Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Rely on candles as power, SK oil paucity grips CCpur

S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, Mar 3: At a time when burning midnight candle counts most for many a parent whose wards were taking the Board exams, failure to curb pilfering of SK oil by the Government and the pitiable state of power supply has placed many of them in a fix.

In the absence of adequate power supply, these parents have to, for their children rely on SK oil to keep their candles burning throughout the night. Still, that alternative option now touching a lofty tag of Rs 40 per litre in market price, the entire affairs now becomes a public nuisance.

Black marketers, who were interviewed today, said they enjoy a meagre profit of Rs. 2 per litre in spite of the offshoot in its market price.

“We acquire it by Rs 38 and sold them by Rs 40,” they said when enquired. Ask if they can get hold of a huge consignment with that amount, “may be we can” is there only reply.

As promise by the Government, the concern department has made the best effort to ensure regular power supply atleast when there is no ‘load shedding’, however it is interesting to note that a drawback attributed to the public transpire as a result.

Earlier, before the onset of the board exams the department did not raise a glitch despite the chilling winter that invites additional power consumption. With the commencement of Board exams the situation deteriorates as a result of glitches that were attributed to the public. This in turn has compelled many concern parents to hop off their limits.

On the upsurge in market price of SK oil, well placed sources have put the entire blame on sub-dealers/agents.

Had, these agents delivered their allotted quota to the people without any pilferage the present mess could have been avoided, is the general contention.

Whatever be the cause, immediate steps to address the crisis is the instantly pressing issue.

Otherwise, a couple of women that procures a 250 ml each of SK oil in a tiny Whiskey Container (Photo) with a hope of burning their nights through later in the day and the students scorching the night candles were the ones that will remain smacked.

The Sangai Express

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Smooth start to BSEM Class X exams

IMPHAL, Mar 3: The Class X Board of Secondary Education Manipur examinations began without any hitch today with most students claiming that the question paper was along expected lines.

The Class X students appeared for their English paper, which is their first main subject, on the first day of the examination which started from 9 am today.

Most students in the state capital said the English paper was `easy` and that all the questions were from the syllabus.

"I did well. All the questions were from the book. All my friends were also happy. .Everyone said their paper went off fine and I am expecting above 80 percent marks. I think it was a nice way to start our exams," said Sumanta of Don Bosco, Langjing to IFP after his exam.

Jayenta of the same institute also said, "The paper was easy and I am expecting around 80-90 percent marks after correction and deduction. There were some children in our class who messed up one or two questions but nothing major."

The students were relieved that the question paper was not lengthy and everyone felt that the additional cool-off time of 15 minutes allowed prior to the exam was a help.

"The start is good and in today`s paper I am expecting more then 70 marks, but I will not say that the paper was easy. It was average and was more than my expectation. We could easily complete the three-hours paper in two and a half hours. I had prepared well. If you prepare all round the year, everything is easy," said a confident Abinashi, a Class X student of Nirmalabas High School.

Agreed Prashanti of the same school who also appeared in the exam in the same centre, "It was almost easy and the questions were along the expected lines. There were one or two questions which I found a bit difficult but thats OK. I finised my papers much before the time."

Since every year BSEM produces new concepts for the examination, we were a little apprehensive about how the papers would turn out to be. But it was much simpler than expected,"said a English teacher.

The BSEM this year designed the paper a little different from the previous years. However, the changed pattern did not pose any major problems to the students.

When IFP asked for a comment on the students who are appearing in the exam to the headmaster of Regular English High School Kwakeithel, he said that he really appreciated the students who are presently appearing in the board exam. Its like the students appearing in the exam are in the war field since all the students have been struggling from the beginning despite so many bandhs and strikes in the state and living in a conflict zone.

Earlier in the morning, minutes before their entry into the examination centres, the children were busy catching up with last-minute revision. Looking nervous and jittery before their first BSEM Class X exam, most of the students seemed completely immersed in their textbooks. However, there were some others also who were chatting away their worries.

Most candidates were accompained by their parents, in some cases siblings as well as family folk, who came packed in one car.

There was a time of melodrama too as some affectionate mothers pecked their children on the cheek and some applied "sindur" on their forehead before they entered the examination hall.

Some students also touched the feet of their parents and teachers before stepping inside.

As many as a total of 24,860 students appeared in the exam and the board has set up 83 centres across the state.

As far as the security was concerned, the board had already set up 15 mobile units to look after the examination centres across the state. There were security guards also at every centre.

There was a peaceful atmosphere on the first day of the Matriculation examination and no one was found using unfair means in Imphal area. However, there were reports of a student who was expelled from Sapermeina centre.

The next paper is MIL which will be held tommorow at the same time as today`s exam. The exams will continue till 14th of this month.

On the other hand, the second paper of Class XII Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur which was also held today from 1 pm. The exam began on 1st March 2008, and is being conducted in smooth and peaceful atmosphere.

Oasis, a science student of Brajalal Institute of Science(BIS) who appeared in the chemistry paper today said the question was OK but he couldn`t say it was easy. He is expecting around 50-55 out of 70 marks. He also said he did well in the previous subject too, but said he wouldn`t be able to say anything regarding the next paper, that is physics, which is due to be held on the 6th of this month.

There was also little anger among the parents of students as the government promise to supply sufficient amount of electricity especially for the students who are appearing in both Class X and Class XII examination, but nothing could be seen materializing in the last few days. Therefore, the children are studying with candles and lanterns etc. It is very hard for students to study in candlelight for the whole night. Since day time is noisy many students prefer to study at night after everyone is asleep, said a parent of two children who are appearing in the Class X and Class XII examinations.

This year a total of 15,213 students are appearing in the Class XII Council of Higher Education examination at 52 centres across the state.

The Imphal Free Press

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Rajkhowa penal fix hearing dates

Tuesday, 04 March 2008

IMPHAL, Mar 3: The Rajkhowa Commission probing the case of alleged rape of 21 Hmar women at Lungthulien and Parbung in Churachandpur district in January 2006 has fixed March 14 and 15 for arguments.

In its recent sitting at Hotel Imphal here, the panel headed by retired Justice SP Rajkhowa fixed the dates, disclosed a reliable source in the Commission.

The sitting also rejected a petition filed by HUman Rights Alert (HRA) praying for allowing the ICRC to intervene the case to ensure all parties purportedly involves in the crime may give their statements.

The probe penal had in January this year conducted a hearing at Parbung, the source said, adding that during the forthcoming arguements, the statements of the alleged rape victims as well as other witnesses including village chiefs, police officials of the district among others would be examined.

Hmar civil organisations and a battery of NGOs mostly Churachandpur-based erupte in anger after 21 Hmar women including minors livin in remote Lunthulien and Parbung were allegedly raped by cadres of two banned armed organisations operating in Manipur.

HRA and Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) had petitioned before the High Court praying for allowing to conduct cross-examination of the alleged rape victims either at Churachandpur district headquarters, Silchar or at Imphal to ensure a free and fair conduct of the inquiry.

The Sangai Express

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