KSO takes up Sadar Hills cause
Newmai News Network
Imphal, Sep 14: The Kuki Students’ Organisation, KSO (Sadar Hills) has threa-tened to take up serious agitation including indefinite economic blockade to protest alleged failure of state machineries in Sadar Hills area.
Newmai News Network
Imphal, Sep 14: The Kuki Students’ Organisation, KSO (Sadar Hills) has threa-tened to take up serious agitation including indefinite economic blockade to protest alleged failure of state machineries in Sadar Hills area.
The KSO-Sadar Hills urged the state government to address the plights of the people at the earliest failing which such indifferent attitude will amount to inviting agitations.
P Khongsai, information and publicity secretary (KSO-SH) categorically pointed out that offices of PHED, PWD, and Forest Department in Kangpokpi are defunct and exist only in name sake.
He lamented that the offices which were set up to minimize hardships of the people, being run from Imphal now, only multiplies grievances of the people.
It further said that the YAS, Veterinary, BSNL/BDO (Telecom) offices located in Kangpokpi, Fish- eries and Dispensary offices at Keithelmanbi were also found to be in shamble. It alleged, the staff attended offices as per their will, caring little for the people. Khongsai also questioned sincerity of the government in redressing plights of the people, pointing out that the SDC office at Chalwa inaugurated way back in 2002 still exist in the paper and alleged that no steps have been taken so far to make it functional. He also stated that two offices of SDC should be set up within Sadar Hills so as to minimize the hardship faced by the people.
As such, the KSO branch urged the government of Manipur to look into the matter and do the needful at the earliest time, failing which, it warned, the KSO (SH) is more than ready to launch any type of agitation including blockade of highway.
Meanwhile, it also appealed to the State Bank of India (SBI) authorities to appoint a manager and adequate staff in Kangpokpi SBI Branch office.
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48-hr Sadar Hills bandh called over panchayat polls
By : A Staff Reporter 9/15/2007 1:46:38 AM
IMPHAL, Sept 14: The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee, reiterating its stance for boycotting the panchayat elections scheduled on September 19 next, has called a 48-hour total bandh in the entire Sadar Hills area, including national highways 39 and 53 starting from midnight of September 17.
The bandh has also been called as a mark of protest against the state government for failing to fulfil their demands for upgradation of the Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district, said a spokesperson of the committee.
Haokholet Guite, president, Sadar Hills Demand Committee addressing mediapersons, said it was not the right step on the part of the government to introduce two forms of local self government in a scheduled area like the Sadar Hills, as it would only create misunderstanding amongst the Kukis and Nepalis who are the major inhabitants of the area.
The SHDDC, it may be mentioned, is claiming that four gram panchayat wards of Kanglatombi gram panchayat are lying within the jurisdiction of the Sadar hills, which the Sadar Hills autonomous district council also cover.
Guite, while asserting that the SHDDC is not interfering in the rights of the Nepalis, who are contesting the panchayat elections in various levels in the Sadar Hills, said there was an agreement signed between the leaders of both communities in 1974-75, to live together with mutual understanding in future and to work in the in another’s interest
Holding of panchayat elections in the area at this juncture would amount to violation of the agreement, he maintained.
He added that every one has the right to vote and contest as a candidate in the district council, and dual form of administration should not be introduced.
Regarding the demand for upgradation of the Sadar Hills, he pointed out that despite a series of protests in various forms by the people of Sadar Hills and the committee, demanding fullfledged a Sadar Hills district, the government has been neglecting their long-cherished and rightful demand.
He observed that the the SHDDC had taken up six-day office picketing in the Sadar Hills, including educational institutions in August, followed by a 48-hour bandh in pursuit of their demand.
A public meeting to take mandate on the issue of conversion of Sadar Hills into a fullfledged district was also to be held, but it was postponed due to the excessive rainfall and floods, he said.
However, the meeting would be held soon to take the public mandate, in which all people of Sadar Hills area will participate, he said.
He also observed that the Sadar Hills now has all necessary offices, institutions and infrastructure, of a full-fledged district, and all that is left is the official declaration and posting of a DC and an SP.
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CM to attend ne investment week in Bangkok
By : Manipur Information Centre 9/15/2007 1:43:25 AM
NEW DELHI, Sep 14: A team of 17 delegates led by chief minister O Ibobi Singh will represent Manipur at the North-East India Investment Opportunities Week to be organised in Bangkok from October 1 to 4 under the joint initiative of the ministry of development of north eastern region (DoNER), government of India, ministry of commerce, government of Thailand and Indian Chamber of Commerce, said the principal secretary (commerce and industries) of Manipur P Lawmkunga.
Power minister Phungzathang Tonsing, commerce and industries minister Y.Erabot, MPCC chief Gaikhangam will be in the team. The principal secretary (planning) PBO Warjri, secretary (tourism) BB Sharma, director (planning) K Mangi Singh, and director (commerce & industries) Dhiraj Yumnam are among the officials of the Manipur team. Kouna products from Manipur will be displayed in the exhibition to be inaugurated by the minister of commerce, Thailand Krirk-Krai Jirapaet on the fisrt day.
The planning director K Mangi Singh said the state government will make presentation to attract investors to invest in the fields of food processing, horticulture, tourism, power, information technology, handloom and handicrafts of Manipur.
In the presence of the chief ministers of all the north eastern states of India and the dignitaries from Thailand, the inaugural session will take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center at 4 pm on October 1 with the minister of commerce, Thailand Krirk-Krai Jirapaet as chief guest. Union minister for DoNER Mani Shankar Aiyar will give the key-note address. It will be followed by the north east chief ministers’ conclave where each of the chief ministers of north eastern states will make their remark or Power Point presentation. In the evening, there will be a fashion show and cultural programme under the banner - Colours of Paradise at Retro Live Café.
In the forenoon of the second day, there will be a sectoral meeting on ‘Opportunities in tourism & hospitality’ with the presence of the minister of tourism, Thailand as chief guest and the Union minister of tourism Ambika Soni as guest of honour. In the afternoon, the sectoral meeting on ‘Opportunities for investment in the north east’ with the focus on infrastructure, agro & food, handloom/handicrafts will be held. Union Minister for DoNER, India, minister of commerce, Thailand, chief ministers of all the north eastern states of India and dignitaries from Thailand will attend the afternoon session.
Interaction sessions will continue upto the third day. On the last day, the delegates and prospective investors will visit various sites like factories, production centres etc.
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Nagaland snubs Manipur on affiliation issue
Source: The Sangai Express / Indian Express
Kohima, September 14: After more than a year of indecision, the Nagaland Government has brought in a legislation that allows schools from other States to get affiliated with the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE)- a demand that has been growing among the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.
Nearly 4,000 students from Manipur appeared for the Class X board exams conducted by the NBSE earlier this year, but the pro-affiliation stance of the state’s Naga community has been strongly opposed by the Okram Ibobi Singh Government.
Speaking to The Indian Express from Kohima, Nagaland Education Minister Imkong Imchen said the legislation allowing affiliation of out-of-state schools to the NBSE had been enacted with immediate effect, although the same would be introduced in the Assembly and debated on the floor on September 18. “From now on, any school from any part of the country can get affiliated with the NBSE.
This is in keeping with the policy of ‘one nation, one Government’.
We understand the need to assimilate people”.
The minister added that there had been considerable pressure from NGOs such as the Naga Hoho and the Naga Students Federation to enact such a legislation.
The Nagas in Manipur, spearheaded by the All Naga Students Association, Manipur, have been pressing for schools in the four Naga-dominated districts to be affiliated with the Nagaland board, a demand refused outrightly by the Manipur Government.
Initially, the Nagaland Government had also expressed its inability to allow the same, as it wasn’t covered by the existing provisions of the NBSE.
The NBSE syllabus has, as part of its curriculum, chapters on the Naga struggle for independence and ongoing peace process as well.
“What is the harm in including the Naga struggle in the syllabus? The issue is no longer a hidden agenda.
It has now become a national issue.
In the exams conducted this year, we allowed several thousand students from Manipur to appear, although their schools were not affiliated”.
The pro-affiliation move has also faced resistance from Naga militants.
The NSCN (K) had offloaded students travelling by bus from Tamenglong in Manipur to Kohima, and had pushed the vehicle down a ravine to express their opposition.
One reason could, of course, be that the move is regarded as being part of the NSCN (I-M)’s efforts at integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the region under one administrative roof.
Source: e-pao.net, the sangai express
