Meeting asks Manipur govt to resolve standoff Lift boycott, cry schools

Meeting asks Manipur govt to resolve standoff

Security personnel keep guard in front of an Imphal school. File picture Imphal, Nov. 16 : Worried over the loss of teaching days and inability to pay their staff, founders, principals and teachers, more than 150 private schools of the state today appealed to the student bodies to lift the class boycott by November 20 even as they decided to resume normal classes from November 21. The meeting at Hafta Kangjeibung in Imphal was organised by the All Manipur Govt Recognised Private Schools’ Welfare Association to discuss the plight of students and schools. A unanimous appeal of a settlement between the agitators and the government was made to restore academic normality. The gathering took place after efforts by the Okram Ibobi Singh government to reopen classes by providing police personnel on the campuses failed to restore normal classes. Classes have been disrupted ever since the public erupted over the July 23 firing in Imphal, allegedly by police in which passerby Rabina Devi and former militant Ch. Sanjit were killed. However, classes were completely paralysed, particularly in the four valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur after the All Manipur Students Union, Manipuri Students Federation and Kangleipak Students Association launched a class boycott campaign since September 9. Today’s meeting also came a day after the three student bodies strongly opposed the announcement by college authorities that student union elections would be held on November 25. A statement issued jointly by the student bodies yesterday termed the announcement of the elections as an act of defiance of the ongoing class boycott agitation. The private schools are worried that they could not hold the minimum classes fixed by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and Council of Higher Secondary Schools. For high school leaving examination it is 160 days while for secondary schools it is 180 days. But so far the schools could conduct classes for about 90 days. Usually both the public examinations are held in March. Another worry is that as tuition fees could not be collected from the students in the past three months the schools are finding it tough paying monthly salaries to the teachers and other non-teaching staff. “The class boycott only makes the students, private schools and school van services suffer. It is time to end the class boycott and normalise the academic scene,” L. Rameshchandra Singh, principal of Emmanuel English School in Imphal East, said. All the speakers, mostly principals and founders of the private schools, slammed the Okram Ibobi Singh government for not delivering justice in the July 23 firing case and also called for an amicable settlement between the agitators and the government. The principals also opposed the government’s move to provide armed security to the schools, arguing that this could compound the problems. “The schools may be targeted and the school vans could be attacked. In such a situation, the chances are that the young students would fall victims. So without an amicable settlement normal classes could not be held,” a teacher said.

Large cache of arms found in Manipur

Imphal, Nov 15 A large cache of arms and ammunition have been found during a search operation in Thoubal district of Manipur, police said today.

The weapons seized included bombs, 1200 ammunition of M 16 rifle, 2500 ammunition of AK 56 rifle, three wireless sets besides other weapons.

Following a report that some militants were planning to ambush security personnel, a combined team of police commandos and personnel of 26th Assam Rifles battalion launched a manhunt at Arong Nongmaikhong area in Thoubal district yesterday.

Though some militants managed to flee through a nearby lake and thick forests, the securitymen found the arms and ammunition during the search operation, the police said.

Mob torches house of suspected Manipur rapist

KEIRAO - Irate mob burnt down the house of a person suspected of raping and murdering an 18-year-old woman, in Manipur’s Keirao District.

The victim Okram Tamphasana, wife of Chinglensana alias Naocha was found murdered inside a paddy field at Keirou Langthrei Loukon on October 20.
Her body is reported to have been recovered with visible symptoms of rape and several injury marks from a blunt weapon on her head.
Angry residents after getting to know that the suspected murderer was absconding burnt down his house.
“Culprit won’t be spared easily. We have burnt down his house because he had raped a girl and afterwards brutally killed her,” said Kamala Devi, a resident.
They say they will outcast the family.
The agitated mob stopped only when the fire tenders and the local policemen arrived at the spot.
“We are here to give protection to the people. As mob has already gathered, we need to take up necessary precautions so that the violence doesn’t spread further,” said S. Lalmohon Singh, sub-fire officer.

Manipur house torched

Imphal, Oct. 22: Angry residents of Keirao and its neighbouring villages in Imphal East today torched the house of a suspected “rapist-murderer” after a search this morning failed to locate the person.

Hundreds of residents from five villages around Keirao set the empty house of Pukhram Momba Singh on fire this afternoon after dismantling a portion of it and destroying household articles.

Momba Singh, a resident of Keirao Bitra Mayai Leikai, is suspected to have raped and murdered his sister-in-law, 18-year-old Okram Tamphasana Devi on Tuesday.

Tamphasana Devi’s body, stripped to her lower garments, was recovered from a drain in Keirao area that morning. Police recovered a piece of cloth belonging to the victim and a blood-stained trouser of the accused from his house the same day.

Another mob lynched a suspect, Moirangthem Tiken, in the rape-cum-murder case of another woman, Sapam Memton Chanu, 35, this evening. Chanu’s body was found near Pukhao Khabam in Imphal East yesterday.

Housewife’s body found in Manipur

Imphal, Oct. 21 : The battered body of a young housewife, stripped to her lower undergarments, was found alongside a drain near a paddy field in Imphal East this morning.

Okram Tamphasana Devi, 18, a resident of Serou in Thoubal district, went missing after she left an Imphal court with her brother-in-law, Pukhrambam Momba Singh, yesterday.

When her body was found, her torso looked untouched — though she had injury marks on her face — but the garment covering her lower body was missing. Police later found her phanek, a traditional skirt-like garment, lying a little away from her body. A blood-stained stone was also found near the spot.

From the manner in which the body was found, the police suspect the woman was raped before being beaten to death, probably by Momba Singh.

“Only a post-mortem report can confirm the rape ,” a police official who inspected the body said.

Momba Singh is the husband of Bimuta Devi, younger sister of Tamphasana’s husband, Okram Chinglensana.

Chinglensana in now in jail, having been arrested about three months back on charges of having links with militants.

Okram Indrani Devi, Tamphasana’s mother-in-law, had arrived in Imphal only yesterday.

Indrani Devi today said she, with Tamphasana and Momba Singh, had gone to an Imphal court in connection with her son’s case yesterday.

While she stayed back at the court to talk to their lawyer, Momba Singh and Tamphasana left for his house. Since then the two were missing until Tamphasana’s body was recovered this morning.

A police team visited the suspect’s house in Imphal today looking for Momba Singh but he could not be traced. Though the police have not disclosed any further detail, a source said the police had recovered some material evidence from Momba Singh’s house.

“We have made some progress in the investigation. We are looking for the brother-in-law for questioning. He is absconding,” a police source said.

Manipur lightning bandh on Monday

Imphal | October 17 : A “chakka bandh” has been called from 6 am to 6 pm on October 19 in Manipur by the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) to press the government of Manipur to announce the date of Autonomous District Council elections forthwith. This decision was unanimously resolved by district representatives of IDF at a meeting held on Friday in Imphal.
Speaking to Newmai News Network, the president of IDF Ngachomi Chamroy said all the hill districts will resort to different forms of agitations indefinitely after the “chakka bandh” till the demand is fulfilled. “This is a democratic fight to the finish,” the IDF president said. For the past 20 years, the government of Manipur have been saying that elections to ADC is going to be held, the last announcement being April 18, 2008 as the election date announced by the chief minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh, said Chamroy.
It is not surprising that the ADC election has not been held even now, stated the president of IDF, adding that the government cannot ‘fool all the people all of the time.’ Continuing his assault on the delay-tactics of the government in holding the ADC election, Ngachomi Chamroy asserted that many people have been convinced by the government that the ADC election will happen now automatically.
The alibi given a month earlier to the centre by the government of Manipur for not announcing the date of the ADC election was the delimitation process being incomplete; now that the delimitation process is complete, what is stopping the government of Manipur from announcing the date of ADC election, he queried. A memorandum has also been submitted to the chief minister of Manipur today demanding announcement of the date of the ADC elections immediately.

Women lead movement against human right violations in Imphal

IMPHAL - Women here took out a torch rally intensifying movement against the human right violations allegedly by security personnel.

Apunba Lup, an umbrella organization of local groups, has been spearheading the agitation demanding removal of state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, and punishment to the involved commandos.

Protesters alleged that police personnel used tear gas shells, rubber bullets, mock bombs, batons and firearms to suppress the mass movement.

“What people want is that if government doesn’t take any action then we will participate in the mass movement led by Apunba Lup ceaselessly. If we don’t support this movement, then all women here would become widows. So, we have to go forward with the movement with courage,” said Ibemhal Devi, a protestor.

The mass movement has intensified since September 22. Several rallies have been conducted in all the districts of the state and effigies are regularly burnt.

Manipur has been on the boil since the killing of a pregnant woman and a suspected militant in a shootout on July 23 near the building of the state legislature in Imphal. Five others were injured in the shootout.

Protestors in the state are demanding stringent action against the police commandos allegedly involved in the shootout, which they have branded as a ‘fake encounter’.

Rights panel summons Manipur cops

Imphal, Sept. 24: The Manipur Human Rights Commission today issued summons to two police officers in connection with the July 23 firing that killed Rabina Devi and Ch. Sanjit.

Defying the Okram Ibobi Singh government’s directive to discontinue the inquiry proceedings, the commission issued the summons to the senior superintendent of police, Imphal West, L. Kailun, and the officer-in-charge of the police commando unit of the district, Krishna Tombi Singh, asking them to appear before it on September 29 at its Lamphelpat office.

The state human rights commission took up the case after Rabina’s husband Thokchom Chinglensana lodged a complaint with it.

The government has appointed P.G. Agrawal, a retired judge of Gauhati High Court, to conduct the probe. The judicial commission was set up on August 27.

It will ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident and make recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.

The rights panel has sought identities and particulars of the policemen who witnessed the incident.

It also directed the director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, to submit a copy of the statement given by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on the floor of the Assembly in connection with the firing on the day of the incident.

In a letter dated August 26, the government asked the rights panel to stop its inquiry into the killing of the pregnant woman and the former militant on the ground that a judicial inquiry was in place to find out the circumstances leading to the deaths and injuries to five others on Bir Tikendrajit Road here.

In his statement, Ibobi Singh, who is also the home minister, told the House that indiscriminate firing by Sanjit killed Rabina Devi and wounded five others.

Ibobi Singh said Sanjit had fired at a police frisking party and was killed in retaliatory fire.

The Apunba Lup, a conglomeration of NGOs, has decided not to depose before the judicial commission and called the process a meaningless exercise.

Militants force shutdown in Manipur

SENAPATI - A 48-hour shutdown against the Central Government’s decision to deploy additional forces has crippled life in five hill districts of Manipur.

The shutdown called by the United Naga Council (UNC) is supported by some tribal organisations.

In Senapati district, life came to a grinding halt as shops and other establishments closed in compliance with the shutdown call.

Vehicles remained off the roads and busy market areas wore a deserted look.

Last month, the Manipur Government deployed around 700 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel and 300 police commandos in some districts of the state to help the local police combat rebels and maintain law and order.

Many residents feel that the presence of security forces would result in clashes with militants in the region. (ANI)

Pineapple queen contest

Imphal, July 21 : As a part of promotional campaign and to harness the talent of young girls of Manipur, the Manipur Pineapple Festival Committee is organising the prestigious Manipur Pineapple Queen Contest on August 21, 2009 at Khousabung DCC Headquarters, Churachandpur, as a part of the forthcoming State Level Manipur Pineapple Festival, 2009, according to a statement issued by the secretary of MPFC.

Aspiring contestants between the ages of 15-25 years may collect contestant forms at any of the counters given: Film Care, Yaiskul, Imphal (9862577217); Machaleima Telecommunication (Boyai PCO), Moirang Lamkhai, 03879-262498; and Songbul News Agency, Thangzam Road, Churachandpur.

The last date of submission of form is August 5, it added.

AFSPA to remain in force in Manipur

Imphal, July 20 (PTI) The controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) would not be withdrawn from Manipur because of continuing militant activities, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today said.

Replying to a question in the House, Singh said that although the AFSPA was withdrawn from seven assembly constituencies in Imphal municipal area last year following protests from NGOs, the act would remain in force in all other areas in view of the militant activities.

On steps taken by his government to save the life of social activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has gone on a fast unto death demanding withdrawal of the Act, Singh said special facilities, including medical care and security, is being provided to her at the J N Hospital here.

German measles outbreak in Manipur

Satyajit Usham

With confirmed cases in Imphal East district, the state of Manipur is witnessing an outbreak of German measles, for the first time in its history. German measles, a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles, lasts three to four days.

FDA Seized of Paracetamol Overdosing
FOR THE first time in its history, the state of Manipur, is witnessing an outbreak of German measles, with confirmed cases in Imphal East district. German measles, a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles, lasts three to four days and can damage a foetus during the first trimester.

Dr W Motilal, Director of Health Services, in the Manipur government, said that the State's first-ever outbreak of German measles, had been confirmed in the Khurai Puthiba locality of Imphal East district. The results of nine samples which had been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) in New Delhi for testing, have returned as positive.

Dr Motilal reported that the laboratory testing for German measles was confirmed on July 16, though the report was received only on Friday (July 17). He added that the test conducted in the Indian Council of Medical Research at Dibrugarh on the urine samples and the throat swabs collected from Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai,following suspected outbreak of measles in first week of last months, have been found to be negative.

Following suspected cases of measles in Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai area in the first week of June, health workers have also screened 832 children in the age group of three to 13 years in the neighbouring Khurai Puthiba Leikai. Out of the 30 children showing signs of fever, samples of nine children had been send to the NICD for testing and all nine samples tested positive for German measles. Taking serious note of the development, the director of health services has written to the State government recommending inclusion of MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella in the normal immunisation of children.

According to doctors of the health services, German measles is a milder form of measles that lasts for three to four days. The main symptoms include fever and distinct red spots followed by rashes. The viral infection can be spread through droplets from sneezing and coughing. In the case of a male child, the virus normally attacks the heart, while it may lead to blindness in case of female child. The doctors added that the outbreak of German measles was common during summer season.

Khuga dam breaching not a big problem, says CM

Imphal, July 18 : There is no question of any major breakdown at the Khuga dam in Churachandpur and the government is considering official inauguration of the Khuga Multi-purpose Project by December this year.

This was mentioned by chief minister O Ibobi Singh in a supplementary answer made in the House this morning in addition to the reply of state IFCD minister N Biren, during a calling attention motion jointly moved by senior opposition MLA, O Joy Singh and MLA, T Hankhanpao on the collapse of an earthen embankment of the Khuga canal at T Daijang village.

The chief minister further mentioned that the state government is promoting the Khuga Multi-purpose Project as one of the state’s prestigious projects and operational activities for the construction had been activated with the establishment of the SPF government way back in the year 2000.

He further said that the small complaints over the leakages and breaching of the irrigation canal of the dam are operational problems which can be repaired. The officials of the concerned department have been giving full attention to the trial operation of irrigation through the canal and the breaching of the embankment had occurred due to prolonged exposure, he maintained.

The chief minister also mentioned that the SPF government overcame many problems in the speedy construction of the Khuga Multi-purpose Project, officially started in 1983 by the then government in the state which had given priority to the construction of the canal portion only.

He said with the installation of the SPF government during 2000, the priority work of construction of the main earthen dam, spillway and power component of the project had been taken up. On completion of the earthen dam and spillway portions of the project the department addressed the problem of water scarcity and started the irrigation component of the project on trial basis. The leakages and breaches on the canal portion of the earthen dam was due to lack of maintenance, and the problem would be solved in near future as the department’s officials are aware of the problem, he added.

In the meantime, state IFCD minister N Biren gave an assurance to the House that there is no need for apprehension on the dam breaking down in its final stages of completion, and the earthen embankment of the canals are not a source of worry.

The IFCD minister further said the earthen canal of the project was not constructed under the tenure of the SPF government. He maintained that in view of the irregular maintenance of the canals officials and engineers of the state IFCD had been assigned to look for any malfunctions during the trial run of the irrigation components of the dam since last year.

In the meantime, while raising the calling attention senior opposition MLA, O Joy and local MLA, T Hankhanpao pointed out the apprehension felt by the public following the breaching of the earthen embankment of the irrigation canal and questioned if the same would not happen to the main earthen dam.

Both the MLAs also drew the attention of the state government and concerned ministers towards taking of necessary steps for preventing any irregularities in the various components of the project as the local people have high expectations from the dam and its resources.

M Kaimuanthang adds from Churachandpur: The Khuga Dam Contractors Association has yet again threatened the government to launch an agitation within the next few days if the government fails to pay up all pending liabilities pertaining to works executed in the Khuga head works and other components by the authorised or unauthorised contractors.

The president of the association, Hauthang while disclosing this plan has reiterated to the IFP that if "we are not given funds by this month we will resort to any form of agitation."

According to sources, a high power meeting held earlier in the presence of the chief minister O Ibobi Singh, IFCD minister N Biren, power minister Phungzathang Tonsing, works minister K Ranjit and MPCC president Gaikhangam apart from others gave an assurance to pay up the pending liabilities to the contractors.

At another meeting with the IFCD minister, it was promised to the contractors that their dues would be paid at the earliest. However, the promise has not been kept with till date, said the president.

Twin protests affect Manipur

Imphal | July 16 : The twin protests in Manipur on Thursday have affected normal life in the state. The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM)'s 120-hour bandh demanding the release of detained student leaders under National Security Act (NSA) and the indefinite economic blockade imposed by All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) over the reservation issue kick-started since midnight of Wednesday.
Though educational institutions have been exempted from the purview of the DESAM bandh, the attendance percentage of students in their respective institutions were quite low today while goods transporters failed to ply along the two national highways leading to Manipur owing to the ATSUM protest. Large numbers of goods laden Imphal bound trucks are reportedly stranded at the Manipur-Nagaland border.
Meanwhile, inspite of the efforts of the state government to make the bandh called by Democratic Students’ Alliance (DESAM) ineffective, shops and business establishments in the Imphal area were mostly closed with attendance in educational institutions and offices being poor to nil.
Passenger buses plying between the districts of Manipur were mostly off the road and the inter state buses were also not to be seen. Traffic was thin in the streets of Imphal where only vehicles of security personnel and some private two wheelers and four wheelers were seen. Traffic police were seen at some traffic points in the forenoon but not in the afternoon.
The senior superintendent of police of Imphal West L. Kailun had appealed to the public not to support the bandh and come out for their normal activities. In the morning police vehicles were seen going around the commercial area in Imphal asking shopkeepers to open their shops through loud speakers.

Centre giving 7887 tonne rice every month to Manipur

Manipur is being allotted 7887 tonne of rice every month from Central allocation, which includes 2182 tonne of APL variety, 3478 MT of and 2227 MT of AAY. According to UNI report, food and civil supplies minister Y Erabot informed this to the Assembly on Wednesday while replying to a question raised by MLA Radhabinod Koijam. Manipur also gets 606 tonne of wheat, 400 tonne of palmoline oil, 1812.2 MT of sugar, 2131 kilolitres of sk oil and 17,066 tonne of salt.

Minister of Public Health Engineering Department TH Haokip, while replying to a query raised by MLA O Joy, informed that during 2008-09 Rs three crore was sanctioned for drainage and sewarage work.

Minister of Information TN Haokip informed the House, replying to a question raised by Dr Ng Bijoy, that from 1997 the state information department had started televising via DDK, Imphal, the Question Hour of the Assembly.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who also holds the Finance portfolio, moved demands for grants for Rs 375.50 crore for Police department, Rs 1.76 crore for Vigilance, Rs 8.85 crore for Jail and Rs 7.92 crore for Home Guards department to defray the charges which will be incurred during the current financial year.

MLA Radhabinod Koijam moved a policy cut for the alleged failure of the government to maintain jails. He urged the government to manage prisons properly. The matter was also discussed earlier in the House following the alleged involvement of three inmates of Saijiwa jail in the killing of a contractor.

After the incident the state home department had decided to revamp jail security and the Chief Minister informed that mobile jammers would be installed to stop misuse of cellphones in the jail premises.

Students’ strike, economic blockade hit life in Manipur

IMPHAL: Life was disrupted here on Thursday, following a 120-hour strike called by the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur demanding the release of five students who were detained under the National Security Act in connection with the killing of a professor of Manipur University on May 25.

The All Manipur Tribal Students’ Union also imposed an indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 39 and 53, the lifelines of the State, demanding revision of the reservation for tribals.

Both the strike and the blockade started at the midnight on Wednesday night.

The Democratic Students’ Alliance said that as the Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup, an underground organisation, claimed responsibility for the killing of Mohammad Islamuddin, professor of economics. there was no reason for arresting the students.

All 12 students who were arrested in connection with the case were released on bail. The government later detained five of them under the NSA.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the students were arrested for their involvement in the killing.

He instructed the police and para-military forces to act against the sponsors of the strike. On the tribal students’ demand, Mr. Ibobi said the reservation policy would not be revised.

Manipur govt. passes Rs 296 crore grant for four state deptts

Imphal | July 17 : The Manipur legislative assembly today passed four demands for grants amounting to Rs 296,07,29,000 in the ongoing budget session of the assembly. The demands were for finance – Rs 279,23,85,000, information & publicity – Rs 4,02,64,000, excise – Rs 10,65,93,000, and sales tax, other taxes/duties on commodities and services – Rs 2,14,87,000.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who is also in charge of finance admitted that there is lack of proper management and transparency in the finance department in reply to a question put up by MLA Dr Ibohanbi during discussion for demands for grants. As an example, he said that he could not understand why the employees of the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) are not getting their wages reportedly for 24 months when the government is giving an amount of Rs 19,00,000 every month to the IMC. He also wondered where Rs 3,00,00,000 was gone which was given to IMC for the plot of land at Khuman Lampak where the inter state bus terminus is now situated.
Senior opposition leader O. Joy Singh raised a cut motion during the discussion for grant of demand for excise saying that social organizations like AMADA and CADA are doing the duties of the excise department by carrying out various campaigns against abuses of drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants. State minister for information and public relations (IPR), T. N. Haokip informed the house that government-public-bridge day is organized every year on Nov 1 by the department. He also said that as an encouragement to state journalists who perform their work honestly, an award carrying Rs 25,000 is given to the best journalist and a tour program for journalists is arranged every year.

Manipur to enact legislation to conserve cultivable lands

IMPHAL, July 13 – Manipur Government is likely to enact a legislation to conserve paddyland and wetlands in the State to ensure food security.

The move is being taken up after State Chief Minister O Ibobi acknowledged the need to conserve paddyland and wetlands following a discussion in the Assembly on Friday where opposition MLA O Joy of Manipur People’s Party urged for immediate legislation to conserve paddy and wetlands.

Earlier, moving a private member’s resolution, O Joy expressed the need to adopt a proper legislation to have food security in the State by preventing uncontrollable conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural activities.

He further said that Manipur was facing the problem of limited agricultural products due to decreasing area of cultivation.

In the valley alone, where concentration of population was very high, only about 1,76,000 hectares of cultivable land existed which is disproportionate to the population growth in the valley districts.

On UPA’s emphasis on food security in its annual budget tabled recently, the opposition leader pointed out the contradictory situation in Manipur where paddy fields are fast shrinking. Kerala Assembly had recently enacted a legislation to protect wetlands and paddy fields, sources said.

MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of MPP, said it would be right to have an Act to save cultivable land in Manipur from diminishing.

The Forest and Revenue Minister Thoudam Debendro said that the State Government during 1983, had started a Land Use Board on the instruction of the Union Agriculture Ministry for preservation and conservation of agricultural lands in the State with hundred percent funding from the Centre, but the Board had been abandoned with the lapse of Central funds.

Two children from Arunachal land in Manipur

Imphal, July 12: Manipur Police handed over two little children, said to be from Arunachal Pradesh boarded on a bus of the Imphal Rajdhani Express from Guwahati after the travel agency hand over them to the police.
As disclosed by the two children, they are sibling. The elder brother was identified as Kuimo (12) and the younger brother Warspan (7). Their parents were identified as Shanrup and Mela as disclosed by them. They also said that they are from Keishan of Myanmar but residing at Sata of Arunachal Pradesh.
They came out from the home with Rs 150 from their father quietly to go to their original place in Myanmar. They came all the way from Arunachal Pradesh but when they loss the way they boarded to the Imphal Rajdhani express.
The two children are being kept at Deulahland Children home in Imphal under the supervision of Child Welfare Committee, until concerned parents reached Imphal,said the authority of the children home.

'State fails to take up steps to remove backwardness of SCs and STs'

Imphal, July 12 2009: No effective steps appear to have taken to remove the backwardness of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes in the state of Manipur even after more than five decades had passed since the Constitution came into force, lamented, the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its report tabled to the House of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The committee has examined the conditions of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and has made its recommendations as to the steps that should be taken up by the state to remove the difficulties and injustice being faced by the SCS and STs, said V Hangkhalian, chairman of the committee in a statement today.

The committee was constituted by a decision of the house of the state assembly to look into the implementation of the 100 roaster system with regard to the reservation of seats for the SCs/STs at time of appointment and promotion in the departments under the Manipur government as guaranteed in the Constitution of India.

Almost all the departments under the Manipur have violated the reservation rule prescribed for the scheduled castes ad scheduled tribes in services, though it is constitutionally guaranteed.

The committee conducting verifications to the information and documents provided by various departments, there found almost all the departments not complying with the 100 points roaster system of reservation of seats for the SCs and STs.

Some of the departments could not provide the information which the committee took seriously.

The committee served notice for furnishing the documents/statements regarding the present staff strength to the commissioners/secretaries of the veterinary and animal husbandry, irrigation and flood control department, education, forest and environment, medical, food and civil supply and agriculture department for examination of the same so as to know whether the departments have maintained the prescribed percentage of reservation in services in respect of SCs and STs.

However, the committee did not receive the required statements from some of the departments which the committee took a serious view, the report of the committee said.

Taking a very serious view for non-compliance with the reservation rule provided for the SCs/STs in various departments, a committee on welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes recommended the Manipur government to instruct all the heads of the department to maintain strictly in making of the appointment and promotion to posts and services, he stated.

In Manipur, more than 33 percent of the total population is represented by the STs and SCs.

It is direction of the constitution makers that in consistency with the goal of maintenance of efficiency of administration, the SCs and STs must be duly represented in the state administration.

The rule of reservation in the matter of appointment to a service or post under the state is a part of the constitution scheme.

Thus, adequate representation of the SCs and STs in the services is given over the other considerations, the committee observed.

Mention may be made that alleging that government failed to address the 100 point roaster programme, All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) has been demanding implementation of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Service (for SCs and STs Act 2007 by framing rules at the earliest.

They have also threatened to impose the proposed economic blockade on the national highways which was differed for four days from mid night of July 15 .