Shed on March 11, women vendors of the market have launched a relay hunger strike with various demands starting from today onwards.

Ksh Tama Devi, a protester, speaking to media persons said their demands are compensation for the deaths and injured in the blast, installation of street lamps at the Temporary Market Shed and surrounding areas, repair the CCTV cameras installed at the said market, change the parking at the Temporary Market Shed to some other proper place.

Their demands also include arrest of the culprits involved in planting and triggering the bomb at the earliest and to punish them according to the law.

She said on the following day of the bomb blast, women vendors of the market had staged a demonstration and submitted a memorandum mentioning a charter of demands to the Chief Minister.

However, besides the compensation for the deaths and injured, none of the other demands have been considered by the government, she said while adding that the strike will be continued until the remaining demands are met.

The women vendors of the market will take turns to continue the hunger strike non-stop, she added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/women-vendors-launch-relay-hunger-strike-against-blast/

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, March 15: The implementation and working of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.(MGNREGA) at CCpur is found wanting in many ways, a survey by IFP revealed.

The MGNREGA came into being by an Act of the Parliament in 2005, and was met with much fanfare as the people were led to believe they would compulsorily get 100 day job guaranteed in one calendar year.

People in CCpur district are in no longer bothered and their high expectations from the scheme have withered away. They are aware wages under the scheme are said to have increased considerably, with the amount now standing at Rs 175 per day but too many hitches.

Many people are now alleging that it was a policy which has only encouraged men in position of authority, such as the village chiefs and village authorities, to misuse the facilities and bully their supposed beneficiaries.

Many job card holders, even widows, have expressed their opinion that they are for scrapping of the scheme altogether as they feel it does not served their needs or purposes anymore.

The survey on the other hand also showed many Chief had been deprived of reimbursement of the material costs of the policy implementation thereby it is the State Govt. which have now taken complete control of the scheme.

A widow Mrs. Kholi of Hiangtam Lamka said she was for the scrapping of the scheme or the Act which gave live to it for it now has nothing to offer beneficiaries like her for she does not get the full amount for all the days she has put in work. As a norm, all workers get only three day`™s wage, she said.

Another widow of the same place who had been counting on the Job Card money to keep her family hearth burning, said that from the three day wages money paid recently she pay for her one bag of charcoal and if the next one day wages money come she, said she will pay for the pan store`™s tobacco, where her dues are piling up.

Official, on condition of anonymity, said it was only a few years back when the district administration used to directly get the funds for MGNREGA but now it comes via the state exchequer, so it has become a different story.

The scheme is meant for non-skill manual work/labour, therefore attracts only the section of the population which is not articulate or empowered by knowledge of laws and rights, therefore easily exploited and cheated.

Many are also alleging that the DRDA takes a percent cut from the job card holders and so it is not a wonder that officials of the department live in luxury.

It may also be worth mentioning that the district got a mere 35 days under the scheme in 2013-14 and of this only 18 days worth have been paid up.

A resident of Sangaikot village confided that they are no longer aware of the scheme nor had they been working lately. Another villager of Hiangtam Lamka lamented that they are now given three day`™s wages only per person.

The villagers at Sangasikot Block as well as Saikot TD Block, Muallum etc like Seilien said they are getting the three day`™s wages, but resents that the chief chief had made the payment in such a way that the money was diverted as the electric fee of each household of the village and so the card holder had nothing to take home. Some had to pay more as their electric dues were higher.

It may re recall that the MGNREGA was an act that was meant to directly benefit the villagers and poor people of India, which was more like social security in western countries where the jobless are given protection by their governments. Here with rampant diversions of the money in the name of electric fee happen in most villages starting from the Khuga valley to all the TD Blocks of Lamka town proper, as the people are unaware that this was a gross violation of the Act and its spirit, many charged.

Some chiefs say that they are cutting money from the village after handing the money in their hand, which is but technically okay but had been a violation in itself as the money was then again taken over which was also refuted by villagers who tells that they are told of the news but were also told of the diversion as electric fee and no cash to them . but not to say the delivery of the money to the holder many chief are diverting the money saying it was use to buy transformer that was still `yet to come`™.

Let alone the villagers complain and plight , the chiefs or Village authority (VA)are also lamenting that they are always played saying that the proposer they put up for work are changed at will by the officials.Another one official of DRDA, , on condition of anonymity ,tells IFP that the reason of changing this work proposal was due to the clumsiness or rather laziness of the BDO and their staff who had been too lazy or unconcerned to include the new proposal but copy and paste the last proposal or the one that suited them.

A villager and village authority of Saikot TB Block said that they were allotted saplings for plantation when it was no time for plantation like in the month of November and were also allotted a road construction earthen work during the raining season etc.

Many chief are also taking the excuse of the UG`™s taking a cut from the MGNREGA money therefore necessitating the cut to almost half of the amount for beneficiaries. Many UG groups of CCpur are now under SoO with the government and would not be doing this, others observed, adding that some chief are using this as an excuse for cheating the villagers in the name of UGs, they told the IFP.

In this regard, mention may be made of the ZRO president who told the media that it was the chief who manipulate the money, as they had the power to drive the villagers out from their village in case of opposition to their diktat.

He further said `unless s chieftainship structure was amended the people cannot enjoy the benefits of belonging to Independent India .

This was echoed by W.Joykumer Singh, the Dy. Ombudsmen, Imphal East on MGNREGA when he said all single job card holder had the right to demand 100 day`™s wages if they are willing to work but were afraid of their chiefs and so out of ignorant and fear they don`™t dare to demand the `guaranteed 100 days wages.

Taking to IFP the chief of Hiangtam Lamka Thangkhosuanmung Guite said that the wages sanctioned was a shame but he and his village authority members are helpless and can do nothing as it was the directive of the government.

He further said that the govt can do batter to redress the sufferings of the common people by releasing more money. `The need of the hour is to do collective work and consultation by job card holder, chiefs and the departments concerned, without blaming each other“ added another village authority.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/ccpur-villagers-get-only-three-days-wages-while-chiefs-get-the-rest-in-mgnrega/

IMPHAL, March 18: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System is gaining support from various organizations, civil bodies, political parties etc in their further course of actions going to take up to pressurize the State Government to implement Inner Line Permit System or a similar regulation to safeguard the indigenous population of the State.

With two political parties announcing their support to JCILPS yesterday many more are also declaring their support to JCILPS.

All Manipur Students`™ Guardian Organisation secretary S Sumati, speaking at a press meet held today at Palace Compound said the Chief Minister is standing against the wishes of the people instead of showing his concern about the sentiment of the people here.

She said their organization will support and co-operate with the Joint Committee Inner Line Permit System (JCIPLS) in the further course of action taken up by them.

Meanwhile, president of Singjamei Apunba Nupi Lup, Khetrimayum Ebemnu, during a press meet held at the Head Office of SANL at Singjamei Thongam Leikai this afternoon, said that many years have pass that the people of the State is demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

However, the reaction of the government is disheartening, she added.

She said Singjamei Apungba Nupi Lup lauded the five MLAs for leaving the House during the last Assembly session.

Khetrimayum Ebemnu said that they will continue to support JCILPS in the further course of action.

Meanwhile, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has in a separate press release extended support to JCILPS in their further course of action while condemning the government move regarding the issue of ILPS.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/more-support-for-jcilps-in-their-further-course-of-action/

IMPHAL, March 18: The government of India is planning to construct more than 200 mega dam across the North Eastern State and a series of memorandums of understanding, MoU, were sign with dam Building Corporation without any recognizing indigenous peoples or their traditional rights over their land and resources and without their consent said Rev. PBM Bosariewmoit as a representative of Meghalaya today at Youth Hostel Khuman Lampak.

The press meet was organised by North East Dialogue Forum on the issue of Tipaimukh, Dimur, Lower Subansiri and Dibang Dam.

Bosariewmoit further said North East regions are hilly areas and in the consideration of the possible boost in prospects of traditional farming through these mega dams, and the energy they can generate, the government has forgotten to think of the people who eke out their livelihoods from the rivers which will be dammed.

He also said that the plan to construction dams will lead to complete destruction of the rich biodiversity of NE regions, besides it will displace several thousand of indigenous peoples across the region.

However in developed countries, focus on windmills or solar energy as alternatives to constructing dams for energy production is gaining ascendency he said. In India, government only thinks to construct dams by force he added.

Assam representative Ms. Hema Das said that 2000 MW of Lower Subansiri Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project, the 2700 MW Lower Demwe HEP Project and 3000 MW Lower Saing HEP project will lead to widespread impacts in both upstream and downstream areas of both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Manipur representative Jiten Yumnam said that the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project has been pursued, ignoring the concerns raised by affected communities. He said the Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI conceded fraudulent `Environment and Forest Clearances` for these mega dams based on faulty information furnished by dam builders.

He further said that these mega dams are pursued in violation of indigenous peoples`™, human rights and the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams 2000.

He also said that the Ithai Barrage 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Project and the Mapithel Dam also affecting the livelihood of the people who live in their basins.

The pursuance of mega dams across North East is despite the failure and underperforming of previously commissioned dams such as Khoupum Dam, Khuga Dam, Singda Dam etc in Manipur. Likewise the Dumbur Dam of Tripura is still lying non functional though still submerging a huge portion of community lands and resources he said.

Jiten Yumanm also asserted that all the MoUs sign by the Government of India across North East with dam building companies should be revoked and all the policies such as the Manipur Hydro Power Policy 2012 which focus on promotion of mega dams over rivers, need to be revoked.

He further said that the performance of previously failed and underperforming dams should be assessed and all non performing mega dams should be decommissioned. However the militarization in the name of development should be stopped in North East as well as the human rights of all indigenous peoples as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams 2000 should be respected, he added.

In all 29 delegates from seven North East States participate in the meet and they also pledged solidarity to the victims of the 1984 firing incident at Heirangoithong Volleyball ground by lighting candles at the memorial site in the evening at about 6.30 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/indian-government-planning-to-construct-more-than-200-mega-dam-across-ne-state/

IMPHAL, March 18: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has announced `non-cooperation movement`™ against non-Manipuris in the State starting from tonight indefinitely.

According to a press release of JCILPS, the non-cooperation movement means not to rent spaces or rooms to non-Manipuris, not to buy from shops owned by non-Manipuries, not to sell non-Manipuri items in Keithel and not to eat at their stalls, stop non-Manipuri vendors from roaming freely in localities or leikais etc and also to put a halt on their business activities.

The release said the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 is deceptive. Instead of safeguarding the indigenous population it is designed for the welfare of the visitors which will in the end challenge the `right to life`™ of the indigenous people, it said.

These resolutions were taken at a meeting of JCILPS today attended by its component Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), its steering committee members and other executive members.

It said the meeting thoroughly discussed on the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenant and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 which was passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 16.

The meeting unanimously resolved that the Bill passed by the Government should not be implemented in the State as the indigenous population of the State cannot be protected by it.

It said the indigenous people of the State needs to act by their own to defend themselves from extinction.

The meeting which was attended by representatives of various component CSOs of JCILPS, strongly condemned the Bill saying it was passed against the wishes of the people.

The process of turning the Bill into Act by getting the governor`™s assent and to publish it in the Gazette should be stop at once, it said.

It said JCILPS condemns CM Ibobi`™s act of discarding the recommendation submitted to the government by collecting opinions from the scholars, politicians, academicians, social activists and other experts by taking a time of five months.

JCILPS assured that while enforcing the non-cooperation movement there will be no violence.

It has appealed the public to follow these instructions voluntarily.

According to UN laws as well as Indian Constitution it is the birth right of the indigenous people to safeguard themselves, it said while appealing the people of the State to extend their support in the movement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/jcilps-announces-noncooperation-movement-against-nonmanipuris/

IMPHAL, March 18: Clarifying on the allegations for misplacing or loosing books and files contributed by individual collectors, from the State Archive Cum State Central Library, Deputy Director of the institute, Md Abdul Kalam said that documents and files are well preserved for public access.

He said that State Archive Act was first enacted in the year 1981 for the state though still without any proper building. Then in 1994, during Gen. (retd) VK Nayar`™s term as Governor of the state, the building constructed on space allotted from of electricity department`™s complex at Keisampat was inaugurated.

Kalam further said that since he took the charge as Deputy Director of the Archive, he pledged to uplift the institute to the top level in the entire North Eastern States. He asserted that from February 10, he initiated a cleanup programme of the institute, to make it a hygienic environment.

The Dy Director elaborated that the state Archive is being preserving well and all important documents and official files are intact.

He said a document from way back 1764 is being preserved and is available for the public. He said that the State Archive has at present 1500 printed forms of books. He further said that all the documents and files were shifted from time to time within the building during the renovation works, and nothing more.

Lauding the secretary Art & Culture, K Radhakumar for quick disposal of files for the sanction of the renovation funds, he said that his subordinate staffs have also extended their support in the renovation process.

Kalam said that the renovation process may take some more time and during the process utmost care is taken to not damage or loose books. Care is also taken to enhance the reading ambience inside the building. He further appealed to all concern not to make baseless charges towards the staffs as they are there for the welfare of the public.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/manipur-archives-under-good-hands-says-official/

NEW DELHI, March 18: Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP, Dr. Thokchom Meinya, denounced the recently presented Union Budget, saying it has cut down unfairly on allocation for the under privileged.

`I would like to respond in a similar PPP model. Sir, in my observation and perception this budget is highlyprejudiced, partial, passive, paradoxical and pathetic,` the MP told the House.

He said the budgetary allocations for the poor, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women and children have been drastically reduced. Therefore, this budget is highly prejudiced against the poor, SCs, STs, women and children, he further charged.

`This budget has done away with the wealth tax and the corporate tax has been reduced from 30% to 25%. As a matter of fact this budget is very partial towards the corporates, industrialist and the rich,` Meinya said.

He noted that `when the global prices of crude oil and petroleum has come down considerably, the inflation is contained and we have a comfortable Foreign Exchange Reserves. In such a favourable situation the Finance Minister is not serious about fiscal consolidation. So, this budget is absolutely passive,` he concluded.

Meinya also charged that the chasm between the haves and have-nots is growing day by day. `After this budget the rich will become richer and poor will become poorer,` he reiterated.

He said there is a saying in Manipuri to explain this, `making wealthy wealthier and wretched more distressful`.

`Finance Minister is giving more money to the rich and less money to the poor. So, this budget is symobically paradoxical, he further said.

He said `in a welfare state development cannot be measured only on the basis of high-rise buildings, smart cities, high-speed trains, digital India, make in India etc. In fact the yardstick of development should be on the basis of people`™s education, employment, health-care, fooding, housing etc. These things are not visible in this budget. Hence, this budget is dismal and pathetic,` he charged.

He also charged that the Finance Minister is now silent on his last year`™s announcement of `health for all`™ and free drugs and diagnostic service. `This time the Ministry of Health has asked for 50,000 but given only 33,152 crores. When we are encountering dreaded diseases like H1N1, AIDS etc., this is unfortunate,` he said.

Addressing the Deputy Speaker, he said `perhaps the whole country knows that BJP had spent a colossal amount of money in the last Lok Sabha election. Everyone knows where from those money came. Now, they have to pay back those money with interest. There are two things in the world which go on non-stop. One is the `time`™ and other is the `interest`™ on borrowed money. If repayment of money is delayed the `interest`™ will be mounting. So, the BJP led Government has started giving the money back with interest. Now, the wealth tax is gone and corporate tax is reduced. In the next four years they will do more,` he further said.

He said this budget has nothing for the middle class. `No tax rebate for the middle class, only some tax saving bonds for them. Finance Minister himself says, `Middle class will take care of themselves`. If this is the attitude, time will tell us who takes care of whom? This is very important and to be noted,` he reiterated.

He further charged that there is now going to be a huge financial burden for the Northeastern states. This is because scant attention is paid to NE Industrial Policy. `This Budget has completely neglected the Northeast India` he further said.

Meinya sarcastically exclaimed `Thank God! MGNREGA is not killed. But Government is reluctantly funding it,` he said.

`Rs. 33,700 crore for MGNREGA is almost equal to last years Revised Estimate. Keeping in view the volume of backlogs and unpaid wages in all the states this allocation is very meager and impractical. With this reluctant funding MGNREGA will die in the near future. One minute sir, I am coming to the last point. If this is the will of the BJP led NDA Government let us see what happens next. The poor farmers will not pardon you,` he predicted.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/inner-manipur-mp-meinya-denounces-union-budget-in-parliamentary-debate/