Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 27: The State Social Welfare department has called e-tender bids for the supply of micronutrient fortified blended food in contrivance of the norms laid by the central vigilance commission by adding a clause in the eligibility criteria which restricts all India suppliers, a source said.

Various dealers have called for the removal of the clause which stated that the firm or company should have experiences of supplying the micronutrient fortified blended food in the Northeast region of India. The general condition for the tender also stated that `the supplier will have to get samples of the supplied food items tested from the NABL accredited laboratory (food and nutrition board, eastern region & quality control laboratory, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Kolkata)`.

As per the department norms, the last date for the submission of the e-tender bid for the supply of the nutrients is on March 4 this year.

The technical tender bids for the supply of nutrients will start on March 9 at 11 am.

Unfortunately, the criteria for the bids are beyond the norms of the PCW and Central Vigilance Commission. Regarding the addition of the clause, Murliwala Private Limited based in New Delhi has submitted a written complaint to the Principal Secretary (Social Welfare), Commissioner of Finance and the Director of the Social Welfare department that it might prevent the selection of the best supplier with experiences all over India.

In the written complaint, the firm has appealed the authorities to remove the added clause and help find the best dealer or firm which can provide the best and quality micronutrient fortified blended food for the children of the State. If the clause remains in the tender, there might be a compromise in the quality of food.

It may be mentioned that the matter was discussed in the ongoing session of the second day of 10th session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly. During the general observation of the demand for grant by Andro A/C MLA Th Shyamkumar has raised the issue and demanded the removal of the clause from the concerned minister. He had also further stated that the concerned department must have given a chance to other firms with experience all over India to choose the best firm.

The Chief Minister had assured Shyamkumar on behalf the concerned Minister that the matter would be looked into.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-social-welfare-dept-alleged-of-calling-etender-bids-by-contravening-central-vigilance-commission-norms/

IMPHAL, February 27: Appropriate actions have been taken up against more than 20 Police personnel who were found guilty of indulging in misbehaviour. Some of them involved in serious cases are sent to jail while some are under suspension.

This was stated by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio, replying to the calling attention motion raised by opposition MLAs Th Shyamkumar Singh and Karam Shyam Singh in the House today regarding the increasing cases of bomb blasts in the State.

The opposition MLAs said, 44 bomb incidents have occurred in between January 1 to February 19 in which 16 of the incidents have been claimed responsibility by various underground organizations while the remaining numbers are still unknown.

The MLAs further said 15 out of the 44 bombs were detected on time and luckily the occurrence of blast was averted. However, the remaining numbers were not so lucky and in the serial bomb blasts one person was killed and 21 people were injured including Police personnel.

Police have not been able to find out anything concrete about the bombs which were not claimed by the underground organizations and it has shown their weakness, the MLAs maintained while adding the complete failure of the Intelligence can be seen here.

While saying that in this 44 incident of bombs, ten occurred in Imphal, the MLAs questioned why the CCTV cameras are still not functional.

The MLAs have also questioned why the family of the one killed and the injured person in the Kasom Khullen bomb blast still not receive ex-gratia from the government.

MLA Th Shyamkumar Singh further urged the government to find out the reason for the frequent bomb attacks at betel leaf selling places where both police and UGs both collect money unofficially.

He added that this morning at around 6:58, he himself saw Police personnel at Khoyathong in Imphal taking money from two non-local rickshaw pullers.

Replying further on the calling attention motion of the two MLAs, Dy CM Gaikhangam said these people who are triggering the bomb blasts did not come from heaven or hell but they are only bad people who are also a part of our society.

He said only Police cannot stop them from doing these unwanted things; support from CSOs, Clubs/Associations, and Meira Paibees are also need.

While saying that his department have found out the involvement of outcast people and drug users in committing such crimes, he urged all the people of the State to make an effort to prevent from such crimes.

The Dy CM terming the series of bomb blast very unfortunate said that the Imphal City including Khwairamband Keithel has been guarded by dividing six zones now by the Police Commandos from 6 am till 9 pm with high alert.

He said the CCTV cameras which are not working would be replaced by new ones as well as the places which the installation of CCTV cameras are need will be installed soon. The government even if it is facing financial constrain, the process for E-Tender for the work have been started, he added.

Ex-gratia will be given to the family of the decease and the injured person who were victims of the Kasom Khullen bomb blast for sure, he assured.

He said he have met the members of the JAC formed in connection with the incident. They have reported the incident only after 20 days, which is the reason why it is being delayed, he added.

Further, police have registered a case in regard to the bomb blast at Masjid Road on February 18, 2015 and the investigation is going on. The Assistant Sub-Inspector, other three Police personnel and the civilians who were injured in the blast are all out of danger now, he informed the House.

However, we are trying to find out if there was a black sheep among the police personnel, he maintained.

The Dy CM also assured the House that he will take strike action against Police personnel found indulging in misbehaviour. People can provide him with the name of the personnel, about the incident in detail and place so that he can take action, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/action-taken-against-more-20-police-personnel-for-misbehaviour-gaikhangam/

IMPHAL, Feb 27: The Thoubal College students union in served an ultimatum to the authorities of the Education Department, to send its representatives to the college to take stock of the crumbling infrastructures of the college within five days.

In a press conference held at the office of the students`™ union at the college today, the general secretary of the union, T. Rohit Meitei said if the authorities fail to pay heed to this warning, the students would resort to tough agitations to get their demand.

He said the college infrastructure is in a very bad shape, and even a girls hostel constructed in 2012, remains abandoned and unattended. Cracks are developing everywhere on the walls of the building, he added.

He said this is also on account of the total lack of quality control while the building was being constructed. All this is very disheartening for the students of the college, he further said.

He said the fencing of the college campus, the swimming pool, boys`™ hostel and the department blocks are all in extremely poor condition.

He underscored the point that the authorities of the education department must make a tour to the college and assess the situation, and then take remedial measures.

On the other hand, the student leader said, because the teachers of Thoubal College have also now joined the strike by a section of the college teachers, there is wide apprehension among students that annual syllabus would remain inadequately covered.

He said this is serious and a settlement must be reached at the soonest, adding the students resent the teachers of the college taking advantage of the strike call to do nothing meaningful and at the cost of the students academic careers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/thoubal-college-students-issue-ultimatum/