Tag: Photo

MNS: 30 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector under HQ IGAR(South) celebrated Ningol Chakkouba at Mantripukhri Garrison today. Womenfolk from various walks of life and communities of the state were invited. The programme was graced by Brigadier SS Mishra,VSM, Deputy IGAR(S) and on behalf of Lt Gen Ranbir Singh,AVSM,SM,Director General Assam Rifles and Maj Gen UK Gurung,YSM,IGAR(S),who extended a traditional welcome to the Ningols drawn from the Meitei, Muslim and all other communities. The women folk were offered fruits and other eatables (Athenpot) in the same tradition in which Ningol Chakkouba as celebrated in Manipur.
Prominent lady dignitaries like Akoijam Mira Bai, Minister for Social Welfare, Padmashree Ksh Thouranishabi Devi,Former Manipur State Commission for Women,Prof Ksh Bimola Devi,Dept of Political Science,
MU, Smt Loalijam Begum,Retd Principal GP Women’s College, Sonia Chanu ,June Rose Vaiphei, Member Manipur State commission for Women, Mrs Kim,PS to Home Minister, Valley Rose Hungyo,Editor Aja Daily also graced the occasion.
Keeping with the Manipuri traditions with the women eating on plantain leaves and the Assam Rifles officers attired in Pheijoms serving them, was a spell binding moment for the IGAR (South) and all officers and ladies who attended the function, which is indeed a quintessence of Manipuri tradition.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ningol-chakkouba-3/

IMPHAL, Nov 19 MNS NNN UNA : The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) will meet the state government of Manipur on Tuesday.
The KSDC has received a formal invitation from the government of Manipur at 2 pm today. One hour after receiving the invitation, the executive meeting of the KSDC was held and resolved that the KSDC will send its representatives for the meeting with the state government on Tuesday. “As of now the blockade will continue and only after the meeting with the state government tomorrow, we will take a decision whether the agitation should continue or not,” informed George Guite.
Earlier in the morning, Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam said that Manipur Government would invite the protesting Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) to the negotiating table for talk on Tuesday afternoon, while urging the committee to withdraw the indefinite public blockade being enforced by it along the two National Highways in the state including the Kuki-inhabited areas.
The agitating KSDC has imposed an indefinite public blockade in all the Kuki-dominated areas including the two National Highways linking the state since the evening of November 17 demanding the Government to set the stage to begin peace talks with the Kuki National Front (KNF) and United People’s Front (UPF) at the earliest and also in demand ‘for a separate Kuki state to be carved out of Kuki traditional lands incorporated within the present day Manipur’.
The KNO and UPF are the two umbrella organizations of Kuki militant outfits operating in the state.
“The agitation being called by KSDC indicates its frustration over the long-standing political problem of the Kuki militant groups which are under Suspension of Operation (SoO) for about eight years. However, the state Government at its level best has also been pressing the Central Government to start peace parleys with them,” Gaikhangam told reporters after attending Kwami Ekta National Integration Day held at Congress Bhawan this morning.
Gaikhangam said the state Government will invite KSDC for talk on Tuesday at 3:30 pm.
Referring to the recent meeting between him and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in New Delhi on the proposed political dialogue involving the KNO, UPF and the Government of India, he said Manipur Government had urged Shinde to start peace process with the Kuki militant outfits.
The Union Home minister in response to the proposal had assured that the peace talks would be definitely started after the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, the deputy chief minister further recounted. The Parliament Session is scheduled to commence from November 22.
After the Parliament Session, a team from MHA) will visit Imphal to chalk out modalities for the dialogue process, Gaikhangam announced and pleaded KSDC to call off the ongoing public blockade in the interest of the public admitting that all the ethnic communities in the state are bearing the same brunt to the same degree.
In a media query on the closure of oil pumps in the state following the blockade by KSDC, Gaikhangam said such thing often involves businessmen but the matter would be appropriately informed to the concerned minister.
In another query by the media, the deputy chief minister made it clear that the onus for implementation of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur lies with the Central Government but he asked the Joint Committee on ILP to dispatch a joint reminder to the Government on the issue.
More than 100 trucks remained standed at Senapati Head quarter .
The goods were for ‘Tourism Festival’ but not a single security person was in sight.
However, 11 inter-state buses and eight taxi service winger vehicles today crossed Kangpokpi area with heavy escort by police and state security force and arrived at Imphal.
CAFPD minister Moirangthem Okendro said that there was enough stock of petroleum products.
Regarding most of oil pumps remaining closed with stock nil bills at the counters, he expressed doubt that some vested interest persons were trying to convey wrong message that state government has failed to deal with the situation or authorities of oil pumps sold out the fuels at the backdoor.
He had conducted a check personally at the oil depots and found records of distributing fuels to the retail outlets at normal rates, he said, adding that government was ready to face all eventualities if the blockade continues longer. “We have already prepared to ensure regular supply of fuels to the public. We have enough security force to escort vehicles on the national highways if disturbance is given to the normal ferry of essential goods for the state,” he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ksdc-members-to-meet-governor-today/

IMPHAL, Nov 18 NNN: Around 9 trucks were reportedly damaged when volunteers of Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) stoned them at around 9:30 last night along the National Highway-2 between Kangpokpi and Sekmai.
Reports said the goods laden trucks coming from Dimapur towards Imphal were stoned by the volunteers. However, no one was injured in the incidents.
In yet another related incident, blockade supporters and the security force personnel had a scuffle at a place called Yaingangpokpi in Imphal-Ukhrul road this morning.
Reports said vehicles including goods, pasenger and light vehicles escorted by the security force were heading towards Imphal from Ukhrul side by confronted by the blockade supporters at Yangangpokpi at around 11:30 am.
Yangaipokpi is located between the border of Imphal East district and Sadar Hills.
Reports from Senapati said as many as 75 goods laden trucks have been stranded along the NH-2 in the Senapati district today following the KSDC blockade. Some vehicles have been escorted to Imphal this afternoon but many are still stranded, added the reports.
The KSDC sponsored ‘public blockade’ that began since 5 pm on Saturday has been crippling vehicular moments in all the roads leading to the state capital Imphal. This KSDC agitation has literally choked the life-lines of Manipur since last evening.
Meanwhile, KSDC information secretary George Guite informed Newmai News Network this evening that the Committee will wait for the government response till 3 pm on Monday. “If no positive response comes forth by 3 pm tomorrow, the executive meeting of the Kuki State Demand Committee will be held at 5 pm and decide the next course of agitation which is for intensification of the ongoing protest,” said George Guite.
Earlier, Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) secretary Benjamin Mate and its information secretary George Guite had informed that ‘only after a written assurance is given by the Government of India that the process of political dialogue with Kukis, involving KSDC and Kuki militants, would begin within a predetermined date, then only we may review our stand’.
The indefinite “public blockade” in all the highways passing through “Kuki areas” was announced on November 12 by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) in demand ‘for a separate Kuki state to be carved out of Kuki traditional lands incorporated within the present day Manipur.
Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) will wait for any positive response from the government till Monday afternoon before it takes new course of action.
KSDC information secretary George Guite informed that the Committee will wait for the government response till 3 pm on Monday. “If no positive response comes forth by 3 pm tomorrow, the executive meeting of the Kuki State Demand Committee will be held at 5 pm and decide the next course of agitation which is for intensification of the ongoing protest,” said George Guite.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nine-trucks-damaged-as-ksdc-supporters-stone-them/

Mail News Service NNN
Imphal, Nov 14 MNS NNN : The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) has deferred the mass movement or public blockade for two days in public interest due to ‘Ningol Chakouba’ festival on the request of different civil organisations of Manipur, according to The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC).
The “public blockade” will now be started from 5 pm of November 17 instead of November 15 evening.
“It has been resolved to proceed with the bandh indefinitely i.e. until the government of India gives a written assurance, that political dialogue between the government of India and the Kuki people represented by the Kuki State Demand Committee and Kuki militant organisations presently under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the government of India begins on a pre-determined date on Kuki political demand for a separate statehood,” said the KSDC today.
“Further resolved, that the Kuki people, led by KSDC, will launch ‘Quit Kuki Lands” movement against India if timely heed is not paid to the democratic demands of the Kuki people,” said the KSDC.
It then dismissed the proposed Kuki state map appeared in Imphal based newspapers yesterday. The KSDC said that map is a misrepresentation and does not reflect the Kuki territories fully.
“As can be seen from the political statement in the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, Kuki territories, in addition to Sadar Hills, Chandel and Churachandpur autonomous districts, from some areas of which about 350 Kuki villages had been forcibly evicted during the NSCN-IM led Kuki genocide of the 1990s and has not been resettled despite the Kukis incessant petitioning the government to initiate resttlement process. These, together with numerable existing villages covering substantial chunk of the land in these three districts from traditional Kuki territories long before the birth of the Indian state.
“In the light of the above, the KSDC feels it is important to redress the public misinformation affected by such map which has no authentication from us. We could therefore appeal your esteemed paper to publish the correct map of Kuki territories which we hereby enclosed,” said the KSDC.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/blockade-deferred-by-two-days/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Nov 10 : A Symposium was organized under the aegis of the Red Shield Division at Senapati District HQ by the Senapti Brigade to dwell on the topic: “inclusive development will usher in ethnic harmonisation and lasting peace inMmanipur”. The event was graced by Gaikhangam, Dy CM as the Chief Guest and Maj Gen K K Sinha, SM, GOC Red Shield Division as the Guest of Honour.
Speakers from various tribes, districts and colleges expressed their candid and explicit views on the topic.
A distinguished field of panelists comprising Maj Gen (Retd) N George, VSM, Chairman CFMG, Prof L Sadananda Singh, Prof Amar Yumnam Singh, al were in attendance of the event. The students voiced an invigorating debate with candid views which was further qualified by the expert comments of the panelists. The thought provoking Q&A session which followed the discourses by the students were attention-grabbing and added to the overall flair of the Symposium.
The Dy CM remarked during his valedictory address that the need for Inclusive Development was highly necessary and important for the overall development of the State of Manipur.
In his closing remarks, Maj Gen K K Sinha, SM, GOC, Red Shield Division, thanked the Dy CM and eminent panelists for their valuable time and their qualified views. The General said that the youth is the pillars of society on whom great responsibility rests, for ensuring progress of the Nation.
The Dy CM presented mementos and Certificates to all the participants to encourage and motivate the youth for their bright future.
The students, teachers, locals and the socio-political organizations conveyed their heartfelt gratitude for this interesting and thought provoking event organized by the Senapati Brigade and giving the youth an arena to voice their views on the subject.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inclusive-development-beneficial-to-all-gakhangam/

Mail News Service Imphal, Nov 1 : The biggest post harvest festival of the Kuki-Mizo-Chin group ‘Chavang Kut 2012’ was celebrated presenting rich traditional dance and songs organized by State Level Kut Committee, Manipur at the 1st Manipur Rifles ground here on Thursday. The day falls on Novermber 1 every year. It is one of the most anticipated calendar day for the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group of Manipur and elsewhere. One of the few occasions, KUT (as it is called) symbolises happiness and health, hard work and toil, peace and brotherhood, abundance and hope. Young and old, kings and paupers, strong and weak are united in the spirit of ancestral unity. Traditionally, locally brewed beers were exchanged within a village marking an end to agricultural drudgery consequent to plentiful harvest. The day officially announces the beginning of leisure and game. Cut to modern days, the festival has been laced with festoons and fanfare with the showcasing of tradition within the modern context. The festival is in this sense, a link between the gapping hole of tradition and modernity. For the people of Chin-Kuki-Mizo, it is a time to retrospect about the past and look forward to the future with optimistic zeal. Diaspora of Kuki-Chin-Mizo takes time out to reunite with their roots despite the mad search for global identity. For those unable to make a connection to their forefathers’ blood-drench soil of Manipur, they still make an effort by organising Kut wherever they may be roaming. Governor Gurbhachan Jagat said the Kuki-Mizo-Chin groups have their own unique and distinct cultural heritage and this is reflected in their various festivals. Kut is one such festival held during autumn and this festival provides an opportunity to not only make merry but to introspect on our past and plan for the future. This festival which includes songs and dances is now participated in not only by the Kuki-Mizo-Chin groups but by other communities also thereby strengthening the bonds of friendship and is a harbinger of peace, harmony and progress. Citizens of Manipur as responsible people and should ensure that we settle our differences through talks and negotiations and not resort to violence, including bandhs and blockades. Let us set aside our differences and resolve not to resort to bandhs and blockades as it severely impacts the poorer section of the society more. Let us cast aside our self centered egos and policies of the various ethnic groups and work for the overall welfare of the State. Kut is the time to do this as this festival exemplifies gratefulness, compassion, and gaiety. Emotional integration cannot be achieved in a single day but a start needs to be made so that we can build on it. Chief Minister Ibobi has appealed for the peace and harmony in Manipur. Gracing the evening session of Kut celebration, Ibobi Singh talked for peaceful co-existence among the various communities in the State. No group should work against the interest of a particular community but rather maintain communal harmony, Ibobi said. Even though Manipur is a tiny State it is known as a mini India by many because of its multifarious communities and that in the over 2000 years of its history it has witnessed co-existence among different communities. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the State Level Kut Committee, Manipur for inviting him to the event as well as for organizing it. Home minister Gaikhangam also addressed the function marking the inauguration of the auspicious and joyous occasion of Kut. He prayed to Almighty to bring peace, prosperity and integrity in the State of Manipur with the celebration of the festival. The state Home minister also expressed gratification to see hundreds of people from different communities of the State congregating and participating the occasion. “Although Manipur is a small State it is inhabited by people of different caste and creeds rich in culture, tradition and discipline since very long time,” Gaikhangam hailed. Manipur does not lag behind other states of India in various fields such as religion and many other podiums, and the integrity of the different communities has beautified the State to the highest degree, he further affirmed. Maj Gen KK Sinha, SM, General Officer Commanding and all Ranks of Red Shield Division extended warm greetings and sincere goodwill to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion on “Kut”. The Festival of Harvesting. The General Officer Commanding expressed the hope that the festival would foster peace, harmony, prosperity among all community of the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kut-festival-celebrated-amid-call-for-peace-harmony/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Nov 1 : Bharat Nirman Campaign began today at Ukhrul for the second time at the Multi Purpose hall of Ukhrul Mini Secretariat. The Sub Divisional Officer of Chingai J. Huileng lit the inaugural lamp as Chief Guest of the programme. A.W Ringshangphi District Programme Officer, ICDS Cell Ukhrul and Shrimati Silla Konghay, President Tangkhul Shanao Long attended the function as president and Guest of Honour respectively.
Media and Communication Officer of PIB, . Premlata Loitam said government is taking up different welfare programmes for the benefit of its citizen . All these welfare programmes are meant to promote the livelihood of its citizen especially in rural areas. However due to lack of information many people in the rural areas hardly get the benefits
A.W Ringshangphi said that Bharat Nirman Campaign is an opportunity for the people to expand their knowledge on the program and policies of the country. Providing platform to the people to interact with the concern authority is in fact the opportunity never to be missed out by every citizen who has a sense of development. Carrying out this campaign at Ukhrul is a great chance for the people of Ukhrul District.
Public Information Campaign on National Flagship program touching Ukhrul for the second time is a great opportunity for the people said the Functional President Silla Konghay in her speech. While lauding the campaign she also points out the need to carry out this kind of program to villages rather than confining at the District Headquarters as it is the villagers which need this information the most. Confining this kind of program at the District Headquarter cannot make the Bharat Nirman campaign into reality due to its limitation in creating awareness among the rural masses as intended by the government of India.
‘We are living in the age of information and those who do not have the right information become a stagnant person in this fast changing world’ said J.Huileng the Chief Guest in his inaugural speech. Elaborating further he said information is the basic key to any development whether it may be infrastructural aspect or human resource development aspect. Bharat Nirman Campaign is an information campaign on the various programs taken up by the government. And it is the right of every citizen to have the right information.
Irengbam Rajeev, District Project Manager (DPM), NRHM, Ukhrul, said that the participation of people in NRHM in Ukhrul district is laudable and the healthcare benefits of public under NRHM has been seen at maximum level in Ukhrul district.
Ever since the implementation of NRHM in 2006 in Ukhrul, Irengbam said the district is availing benefits from the national flagship programme with visible improvement in rural health facilities. He informed that health infrastructure has now been improved in the district with strengthening of human resource added by new techniques and know-hows.
He also stated that many are under BPL category in Ukhrul and therefore maintaining good health can fight poverty and uplift family’s earning. “This is one major policy being undertaken through NRHM at larger perspective,” he added.
Under the NRHM programme, Ukhrul is availing benefits including healthcare packages like Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY), Jananai Shisu Suraksha Kariakram (JSSK) and services of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) among others.
Besides, the management of health institutions is delegated to the public with the implementation of NRHM. “In almost every village, the hospital management society (HMS) has been instituted to manage health centres and other health facilities in the villages,” Irengbam stated.
In Ukhrul district, he stated that there are now 302 ASHAs operating at various rural areas and are primarily engaged in basic healthcare of at grass root level.
Further, he said the ASHA committee has been set up in villages and are being assisted with financial and material help by Government of India.
In the same year when NRHM was implemented in Manipur and in its district, JSSY is also implemented in September. A new scheme called JSSK has also been implemented recently aimed at providing optimum healthcare benefits to mothers and during childbirth. Under the JSSK, he said that all treatment-related cost for mothers at hospital would be borne by government and these facilities are allotted to the Primary Health Centres.
He appealed the mothers to deliver babies at government run health institution to avails basic benefits under NRHM.
For effective and successful implementation of NRHM, Irengbam said that the public should have proper knowledge and wide awareness in regard to healthcare and the nuances incorporated in the flagship programme.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bharat-nirman-campaign-begins-at-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, Oct 31 MNS NNN: Manipur Government also observed the Rastriya Sankalp Diwas (National Re-dedication Day) marking the death anniversary of former prime minister of India Indira Gandhi on Wednesday.
CM Okram Ibobi said during the function at 1st MR that the late PM had always tried to protect the integrity of the country and concentrated her mind and body for the upbringing and welfare of the poor and downtrodden.
The true devotion of Indira was that India could never be divided at all and co-existence in peace and harmony was her basic principle, the Chief Minister said.
He said Indira was one of the world prominent leaders who unrelentingly made efforts to make good relations with other countries.
Referring to the present state of affairs in Manipur, Ibobi said the state has been witnessing frequent occurrence of violence during the last few years which has caused a fear psychosis among the people.
The prevalent of violence has also been a major stumbling block to the development of the state and also detrimental in determining the future of the state, he asserted. Ibobi also appealed to all to take a vow together on this day to take part in bringing development and shaping the future of the state.
State HM Gaikhangam said, “We need to follow Indira’s principle in practice if we are really paying tributes to her on this day. Mere observation of the day cannot say that we are really deserved to be her adherents.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tribute-paid-to-indira/

IMPHAL, Oct 31 MNS NNN: Manipur Government also observed the Rastriya Sankalp Diwas (National Re-dedication Day) marking the death anniversary of former prime minister of India Indira Gandhi on Wednesday.
CM Okram Ibobi said during the function at 1st MR that the late PM had always tried to protect the integrity of the country and concentrated her mind and body for the upbringing and welfare of the poor and downtrodden.
The true devotion of Indira was that India could never be divided at all and co-existence in peace and harmony was her basic principle, the Chief Minister said.
He said Indira was one of the world prominent leaders who unrelentingly made efforts to make good relations with other countries.
Referring to the present state of affairs in Manipur, Ibobi said the state has been witnessing frequent occurrence of violence during the last few years which has caused a fear psychosis among the people.
The prevalent of violence has also been a major stumbling block to the development of the state and also detrimental in determining the future of the state, he asserted. Ibobi also appealed to all to take a vow together on this day to take part in bringing development and shaping the future of the state.
State HM Gaikhangam said, “We need to follow Indira’s principle in practice if we are really paying tributes to her on this day. Mere observation of the day cannot say that we are really deserved to be her adherents.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tribute-paid-to-indira/

IMPHAL, Oct 30 NNN : The ‘Chagah Festival 2012’ of the Liangmai community was celebrated today at Taphou Liangmai, Senapati district headquarters with festive fervour under the theme ‘Culture Identifies a Community.’
The festival began with special activities of traditional portent with igniting sacred fire whose fresh glow replacing hearts, the omen reading from the war sport “Peng Kepbo,” a traditional mode of archery targeting a wooden human figurine. The figurine satiates the performer’s belief if the arrows were to hit head, chest and navel or belly as signs of success and traditionally the Liangmai community celebrates the festival for 5-7 days with delicious dishes and hallowing drinks, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, Mao constituency MLA L Dikho said the Liangmai community which has rich culture and tradition can be seen growing fast.
He hailed that all the cultural dances and many other colourful performances shown in the festival were really striking but the MLA suggested that the state tribal communities should pay more attention on preserving the tribal cultural heritage to fulfill the blessing of God.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chagah-festival-celebrated/