IMPHAL, Nov 30 – The bamboo bicycle or Wa-(bamboo) Bike is all set to hit the State roads turning the dream of bicycle enthusiasts in Manipur into a reality after the formal launch of the bike in Imphal last afternoon.
Though the State had witnessed successful test ride of four bamboo-fabricated bicycles during the 10th Critical Mass of Manipur Cycle Club (MCC) in April this year, the made in India ‘bambike’ was formally launched at the ongoing 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival on the 8th day yesterday.
Two models of bamboo-fabricated bicycle or ‘Wa-Bike’ – one each for men and children – were assembled during a four-day workshop held under the aegis of South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF) in collaboration with MCC.
“I hope the government in our State takes steps to make cycle lanes for a healthy environment in our city,”says Parliamentary Secretary (Tourism and Sports) M Prithviraj while speaking at the function. “I appreciate the innovative and unique idea of making such a bamboo bicyle in the State.”
The bicycle, the first in the country, is made of both iron and bamboo. The main frames are made of bamboo and the rest such as wheels, joints and chains are made of iron parts.
Manipur’s Commerce and Industries Minister K Gobindas lauded the activities of MCC. It maye be noted that the State Environment and Ecology Wing had already promised to buy 1000 such Wa-Bikes in the days to come to use as samples for environment-friendly means of transport.
Urging the communities to adopt cycle for daily local transports in the Imphal city and urban areas of Manipur which remain congested due to unchecked rise in number of motor vehicles, mostly two-wheelers, a key functionary of MCC, James Mayengbam, said, “But we’ll be testing the durability of the bamboo-fabricated cycles for a few months before venturing into commercial production.” So the MCC is also yet to fix price of the Wa-Bike.
Former president of the World Bamboo Organisation Kamesh Salam and Bangalore-based designer Vijay Sharma were instrumental in making the MCC’s dream into reality.
Sarjubala bows out of Sr Women's National boxing Championship
GUWAHATI: In what came as a biggest upset of the day, the youth world and reigning national champion, Sarjubala Devi of Manipur went down to Mamta of Haryana in a enthralling semifinal contest on the fourth day of the 13th Senior National boxing championship on Wednesday.
In 48kg category, Haryana state champion and the bronze medallist at the 2011 senior nationals, Mamta entered the ring looking to avenge last year's defeat against the 19-year-old Manipuri boxing sensation, and she made her intentions clear at the beginning of the first round itself.
Taking full advantage of her height, Mamta overpowered Sarju with her long reaching arms and did not allow the multiple youth national champion to play her natural game.
Mamta led 5-4 at the end of the first two minutes of the play and then continued with similar tactics in the second round as well. Her strategy paid off and midway through the bout she had a three point advantage (5-3).
In the third round, Sarju upped the ante and was able to get the better of her opponent after Mamta was given a warning for a foul punch.
Things seem to be turning in favour of the Manipuri boxer, but drama unfolded in the fourth round when she got a caution herself, for intentionally putting her head down.
After an intense eight minutes of play in total, it was Mamta who triumphed by virtue of points (20-17) and advanced to the final round of the championship.
For the 23-year-old Haryana boxer, this win meant a lot after having lost to Sarjubala in the semi-finals last year.
"It was difficult bout to win and it could have gone either way. We have practiced together at the national camps and I know her game, plus I had also done my home work pretty well. I did not allow her that many attacking opportunities in the beginning and moved around the ring a lot and it worked like a charm," said Mamta.
"In the end she was under pressure and became over aggressive that played in my favour as well. Overall, I am very happy with my performance," she added.
Mamta will take on Rebecca Lalinmawii of Mizoram, who got the better of local girl Anita Kahar of Assam, in the next round with the aim of bagging her first senior national gold medal.
Meanwhile, in the fly weight division (51kg), silver medal winner at the 2012 Asian Championships, Pinky Jangra displayed great determination and skill to get past some solid attacking from Basanti Chanu of All India Police.
She led from the start to finish to win 29-16. In the championship round she will face Toniabala Chanu of Arunachal Pradesh, who beat Roshni Subba of Sikkim.
The field got tougher with the likes of 2012 World Championship bronze medallist Kavita Chahal (+81kg), Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat (75kg) of Haryana along with silver medallist at the 2012 Asian Championships Pooja Rani (75kg) of RSPB, Sonia Lather (54kg) of Haryana, Monica Saun (60kg) of Uttarakhand and Pinky Jangra (51kg) also of the Railways all cementing their place in the championship round.
World number 5, Chahal defeated Laxmi Padiya on points (27-7). The fight for the yellow metal in the middle weight division will witness 2011 Arafura Games silver medallist Pooja Rani taking on 2012 Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat of Haryana.
In the round of four, Rani was at her menacing best as she beat Poonam Mahant from Madhya Pradesh in a completely lop-sided contest. Goyat too had an easy route to the finals with a 26-7 victory over Poonam from All India Police.
In the bantam weight division former national champion and last year's silver medallist Lather had to dig deep against some power punching from Assamese boxer Anjali Machahary, but in the end the veteran boxer beat the local girl 19-14 on points.
In the feather weight division, it was a bad day seasoned boxer Mandakini Chann representing AIP. The 27 year old came up short against 2010 Asian Championship bronze medallist Pavitra of the Railways team.
In 48kg category, Haryana state champion and the bronze medallist at the 2011 senior nationals, Mamta entered the ring looking to avenge last year's defeat against the 19-year-old Manipuri boxing sensation, and she made her intentions clear at the beginning of the first round itself.
Taking full advantage of her height, Mamta overpowered Sarju with her long reaching arms and did not allow the multiple youth national champion to play her natural game.
Mamta led 5-4 at the end of the first two minutes of the play and then continued with similar tactics in the second round as well. Her strategy paid off and midway through the bout she had a three point advantage (5-3).
In the third round, Sarju upped the ante and was able to get the better of her opponent after Mamta was given a warning for a foul punch.
Things seem to be turning in favour of the Manipuri boxer, but drama unfolded in the fourth round when she got a caution herself, for intentionally putting her head down.
After an intense eight minutes of play in total, it was Mamta who triumphed by virtue of points (20-17) and advanced to the final round of the championship.
For the 23-year-old Haryana boxer, this win meant a lot after having lost to Sarjubala in the semi-finals last year.
"It was difficult bout to win and it could have gone either way. We have practiced together at the national camps and I know her game, plus I had also done my home work pretty well. I did not allow her that many attacking opportunities in the beginning and moved around the ring a lot and it worked like a charm," said Mamta.
"In the end she was under pressure and became over aggressive that played in my favour as well. Overall, I am very happy with my performance," she added.
Mamta will take on Rebecca Lalinmawii of Mizoram, who got the better of local girl Anita Kahar of Assam, in the next round with the aim of bagging her first senior national gold medal.
Meanwhile, in the fly weight division (51kg), silver medal winner at the 2012 Asian Championships, Pinky Jangra displayed great determination and skill to get past some solid attacking from Basanti Chanu of All India Police.
She led from the start to finish to win 29-16. In the championship round she will face Toniabala Chanu of Arunachal Pradesh, who beat Roshni Subba of Sikkim.
The field got tougher with the likes of 2012 World Championship bronze medallist Kavita Chahal (+81kg), Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat (75kg) of Haryana along with silver medallist at the 2012 Asian Championships Pooja Rani (75kg) of RSPB, Sonia Lather (54kg) of Haryana, Monica Saun (60kg) of Uttarakhand and Pinky Jangra (51kg) also of the Railways all cementing their place in the championship round.
World number 5, Chahal defeated Laxmi Padiya on points (27-7). The fight for the yellow metal in the middle weight division will witness 2011 Arafura Games silver medallist Pooja Rani taking on 2012 Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat of Haryana.
In the round of four, Rani was at her menacing best as she beat Poonam Mahant from Madhya Pradesh in a completely lop-sided contest. Goyat too had an easy route to the finals with a 26-7 victory over Poonam from All India Police.
In the bantam weight division former national champion and last year's silver medallist Lather had to dig deep against some power punching from Assamese boxer Anjali Machahary, but in the end the veteran boxer beat the local girl 19-14 on points.
In the feather weight division, it was a bad day seasoned boxer Mandakini Chann representing AIP. The 27 year old came up short against 2010 Asian Championship bronze medallist Pavitra of the Railways team.
Imphal hosts festival to promote popular classical dance forms
Imphal: Manipur capital Imphal recently played host to a festival that aimed to promote the classical dance forms of Manipuri and Satriyya.
Classical dancers from different parts of the country took part in the four-day long Festival of Classical Manipur Solo Dance.
The event was held under the aegis of Manipur State Kala Akademi to spread awareness about the classical dance among the youth.
“This solo classical festival will surely benefit the classical dancers, especially those learning different forms of classical dances,” said S. Bideshwor Sharma, the Secretary, Manipur State Kala Academy and one of the organisers of the event.
Manipuri dance forms like the Ras Lila, Pung Cholom, Nupa Cholom and Thoibi enthralled the audience, who turned up in large numbers.
“Manipuri classical dance has got a bright future as many youth, both females and males, are taking up dancing as a profession, said Bimbavati Devi, a classical dancer from Kolkata.
Manipuri classical and martial arts dance forms have fascinated many foreign artists like Jonathan Julian Forster of France.
Forster recently performed a solo Thang-Ta performance while his mother Angela Sofia Sterzer performed a Manipuri Classical dance amidst much applause from the crowd.
“This is amazing that they have come from Paris to Manipur and performing Thang-Ta martial art. And this is the second time they have come and this is really encouraging to the people,” said Bracjachand Singh, who watched the show.
Anjela, who arrived in India in 2001 as a tourist, fell in love with Indian classical dances and learned Manipuri classical dance from Kolkota-based Guru Jiten. She has now opened a dance school in Paris where she is teaches Manipuri dance to the French.
Classical dancers from different parts of the country took part in the four-day long Festival of Classical Manipur Solo Dance.
The event was held under the aegis of Manipur State Kala Akademi to spread awareness about the classical dance among the youth.
“This solo classical festival will surely benefit the classical dancers, especially those learning different forms of classical dances,” said S. Bideshwor Sharma, the Secretary, Manipur State Kala Academy and one of the organisers of the event.
Manipuri dance forms like the Ras Lila, Pung Cholom, Nupa Cholom and Thoibi enthralled the audience, who turned up in large numbers.
“Manipuri classical dance has got a bright future as many youth, both females and males, are taking up dancing as a profession, said Bimbavati Devi, a classical dancer from Kolkata.
Manipuri classical and martial arts dance forms have fascinated many foreign artists like Jonathan Julian Forster of France.
Forster recently performed a solo Thang-Ta performance while his mother Angela Sofia Sterzer performed a Manipuri Classical dance amidst much applause from the crowd.
“This is amazing that they have come from Paris to Manipur and performing Thang-Ta martial art. And this is the second time they have come and this is really encouraging to the people,” said Bracjachand Singh, who watched the show.
Anjela, who arrived in India in 2001 as a tourist, fell in love with Indian classical dances and learned Manipuri classical dance from Kolkota-based Guru Jiten. She has now opened a dance school in Paris where she is teaches Manipuri dance to the French.
Man held for selling wildlife meat
IMPHAL, Nov 28 – The owner of a food stall has been arrested for allegedly selling porcupine and wild boar meat during the on-going Manipur Sangai festival 2012.
The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Anil Kumar told reporters here yesterday that the accused has been arrested under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 on the basis of alleged sale of wildlife products. “He was produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East last evening”, a senior Forest official said.”
The food stall owner has been identified as Oinam Bojo Singh of Sagolband Moirang Leirak in Imphal West district. The Forest department took the action after local dailies published news items on the open sale of wildlife meat at the food court of the festival.
People for Animals (PFA) activists on November 24 collected the meat claimed by the stall owner as that of porcupine and wild boar. The stall was selling the wildlife meat at Rs 100 per plate.
Meanwhile, the arrested proprietor has been released on payment of Rs 12,000 as fine as per provisions under Schedule 3 and 4 of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 after he was produced before the court today.
The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Anil Kumar told reporters here yesterday that the accused has been arrested under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 on the basis of alleged sale of wildlife products. “He was produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East last evening”, a senior Forest official said.”
The food stall owner has been identified as Oinam Bojo Singh of Sagolband Moirang Leirak in Imphal West district. The Forest department took the action after local dailies published news items on the open sale of wildlife meat at the food court of the festival.
People for Animals (PFA) activists on November 24 collected the meat claimed by the stall owner as that of porcupine and wild boar. The stall was selling the wildlife meat at Rs 100 per plate.
Meanwhile, the arrested proprietor has been released on payment of Rs 12,000 as fine as per provisions under Schedule 3 and 4 of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 after he was produced before the court today.
Have 12 kids, Minister tells Meitei women
Manipur Social Welfare Minister Mirabai Akoijam has
urged women of the non-tribal Meiteis to bear at least 12 children each
to save the minority community from extinction.
The
Meiteis should stop limiting the number of children through family
planning, she said, speaking at a function here on Sunday. Ms. Akoijam
said the population of the male Meiteis had come down drastically as a
result of violent incidents.
Rare animals meat being sold at Manipur fest
IMPHAL: The Thoubal unit of People for Animals (PFA) made the shocking disclosure that a food outlet at the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival has on offer an array of dishes made from the meat of rare wild animals like boar (wild pig) and porcupine.
Members of PFA, Thoubal, who carried out a brief survey at the festival venue on Saturday, found that the stall-owners were selling porcupine and wild boar meat openly at the festival for Rs 100 a plate of five to six pieces.
"This shameful act is being carried out in the open at the Sangai festival. We don't know how the festival organizers, who are responsible officials of the state government, granted permission to the stall-owners to sell the meat of endangered species," said Lourembem Bishwajit, managing trustee of PFA, Thoubal.
"We have even procured samples of what is being claimed to be porcupine and wild boar meat from the stall-owners as documentary evidence. If the matter turns serious, we will send them to experts for confirmation after consulting forest authorities," Bishwajit said. Not only does the stall banner mention that the menu offers the meat of the rare animals, the names of the animals in question are also mentioned in the thermo-flasks at the stall and the owners were seen serving the meat to people openly, he said.
"The festival is named after the rare and endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer), but this doesn't mean that other endangered animals' dishes can be sold in the open at the fair. This shows that the stall-owners and festival organizers do not want to protect and conserve wild animals. The foreigners who are attending the festival will have a dreadful impression of Manipur and its people," Bishwajit said.
Wild boar and porcupine are listed in schedules III and IV respectively of the endangered animals of the country under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972, he said. He appealed to the forest department to take immediate action against the stall-owners and festival organizers.
Members of PFA, Thoubal, who carried out a brief survey at the festival venue on Saturday, found that the stall-owners were selling porcupine and wild boar meat openly at the festival for Rs 100 a plate of five to six pieces.
"This shameful act is being carried out in the open at the Sangai festival. We don't know how the festival organizers, who are responsible officials of the state government, granted permission to the stall-owners to sell the meat of endangered species," said Lourembem Bishwajit, managing trustee of PFA, Thoubal.
"We have even procured samples of what is being claimed to be porcupine and wild boar meat from the stall-owners as documentary evidence. If the matter turns serious, we will send them to experts for confirmation after consulting forest authorities," Bishwajit said. Not only does the stall banner mention that the menu offers the meat of the rare animals, the names of the animals in question are also mentioned in the thermo-flasks at the stall and the owners were seen serving the meat to people openly, he said.
"The festival is named after the rare and endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer), but this doesn't mean that other endangered animals' dishes can be sold in the open at the fair. This shows that the stall-owners and festival organizers do not want to protect and conserve wild animals. The foreigners who are attending the festival will have a dreadful impression of Manipur and its people," Bishwajit said.
Wild boar and porcupine are listed in schedules III and IV respectively of the endangered animals of the country under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972, he said. He appealed to the forest department to take immediate action against the stall-owners and festival organizers.
Manipur Congress president narrowly escapes militant attack
Former deputy chief minister and working president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Deborah Marak, had a narrow escape when heavily armed tribal Garo rebels fired in the air at a public meeting in her constituency in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, police said on Sunday.
"Heavily armed militants suspected to be those of the break-away-faction of the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) came to the public function at a village under Williamnagar area, had an altercation with Marak and fired several rounds in the air last evening," district administrator Vijay Mantri told PTI.
He said, the reason behind their attack is yet to be ascertained.
The incident took place at around 4:30pm on Saturday evening when Marak was distributing prizes for a football tournament involving several teams from the constituency, police said.
Marak who did not take security cover, sustained injuries in her legs and knees while fleeing from the area. The breakaway faction of the militant organisation had threatened legislators in the Garo Hills region of dire consequences if they hold public meeting without their permission.
The leader of the breakaway faction of the ANVC today issued a stern warning to prospective candidates and sitting legislators of a free and fair declaration of the development projects and expenditures for the areas.
"Please pay heed to the given warnings and show some initiative before campaigning. It is time to show results. We are also interested to know the implementation of the Rs5 crore area development scheme of each MLAs, just to make sure public money is not being used for political campaigns," Rimpu Marak, the break-away leader said in a statement to the media.
Marak denied having received any extortion demands from the rebels. The ANVC which is fighting for a separate 'Achik land' for the Garo tribals, is under a tri-partite ceasefire agreement with the Centre and the state.
"Heavily armed militants suspected to be those of the break-away-faction of the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) came to the public function at a village under Williamnagar area, had an altercation with Marak and fired several rounds in the air last evening," district administrator Vijay Mantri told PTI.
He said, the reason behind their attack is yet to be ascertained.
The incident took place at around 4:30pm on Saturday evening when Marak was distributing prizes for a football tournament involving several teams from the constituency, police said.
Marak who did not take security cover, sustained injuries in her legs and knees while fleeing from the area. The breakaway faction of the militant organisation had threatened legislators in the Garo Hills region of dire consequences if they hold public meeting without their permission.
The leader of the breakaway faction of the ANVC today issued a stern warning to prospective candidates and sitting legislators of a free and fair declaration of the development projects and expenditures for the areas.
"Please pay heed to the given warnings and show some initiative before campaigning. It is time to show results. We are also interested to know the implementation of the Rs5 crore area development scheme of each MLAs, just to make sure public money is not being used for political campaigns," Rimpu Marak, the break-away leader said in a statement to the media.
Marak denied having received any extortion demands from the rebels. The ANVC which is fighting for a separate 'Achik land' for the Garo tribals, is under a tri-partite ceasefire agreement with the Centre and the state.
Ishanou among 27 films for IFFI
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, Nov 26 – The critically-acclaimed Manipuri feature film, Ishanou (1990), one of the masterpieces of Aribam Syam Sharma, has been included among 27 Indian feature films to be screened at the Centenary Indian Cinema section of the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 2012 being held at Goa from November 20-30.
According to Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi, Ishanou (Chosen One) was the official selection of the Government of India for screening at the Cannes International Film Festival, 1991 and was the first ever film from the North-east showcased at the prestigious Cannes Festival.
The 91-minute colour film tells the extraordinary story of a young wife, Anoubam Kiranmala who suddenly begins to experience a series of fits and trances which the doctors cannot cure. A happy small family, somewhere in the Manipur valley, a husband (Kangabam Tomba) and wife and their little girl (Baby Molly) under the caring and protective authority of a market woman (Manbi) breaks up when Tampha, the young wife, is possessed by the divinity of the mysterious Maibi phenomenon and goes through a series of violent feats of vision and trance till she runs away from home in frantic nocturnal quest of her Maibi Guru for initiation into the sect of the chosen.
Magic and mystery break upon the mundane world of buying and selling and common rituals like that of a young girl’s ears being pierced and buying of a second-hand scooter and a promotion in office, bringing into play the world of the Maibis with their exquisite ritual singing and dancing and worship and myth-making.
But behind the colourful spectacle of traditional Lai Haraoba, into which Tampha almost loses herself in enraptured absorption, there lurks the pain of a mother who can no longer nurture a child who is by then a stranger. The film closes on those images of estrangement that almost stifles the sheer grandeur and glory of the ritual festival.
Eminent littérateur MK Binodini scripted the screenplay of the story. Girish Padhiar was the cameraman and Ujjwal Nandi was the editor.
IMPHAL, Nov 26 – The critically-acclaimed Manipuri feature film, Ishanou (1990), one of the masterpieces of Aribam Syam Sharma, has been included among 27 Indian feature films to be screened at the Centenary Indian Cinema section of the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 2012 being held at Goa from November 20-30.
According to Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi, Ishanou (Chosen One) was the official selection of the Government of India for screening at the Cannes International Film Festival, 1991 and was the first ever film from the North-east showcased at the prestigious Cannes Festival.
The 91-minute colour film tells the extraordinary story of a young wife, Anoubam Kiranmala who suddenly begins to experience a series of fits and trances which the doctors cannot cure. A happy small family, somewhere in the Manipur valley, a husband (Kangabam Tomba) and wife and their little girl (Baby Molly) under the caring and protective authority of a market woman (Manbi) breaks up when Tampha, the young wife, is possessed by the divinity of the mysterious Maibi phenomenon and goes through a series of violent feats of vision and trance till she runs away from home in frantic nocturnal quest of her Maibi Guru for initiation into the sect of the chosen.
Magic and mystery break upon the mundane world of buying and selling and common rituals like that of a young girl’s ears being pierced and buying of a second-hand scooter and a promotion in office, bringing into play the world of the Maibis with their exquisite ritual singing and dancing and worship and myth-making.
But behind the colourful spectacle of traditional Lai Haraoba, into which Tampha almost loses herself in enraptured absorption, there lurks the pain of a mother who can no longer nurture a child who is by then a stranger. The film closes on those images of estrangement that almost stifles the sheer grandeur and glory of the ritual festival.
Eminent littérateur MK Binodini scripted the screenplay of the story. Girish Padhiar was the cameraman and Ujjwal Nandi was the editor.
Manipur hosts festival to provide impetus to tourism
Imphal, Nov.23 (ANI): The Manipur Government and its Department of
Tourism have organised the ten-day 'Sangai' festival with an aim to
provide an impetus to tourism industry and promote the region's cultural
heritage.
The cultural extravaganza began with the aim to showcase the best of Manipur and every year it commences from November 21-30.
It highlights the state's cultural heritage, folk dances, indigenous cuisine and music, adventure sports and natural beauty.
The state's Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, inaugurated the festival at Hapta Kangjeibung here two days ago.
Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom and Royal Thai Embassy Minister Counsellor (commercial) Tharadol Thongruang also attended the inaugural function.
A visitor, Ningthoujam Roshan Singh told the reporters that such festivals would promote tourism in the state.
"I have been a very regular visitor in this festival since three to four years and this time I am finding very new editions in this like the fireworks that we have just seen. So, I am enjoying this festival a lot. I don't think this is the only platform for promoting tourism but I think this is one of the very good platforms for promoting tourism in the state," said Singh.
The 'Festival' was earlier known as the 'Manipur Tourism Festival' which began in 2008.
In 2010, it was renamed as 'Manipur Sangai Festival' with an aim to popularise 'Sangai', the rare species of dear to be found in Manipur.
During the Festival, the artists showcased their rich culture and heritage through their dance performances.
Amid enthusiasm, another visitor, Subdari expressed her gratitude towards the authorities for giving her golden opportunity to participate.
"I feel happy as I think I am getting a golden chance to join this one and to participate in this. I am participating as I have my own food stall," said Subdari.
The festival showcased the finest of handloom, handicrafts and fine arts indigenous cuisine products of the province.
In the recent years, the 'Sangai Festival' has assumed greater significance and the 2012 edition celebrates the ethnic diversity of Manipur Society.
Cultural programmes were also organized to entertain visitors.
International cultural troupes also performed and enthralled the audience at the festival.
The cultural extravaganza began with the aim to showcase the best of Manipur and every year it commences from November 21-30.
It highlights the state's cultural heritage, folk dances, indigenous cuisine and music, adventure sports and natural beauty.
The state's Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, inaugurated the festival at Hapta Kangjeibung here two days ago.
Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom and Royal Thai Embassy Minister Counsellor (commercial) Tharadol Thongruang also attended the inaugural function.
A visitor, Ningthoujam Roshan Singh told the reporters that such festivals would promote tourism in the state.
"I have been a very regular visitor in this festival since three to four years and this time I am finding very new editions in this like the fireworks that we have just seen. So, I am enjoying this festival a lot. I don't think this is the only platform for promoting tourism but I think this is one of the very good platforms for promoting tourism in the state," said Singh.
The 'Festival' was earlier known as the 'Manipur Tourism Festival' which began in 2008.
In 2010, it was renamed as 'Manipur Sangai Festival' with an aim to popularise 'Sangai', the rare species of dear to be found in Manipur.
During the Festival, the artists showcased their rich culture and heritage through their dance performances.
Amid enthusiasm, another visitor, Subdari expressed her gratitude towards the authorities for giving her golden opportunity to participate.
"I feel happy as I think I am getting a golden chance to join this one and to participate in this. I am participating as I have my own food stall," said Subdari.
The festival showcased the finest of handloom, handicrafts and fine arts indigenous cuisine products of the province.
In the recent years, the 'Sangai Festival' has assumed greater significance and the 2012 edition celebrates the ethnic diversity of Manipur Society.
Cultural programmes were also organized to entertain visitors.
International cultural troupes also performed and enthralled the audience at the festival.
Oranges, Manipur’s other trademark
Manipur is not just about about insurgency, bandhs, blockades and
blasts. The state is gearing up for the ninth state-level Orange
Festival, to be held on December 14 and 15 at Tamenglong, about 140 km
west of the capital. While the festival will see various interesting
events such as traditional games and sports, an orange eating
competition, the Orange Queen contest and various entertainment
programmes, its biggest attraction is the “best orange” contest, for
which the farmer gets a cash award of Rs 1 lakh. Tamenglong, also a
district, accounts for about 70 per cent of Manipur’s annual orange
production, which is estimated at about 10,000 tonnes. Tamenglong is
marked by evergreen forests, a wide variety of wildlife and a number of
waterfalls.
Talks hope with Kuki groups
Imphal, Nov 20 : Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam today said the Centre would soon begin talks with Kuki militant groups who have signed the suspension of operations agreement.
He also said the state government had invited the Kuki State Demand Committee for discussions tomorrow. The committee has imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the national and state highways in Manipur since Saturday to press for a Kuki state and dialogue with the Kuki militant groups.
Gaikhangam, who returned here yesterday from New Delhi after meeting Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, told reporters that senior officials of the ministry would arrive here after the winter session of Parliament to chalk out the modalities of talks with Kuki militant groups.
He said he had told central officials that the Kuki groups were disappointed as no progress had been made in the peace process in the past seven years. “I urged the Union home minister to start the dialogue. I am confident the talks will start soon,” he said.
Twenty Kuki militant groups, under two umbrella organisations of United Peoples Front and Kuki National Organisation, had signed the agreement in August 2005. The groups, which have been fighting for a separate Kuki state and are now living in designated camps, have been demanding initiation of talks.
Gaikhangam hoped that since the Centre has agreed to start negotiations with the militant groups, the committee would “respond positively and lift the blockade in the larger interest of the people”.
The blockade has completely dislocated supply of essential commodities in the state. More than a hundred loaded trucks and buses bound for Imphal are stranded at Jiribam town in Imphal East district and Senapati district. Transport services between Imphal and the five hill districts have also been hit.
Though the blockade entered only the third day today, some petrol pumps shut down saying they had run out of stock. Gaikhangam said he would look into this. He also said arrangements had been made to bring the stranded vehicles to Imphal. “There is no reason to worry about scarcity of fuel and other essential items. The state has a government which will do everything to ensure its supply,” he said.
He also said the state government had invited the Kuki State Demand Committee for discussions tomorrow. The committee has imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the national and state highways in Manipur since Saturday to press for a Kuki state and dialogue with the Kuki militant groups.
Gaikhangam, who returned here yesterday from New Delhi after meeting Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, told reporters that senior officials of the ministry would arrive here after the winter session of Parliament to chalk out the modalities of talks with Kuki militant groups.
He said he had told central officials that the Kuki groups were disappointed as no progress had been made in the peace process in the past seven years. “I urged the Union home minister to start the dialogue. I am confident the talks will start soon,” he said.
Twenty Kuki militant groups, under two umbrella organisations of United Peoples Front and Kuki National Organisation, had signed the agreement in August 2005. The groups, which have been fighting for a separate Kuki state and are now living in designated camps, have been demanding initiation of talks.
Gaikhangam hoped that since the Centre has agreed to start negotiations with the militant groups, the committee would “respond positively and lift the blockade in the larger interest of the people”.
The blockade has completely dislocated supply of essential commodities in the state. More than a hundred loaded trucks and buses bound for Imphal are stranded at Jiribam town in Imphal East district and Senapati district. Transport services between Imphal and the five hill districts have also been hit.
Though the blockade entered only the third day today, some petrol pumps shut down saying they had run out of stock. Gaikhangam said he would look into this. He also said arrangements had been made to bring the stranded vehicles to Imphal. “There is no reason to worry about scarcity of fuel and other essential items. The state has a government which will do everything to ensure its supply,” he said.
Vehicle lifters' gang busted in Manipur
IMPHAL: The police along with volunteers of a Muslim body 'Anjuman Islah-E-Muashrah' busted a gang of seven vehicle lifters and recovered 10 two-wheelers from them at Muslim-dominated Lilong area in Thoubal district.
Some electronic gadgets like laptops, colour printers, scanners, smart-card making machines, lamination and spiral-binding machines used by them for making fake documents and smart cards were also seized.
The accused along with the stolen vehicles and the seized equipment were taken to the Lilong police station on Saturday evening.
A key member of Anjuman said the seven were pulled from different locations at Lilong area during a special drive launched since Friday morning.
Sources said the Muslim welfare body has been working relentlessly to check drug abuse, theft and other crimes since the past few years in the area and that it would continue with its drive in collaboration with the police or Assam Rifles or both.
Some electronic gadgets like laptops, colour printers, scanners, smart-card making machines, lamination and spiral-binding machines used by them for making fake documents and smart cards were also seized.
The accused along with the stolen vehicles and the seized equipment were taken to the Lilong police station on Saturday evening.
A key member of Anjuman said the seven were pulled from different locations at Lilong area during a special drive launched since Friday morning.
Sources said the Muslim welfare body has been working relentlessly to check drug abuse, theft and other crimes since the past few years in the area and that it would continue with its drive in collaboration with the police or Assam Rifles or both.
Manipur can't be divided by any demand: Deputy chief minister
IMPHAL: In the face of NSCN (IM) leadership's Naga integration stance and the renewed demand for a separate Kuki state advocated by a Kuki pressure group, Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam on Tuesday said the state could not be divided by any demand.
If any reasonable demands are put up, the government will discuss them for consideration. But any issue, which will slice Manipur into pieces, will not be taken into account and that every section of the society living in harmony in Manipur will also not allow to disintegrate the state, said Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio.
"Both the central and the state government will not entertain or consider any demand to break Manipur and that the state government has its firm stance to safeguard Manipur's territorial integrity," Gaikhangam told reporters on the sidelines of a felicitation programme accorded to him for being appointed as the deputy CM by Autonomous District Council members of Tamenglong district at Raigailong in Imphal west on Tuesday.
The Naga minister, who is also the president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, said the state government had full confidence to the commitments given by the central leaders that Manipur's territorial integrity would be protected.
On December 3 last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a huge public rally in Imphal that the Centre was committed to safeguard Manipur's territorial integrity. In the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister said there was no proposal of "supra state" structure for the Nagas.
Integration of all Nagas living in the northeast under one geographical and administrative entity is said to be one of the key agendas featured in the reported final stage of the 15-year-old NSCN (IM)-Centre talks.
On the other hand, the United Naga Council (UNC) is fast campaigning for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the state government pending the Naga political solution.
The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDS), gearing up its demand for creation of a separate Kuki state, has called an indefinite road block in all state and national highways passing through Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur from Thursday evening.
If any reasonable demands are put up, the government will discuss them for consideration. But any issue, which will slice Manipur into pieces, will not be taken into account and that every section of the society living in harmony in Manipur will also not allow to disintegrate the state, said Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio.
"Both the central and the state government will not entertain or consider any demand to break Manipur and that the state government has its firm stance to safeguard Manipur's territorial integrity," Gaikhangam told reporters on the sidelines of a felicitation programme accorded to him for being appointed as the deputy CM by Autonomous District Council members of Tamenglong district at Raigailong in Imphal west on Tuesday.
The Naga minister, who is also the president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, said the state government had full confidence to the commitments given by the central leaders that Manipur's territorial integrity would be protected.
On December 3 last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a huge public rally in Imphal that the Centre was committed to safeguard Manipur's territorial integrity. In the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister said there was no proposal of "supra state" structure for the Nagas.
Integration of all Nagas living in the northeast under one geographical and administrative entity is said to be one of the key agendas featured in the reported final stage of the 15-year-old NSCN (IM)-Centre talks.
On the other hand, the United Naga Council (UNC) is fast campaigning for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the state government pending the Naga political solution.
The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDS), gearing up its demand for creation of a separate Kuki state, has called an indefinite road block in all state and national highways passing through Kuki-inhabited areas in Manipur from Thursday evening.
Panel’s ILP plan runs into Ibobi wall
Imphal, Nov 14 : The Ibobi Singh-government is taking steps to prevent the joint committee on inner-line permit (ILP) from issuing stay permits to non-Manipuris living in Manipur.
The joint committee, a conglomerate of citizens’ organisations, had already announced that it would start issuing forms for stay permits from Monday as part of its campaign to detect foreigners.
The committee said barring those coming for government services, education, sport, cultural purposes and living in Manipur since before 1947, the stay permit would be issued to all non-Manipuris. It said the last date for form submission was December 19.
The committee had earlier given an ultimatum to both the state government and the Centre to implement the ILP system in Manipur by November 18.
The committee gave the ultimatum after Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde virtually rejected a decision taken by the Manipur Assembly in July this year urging the Centre to implement the system, which is existing in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
After the BTAD riots, the Ibobi Singh-government launched a campaign to detect foreigners. The joint committee felt that this was not enough.
Ibobi Singh is away on a foreign tour and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam, who is holding the home portfolio, is the chief minister in-charge now.
Official sources said Gaikhangam was consulting senior police officials and legal experts to foil the plan by the joint committee.
“The government will not remain silent if steps are taken by civil organisations to issue permits. This will complicate things and cause serious law and order problem,” an official source said.
The source said the government was taking steps to check the inflow of foreigners by setting up checkgates at all the entry points, including Jiribam, Manipur’s gateway to Assam. Many outsiders, who had tried to enter Manipur without proper documents proving their Indian citizenship, were turned back from Jiribam, the source added.
A source close to the deputy chief minister said Gaikhangam appreciated the spirit of the committee but was not prepared to remain silent. The source said only the Centre could implement the ILP system.
The joint committee, however, is prepared to face government opposition. It tried to speak to the government, but received no response, the spokesperson for the joint committee, Joy Chingakham, said.
Joint committee convener Sapamcha Jadumani said they were prepared to face any “obstruction” from the government and would go ahead with the plan.
The joint committee, a conglomerate of citizens’ organisations, had already announced that it would start issuing forms for stay permits from Monday as part of its campaign to detect foreigners.
The committee said barring those coming for government services, education, sport, cultural purposes and living in Manipur since before 1947, the stay permit would be issued to all non-Manipuris. It said the last date for form submission was December 19.
The committee had earlier given an ultimatum to both the state government and the Centre to implement the ILP system in Manipur by November 18.
The committee gave the ultimatum after Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde virtually rejected a decision taken by the Manipur Assembly in July this year urging the Centre to implement the system, which is existing in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
After the BTAD riots, the Ibobi Singh-government launched a campaign to detect foreigners. The joint committee felt that this was not enough.
Ibobi Singh is away on a foreign tour and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam, who is holding the home portfolio, is the chief minister in-charge now.
Official sources said Gaikhangam was consulting senior police officials and legal experts to foil the plan by the joint committee.
“The government will not remain silent if steps are taken by civil organisations to issue permits. This will complicate things and cause serious law and order problem,” an official source said.
The source said the government was taking steps to check the inflow of foreigners by setting up checkgates at all the entry points, including Jiribam, Manipur’s gateway to Assam. Many outsiders, who had tried to enter Manipur without proper documents proving their Indian citizenship, were turned back from Jiribam, the source added.
A source close to the deputy chief minister said Gaikhangam appreciated the spirit of the committee but was not prepared to remain silent. The source said only the Centre could implement the ILP system.
The joint committee, however, is prepared to face government opposition. It tried to speak to the government, but received no response, the spokesperson for the joint committee, Joy Chingakham, said.
Joint committee convener Sapamcha Jadumani said they were prepared to face any “obstruction” from the government and would go ahead with the plan.
Civic staff on strike in Manipur, others plan stir
Salaries pending for 24 months; no response yet from government
Various sections of government employees have started a strike demanding payment of salaries and allowances pending for nearly 24 months. The Manipur government is unable to pay salaries and allowances ahead of Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest festival, to be celebrated on Thursday.
The employees expect no solution to the crisis as Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, also in charge of the Finance Ministry, is in Australia on a prolonged private visit. Chief Secretary D.S. Poonia and other top officials too are out of station on leave.
The financial crunch has resulted in a moratorium on all cash transactions. While some sections of employees are denied their salaries, contractors have also been denied payments. Some have suspended construction works as they cannot buy materials and pay the workers.
The restive employees of the Imphal Municipal Council came out of their offices on Monday warranting intervention of the riot police. The employees immediately launched an indefinite ‘cease work’ demanding payment of salaries.
“Garbage has not been cleared from Tuesday morning in Imphal,” secretary of the Imphal Municipal Council Employees' Union Subita Thoudam told The Hindu. She said it was inexcusable that salaries were not paid ahead of the festival, when married daughters and sisters are invited to a sumptuous lunch. The officials have sought 20 days for the payments, but it was merely a ploy to buy time as assurances had never been kept, she added.
Employees of five departments — PWD, public health engineering, irrigation and flood control, minor irrigation and electricity — are to launch an indefinite strike from November 20 if the salaries pending for 19 months were not paid by November 19.
They have been staging a sit-in since November 6 but there was no response from the government. They had submitted a memorandum to Mr. Ibobi Singh for clearing the salaries.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Gaikhangam is looking after the office of the Chief Minister during the absence of Mr. Singh. Official sources said Mr. Gaikhangam is merely disposing of routine files and not authorised to take major policy decisions.
Various sections of government employees have started a strike demanding payment of salaries and allowances pending for nearly 24 months. The Manipur government is unable to pay salaries and allowances ahead of Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest festival, to be celebrated on Thursday.
The employees expect no solution to the crisis as Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, also in charge of the Finance Ministry, is in Australia on a prolonged private visit. Chief Secretary D.S. Poonia and other top officials too are out of station on leave.
The financial crunch has resulted in a moratorium on all cash transactions. While some sections of employees are denied their salaries, contractors have also been denied payments. Some have suspended construction works as they cannot buy materials and pay the workers.
The restive employees of the Imphal Municipal Council came out of their offices on Monday warranting intervention of the riot police. The employees immediately launched an indefinite ‘cease work’ demanding payment of salaries.
“Garbage has not been cleared from Tuesday morning in Imphal,” secretary of the Imphal Municipal Council Employees' Union Subita Thoudam told The Hindu. She said it was inexcusable that salaries were not paid ahead of the festival, when married daughters and sisters are invited to a sumptuous lunch. The officials have sought 20 days for the payments, but it was merely a ploy to buy time as assurances had never been kept, she added.
Employees of five departments — PWD, public health engineering, irrigation and flood control, minor irrigation and electricity — are to launch an indefinite strike from November 20 if the salaries pending for 19 months were not paid by November 19.
They have been staging a sit-in since November 6 but there was no response from the government. They had submitted a memorandum to Mr. Ibobi Singh for clearing the salaries.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Gaikhangam is looking after the office of the Chief Minister during the absence of Mr. Singh. Official sources said Mr. Gaikhangam is merely disposing of routine files and not authorised to take major policy decisions.
Gaikhangam states GoM's stand on SoO
Imphal, Nov 12 : Maintaining that the State Government is just a facilitator to the Suspension of Operation pact inked between the Centre, State Govt and the KNO and UPF, Home Minister Gaikhangam today said that the State Government only came into the reckoning after the pact was signed between the Kuki armed outfits and the Indian Army.
The SoO pact was first signed between the Kuki armed groups and the Centre in 2005 and the State Government entered the pact only 2008 .
On the pronouncement of the KNO that no progress has been made even after 7 years of the agreement coming into force, Gaikhangam said that the State Government is not well acquainted with the clause under which the agreement was first inked.
However the State Government has been urging the Centre to start a dialogue with the Kuki groups as early as possible.
Once the agenda of the talk or the demand put up by the Kuki armed groups become clear, then the same would be discussed by the State Cabinet, he added.
On the reported deal being readied between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, Gaikhangam said that Delhi is yet to give the pact in writing to the State Government.
The SoO pact was first signed between the Kuki armed groups and the Centre in 2005 and the State Government entered the pact only 2008 .
On the pronouncement of the KNO that no progress has been made even after 7 years of the agreement coming into force, Gaikhangam said that the State Government is not well acquainted with the clause under which the agreement was first inked.
However the State Government has been urging the Centre to start a dialogue with the Kuki groups as early as possible.
Once the agenda of the talk or the demand put up by the Kuki armed groups become clear, then the same would be discussed by the State Cabinet, he added.
On the reported deal being readied between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, Gaikhangam said that Delhi is yet to give the pact in writing to the State Government.
Manipur: state and family care together
Sobhapati Samom
Imphal, Nov 12 : The Nongmaithem family is an example of how Manipur has benefited from the state health programmes. The infant mortality rate has dipped to 11 in 2011 from 14 in 2010.
For Imphal residents Nongmaithem Rocky (38) and his wife Meena (27) giving nutritional food to their children is not challenging since breast feeding till the baby's first birthday is a tradition in their society.
Most couples in the state have an extended family support system besides getting support from Anganwadis and other health awareness programmes through local health workers and NGOs.
"The state health programmes also help in arranging our children's food," says Rocky, a small time trader.
"The Anganwadi centre helps a lot in shaping our children."
The ICDS is being implemented at 4501 Anganwadis in Manipur. Rocky's wife Meena, a private school teacher, was also among the state's 15,969 women beneficiaries (2010-11) of Janani Surakhsha Yojana (JSY), a centrally-sponsored scheme under National Rural Health Mission for pregnant women.
The cash assistance of Rs. 700 with delivery and post-delivery care helped her with her three-year-old second baby girl Triska in 2009 unlike the first baby girl Parnika in 2007.
NRHM has improved public health tremendously besides reducing infant death rate, maternity mortality and neo-natal mortality in this northeastern state which now has one of the best records in tackling malnutrition and hunger in India.
For every 1000 live births, 11 die in Manipur as compared to 59 in Madhya Pradesh as per the latest Sample Registration Survey reports. The infant mortality rate dipped to 11 in 2011 against 14 in 2010.
"Besides vaccination programmes health mela, newborn care week and village health day helps us in sharing knowledge with village women," says a newly appointed felicitator Semsoon who captains 20 ASHAs (health activists) at the village level and is attached to a government health centre near Imphal.
Imphal, Nov 12 : The Nongmaithem family is an example of how Manipur has benefited from the state health programmes. The infant mortality rate has dipped to 11 in 2011 from 14 in 2010.
For Imphal residents Nongmaithem Rocky (38) and his wife Meena (27) giving nutritional food to their children is not challenging since breast feeding till the baby's first birthday is a tradition in their society.
Most couples in the state have an extended family support system besides getting support from Anganwadis and other health awareness programmes through local health workers and NGOs.
"The state health programmes also help in arranging our children's food," says Rocky, a small time trader.
"The Anganwadi centre helps a lot in shaping our children."
The ICDS is being implemented at 4501 Anganwadis in Manipur. Rocky's wife Meena, a private school teacher, was also among the state's 15,969 women beneficiaries (2010-11) of Janani Surakhsha Yojana (JSY), a centrally-sponsored scheme under National Rural Health Mission for pregnant women.
The cash assistance of Rs. 700 with delivery and post-delivery care helped her with her three-year-old second baby girl Triska in 2009 unlike the first baby girl Parnika in 2007.
NRHM has improved public health tremendously besides reducing infant death rate, maternity mortality and neo-natal mortality in this northeastern state which now has one of the best records in tackling malnutrition and hunger in India.
For every 1000 live births, 11 die in Manipur as compared to 59 in Madhya Pradesh as per the latest Sample Registration Survey reports. The infant mortality rate dipped to 11 in 2011 against 14 in 2010.
"Besides vaccination programmes health mela, newborn care week and village health day helps us in sharing knowledge with village women," says a newly appointed felicitator Semsoon who captains 20 ASHAs (health activists) at the village level and is attached to a government health centre near Imphal.
Lawyers' strike paralyzes work at Gauhati HC's Imphal bench
IMPHAL: Work at Gauhati high court's Imphal bench came to a grinding halt on Thursday as lawyers of the bench began an indefinite ceasework in pursuit of their demand to appoint seven judges when a separate HC for Manipur is set up.
This has dealt a blow to thousands of litigants of the state even as there is likelihood of setting up separate high courts for Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya by the Centre within the current month ahead of Parliament's winter session, said the legal fraternity.
High Court Bar Association (HCBA), Manipur, president advocate N Kumarjit Singh said since the Centre is planning to appoint four Judges for the proposed HC in the state, the ceasework has been launched. It is not possible for a full-fledged High HC to be run by only four judges , he added, while demanding that the seven judges should be appointed from eligible members from both bar and bench of the state as they should be given the chance for elevation.
Appointment of judges in the proposed Manipur HC from other states will never be accepted by the association, he said. Earlier chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh had pressed the Centre to set up the proposed HC with a minimum strength of five judges but the plea was turned down, rued Kumarjit. The association's general secretary, Roshni Piba, said they raised the demand with Union law minister Salman Khursid in August this year. As the minister gave a positive remark to the demand, a ceasework strike launched by the association the previous month was suspended, he said. He added that bar members had remained hopeful that the demand would be implemented.
Since the association came to learn that only four judges would be made available in the proposed state HC, the association has been compelled to launch the ceasework strike, he said. He added that the decision to launch the stir followed a meeting of the association convened on Wednesday.
He said the demands would be reiterated to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union law minister and the chief minister.
The association's ex-officio executive member, advocate N Jyotendro, said nearly 7000 cases are pending in the Imphal bench of the Gauhati HC - the second highest figure in NE after Assam.
This has dealt a blow to thousands of litigants of the state even as there is likelihood of setting up separate high courts for Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya by the Centre within the current month ahead of Parliament's winter session, said the legal fraternity.
High Court Bar Association (HCBA), Manipur, president advocate N Kumarjit Singh said since the Centre is planning to appoint four Judges for the proposed HC in the state, the ceasework has been launched. It is not possible for a full-fledged High HC to be run by only four judges , he added, while demanding that the seven judges should be appointed from eligible members from both bar and bench of the state as they should be given the chance for elevation.
Appointment of judges in the proposed Manipur HC from other states will never be accepted by the association, he said. Earlier chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh had pressed the Centre to set up the proposed HC with a minimum strength of five judges but the plea was turned down, rued Kumarjit. The association's general secretary, Roshni Piba, said they raised the demand with Union law minister Salman Khursid in August this year. As the minister gave a positive remark to the demand, a ceasework strike launched by the association the previous month was suspended, he said. He added that bar members had remained hopeful that the demand would be implemented.
Since the association came to learn that only four judges would be made available in the proposed state HC, the association has been compelled to launch the ceasework strike, he said. He added that the decision to launch the stir followed a meeting of the association convened on Wednesday.
He said the demands would be reiterated to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union law minister and the chief minister.
The association's ex-officio executive member, advocate N Jyotendro, said nearly 7000 cases are pending in the Imphal bench of the Gauhati HC - the second highest figure in NE after Assam.
Manipur Gears Up For Ningol Chakkouba
Imphal, November 08 2012:
Rare but delicious fish varieties such as Pengba and Ngaton would be put
up for sale for the Ningol Chakkouba festival at four specific
locations of Imphal areas, said S Tomba & Sons Integrated fish
Farming Private Limited proprietor S Surchandra of Hiyangthang Mamang
Leikai.
considered to be highly endangered, Pengba and Ngaton fish varieties are being reared at the private firm's ponds spread over 3 paris out of the total area of 8.5 paris, he said and informed that they would be put on sale for the said festival at Rs 700 each per kilogram.
According to Surchandra, who is also a national and State award winner in recognition of his endeavour to preserve and culture the indigenous fish varieties, the wholesale rate of the fishes at normal times are Rs 800 each per kg but the same would be sold at the reduced price to enable the people of Manipur re-enjoy taste of the delicacies.
Apart from the firm set to participate at the annual fish fair to be held at Hapta Kangjeibung, Pengba and Ngaton varieties would be put on sale at Singjamei Bazar, Kwakeithel and Uripok end of the BT Flyover, the award-winning entrepreneur informed while pointing out that the fish varieties had been cultured/reared at the Hiyangthang Mamang Leikai complex since 1985 and subsequently produced Pengba variety for sale to the masses since 2002 and Ngaton five years later.
considered to be highly endangered, Pengba and Ngaton fish varieties are being reared at the private firm's ponds spread over 3 paris out of the total area of 8.5 paris, he said and informed that they would be put on sale for the said festival at Rs 700 each per kilogram.
According to Surchandra, who is also a national and State award winner in recognition of his endeavour to preserve and culture the indigenous fish varieties, the wholesale rate of the fishes at normal times are Rs 800 each per kg but the same would be sold at the reduced price to enable the people of Manipur re-enjoy taste of the delicacies.
Apart from the firm set to participate at the annual fish fair to be held at Hapta Kangjeibung, Pengba and Ngaton varieties would be put on sale at Singjamei Bazar, Kwakeithel and Uripok end of the BT Flyover, the award-winning entrepreneur informed while pointing out that the fish varieties had been cultured/reared at the Hiyangthang Mamang Leikai complex since 1985 and subsequently produced Pengba variety for sale to the masses since 2002 and Ngaton five years later.
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While confiding that the Pengba and Ngaton rearing area would be expanded in subsequent years, he also stated that efforts are on to culture and produce 'Nganap', another highly endangered indigenous fish variety.
Culturing of the Nganap variety, considered essential for religious events/rituals most importantly marriage ceremonies of the Meitei community, is being aimed for june-July next year, said the proprietor who strongly advocated that every fish farmers should strive to preserve the State fish Pengba, along with regenerating the Ngaton population.
Further informing that the firm has so far distributed 70,000 fingerlings of Ngaton and Pengba to various clubs and organisations with an aim to preserve the indigenous fish varieties, Surchandra also drew the attention of the State Government on the need to extend financial and technical assistance to the local fish farmers for ensuring survival and mass production of the delicacies.
He also regretted that out of about 20,000 fish farmers in the State, Pengba and Ngaton varieties are being reared/cultured only at fish farms located in Keirenphabi, Kumbi and Meitram besides Hiyangthang.
On hunger strike for 12 years
Irom Sharmila in India's Manipur state is force-fed in detention, but refuses to give up protest against draconian Act.
Subir Bhaumik
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Irom Sharmila has been demanding the repeal of a law that allows troops to act with impunity [AFP]
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Frail and suffering after being on fast for more than
12 years, Irom Sharmila proclaims she will die on hunger strike unless
India repeals the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) . The AFSPA gives security forces sweeping powers,including the power to shoot people dead on mere suspicion, while operating in areas afflicted by rebellions - like in Sharmila's Manipur state on India's far eastern border with Myanmar (Burma). "How can men in uniform enjoy such powers in a democracy which they so often misuse? This Act must be repealed if India is serious about its democracy. Or else, I will continue my hunger-strike until I die," says the frail Sharmila , who turned 40 on March 14 this year. On November 2, 2000, troops of India's elite counter-insurgency force Assam Rifles opened indiscriminate fire on a market at Malom near Manipur's state capital Imphal. Ten civilians were killed on the spot - among them a 60-year-old woman and three teenage boys, one of whom had won the Prime Minister's Award for Bravery. The Assam Rifles forces were upset after one of Manipur's more than a dozen rebel groups attacked one of their patrols - but the people they killed in retaliation were innocent civilians who had no involvement in the attack. "That was a Thursday, the day I used to fast every week. I was so shocked by the massacre at Malom that I just decided to continue my fast unless the draconian law was repealed," Sharmila said, lying on her bed in the Imphal hospital, where she is held in "judicial custody" and force-fed every day through a tube in her nose to keep her alive. "This is a symbolic fight for the people of Manipur who have suffered so much at the hands of the security forces. Hundreds of our boys and girls have been killed on mere suspicion of being rebels. This is possible because the AFSPA gives so much power to the security forces. This Act must go," she said. Brother Irom Singhajit Singh recalls that his sister had one last supper with pastries and sweets, then touched her mother's feet to seek her blessings to begin the epic fast. Popular weapon Hunger strike has been a popular weapon of protest in India since Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, popularised it during the anti-colonial struggle. But nobody has been on fast longer than Sharmila. Manipur has been ravaged by four decades of separatist insurgency, with close to a dozen groups involved in fighting Indian forces and, often, amongst themselves. Thousands have died - among them, many young men and women killed on mere suspicion of involvement with the rebel groups. Once in a while, Manipur has erupted over such killings, as it happened eight years ago, when another young girl Thangjam Manorama was allegedly raped and shot by the Assam Rifles soldiers and left to die on a village road. The Indian federal government set up a high power committee to look into the popular demand of scrapping the AFSPA, perhaps to pacify the people's anger.
But under severe pressure from the Army and the para-military forces, the federal government backed off, even refusing to place the committee's report for discussion in the parliament. The Army says that it cannot operate against armed rebels unless covered by this AFSPA. "Either keep the AFSPA and allow us to use it or don't involve us in counter-insurgency operations. We will be happy to be back in our barracks," says former Indian Army chief General Shankar Roychowdhury . For the past 50 years, the Indian army and its para-military troops have battled scores of rebel groups in the country's troubled Northeastern states, a region considered strategic by Delhi because it is hemmed in between Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Nepal and Bhutan. Last year, a group of 25 civil rights activists from across the country, went on a long march from the rebellion-scarred state of Jammu and Kashmir all the way to Manipur on the India-Myanmar border to draw attention to Sharmila's epic fast and the cause for which she has sacrificed her youth. The protest march attracted global media attention and rights activists across the world came out to express solidarity with Sharmila's epic hunger strike to demand scrapping of the controversial AFSPA. But it had no effect on Delhi as the Indian government conveniently turned the other way, retaining the AFSPA and ignoring the march and the world's longest hunger strike. "The government has just one agenda now. To keep Sharmila alive, because if she dies, there may be an uproar," says Manipur's leading human rights activist Babloo Loithongbam. The 'Iron Lady of Manipur' Three days after she started her hunger strike, Irom Sharmila was arrested and charged with "attempting to commit suicide". Since then, she has been force-fed through a tube in her nose. Every year, she is released once and then promptly re-arrested on the same charges and the routine goes on. Back in her heavily-guarded hospital ward, Sharmila is unmoved and determined to carry forward her struggle. "I fast until the AFSPA goes. I have not wasted 12 years of my life to back off. Either my people live with respect or I don't eat," says Irom Sharmila, now called the "Iron Lady of Manipur" for her historic feat. Brother Singhajit remembers his sister as being "always different ". "She was always modest with few friends, never liked to dress up or use jewellery. She read religious books, practiced yoga and naturopathy," he says. "She has not changed a bit." In her years of hunger strike, Sharmila has won many awards, including one for lifetime achievement from the Asian Human Rights Commission. Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi has promised to take up her case before the United Nations.
But while the Trinamul Congress rules the eastern state of West Bengal and has some lawmakers in northeastern states like Sharmila's home state Manipur, the CPI(M-L) is on the margins of Indian politics. In recent weeks, the chief minister of the troubled northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, who represents the regional party, National Conference, has pitched in to support Sharmila's demand for scrapping the AFSPA. Abdullah says the Act is often misused by security forces while fighting rebel groups and civilians end up as victims of their excesses. But no major political party in India has so far come out in support of the "Iron Lady" who is making history by her unique protest. That does not worry Sharmila much. "I will do my duty, I will do what I have to for my people, without really bothering what happens," says Sharmila. |
Cellphones distributed to Manipur health workers
IMPHAL, Nov 9 – Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing distributed mobile phones to the Accredited Social Health Activists(ASHA), Auxillary Nurse Midwives (ANM) and staff nurses working under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) at a function here today.
Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Ram Muivah, Director State Health Mission Devesh Deval and district level programme coordinators besides others attended the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Tonsing hoped that the mobile phones distributed today can help provide speedy services to the people. Principal Secretary Ram Muivah said malnutrition was the biggest challenge in the State.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, State Programme Manager Ng Monota of NHRM said a total of 3,878 Asha,194 Asha facilitators, 470 ANMs and 220 staff nurses will be receiving the mobile phones under Maternal Child Tracking System(MCTS). Among the nine districts, Senapati has the maximum number of ASHA workers.
Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Ram Muivah, Director State Health Mission Devesh Deval and district level programme coordinators besides others attended the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Tonsing hoped that the mobile phones distributed today can help provide speedy services to the people. Principal Secretary Ram Muivah said malnutrition was the biggest challenge in the State.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, State Programme Manager Ng Monota of NHRM said a total of 3,878 Asha,194 Asha facilitators, 470 ANMs and 220 staff nurses will be receiving the mobile phones under Maternal Child Tracking System(MCTS). Among the nine districts, Senapati has the maximum number of ASHA workers.
Govt given deadline to implement ILP in Manipur
Imphal: A citizens' committee today threatened to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system on its own if the Centre and Manipur government failed to implement it by November 18.
The committee had already informed the Centre and state government to implement the ILP system in the state in view of increasing influx of both people from outside and illegal migrants, a spokesman of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) said.
Noting the state government has already passed a resolution in this regard two months ago, he said, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has not taken any action on it.
The spokesman said the ILP was in force in neighbouring Nagaland and Mizoram and there was no question of it being unconstitutional.
He said JCILPS would implement the system on its own in the state if it was not implemented by the government by November 18 as the people coming from outside the state for work had outnumbered its total tribal population.
The committee had already informed the Centre and state government to implement the ILP system in the state in view of increasing influx of both people from outside and illegal migrants, a spokesman of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) said.
Noting the state government has already passed a resolution in this regard two months ago, he said, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has not taken any action on it.
The spokesman said the ILP was in force in neighbouring Nagaland and Mizoram and there was no question of it being unconstitutional.
He said JCILPS would implement the system on its own in the state if it was not implemented by the government by November 18 as the people coming from outside the state for work had outnumbered its total tribal population.
Assam Rifles rescues five China-bound tokay geckos at Moreh
IMPHAL: Joining the multi-pronged drive against the increasing poaching and smuggling of tokay geckos in the state, Assam Rifles personnel seized five geckos meant to be smuggled to China via Myanmar from two smugglers at the border town of Moreh.
Personnel of 9 Assam Rifles launched an operation to curb such smuggling and apprehended the two, along with five specimen of the rare reptile species, at Moreh Gate No 2 on Monday, said Assam Rifles officials here on Thursday.
The geckos were supposed to be smuggled from Moreh to Myanmar and were to be sent to China, the statement said, adding that the estimated cost of a gecko is about Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 in the local (grey) market.
The arrested duo — W Mani Singh and Ch Rajesh Singh — along with the geckos were handed over to Manipur forest officials at Moreh. With Monday's seizure, nearly 60 geckos have been rescued from different parts of the state by the police, People for Animals (PFA), Thoubal district and central forces in the past four months.
Owing to their purported therapeutic values, tokay geckos have a high demand in some Asian countries, though experts say there is no scientific proof to substantiate claims that the reptiles have any medicinal values.
A smuggler can easily fetch up to Rs 20 lakh for a mature gecko weighing around 200gm and measuring 14 inches in these countries.
Taking serious note of the reported smuggling of tokay geckos from Manipur to foreign countries, the wildlife crime control bureau urged the Union ministry of forests and environment to include the reptile species in the endangered animals' scheduled list under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972.
Personnel of 9 Assam Rifles launched an operation to curb such smuggling and apprehended the two, along with five specimen of the rare reptile species, at Moreh Gate No 2 on Monday, said Assam Rifles officials here on Thursday.
The geckos were supposed to be smuggled from Moreh to Myanmar and were to be sent to China, the statement said, adding that the estimated cost of a gecko is about Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 in the local (grey) market.
The arrested duo — W Mani Singh and Ch Rajesh Singh — along with the geckos were handed over to Manipur forest officials at Moreh. With Monday's seizure, nearly 60 geckos have been rescued from different parts of the state by the police, People for Animals (PFA), Thoubal district and central forces in the past four months.
Owing to their purported therapeutic values, tokay geckos have a high demand in some Asian countries, though experts say there is no scientific proof to substantiate claims that the reptiles have any medicinal values.
A smuggler can easily fetch up to Rs 20 lakh for a mature gecko weighing around 200gm and measuring 14 inches in these countries.
Taking serious note of the reported smuggling of tokay geckos from Manipur to foreign countries, the wildlife crime control bureau urged the Union ministry of forests and environment to include the reptile species in the endangered animals' scheduled list under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972.
Congress MLAs to campaign to protect Manipur's interests
Imphal: Congress MLAs in Manipur have decided to start a campaign against dilution of the state's interests in any settlement reached between the NSCN (IM) and the Centre over issues affecting the Nagas before the coming Nagaland Assembly Elections.
About 15 Congress MLAs, led by senior member Y Surachandra, would soon leave for Guwahati and Itanagar to meet Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to discuss the issue, party sources said here on Thursday.
The team, which would include some ministers, would also meet central leaders, including the Prime Minister, Congress president and Union Home Minister over the issue, they said.
Different social organisations, like the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, had stated in the past that Manipur would not tolerate territorial disintegration and dual system of governance in the state which "has a 2000-year-old written history".
About 15 Congress MLAs, led by senior member Y Surachandra, would soon leave for Guwahati and Itanagar to meet Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to discuss the issue, party sources said here on Thursday.
The team, which would include some ministers, would also meet central leaders, including the Prime Minister, Congress president and Union Home Minister over the issue, they said.
Different social organisations, like the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, had stated in the past that Manipur would not tolerate territorial disintegration and dual system of governance in the state which "has a 2000-year-old written history".
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