Manipur 2007-2012 plan projected at Rs. 8154.00 cr, CM to meet dy chairman, PCI on Jan 31
By : Thingbaijam Dhamen/IFP 12/5/2007 12:42:01 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 4: The total plan size of the state of Manipur has been projected at Rs. 8154.00 crores for the eleventh five year plan, 2007-2012.
The projection of the state has been made after taking into account the report of the working group on state resources for the 11th plan and also the state’s own estimate of resources provided by the Manipur government earlier, an official said Tuesday.
The projected outlay for the state is also incorporated in the draft 11th plan document now under preparation for consideration in the National Development Committee meeting schedule to be held on December, 2007.
Based on the projected outlay of Rs. 8154.00 crores for the state of Manipur for the 11th plan furnished by the planning commission, proposed sectoral allocation has also been prepared by the state planning commission and intimated to all the departments under the state government to make recast allocation while submitting annual plan 2008-09 proposals to the planning department.
In the proposed sectoral allocation, the state planning department allocated Rs. 439.23 crores in agriculture and allied activities.
The sector included crop husbandry (agriculture, horticulture), soil and water conservation (including control of shifting cultivation), animal husbandry, dairy development, fisheries, forestry and wild life, plantations, food, storage and warehousing, agriculture research and education, agricultural financial institutions and cooperation.
A total amount of Rs. 271.14 crores has been proposed in the rural development sector which includes sub-sectors like the special programme for rural development, rural employment and others related with rural areas.
A total amount of Rs. 649.11 lakhs has been proposed for allocation in the rural energy programme (IREP), Rs. 718.58 crores for the integrated wasteland development projects (Hariyali), Rs. 718.58 lakhs for Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, SGSY and Rs. 1245.01 lakhs for District Rural Development Agency, DRDA.
It also includes Rs. 2140.96 lakhs for community development and panchayats and remaining amounts for other programmes of rural development like the rural roads, PMGSY (Rs. 4161.35 lakhs ) MLALADP (Rs. 7185.75 lakhs) and MSRRDA (Rs. 239.53 lakhs).
Rs. 23143 lakhs has been proposed for special area progammes, Rs 77238 lakhs for irrigation and flood control sector, Rs. 149871 lakhs for power and non-conventional sources of energy and Rs. 65614 lakhs for industry and minerals.
The proposed amount for the transport sector is Rs. 40316 lakhs, Rs 12763 lakhs for communication and science and technology and environment and Rs. 15798 lakhs in general economic services.
The social service sectors which include educational departments has proposal for an allocation of Rs.74844 lakhs in the proposed sectoral allocation of the state government.
Mention may be made that the departments under the Manipur government have been asked to prepare and submit draft proposals for the annual plan 2008-09 for their respective departments.
The annual plan size for the state for the fiscal year 2008-09 is likely to be finalized in the second round of meeting between the state chief minister and the deputy chairman, planning commission which has been fixed on January 31, 2008.
By : Thingbaijam Dhamen/IFP 12/5/2007 12:42:01 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 4: The total plan size of the state of Manipur has been projected at Rs. 8154.00 crores for the eleventh five year plan, 2007-2012.
The projection of the state has been made after taking into account the report of the working group on state resources for the 11th plan and also the state’s own estimate of resources provided by the Manipur government earlier, an official said Tuesday.
The projected outlay for the state is also incorporated in the draft 11th plan document now under preparation for consideration in the National Development Committee meeting schedule to be held on December, 2007.
Based on the projected outlay of Rs. 8154.00 crores for the state of Manipur for the 11th plan furnished by the planning commission, proposed sectoral allocation has also been prepared by the state planning commission and intimated to all the departments under the state government to make recast allocation while submitting annual plan 2008-09 proposals to the planning department.
In the proposed sectoral allocation, the state planning department allocated Rs. 439.23 crores in agriculture and allied activities.
The sector included crop husbandry (agriculture, horticulture), soil and water conservation (including control of shifting cultivation), animal husbandry, dairy development, fisheries, forestry and wild life, plantations, food, storage and warehousing, agriculture research and education, agricultural financial institutions and cooperation.
A total amount of Rs. 271.14 crores has been proposed in the rural development sector which includes sub-sectors like the special programme for rural development, rural employment and others related with rural areas.
A total amount of Rs. 649.11 lakhs has been proposed for allocation in the rural energy programme (IREP), Rs. 718.58 crores for the integrated wasteland development projects (Hariyali), Rs. 718.58 lakhs for Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, SGSY and Rs. 1245.01 lakhs for District Rural Development Agency, DRDA.
It also includes Rs. 2140.96 lakhs for community development and panchayats and remaining amounts for other programmes of rural development like the rural roads, PMGSY (Rs. 4161.35 lakhs ) MLALADP (Rs. 7185.75 lakhs) and MSRRDA (Rs. 239.53 lakhs).
Rs. 23143 lakhs has been proposed for special area progammes, Rs 77238 lakhs for irrigation and flood control sector, Rs. 149871 lakhs for power and non-conventional sources of energy and Rs. 65614 lakhs for industry and minerals.
The proposed amount for the transport sector is Rs. 40316 lakhs, Rs 12763 lakhs for communication and science and technology and environment and Rs. 15798 lakhs in general economic services.
The social service sectors which include educational departments has proposal for an allocation of Rs.74844 lakhs in the proposed sectoral allocation of the state government.
Mention may be made that the departments under the Manipur government have been asked to prepare and submit draft proposals for the annual plan 2008-09 for their respective departments.
The annual plan size for the state for the fiscal year 2008-09 is likely to be finalized in the second round of meeting between the state chief minister and the deputy chairman, planning commission which has been fixed on January 31, 2008.
The Imphal Free Press
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Bamboo flowering takes it toll, no relief
The Sangai Express By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 4 : Even as vast tracts of land have been affected by bamboo flowering, a large number of families affected by the natural phenomenon are yet to receive a single grain of rice as relief measure in Tamenglong district.
Generally, these people have never tasted PDS rice in their entire life. Their ration cards have been lying idle since the day they were issued.
Of the many villages affected by population explo- sion of rodents following extensive bamboo flowering in Tamenglong and other districts resulting in large scale damage to standing and harvested crops, Shibilong Lower village is one of the villages where famine is lurking ahead.
About 60 percent of the total area of Shibilong village was covered with bamboo groves.
Amidst the Mouvi Wa variety of bamboo growing abundantly in the village, a rare and sturdy variety of bamboo locally known as Wanap was also thriving very well. Wanap can be used as pillars in building houses.
But the Wanap variety has died out naturally following flowering of the Mouvi Wa groves.
Besides the income generated by trading in Mouvi Wa, Wanap fetches substantial income as it was very much popular among the valley people, said member of Development Coordinating Team, Lower Shibilong Gailungpou Golmei.
A Shibilong villager engaged in lumbering bamboo can earn Rs 5000 annually. As such, all the adult members of a family were engaged in lumbering bamboo as their principal means of livelihood.
However, with the arrival of periodical bamboo flowering phenomenon in Tamenglong district since the last few years, there was a spurt in the rodent population which has been causing havoc to crops.
“Being a natural calamity, we cannot escape our fate and we are enduring the misery helplessly”, said Gailungpou.
When the villagers were suffering from extreme difficulties due to food scarcity, some people arrived at the village with food grains and dals. At first, the villagers thought that the relief materials were being provided by the Government and as such they hailed the Government.
But during distribution of the relief materials, it was learnt that the people who were coming to help the mar-ginalised and woeful villa- gers were volunteers of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO).
Following the realisation, the villagers cursed the State Government and at the same time, they cried in gratitude to the AMUCO for their humane and benevolent act, Gailungpou con- veyed.
Even as the grief-stri-cken villagers are still hope- ful that the State Government will come to their aid one day, there has been no relief measure from the side of the State Government till date.
With the once profitable Wanap variety dying out and failing to produce new shoots, the Mouvi Wa variety has also dried up, there- by giving a death blow to the basic means of livelihood of the villagers, lamented Gailungpou.
In addition to the failure of the State Government provide any sort of relief to the villagers who are facing famine, the Government never bothered to make use of the PDS ration cards, even once, it issued to the villagers in 1997, decried Shibilong Village Authority chairman G Sangkepou.
Being the village chairman, Sangkepou was often asked by the villagers where and when to use the ration cards. For some families, the ration cards have already been torn or mutilated due to prolonged non-use while many others have been lost forever.
Left with no means to sustain themselves after fall of bamboo business, the villagers have started cultiva- ting chilly (U-Morok).
Yet, despite intensive efforts, a villager can produce at the most 50 kgs of U-Morok in a season. Fresh chillies are usually sold at the rate of Rs 150 per kg and dried chillies at Rs 300 per kg.
As the income earned from cultivating U-Morok is very meagre compared to incomes from bamboo business and coupled with the failure of the Government to provide any relief, the villagers are really facing hard times, Sangkepou conveyed.
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Stance against Delimitation decried
The Sa Ngai Express By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 4 : The Movement for Tribal People’s Rights Manipur (MTPRM) has expressed strong annoyance against the decision taken by the associate members of the Delimitation Commission of the State to oppose the Delimitation exercise.
The constant move by political parties of the State led by the Chief Minister is nothing but total disregard of the interest of the tribals even after the Constitu-tional provision has clearly provided for total delimitation of the country, remarked MTPRM in a press hand-out.
The State Government led by Chief Minister O Ibobi has been convening all party meetings time and again when certain benefit is likely to be extended to tribal people in order to derail such benefits, not only in any particular case but also in the issue pertaining to extension of 6th Schedule, Reservation Policy etc, it alleged.
Quoting a letter from the Delimitation Commission to the Delimitation Committee of Manipur, it said that delimitation is an exercise under Constitutional provision based on 2001 Census in which arbitrary decision cannot be taken for one State.
Contrary to the alleged perception of the political parties that the State may disintegrate if the delimitation is executed based on 2001 census, the MTPRM asserted that the State shall disintegrate if the delimitation is not duly implemented.
In case the delimitation process is stalled or derailed because of the constant moves by different political parties led by the State Government, they will be held responsible for any eventualities and tribal people may opt to stay outside the State, if the situation demands so, cautioned the MTPRM in the statement.
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Bamboo flowering takes it toll, no relief
The Sangai Express By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 4 : Even as vast tracts of land have been affected by bamboo flowering, a large number of families affected by the natural phenomenon are yet to receive a single grain of rice as relief measure in Tamenglong district.
Generally, these people have never tasted PDS rice in their entire life. Their ration cards have been lying idle since the day they were issued.
Of the many villages affected by population explo- sion of rodents following extensive bamboo flowering in Tamenglong and other districts resulting in large scale damage to standing and harvested crops, Shibilong Lower village is one of the villages where famine is lurking ahead.
About 60 percent of the total area of Shibilong village was covered with bamboo groves.
Amidst the Mouvi Wa variety of bamboo growing abundantly in the village, a rare and sturdy variety of bamboo locally known as Wanap was also thriving very well. Wanap can be used as pillars in building houses.
But the Wanap variety has died out naturally following flowering of the Mouvi Wa groves.
Besides the income generated by trading in Mouvi Wa, Wanap fetches substantial income as it was very much popular among the valley people, said member of Development Coordinating Team, Lower Shibilong Gailungpou Golmei.
A Shibilong villager engaged in lumbering bamboo can earn Rs 5000 annually. As such, all the adult members of a family were engaged in lumbering bamboo as their principal means of livelihood.
However, with the arrival of periodical bamboo flowering phenomenon in Tamenglong district since the last few years, there was a spurt in the rodent population which has been causing havoc to crops.
“Being a natural calamity, we cannot escape our fate and we are enduring the misery helplessly”, said Gailungpou.
When the villagers were suffering from extreme difficulties due to food scarcity, some people arrived at the village with food grains and dals. At first, the villagers thought that the relief materials were being provided by the Government and as such they hailed the Government.
But during distribution of the relief materials, it was learnt that the people who were coming to help the mar-ginalised and woeful villa- gers were volunteers of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO).
Following the realisation, the villagers cursed the State Government and at the same time, they cried in gratitude to the AMUCO for their humane and benevolent act, Gailungpou con- veyed.
Even as the grief-stri-cken villagers are still hope- ful that the State Government will come to their aid one day, there has been no relief measure from the side of the State Government till date.
With the once profitable Wanap variety dying out and failing to produce new shoots, the Mouvi Wa variety has also dried up, there- by giving a death blow to the basic means of livelihood of the villagers, lamented Gailungpou.
In addition to the failure of the State Government provide any sort of relief to the villagers who are facing famine, the Government never bothered to make use of the PDS ration cards, even once, it issued to the villagers in 1997, decried Shibilong Village Authority chairman G Sangkepou.
Being the village chairman, Sangkepou was often asked by the villagers where and when to use the ration cards. For some families, the ration cards have already been torn or mutilated due to prolonged non-use while many others have been lost forever.
Left with no means to sustain themselves after fall of bamboo business, the villagers have started cultiva- ting chilly (U-Morok).
Yet, despite intensive efforts, a villager can produce at the most 50 kgs of U-Morok in a season. Fresh chillies are usually sold at the rate of Rs 150 per kg and dried chillies at Rs 300 per kg.
As the income earned from cultivating U-Morok is very meagre compared to incomes from bamboo business and coupled with the failure of the Government to provide any relief, the villagers are really facing hard times, Sangkepou conveyed.
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Stance against Delimitation decried
The Sa Ngai Express By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 4 : The Movement for Tribal People’s Rights Manipur (MTPRM) has expressed strong annoyance against the decision taken by the associate members of the Delimitation Commission of the State to oppose the Delimitation exercise.
The constant move by political parties of the State led by the Chief Minister is nothing but total disregard of the interest of the tribals even after the Constitu-tional provision has clearly provided for total delimitation of the country, remarked MTPRM in a press hand-out.
The State Government led by Chief Minister O Ibobi has been convening all party meetings time and again when certain benefit is likely to be extended to tribal people in order to derail such benefits, not only in any particular case but also in the issue pertaining to extension of 6th Schedule, Reservation Policy etc, it alleged.
Quoting a letter from the Delimitation Commission to the Delimitation Committee of Manipur, it said that delimitation is an exercise under Constitutional provision based on 2001 Census in which arbitrary decision cannot be taken for one State.
Contrary to the alleged perception of the political parties that the State may disintegrate if the delimitation is executed based on 2001 census, the MTPRM asserted that the State shall disintegrate if the delimitation is not duly implemented.
In case the delimitation process is stalled or derailed because of the constant moves by different political parties led by the State Government, they will be held responsible for any eventualities and tribal people may opt to stay outside the State, if the situation demands so, cautioned the MTPRM in the statement.
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Tiger presence confirmed in Tamenglong forest
By : Daniel Kamei/IFP 12/5/2007 12:41:19 AM
TAMENGLONG, Dec 4: Existence of a full growth Bengal Tiger in the vicinity of the jungles of Bhalok (Phalong) village some 7 km from Tamenglong district headquarters has been officially confirmed and officials of the state wildlife protection wing will be hunting out for the tiger from tomorrow.
Fear of attacks by the wild cat have forced the villagers of Bhalok and its surroundings to stay indoors in the early morning and evenings since getting the signal that the tiger was present in the vicinity of the village in the first week of the current month.
The village authorities are using loud speakers to warn the villagers of the full grown Bengal tiger. Last year at around the same season, a full grown tiger was killed by the villagers when it started attacking the villagers, according to the villagers who spoke to IFP.
In the meantime, the deputy commissioner, Tamenglong district issued an order on December 1, after the state wildlife warden gave confirmation of the presence of a full grown tiger in the forests near Bhalok village, asking the villagers not to kill or hurt the tiger.
The tiger should not be harmed or killed by anyone and doing so would be an punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, the order of the DC, T Panmei stated.
After the issue of the order a team of the state forest department led by the wildlife conservator inspected the village and after collecting all the evidence and reports from the village declared the presence on an full grown tiger in the area.
According to Gariam Ngaummei, chairman of Bhalok village who talked to IFP most of the villagers have heard the roaring sound of the tiger since the last around one week.
“We have issued a red alert to the villagers to prevent them from going out from their respective homestead at nightfall and in the early mornings. Villagers were also warned not to go out alone in the forests even in the daytime,” the chairman said.
The neighbouring villages have also been informed of the matter asking them to take up the same precautionary measures, he added.
The re-emergence of the tiger was following the killing of a full grown Bengal tiger in the area last year, believed villagers, who said that the tiger had come to the area in search of its partner which went missing there.
According to the DC, a team of the state wildlife authority is arriving in the village to catch the big cat before it started attacking the villagers. There is possibility of attacks on humans by the tiger which was once announced to be totally extinct from the forests of Manipur.
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AR man’s death leads to protest at 4th IRB post
By : A Staff Reporter 12/5/2007 12:40:41 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 4: Hundreds of protestors, mostly elderly women, stormed a post of the 4th IRB located at Keikol, Koirengei, along NH-39, some 10 km away from Imphal after a local Assam Rifles JCO was beaten to death last night, allegedly by some IRB men from the post.
The deceased, identified as Thouchom Sanayaima, 40, a subedar in the 14 Assam Rifles and stationed at its Mantripukhri post, was found dead earlier this morning in a pond near the Koirengei forest gate, only some 200 metres from the IRB post.
As per reports, the AR JCO, who hails from Nillakuthi Mayai Leikai, was on his way home in a Maruti car when he was accosted and beaten up by some persons last night at around 10 pm. The fracas apparently occurred because he refused to give the assailants’ friend, an IRB man hailing from Nambol, a lift home.
As per witnesses’ reports, the victim’s vehicle was seen stopped by some persons near the Koirengei forest gate, and a furious altercation was heard. However, when curious locals converged at the spot, two of the assailants ran away, but one IRB man, fully drunk, was found inside the car.
The IRB man, identified as Hidangmayum Tonbabu, 22, of Nambol was subsequently handed over to the police by the locals.
The vehicle’s driver, Sanayaima could not be found immediately at the time, and his body was found only this morning in a pond near the Koirengei forest gate.
The body was taken to the CMC, Koirengei, but it was declared brought dead, and thereafter incensed family members and locals brought the body before the IRB post and deposited it there.
The slogan-shouting womenfolk who demanded the surrender of the Sanayaima’s murderers, and shifting of the IRB post, also attempted to break down the gates of the post. Locals also blocked roads in the Nillakuthi area.
Speaking to mediapersons, locals also alleged that IRB men from the post were frequently drunk, and often harassed them, particularly women.
The protesting locals calmed down after the 4th IRB CO, A Kundo Singh assured them that if any of his boys were involved in the murder, he will take up appropriate action against them with necessary procedure under the law.
Sanayaima’s body was removed from in front of the IRB post by the Heingang police and deposited at the RIMS morgue. There were signs that the head had been bashed with a large stone.
IRB sources in the meantime said Hithangmayum Tonbabu, had been placed under suspension from his service on the charge of dereliction of duty on December 2, apparently for being drunk on duty.
Tonbabu, the sources indicated, had gone out from the post last night after drinking liquor with his colleagues.
In the meantime, while talking later to a local TV channel, 4th IRB CO Kundo said that he had the report of Tonbabu going out from the post last night after he was placed under suspension for his home. He also revealed that before Tonbabu left the post, he had a small party with some of his colleague inside the post. But after he went out from the post what had happened could not be ascertained.
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Manipuri artistes feature in ‘Bangalooru Habba 2007’
By : A Staff Reporter 12/5/2007 12:39:31 AM
BANGALORE, Dec 4: ‘Bangalooru Habba 2007’ (December 1-4) kicked off true to spirit. The Bengalooru Habba opened at the Chitrakala Parishad (Bangalore art college) on Friday to the energy and vitality of Kannada, Manipuri, Rajasthani, Andhra Pradesh folk dance on the one hand, and on the other to the colorful and intricate craft of the immensely skilled artisan communities of north, Manipur, and south India.
Bangalooru habba mela started since last 20 years and folk dance mela was introduced in 2000. Director of the Kala Madyam, main organizer, Munira Sen said, “The sprit of this mela is to promote the traditional folk and tribal dances of this country. We are introducing folk culture to the world and the world is introducing the folk tradition into the market.” She further said to me, ‘In this mela, we want to bring closer the audience and the artistes. We don’t want to create a big gap between the stage and audience. That is why we are focusing on folk and tribal dance in this mela.
She clarified, ‘This is your mela not our mela. We are very happy that the Manipuri dance group has agreed to be part of this mela with small budget. I have never seen any of the Manipuri dances before but, after I saw Manipuri handicraft products, it came to my mind to bring Manipuri dancers to our mela. Yes, I have heard about Manipuri dance from my friends before.”
The Manipuri dance group was represented by Nimita Devi Nitya Ashram, Sagolband Vijoy Govinda, Manipur. She was invited through Dhanabati, an artiste based in Delhi.
There are two cultural sessions in the mela, 11 am to 1.30 pm (morning) and 4 pm to 8 pm (evening). Manipuri Dhon Dholok Cholom, Manipuri Laiharaoba of maibi and Khamba Thoibi jagoi, Manipuri Kabui jagoi (Khoigu Na-Laam), Manipuri martial arts, Tilangana drum dance from Karnakaka, Rajasthani folk song and dance from Rajasthan, Dappu dance from Andhra Pradesh were the main programs of the Bangaloor Habba.
In Manipur martial arts, Thang leitang haiba, Thang ani yannaba, Thang ahum yannba, Thang ta chainaba were the main items performed by Ningthoujam Premjit, Thokchom Jotin and Hirom Premkumar (student of Oja Kumar). Maibi Jagoi was performed by Roji and Sejagurumayum Soni, Khamba Thoibi Jagoi was performed by Songlakpam Reema, Sejagurumayum Soni, Bramacharimayum Ranjana, Khumukcham Romen, Thingnam Dhaneshwor and Suraj. On the closing day, today, Thougal Jagoi will be performed by Songlakpam Rima, Sejagurumayum Soni, Brahacharimayum Ranjana,Angom Roji, Seram Rojesh, Khumukcham Romen, Thingnam Dhaneshwor and Suraj.
Dhon Dholok Cholom was performed by Khumukcham Romen (dholok), Khumukcham Shamchand (dholok) and Thingnom Dhaneshwor (dhol). The introductory speech of each Manipuri program was given by Seram Rojesh.
The Manipuri performance was appreciated by the audience in the mela. People are very glad to see the folk dances of India particularly Manipuri-martial arts and Dhol Dholok Cholom. A visitor Anne Dheygers from United Kingdom said to me, it was really great and surprising to see how Manipuri artistes are performing with sword and spears. Now I wish to visit Manipur physically. I have been to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh but not Manipur.
The Nimita Devi Nritya Ashram was recently established by Nimita, a prominent artiste of Manipuri classical solo dance. Since 1979 till today Sh Nimita has given more than one thousand five hundred shows all over the country and abroad. Her latest stint was in Japan from 1st may 2007 to 30th June. There, she gave performances (as a member and lead dancer of the Manipuri Jagoi Marup) throughout the Japanese archipelago. During the course of the tour she conducted and participated in workshops.
Sh Nimita became listed in the empanelment of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on 6.7.1990. She became a national scholarship holder in Manipuri dance under the department of culture, New Delhi in 1994. She was awarded the prestigious “Ustaad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” award In 2006 for continuous contribution in the field of performing arts and culture.
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KSO backs Chandel operations, flays detractors
By : A Staff Reporter 12/5/2007 12:37:58 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 4: The Kuki Students Organisation, KSO, Molnoi block, applauding the security forces for their ongoing operations in the border areas of Chandel district, has accused the MAFYF and others of spreading false propaganda and making fabricated statements regarding the situation there.
The KSO, in a statement, said the people of the Khengjoi area and Somtal area have been undergoing torture, forced labour, and plantation of landmines for the past six years, and the Army operations have given them a sense of security.
It termed the Wakat Meepham organised by the MAFYF as unfortunate and immature without knowing the sentiments of the people who are in constant fear due to UGs presence in their areas, and appealed to all social organisations to refrain from making such false statements in future.
The KSO Molnoi block also appealed to both the UGs and the security forces to avoid using civilians as human shields and to respect human lives.
In the meantime, the secretary of the Toyang village authority, Khengjoi area, Thongat Khongsai, has however raised objections to the KSO’s claims regarding the situation in the border areas of Chandel district where operations by the security forces are in progress
Addressing a press conference at the Manipur Press Club, Khongsai said the recent statements of the KSO were instigated by the security forces.
Contrary to the KSO’s claims, none of the villagers who have raised their voices against the hardships caused to them due to the ongoing operations and the frequent clashes between the security forces and the UGs, had ever been instigated or supported by any UG group, he said.
He said the people of the border area were waiting in vain for some competent authority to come forward and intervene to end the clashes between the security forces and the underground groups.
The hardships suffered by the villagers cannot be justified by any body or organisation for their vested interest, he declared, and reiterated his appeal to the general public and the apex civil society organisations to intervene in the situation in the area.
Referring to the security operations in the Khengjoi area that took place in October 2006, he said many villagers were harassed by the security forces. At that time several village chiefs and village chairmen had sought help from the KSO, Khengjoi block, but were violently rebuffed by the latter, he said.
He said he was the victim of atrocities by the security forces during the October 2006 operations, which resulted in damage to both ears and his becoming a TB patient.
Likewise his village chief Limkhojam Haokip was also another victim, and is still paralysed, he said, adding that they had as a consequence approached the Gauhati High Court in March this year for adequate compensation.
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I was not involved, nor do I have the authority: CDPO
By : A Staff Reporter 12/5/2007 12:38:44 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 4: The child development project officer, CDPO, of the Tamenglong district, N Madhubala, whose name appeared in a news item that appeared on November 28 issue of some local newspapers, including IFP, as having signed an agreement with the NSCN(IM) on behalf of the Social Welfare Department, has clarified upon being queried by the IFP that although she did sign, she did not do it out of her own volition.
She said she was kept confined at an undisclosed location until she agreed to put her signature on the agreement paper.
She also explained that she is just a mid-level executive of the social welfare department, Government of Manipur, and can claim no authority to take policy decisions on behalf of her department.
Moreover, the complaint of the NSCN(IM) that all of the 16 ICDS buildings in Nungba assembly constituency which were said to have been constructed during 2002-2005, exist only on paper, even if it is true did not happen during her tenure as project officer of the district.
Producing documents of her appointment to the post, she said the work is supposed to have been executed while her immediate predecessor, Masophi Nakhadei, was in charge of the district.
“I am not trying to pass on the buck to anybody else, but I am helpless to do anything as I was not around when the work was being executed.” She said.
“Cheques for the supposedly completed work were also issued by much higher authorities, after confirmation by among others, the deputy commissioner of the district, hence I am in no position to question or seek rectification” she added.
The underground organization should sort out the matter with the relevant authorities of the government, she pleaded.
The NSCN(IM) had accused that Rs 17,50,000 had been withdrawn in the name of three contractors who were given the order to construct the said 16 ICDS centres in Nungba a/c without the work having been executed at all.
The contractors involved in the said construction work for which the cheques had been withdrawn are: Jesse Kamei (responsible for construction of 7 of the 16 centres); Kalanchong (responsible for construction of 6 of the centres) and Ph. Adai (responsible for construction of 3 of the centres), as per documents produced by the NSCN(IM).
Following the November 28 news item of the agreement between N Madhubala, the district child development officer, and Longchaibi Golmei, the NSCN(IM)’s central administrative officer, Madhubala is facing a police inquiry.
Department authorities are in the meantime keeping a non-committal silence, as had happened so many times before, including in the case leading to the atrocious murder of Moirang CDPO, Rasheswori Devi.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
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Road woes in Imp : PWD ready, but more ‘digging up’ process on the card
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 4: The condition of the roads in Imphal city is going from bad to worse and there will be no respite from this, if the plans of the Govt are anything to go by.
Even as the roads dug up in connection with laying the pipeline for the ongoing Imphal Sewerage Project are yet to be repaired, the Power Department is all set again to dig up the roads in Greater Imphal area in connection with laying underground cable.
Works Minister K Ranjit has expressed apprehension that the task of repairing the roads in Imphal city may be delayed if the works of laying the pipeline of the Sewerage Project, the underground cable of the Power Department as well as the pipeline for supplying water of the PHED are not completed within the current month.
Vehicular movement on the roads of the already congested Imphal city including the National Highways passing through it have been severely affected these days with signboards inscribed with ‘Drive slow, men at work’ dotting everywhere in connection with implemen- tation of the ambitious France Government funded Imphal Sewerage Project being taken up for the first time in North East region.
On top of the inconveniences caused to the movement of vehicles as some portion of the roads have been barricaded in connection with laying the pipeline of the project, delay in repairing the dug up roads, has given rise to numerous potholes much to the angst of the people.
Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, Works Minister K Ranjit informed that from the side of his Department necessary arrangements have been made for repairing the roads along with procuring the required material.
However, in case the work of laying the pipeline of the Imphal Sewerage Project, Water Supply of the PHED and underground cable of the Power Department is not completed within the current month, the road repairing work may be delayed.
On the other hand, if the said tasks are accomplished by the departments concerned within the current month, then by March next year, a complete transformation in the condition of the roads in Imphal can be brought about, he assured.
The Works Minister informed that the matter was discussed during a joint meeting of Power Minister, PHE Minister, Works Minister, Commissioners and Chief Engineers concerned with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair yesterday.
As to the complaint of grass growing on the newly tarred Moreh road, the Minister said that he would personally go to inspect and if the quality of the work had been compromised then the release of the fund to the contractor concerned would be stalled. The progress of the ongoing work at Somtal area will also be inspected, he added.
When contacted, Chief Engineer of Power Department M Sanatomba in- formed that following the instruction given to Indo-Power Project Kolkata for starting the work of laying the underground cable for the first phase of the work to be executed in Imphal area under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme, the engi- neers of the company had come to Imphal for survey work.
The places where the underground cables would be laid for the first phase of the work include area in and around Babupara, Keishampat and along the banks of Nambul and Naga river, he disclosed, adding that arrangements have also been made for releasing the certain amount of the fund as advance to the company.
Effort to contact the Minister and officials of the Department concerned in connection with laying of the pipelines of the Imphal Sewerage Project drew blank.
The Sangai Express
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