Manipur education minister M Okendra Singh has been appointed as the spokesperson for the state government during a specially-convened Congress Legislative Party meeting, CLP sources said today.
The sources said congress MLA D K Korungthang was appointed as CLP secretary in the meeting presided over by by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh last evening.
The meeting, which was convened to discuss development activities in the state, discussed the ongoing peace talks between the central government and NSCN-IM, the sources said.
A memorendum of settlement is likely to be signed between the two parties before the next Assembly elections in Nagaland next March.
HIV+ve bodybuilder battles funds crunch
IMPHAL: HIV positive bodybuilder and 'Mr Manipur' Khundrakpam Pradeep Kumar, who is participating in the 'Mr Asia' and 'Mr World' competitions in November and December, is finding it difficult to have a proper nutritional diet owing to acute financial crisis.
Pradip, who is undergoing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (Art), is competing at the eighth Senior Mr Asia championship in Ludhiana in the first week of November. The next month, he will take part in the 4th Mr World Championship in Bangkok.
A resident of Khamnam Leirak in Imphal West, Pradip (43) disclosed his health status to the media a few days after bagging the 60-kg category senior 'Mr Manipur' title in a state-level competition held here in December, 2007. Pradip, a brand ambassador of Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs), later bagged silver and bronze medals in different national competitions and stood eighth in the 'Mr World' competition.
Manipur is one of the six high HIV/AIDS prevalence states of the country. According to Macs, the state has 38,016 people infected with HIV, including 10,109 women and 2,578 children. Pradip, who has emerged as an icon of inspiration to the world, spends around Rs 40,000 in procuring foreign nutritional diet every month.
"Macs, which used to pay Rs 8,000 a month for my nutritional support, has stopped extending the amount since June this year," Pradip informed TOI on Monday.
"The state government which had promised to appoint me as a regular employee in the youth affairs and sports department in 2009 also failed to do anything about it. This was another major setback," said Pradip. A group of HIV positive widows of the state launched a charity campaign to collect money for him after they came to know about his financial condition. They are providing me monetary help and I am very thankful to them, he said.
Recently, a social organization donated Rs 1.5 lakh to the bodybuilder for his cause, he said.
"Since I do not have money, I am not in a position to procure the standard nutritional diet. But I am ready to fight all odds and I will manage to make it through. I will continue with my rigorous practice and give my best at both the competitions," he added.
Pradip, who is undergoing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (Art), is competing at the eighth Senior Mr Asia championship in Ludhiana in the first week of November. The next month, he will take part in the 4th Mr World Championship in Bangkok.
A resident of Khamnam Leirak in Imphal West, Pradip (43) disclosed his health status to the media a few days after bagging the 60-kg category senior 'Mr Manipur' title in a state-level competition held here in December, 2007. Pradip, a brand ambassador of Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs), later bagged silver and bronze medals in different national competitions and stood eighth in the 'Mr World' competition.
Manipur is one of the six high HIV/AIDS prevalence states of the country. According to Macs, the state has 38,016 people infected with HIV, including 10,109 women and 2,578 children. Pradip, who has emerged as an icon of inspiration to the world, spends around Rs 40,000 in procuring foreign nutritional diet every month.
"Macs, which used to pay Rs 8,000 a month for my nutritional support, has stopped extending the amount since June this year," Pradip informed TOI on Monday.
"The state government which had promised to appoint me as a regular employee in the youth affairs and sports department in 2009 also failed to do anything about it. This was another major setback," said Pradip. A group of HIV positive widows of the state launched a charity campaign to collect money for him after they came to know about his financial condition. They are providing me monetary help and I am very thankful to them, he said.
Recently, a social organization donated Rs 1.5 lakh to the bodybuilder for his cause, he said.
"Since I do not have money, I am not in a position to procure the standard nutritional diet. But I am ready to fight all odds and I will manage to make it through. I will continue with my rigorous practice and give my best at both the competitions," he added.
Cop, actor sent to jail for raping Imphal schoolgirl
IMPHAL: A local court on Tuesday remanded a police commando driver for allegedly raping a schoolgirl and his friend, a film actor-cum-singer for assisting in the crime, to judicial custody here.
While the prime accused, police driver Yumnam William, has been suspended by the police department, Film Forum Manipur (FFM) has banned actor Thongam Tarun, who assisted in the crime, from working in Manipuri films.
A resident of Khagempalli Panthak in Imphal West, William (28), had befriended the victim, a Class XII student of TG Higher Secondary School.
On the pretext of taking her to a birthday party, William picked up the girl, who was returning home from school on October 20, in a car. The accused then picked up Tarun (27) from his Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai residence here and the three of them went to a hotel at airport road.
After drugging her with soft drinks, she was allegedly raped in a hotel room by William. Meanwhile, Tarun made sure nobody saw the crime taking place, sources said.
However, following public uproar, they surrendered to the police on the next day.
On Sunday night, a duty magistrate (Imphal West) remanded both the accused to judicial custody for 13 days. They were charged under Sections 366/376/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile the FFM, an apex body of all film-related units in the state, has decided that the forum will not approve any film activities taken up by co-accused Tarun.
"In an FFM meeting convened a few days back, we took the decision against Tarun, who has tarnished the film fraternity of the state. We have also banned his recent music video albums and a film in which he worked," FFM chairman L Surjakanta Shrama told this reporter on Tuesday.
On October 25, home minister Gaikhangam said that punitive action would be taken against the two accused. On the same day, the irate school students protested against the alleged rape of their classmate.
A team of Manipur State Commission for Women, led by its chairperson L Ibetombi Devi, visited the victim's house and consoled the girl and her family and assured that the commission would extend all the support to them.
'PureFit Kothanur provides dance and fitness with personal traning. This is a women led fitness and dance center providing Zumba, Aerobics, Bolly Aerobics, Power Yoga in Bnagalore. We are devoted to the job of ensuring that every member who joins the dance or fitness has the best dance experience possible.'
While the prime accused, police driver Yumnam William, has been suspended by the police department, Film Forum Manipur (FFM) has banned actor Thongam Tarun, who assisted in the crime, from working in Manipuri films.
A resident of Khagempalli Panthak in Imphal West, William (28), had befriended the victim, a Class XII student of TG Higher Secondary School.
On the pretext of taking her to a birthday party, William picked up the girl, who was returning home from school on October 20, in a car. The accused then picked up Tarun (27) from his Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai residence here and the three of them went to a hotel at airport road.
After drugging her with soft drinks, she was allegedly raped in a hotel room by William. Meanwhile, Tarun made sure nobody saw the crime taking place, sources said.
However, following public uproar, they surrendered to the police on the next day.
On Sunday night, a duty magistrate (Imphal West) remanded both the accused to judicial custody for 13 days. They were charged under Sections 366/376/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile the FFM, an apex body of all film-related units in the state, has decided that the forum will not approve any film activities taken up by co-accused Tarun.
"In an FFM meeting convened a few days back, we took the decision against Tarun, who has tarnished the film fraternity of the state. We have also banned his recent music video albums and a film in which he worked," FFM chairman L Surjakanta Shrama told this reporter on Tuesday.
On October 25, home minister Gaikhangam said that punitive action would be taken against the two accused. On the same day, the irate school students protested against the alleged rape of their classmate.
A team of Manipur State Commission for Women, led by its chairperson L Ibetombi Devi, visited the victim's house and consoled the girl and her family and assured that the commission would extend all the support to them.
'PureFit Kothanur provides dance and fitness with personal traning. This is a women led fitness and dance center providing Zumba, Aerobics, Bolly Aerobics, Power Yoga in Bnagalore. We are devoted to the job of ensuring that every member who joins the dance or fitness has the best dance experience possible.'
People For Animal snaps villagers' ties with 'snake god'
IMPHAL: For villagers of Kumbi in Manipur's Bishnupur district, anything even remotely related to religion is sacred. The local deity, in any form, holds sway over their lives and is highly revered.
On Tuesday, when People For Animal (PFA) members went to rescue a python captured and worshipped by villagers as a 'reincarnation' of the local deity at the village, they had a hard time convincing them that the 8-ft-long reptile needs to released in the wild for its safety.
The reptile, which is listed under Schedule 1 (most endangered animals in the country) of the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972, was captured from a paddy field at Kumbi Setupur by the villagers on Saturday. It was kept at the house of the owner of the field and hundreds offered money, fruits and flowers to the snake considering it to be a local deity.
"On Tuesday, the gathering grew bigger after local priests performed rituals. After taking the advice of forest officials, we, along with a strong police team, including commandos, went there today. The villagers and the priests strongly objected to handing over the python initially," said Lourembam Biswajit, the managing trustee of PFA, Thoubal.
After they were given a brief idea about the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, including the related penalties, the villagers finally released the python after performing some rituals. "While some chanted rituals praising the deity, others, in groups, wept near the python. We took the reptile to Manipur veterinary hospital in Imphal to check its health," said Bishwajit.
On being informed about the incident, PFA chairman Maneka Gandhi asked the PFA's Thoubal unit to rescue the python and release it in a safe place. "We will observe the python at our enclosure in Thoubal for a couple of days and release it the jungle after consulting with forest officials," he added.
In April, 2010, villagers of Lamlai in Imphal East caught a rare cobra from a house and handed it to Manipur zoo authorities.
On Tuesday, when People For Animal (PFA) members went to rescue a python captured and worshipped by villagers as a 'reincarnation' of the local deity at the village, they had a hard time convincing them that the 8-ft-long reptile needs to released in the wild for its safety.
The reptile, which is listed under Schedule 1 (most endangered animals in the country) of the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972, was captured from a paddy field at Kumbi Setupur by the villagers on Saturday. It was kept at the house of the owner of the field and hundreds offered money, fruits and flowers to the snake considering it to be a local deity.
"On Tuesday, the gathering grew bigger after local priests performed rituals. After taking the advice of forest officials, we, along with a strong police team, including commandos, went there today. The villagers and the priests strongly objected to handing over the python initially," said Lourembam Biswajit, the managing trustee of PFA, Thoubal.
After they were given a brief idea about the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, including the related penalties, the villagers finally released the python after performing some rituals. "While some chanted rituals praising the deity, others, in groups, wept near the python. We took the reptile to Manipur veterinary hospital in Imphal to check its health," said Bishwajit.
On being informed about the incident, PFA chairman Maneka Gandhi asked the PFA's Thoubal unit to rescue the python and release it in a safe place. "We will observe the python at our enclosure in Thoubal for a couple of days and release it the jungle after consulting with forest officials," he added.
In April, 2010, villagers of Lamlai in Imphal East caught a rare cobra from a house and handed it to Manipur zoo authorities.
Irom Sharmila awarded for her grit
KOLKATA: The Centre may have remained indifferent to the demands of Irom Sharmila, but the Iron Lady's voice and cause seems to have reached the Kerala coast.
On Saturday, Kovilam Trust bestowed the Kovilam Smaraka Activist Indian National Award to Sharmila who has been fasting for nearly 12 years now in demand for repeal of the Arms Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA). Since Sharmila could not be in the city due to legal problems, the award was received by her elder brother Irom Singhajit on her behalf.
But Singhajit later returned the award to the trust saying that it was to honour his sister's resolution, who has decided not to accept any award or recognition from any individual or organisation till her demands are met.
"It is a proud moment to receive such an award. But I would request the Kovilam Trust to keep the award in its safe custody and hand it over to Sharmila when she is comes out free from the judicial custody," said Singhajit.
He added that Sharmila had expressed this wish during a meeting when she was produced in the court on October 9. The Iron Lady has been on fast since November 2000 after some civilians were shot dead allegedly by Assam Rifle personnel in Malom village of Manipur. Her non-violent protest against AFSPA has made her an iconic figure.
"Seldom do we come across an activist with such determination and courage. Sharmila is an emblem of courage. If Tagore was alive, he would have been so proud of Sharmila. So would have been the departed great men who had fought for the country and for truth," said Mahasweta Devi.
The activist writer who handed over the award was not allowed to meet Sharmila when she had gone calling on the firebrand activist in Imphal in 2009. Mahasweta revealed that she would be writing on Sharmila and her crusade.
According to Singhajit, Sharmila meditates and does yoga for almost four hours everyday in the hospital. That perhaps has prevented her from diverting her mind to other things around her, he said. At present, Sharmila is confined in a room in Imphal's JN Hospital where she is forcibly nasal fed. She is produced in the court every 15 days for extension of the judicial custody.
"AFSPA was initially imposed in some disturbed areas of Nagaland about 55 years ago. It was supposed to be for a limited period and for some particular areas. Instead, it has now been imposed in other parts of the country too. The UN has already said that this draconian law cannot exist in a democracy. Sharmila has been fighting for scrapping of the law for almost 12 years," said human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam.
Even family members do no have access to Sharmila. They have to obtain permission from the state home department at least a month in advance to meet her in the hospital. When asked, documentary filmmaker Josy Joseph expressed dissatisfaction at the kind of treatment doled out to northeast India by the mainstream media.
"All major newspaper houses have a Guwahati edition. Though all news reports reach their respective head quarters, it bounces back to the Guwahati edition. Sharmila has been fighting for years now, but there isn't any pressure as people in mainland India hardly get to know the true picture in northeast India," said Joseph.
On Saturday, Kovilam Trust bestowed the Kovilam Smaraka Activist Indian National Award to Sharmila who has been fasting for nearly 12 years now in demand for repeal of the Arms Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA). Since Sharmila could not be in the city due to legal problems, the award was received by her elder brother Irom Singhajit on her behalf.
But Singhajit later returned the award to the trust saying that it was to honour his sister's resolution, who has decided not to accept any award or recognition from any individual or organisation till her demands are met.
"It is a proud moment to receive such an award. But I would request the Kovilam Trust to keep the award in its safe custody and hand it over to Sharmila when she is comes out free from the judicial custody," said Singhajit.
He added that Sharmila had expressed this wish during a meeting when she was produced in the court on October 9. The Iron Lady has been on fast since November 2000 after some civilians were shot dead allegedly by Assam Rifle personnel in Malom village of Manipur. Her non-violent protest against AFSPA has made her an iconic figure.
"Seldom do we come across an activist with such determination and courage. Sharmila is an emblem of courage. If Tagore was alive, he would have been so proud of Sharmila. So would have been the departed great men who had fought for the country and for truth," said Mahasweta Devi.
The activist writer who handed over the award was not allowed to meet Sharmila when she had gone calling on the firebrand activist in Imphal in 2009. Mahasweta revealed that she would be writing on Sharmila and her crusade.
According to Singhajit, Sharmila meditates and does yoga for almost four hours everyday in the hospital. That perhaps has prevented her from diverting her mind to other things around her, he said. At present, Sharmila is confined in a room in Imphal's JN Hospital where she is forcibly nasal fed. She is produced in the court every 15 days for extension of the judicial custody.
"AFSPA was initially imposed in some disturbed areas of Nagaland about 55 years ago. It was supposed to be for a limited period and for some particular areas. Instead, it has now been imposed in other parts of the country too. The UN has already said that this draconian law cannot exist in a democracy. Sharmila has been fighting for scrapping of the law for almost 12 years," said human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam.
Even family members do no have access to Sharmila. They have to obtain permission from the state home department at least a month in advance to meet her in the hospital. When asked, documentary filmmaker Josy Joseph expressed dissatisfaction at the kind of treatment doled out to northeast India by the mainstream media.
"All major newspaper houses have a Guwahati edition. Though all news reports reach their respective head quarters, it bounces back to the Guwahati edition. Sharmila has been fighting for years now, but there isn't any pressure as people in mainland India hardly get to know the true picture in northeast India," said Joseph.
Dengue case confirmed in Manipur, alert sounded
IMPHAL: Health officials of Churachandpur district have sounded a health alert to combat the spread of dengue as a case has been confirmed in the the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-dominated district.
Besides spreading awareness on the epidemic, the district's health officials appealed to the people to get their blood tested immediately in case of any suspected symptoms.
Having heard the spread of dengue at Chengkhonpang village in the district headquarters a few days back, the district malaria officials went to the village on October 18 and collected blood samples of a 17-year-old girl and woman suspected to be infected of the epidemic, sources said.
The two samples were tested positive at the district's rapid diagnostic testing centre and for further confirmation, the same were sent to the state malaria department and later to the microbiology department of the centre-run Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) here, the sources added.
However, the two are now out of danger.
Besides spreading awareness on the epidemic, the district's health officials appealed to the people to get their blood tested immediately in case of any suspected symptoms.
Having heard the spread of dengue at Chengkhonpang village in the district headquarters a few days back, the district malaria officials went to the village on October 18 and collected blood samples of a 17-year-old girl and woman suspected to be infected of the epidemic, sources said.
The two samples were tested positive at the district's rapid diagnostic testing centre and for further confirmation, the same were sent to the state malaria department and later to the microbiology department of the centre-run Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) here, the sources added.
However, the two are now out of danger.
Manipur to host 6th Manipur Polo International Tournament
GUWAHATI: The far-flung North Eastern state of Manipur may not be the most popular tourist destination but it does offer some unique experiences against a scenic backdrop. The government of Manipur is all set to organize the sixth Manipur Polo International tournament between 24 and 29 November. The tournament will coincide with the Manipur Sangai Festival 2012 organized by the ministry of Tourism.
The theme of this year's tournament is 'Save the Manipuri Pony, the Original Polo Pony' from extinction and promotion of Polo Tourism in the state. The tournament will be conducted under Indian Polo Association Rules and mounted on Manipuri Pony.
Teams from Hurlingham England, Germany, France and Thailand are participating in the tournament besides a team representing the Indian Polo Association and a team from Manipur. The foreign teams have been coordinated by Hurlingham Polo Association, the controlling body of International Polo, Royal Embassy of Thailand in India and Consul General of German Embassy in Kolkata.
The tournament will be held at the Mapal Kangjeibung (Polo ground) in Imphal. The gallery, lawn and pavilions are being renovated currently.
According to the organizers and many historians, polo may have been popularized by the British, it originated in Manipur. The game was known as 'Sangol Kangjei' in Manipuri. It is said that the first polo club in India was established in Silchar, Assam, in 1834.
The theme of this year's tournament is 'Save the Manipuri Pony, the Original Polo Pony' from extinction and promotion of Polo Tourism in the state. The tournament will be conducted under Indian Polo Association Rules and mounted on Manipuri Pony.
Teams from Hurlingham England, Germany, France and Thailand are participating in the tournament besides a team representing the Indian Polo Association and a team from Manipur. The foreign teams have been coordinated by Hurlingham Polo Association, the controlling body of International Polo, Royal Embassy of Thailand in India and Consul General of German Embassy in Kolkata.
The tournament will be held at the Mapal Kangjeibung (Polo ground) in Imphal. The gallery, lawn and pavilions are being renovated currently.
According to the organizers and many historians, polo may have been popularized by the British, it originated in Manipur. The game was known as 'Sangol Kangjei' in Manipuri. It is said that the first polo club in India was established in Silchar, Assam, in 1834.
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