Hottest touchscreen phones of 2008

The year 2008 was surely the year of Touch. The touch magic which caught consumer attention with the unveiling of iPhone in 2007, continued to dazzle in 2008. Phone manufacturers across hue, from elitist BlackBerry to affordable HTC, launched a slew of touchscreen models. The two Google phones unveiled so far also sport a touchscreen.

The world's biggest phone manufacturer Nokia too made a long-awaited entry into the touchscreen market in October with Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The company recently announced adding a touchscreen model to its NSeries also.

While many of these launches pose tough competition to iPhone with their better specs, others fall pale. Here we bring you a wrap up on some of hottest touchscreen phones unveiled during the year.

Apple 3G iPhone

July 2008 saw the launch of second-generation Apple iPhone. Called 3G iPhone, the gadget got rave reviews for its unique design, touchscreen interface and other features, though many lamented lack of common features like higher megapixel camera, flash support, message forwarding and MMS capability.


In looks, the phone's black plastic skin back has been replaced by silver-aluminum back. While the 8GB model comes in black only, the 16GB version is available in both black and white. Weighing 4.8 ounces, the 3G iPhone measures 0.48 inches.

The 3G technology gives iPhone fast access to the Internet and email over cellular networks around the world. The new version also makes it possible to surf the Web, download email, get directions, and watch video -- even while users are on a call.

The touchscreen phone promises 5 hours of 3G talktime, 10 hours of 2G talktime, 5 hours of 3G Internet time, 6 hours of Wi-Fi Internet time, 7 hours of video playback, 24 hours of audio playback, and 12.5 days standby time.

In India, the phone is offered by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, who sell the 8GB model for Rs 31,000 and 16GB for Rs 36,100.

Samsung Omnia i900

To dampen the iPhone-effect, Korean giant Samsung launched its iPhone look-alike, Samsung Omnia i900, days ahead of 3G iPhone debut in India. The touchscreen smartphone comes with a 5 megapixel camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.


Measuring 112 millimeters by 57mm by 12.5mm, the phone has a 3.2-inch display that has 240 pixel by 400 pixel resolution (Wide QVGA). Like iPhone, Samsung's Omnia aims to make Internet browsing easy, and also has a wide screen for viewing video.

The smartphone runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile software and comes with choice of 8GB or 16GB models. In looks, Omnia resembles the earlier version of iPhone in its dark, shiny finish, curved edges and slim form.

HTC Touch Diamond

Taiwan-based HTC was the first company in India to launch a touchscreen phone. With Touch, HTC officially debuted touchscreen phones in India.


Touch Diamond, launched in May 2008, is the company's fourth touchscreen launch in India (for GSM), after HTC Touch, HTC Dual and HTC Cruise.

This iPhone wannabe offers the new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D, which provides animated access to messaging, email, photos, music, weather and other features. Measuring 102 x 51 x 11.33mm, Touch Diamond operates on WCDMA/HSPA (900/2100MHz) networks, capable of boosting mobile Internet speed up to 7.3 Mbps using HSDPA and HSUPA.

Key features include, a 2.8 inch VGA touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with an optical auto-focus lens, video calling capability and auto sensor screen pivoting.

It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, comes with 4GB of internal storage with 256MB flash and 192MB RAM. Other features include Bluetooth with EDR, minUSB, integrated GPS and Wi-Fi.

Sony Xperia X1

2008 saw Sony Ericsson too jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon with the launch of full QWERTY 3-inch touchscreen phone, Xperia X1.

The phone has a black or silver metal-and-plastic body with a 3-inch touchscreen. There is assortment of 11 buttons on the X1's face, including a center button that can select items or work as an optical joystick, which scrolls with a finger swipe. Users can navigate the X1 by tapping its screen with finger or with a stylus.

The X1 uses Windows Mobile 6.1 as its operating system, but Sony Ericsson has developed a variety of customised enhancements that run on top of it. Most notable is the stylish panel interface, which consists of up to nine small rectangles that users can customise and use to view different applications or media on the device in different ways.

X1 packs a 3.2 megapixel camera with face recognition feature that focuses on a spot when taking photos. The phone also has a video calling option.

First business phone from Sony Ericsson, X1 has HSDPA and HSUPA, both 3.5G (wireless broadband) connections that allow for fast Internet access. Xperia can play Flash videos from Youtube or other sites that use it by opening a different video application.

Business users can synchronise the phone with their PCs and get email from their Microsoft Outlook account pushed straight to the phone -- something that can make it difficult to switch to a more consumer-friendly phone like the iPhone or the G1, which uses Google Inc's Android operating system.

Asus P320

This year Taiwan-based Asus launched a touchscreen PDA in the Indian market in shades of pink and pearlescent white. With rounded corners and curved edges, the Asus P320 has a circular navigational key.

Based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform, the P320 features GPS navigation, EDGE/GPRS, WiFi for Internet access, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It comes pre-loaded with Asus Today suite that includes applications such as Time, Mail Box, Calendar, News, Weather and Music Player available to users via a single window.

Some other key features are a 2.6 inch TFT touchscreen with 65K color, 240 x 320 pixels resolution, OMAP 850 (Texas Instrument's Open Multimedia Application Platform) 200 MHz processor, 128MB Flash ROM + 64 MB DDR RAM and business applications. The phone boasts of 2 megapixel camera and microSD support. The phone is priced at approximately Rs 12,900.

Samsung TouchWIZ F480

After Omnia, another touchscreen contender came this year from Samsung's stable in India -- TouchWIZ F480.


The phone has a 2.8-inch TFT LCD (240x320) touchscreen, integrated FM radio, multi-format video playback (MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, Real), MPEG4 video recording and editing functions.

The phone also comes with face detection technology, image stabiliser, CMOS video lens and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) features. There are also a few customisable features like Drag `n' Drop and Auto Smile Shot coupled with full touch navigation.

TouchWIZ F480 has a 5 megapixel auto-focus-LED Flash camera, equipped with 240MB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 8GB. Positioned in the lifestyle segment, the phone come with a host of entertainment features and is compatible with GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA (7.2mbps) networks and functions on GSM 900/1800/1900, and WCDMA 2100 bands.

Priced at approximately Rs 20,990, Samsung TouchWIZ F480 comes in a metallic body casing.

LG 1000

LG too refreshed its touchscreen line-up in the country with LG 1000. The touchscreen option for CDMA users, LG 1000 is available on Reliance network. The Nokia Communicator look-alike features a 2.8-inch external touch sensitive LCD and an internal display of the same size along with a full QWERTY keyboard.

LG 1000's key features include a media player (playback for MPEG 4 formats), a 2 megapixel camera with video recorder, expandable memory up to 8GB and Office mail applications for corporate users access (Push mail through Microsoft Server, Pull mail - IMAP and POP3).

The phone also features a full HTML browser, voice recorder, dual stereo speakers. It also supports Bluetooth and external memory via microSD cards. The phone has battery life of up to 240 minutes (talktime) and up to 480 hours stand-by time. It is priced between Rs 22,000-25,000.

HTC P3000

Here's another option for CDMA users, HTC P3000. Available on Reliance network, HTC P3000 is a sleek, stylish phone weighing 130 gram, in a slim 18-mm body.

HTC P3000 is powered by Reliance's CDMA 1X technology which provides high-speed mobile internet access up to 144 kbps.

The Windows Mobile 6.0 phone includes complete suite of business applications with Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, Outlook Mobile, PDF viewer and more. It has a 2 megapixel camera that includes a preview mirror to ensure quality imagery.

The phone comes with 64MB RAM, 128 MB ROM and also features a SDIO/MMC card slot for extensible storage. It has a 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen and supports Bluetooth.

Source: and much more

Mizoram Chief Minister leh Cabinet Minister 2 te portfolio

Lal Thanhawla | Chief Minister

1. Finance Department
2. Political & Cabinet Department
3. Vigilance Department
4. Secretariat Administration Department
5. General Administration Department

6. Public Works Department
7. Personnel & Administrative Reforms Deptt.
8. Power & Electricity Department
9. Sports & Youth Services Department
10. Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Deptt.
11. Food & Civil Supplies Department
12. Health & Family Welfare Department
13. Higher & Technical Education Department

R.Lalzirliana | Cabinet Minister

1. Home Department
2. District Council Affairs Department
3. Local Administration Department
4. Public Health Engineering Department
5. Rural Development Department
6. Taxation Department
7. Tourism Department
8. Trade & Commerce Department
9. Art & Culture Department
10. Co-operation Department
11. Excise & Narcotics Department
12. Disaster Management & Rehabilitation Department
13. Sericulture Department
14. Soil & Water Conservation Department

H.Liansailova | Cabinet Minister

1. Agriculture Department
2. Horticulture Department
3. Minor Irrigation Department
4. Fisheries Department
5. Parliamentary Affairs Department
6. Law & Judicial Department
7. Planning & Programme Implementation Department
8. Environment & Forests Department
9. School Education Department
10. Information & Communication Tech. Department
11. Transport Department
12. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department
13. Industries Department
14. Labour & Employment Department
15. Printing & Stationary Department
16. Land Revenue & Settlement Department
17. Social Welfare Department
18. Information & Public Relations Department

IGNTU Regional Centre: Lungkimlou phing ding maw?

Manipur University pen state sorkar nuai a a omlai in Manipur milip lak a scheduled tribe, scheduled caste, other backward class leh general category omzah pansan in MU a student admission leh teaching & non-teaching staff lakna di’n reservation bawl in om ana om hi. Himahleh, MU pen Central University dia dopsang ahihnung in hiai bang reservation policy zattheih nawnlouh a, Central reservation system zat a hong ngai hi.

MU pen state sorkar nuai a a omlai a ST reservation 31% hisek pen tua Central reservation system dungzui a 7.5% hita ahihna ah, Manipur singtangmite a dia hiai bang supna tungtang ah ATSUM leh MUTSU in singtangmite a dia MU a 34.2% reservation ahihkeileh singtangmite a dia Hill Univerisity piching ngen in kiphinna nasaktak pan hi. A panlaknate uh phatuam ahingei ding a, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh a om Indira Gandhi National Tribal University’ regional centre khat Manipur hill district khat a hong ding in sorkar kisa lel hi. IGNTU regional centre bawlkhiak ding thu a hong pian tak in lohching a kingai i hingei ding ua, kiphinna khawlsan in lohchinma lut nawnlou dia apaisa Oct. 6, 2008 a MU nusia singtangmi sinlaite leng Nov. 6, 2008 in ana lutnawnta uhi. Himahleh, IGNTU regional centre pen ei toh kituak, ei a dia hoih ahihkeileh i ngetna hiai centre in subuchingzou taktak hina hiam chih teltak a velchet masakna omlou ahingei ding a, lohching dandeuh a om nung in zan in MUTSU president Somthang Haokip in MU a 34.2% ST reservation ahihkeileh singtangmite a dia Hill University piching mah hon chitinten phing hi.

Indira Gandhi National Tribal University ahihleh Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan leh Gujarat leh a biktak a North East bial a singtangmite sinlaite khualna leh “promoting studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest based economic activities, including special studies in the flora and fauna, and advancements in technologies relating to natural resources of the tribal areas” chih tup-le-ngim a nei a kibawlkhia ahihman in hoih petmah hi. A hoih sawnsawnna ahihleh, IGNTU pen Central university hithou mahleh singtangmi sinlaite a ding bik a kibawl ahihna ah, leh Union Secretary (Higher Education) Shri R.P. Agrawal gendan mahbang in, hiai university a student admission toh kisai in Central reservation policy hilou in state (region) milip lak a scheduled tribe milip omzah pansan in reservation policy guan hiding hi. MU a student admission toh kisai a ST reservation 7.5% khengzoukei mahlehang IGNTU regional centre nei ding i hihleh bel, student admission toh kisai a reservation i nget uh lohching khat a suak hi.

Alehlam ah, IGNTU pen singtangmite tengteng a dia kibawlkhia ahikei a, singtangmi sinlaite a dia kibawlkhia ahi. Huai ziak leh IGNTU pen Central university ahihziak in IGNTU regional centre a faculty staff lakna ding ‘student reservation’ hinawnlou a ‘job reservation’ toh kisai ahihna ah, state (region) milip lak a scheduled tribe milip omzah pansan a reservation policy guan hithei tuanlou ding ahi. Huai mah, IGNTU regional centre a faculty staff lakna dia ‘all-India norm’ zat hiding ahihdan Union Secretary (Higher Education) in leng gen hi. All-India norm i chih chiang in Central reservation system chihna ahi a, IGNTU regional centre a faculty staff lakna dia ST reservation ding 7.5% mah hiding chihna ahi. Huchi hileh, MU a teaching leh non-teaching staff lakna dia state reservation policy zat ding ATSUM leh MUTSU in a phut lah tunitan lohching naitadihlou ahihna, sorkar in IGNTU regional centre a hon dek ziak a ST student reservation lam a lohching khat suak i kichihtheih bang in ST job reservation lam ah IGNTU ziak in lohching khat suak i kichithei diam? ST student reservation lam ah lohching khat suak mahlehang ST job reservation lam ah bel chiangtak a lohsam ihi uhi. Himahleh, lohching dan a kingai a kiphinna tawpsan nung a tua kipat nawn phing ding pen singtangmi tengteng a dia zahlakna ahi. Huai ziak in, mi khat-le-nih pilna bukim zoulou ahihdan heutute’n a theihsiam ua, upa-taltakte leh (a thu zil in) amau sang a theizawte dotna dan ahihkeileh mahni’n ‘homework’ bek hih masak dan a zil uh poimoh mahmah hi.

Editorial, The Lamka Post | December 13, 2008 @ zogam.com

Mizo CM hands out portfolios

Aizawl, Dec. 12: Mizoram chief minister Lalthanhawla today divided 32 portfolios between two of his cabinet colleagues, R. Lalzirliana and H. Liansailova, who were sworn in with him yesterday.

The chief minister retained 12 departments, including key ones like finance, public works, power and electricity, sports and youth services, urban development and poverty alleviation, food and civil supplies, health and family welfare and higher and technical education departments.

Veteran Congress legislator Lalzirliana got the home portfolio along with 11 departments — rural development, excise and narcotics, public health engineering and tourism being some of them.

Lalthanhawla gave his former private secretary and two-time legislator Liansailova some lucrative portfolios like agriculture, school education, information and public relations, parliamentary affairs, environment and forest, information and communication technology, industries and social welfare departments.

The distribution of all the departments could mean the chief minister is not in any hurry to expand his ministry, a source said.

Lalthanhawla today attended office and later addressed party workers at the PCC headquarters here. - The Telegraph

Slack senior babus should be axed: Panel

NEW DELHI: The principle of `perform or perish' could soon apply to babudom as well. Non-performing senior bureaucrats are in danger of being booted out if the government accepts the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), which in its latest report on Friday proposed sacking of government servants after 20 years of service if they are found to be unfit.

Besides recommending a performance-based system for bureaucrats, ARC has also came out with a number of radical suggestions for revamping the Civil Services Examination (CSE) system, including changing the age criteria, number of attempts and subject requirements at the graduation level for aspirants of IAS, IFS, IPS and other Group A and B central services.

Suggesting new conditions of performance-based appointments and continuation of service, the ARC report - Refurbishing of Personnel Administration - said that all public servants should be subjected to two intensive reviews on completion of 14 years and 20 years of service, respectively.

It said: "Their (civil servants) further continuance beyond 20 years will depend on the outcome of these reviews. It should be expressly provided that all new recruitments will be for a period of 20 years and their continuance beyond that would depend on intensive reviews".

ARC, headed by Congress leader M Veerappa Moily, has for this purpose suggested bringing a new civil services law with provisions of performance-based continuation of service, accountability and new system of promotion and cadre allotment. The 377-page report also talks about mandatory training at different stages of a civil servant's career.

Moily, while releasing the report, said: "Every government servant should undergo mandatory training at the induction stage and also periodically during his or her career. Successful completion of these trainings should be a minimum necessary condition for confirmation in service and subsequent promotions.''

The objective of mid-career training should be to develop domain knowledge and competence required for the changing job profile of the officer, he said.

ARC, which has so far brought out nine reports on different subjects including public order, human resources and right to information, also recommends a new appraisal system for bureaucrats which, it said, should not only be transparent but also based on modern management techniques.

Recommending a system of consultative appraisals, it said: "The government should expand the scope of the present performance appraisal system of its employees to a comprehensive performance management system (PMS).''

The report said the annual performance agreements should be signed between the department minister and the secretary of the ministry or heads of departments, providing physical and verifiable details of the work to be done during a financial year. "The actual performance should be assessed by a third party with reference to the annual performance agreement,'' it said.

ARC also suggests setting up a central civil services authority under the proposed civil services bill in order to create a top central body to not only supervize all rules and regulations concerning civil servants but also to devise a formula for cadre allotment, foreign postings necessary mid-career training.

For motivating civil servants, the report said there was a need to recognize outstanding work. It said selections of foreign assignments should be made on the basis of CCSA recommendations.

On disciplinary proceedings, it said the proposed civil services law should have a provision to convert the present oral inquiry process into a disciplinary meeting or interview to be conducted by a superior officer in a summary manner, without the trappings and procedures borrowed from court trials.

On relations between the political executive and civil servants, the panel said there was a need to safeguard the political neutrality and impartiality of civil services. "The onus for this lies equally on the political executive and the civil services,'' it said.

Rodents trigger food scarcity fear in Nagaland

Kohima (PTI): The villagers in Nagalands Peren and Dimapur districts are gripped by a fear of food scarcity after a large army of rodents invaded the crop fields destroying whatever comes their way.

There has been an abnormal increase in the rodent population in Peren district and the foothills of Dimapur in the last six months, throwing a big challenge to agricultural experts and officials on rodent management.

The affected villagers adopted their own indigenous methods like spraying pesticides to control the rodent population, but they hardly worked as the pests rapidly replicate themselves, agriculture department officials said.

This set the stage for Dr A M K Mohan Rao, noted rodent specialist and a consultant in the Union Agriculture Ministry, to visit the affected villages last week.

Dr Rao, a recipient of FAO (Rome) Award on rodent management, accompanied by state agriculture minister Chumben Murry, held a series of discussion with officials from the departments of forest, agriculture and Nagaland Bamboo Mission.

During the field visits of Dungki, Lamhai, Deukoram, old Jalukie in Peren district, the villagers expressed their fears for shortage of rice even for the coming festive season not to speak of the lean months.

As it was seen that the rodents spared ginger, it was assumed that the herb and some medicinal plants might act as a repellent to the marauding pests. In neighbouring Mizoram, frequently visited by the ‘mautam’ or bamboo flowering which attract rodents, the ginger weapon has worked.

‘Medicinal plants can create sustainable livelihood’

IMPHAL, Dec 12 – A two-day International Conclave on Medicinal Plants for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has been formally inaugurated at the RIMS jubilee hall here Thursday.

With the objective of promoting medicinal plants, the conclave is being organised by Department of Forests, Government of Manipur in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of India and AYUSH with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO), India chapter and Ministry of DoNER.

Manipur’s Environment and Forests minister Th Debendra, while inaugurating the conclave, called upon the national and international delegates “to start a new era of collaboration in the management, cultivation, sustenance, cultivation, processing, marketing and research so that we can give boost to the sector”.

Stating that there is urgent need to boost the medicinal plants industry, the minister said,“the time has come to draw up comprehensive action plans to tap the potential for the development of the people of the region”.

Anita Das, former secretary of Department of AYUSH, Government of India while giving her speech during the conclave, said that as there are similarities in the forest conditions of the member countries, there is need to share experience, learn from each other and evolve a common strategy.

“The sector is critically important for the region as it can create sustainable livelihood for the people” she added and called upon the delegates “to put their best efforts to deliberate on each aspect of medicinal plants sector and come out with actionable recommendations”.

In his welcome note, S Singsit, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Manipur said there is a resurgence of use of traditional medicines across the globe. According to an estimate of WHO in 2002, the global market of traditional therapies stands at $60,000 million and is growing steadily.

Further, the global market for medicinal herbs and herbal products is estimated to touch 5 trillion US dollars by 2050.

Besides prominent scientists and experts across the country including Sonali Bisht, representative of FAO of UN, over ten international delegates from Laos, Bhutan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Veitnam, Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia are participating in the conclave which is scheduled to continue till Friday. - Assam Tribune

Though Manipur is a tiny state, it has about 1200 medicinal plants species including 420 indigenous medicinal plants.

AIIMS-like institute in NE ruled out

NEW DELHI, Dec 12 – Virtually ruling out the possibility of setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-like hospital in the North Eastern Region (NER), Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Ambumani Ramadoss asserted that the Centre has taken up a number of projects in the State to develop the health services in the Region.

Pointing out that North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) has been established in Shillong, on the lines of AIIMS and PGIMER Chandigarh to provide advanced specialised health-care to the people of the North-east. So far the Central Government has made an investment of about Rs 400 crore for development of the institute, while Rs 1266.38 crore has been allocated in the 11th Plan.

The institute is planned for 500-bed referral hospital with 35 teaching departments at post-graduate level in various specialities and super specialities. A 50-seat nursing college and undergraduate MBBS college has been functioning. A new cancer hospital is also planned at the institute.

Dr Ramadoss, who was replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha this morning during the Question Hour, however, admitted that there had been some delay in setting up the institute because of certain ‘problems’.

Listing out the projects undertaken by his Ministry in the Region, Dr Ramadoss said that Regional Institute of Medical Science, Imphal has been taken over by his Ministry from North Eastern Council (NEC), this year. The Institute has an intake capacity of 100 undergraduate and 73 post graduate. For the development of the Institute as a Centre of Excellence an amount of Rs 589.92 crore has been allocated.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also taken over the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, at Tezpur and the regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences at Aizawl from NEC.

The institutions have been allocated Rs 267.07 crore and Rs 69.62 crore in the 11th plan for overall development of the Institutes as Centre of Excellence. This fiscal Rs 31 crore has been allocated for the Mental hospital in Tezpur, of which Rs 24.50 crore has been released.

The Minister further reaffirmed Central support for up grade of the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. The up gradation of the GMCH at a total cost of Rs 119.95 crore has been cleared. In addition, Rs 10 crore has been released r up gradation of regional Institute of Ophthalmology at GMC, he added.

After up gradation of the GMCH, the Government proposes to up grade the two other medical colleges in Dibrugarh and Silchar, Dr Ramadoss added.

He further added that the Civil Hospital at Naharlagun, Itanagar is being upgraded at a cost of Rs 130 crore. The Planning Commission has agreed and Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Limited is preparing a detailed project report.

Asserting that it was the aim of the Government to ensure that not a single patient has traveled out of the Region for treatment, he said as part of the process of strengthening all district hospitals, he said 75 district hospitals in the Region, besides community health centre are being upgraded to 30-50-bed hospitals.

Two new nursing hospitals and 14 new nursing schools have been sanctioned under the National Rural Health Mission.

Earlier, Baishya lauding the decision of the Government to set up six AIIMS-like institute all- over the country, said it was difficult to understand why was the NER was left out. He said Guwahati being the hub in the Region would be an ideal choice to locate such an institutions.

Questioning the criteria of selecting the locations for setting up AIIMS-like institute, he said while for people from rest of the six places, it was six-eight hours journey to reach Delhi, for the patients of North-east, it is a 2000 km journey. It is difficult for patients to travel such long distance, he said.

Participating in the discussion, Biswajeet Daimary said health care facilities in the Bodoland areas non-existent. Underscoring the need to set up a medical institute in Kokrajhar so as to train medical students, he demanded that the Health Ministry should introduce quota for students from Bodoland areas until such time as the Institute comes up in BTAD area.

However, when the Minister did not relent, Daimari got agitated and asked whether they have to launch another agitation to get a medical hospital. He also reminded the Minister that the Region has suffered much because of militancy and has recently come out of militancy.

Bird flu spreads across Assam

Guwahati: Notwithstanding continuing culling operations, the bird flu virus has spread to new areas in the state including the state's capital Guwahati, where the dreaded virus was detected in a government-run farm at Khanarapa on Wednesday.

State Veterinary director Dr Ashwini Kataky informed that the avian influenza had so far affected six districts of the state -- Kamrup, Barpeta, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang and Kamrup Metropolitan district that includes Guwahati city.

He informed that the dreaded virus had spread its tentacles to a state veterinary department farm at Khanapara in Guwahati as well as a private polury farm Dikom in Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam. The rapid response teams (RRTs) on Thursday culled over 4000 fowls in the government farm. A few other private farms in Guwahati have also been affected.

He said so far 426 RRTs have been engaged in the culling operation in all the six affected districts and over 2.6 lakhs fowls have already been killed as precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Assam Health Department has set up an emergency unit at the government civil hospital in the city to treat patients in the event of the bird flu spreading to human. The authorities have banned sale of all sorts of poultry products in the state’s capital city and other affected areas in the state.

According to experts, scanty rainfall in the state this year is one of the reasons behind the spread of avian influenza, the virus of which are carried by the wind. Experts say that virus of avian influenza are carried by migratory birds who are seasoned of the virus. The seasoned migratory birds carry the virus but they do not die of the infection.(With inputs from UNI)

- Shillong Times

KNO/KLA rechristened KRF

IMPHAL, Dec 12: With the setting up of the Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF) today, the armed group KNO/KLA has been abolished with immediate effect. Declaring the formation of KRF during a press meet at a location in Senapati district today, the outfit’s information and publicity secretary Armstrong Gangte said that the outfit will certainly add a new chapter in the dynamics of Kuki politics.

Pledging that the outfit will try every effort to bring peace, unity and development in the society, Armstrong Gangte warned that no one should the name of KNO/KLA in future. Advocating unity and common struggle for all Chin, Kuki, Mizo and Zomi peoples in order to achieve their political aspiration, Armstrong said, “Our based is the living history in which the Kukis never surrender to any nation”. Conveying the outfit’s wish to reform social institutions in the pattern of modern democracy as it is reportedly the best form of governance, KRF also paid deep respect to all the departed brethren “who had sacrificed their lives in order to protect our territorial and moral integrity”. The KRF further assured that it shall abide by the terms and conditions of the Suspension of Operation. Armstrong Gangte said that the outfit will remain within the fold of UPF in their collective effort to fulfil the aspiration of the Kuki people. [TSE]

KHUADO PAWI 2008 : Harvest Festival of the Zo People

Khuado is the biggest and one of the most popular cultural festivals of the Zo people who are scattered across India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The celebration of this important Zo festival is considered to have begun as early as 1400 A.D. Derived from the Tedim dialect—khua meaning local and do meaning battle—Khuado is also being celebrated as Kut and Chavang Kut respectively in Manipur and Mizoram. It is also celebrated as an occasion to commemorate the arrival of the harvest and, in the meantime, marks the beginning of a new year.

Khuado signifies vanquish over the evil spirit. Usually held for two to three days at the house of the local priest or chief in the month of September/October depending on the arrival of harvest, it is consummated by the killing of two or three cattles (preferably pigs) with a generous distribution of zu (traditional wine). Old and youth, lad and lass would then join arm-in-arm and form a circular band to perform a traditional dance locally called lamvui kaihna. This is usually interspersed by a spectacular solo performance at its centre by a veteran with a brandish of the sword.

The event has symbolic significance for the Zo people in more ways than one. It is a time to showcase their solidarity and unity. Usually it was an occasion to witness the whole community fully armed in battle-gear with, inter alia, spears, hoes and brooms and brandishing of torches (made of pine). They would, in unison, march throughout the length and breadth of the locality with loud noises and war cries asking the local evil spirit to go away from their immediate lifeworld. At one end of the locality, the whole community would implant their torches to demarcate, as it were, the boundary last deserted by the evil spirits. The whole community army would then march back into their chief’s backyard and begin their celebration. It was also a time of sharing and giving thanks, an occasion to pay their homage and respect to the deceased by a visitation to the grave. In other words, a time to reconnect with their past and collectively face the future.

Now, this tradition is kept alive year after year as the Zo people gather to commemorate Khuado as an occasion to give thanks and glory to the Almighty God who has given them a good harvest and a new year. It is an event of immense cultural significance which bespeaks of the unique heritage, culture and identity of the Zo people.

H Kham Khan Suan

=============================

KHUADO PAWI 2008 DELHI
Date: 13th December 2008
Time: 1200 hrs
Venue : MCD Community Centre, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi

P R O G R A M M E

Hun-uk: Lia Tawi Lun & Tg. Lucas Mung
Mipi lasakna : ‘Tunsung Khat Pan’ (5 min)
Hun-aap/ kisiansuahna leh Zo minam a ding thunget sakna : Rev. Peter Khen (10 min)
Vaidawn thugen : Chairman, Khuado 2008 (5 min)
Thugenna : Pu L. Thang Sian Mung (15 min)
Pu Sian Cin Zam (15 min)
Pu LT Ngaihte (15 min)

Laamvui kaihna : Pu Thang Muan
Lungdam thupuak : Secretary, Khuado 2008 (5 min)
Hunkhak thungen : Rev. Vungh Hau Thang (5 min)

TUNSUNG KHAT PAN | Theme Song

(Tunsung khatpan piang hi ngeingei hang e)
Sakmi khangmi kikhen lo-in
Mimbang pianna ciimtui vangkhua
I heina pianin dang zong leh
Sinlai paitem bang kuah ciat ve ni

Ziin in khen maw, Sianmang khen maw
Sinlai ah na sang e
Gibing khen zong lungah kingilh keini
Tunsung khatpan piang hi ngeingei hang e

Sinthu tuibang luangkhawm den ding
Kawlgam vaigam gibing khen zong
Simlei tuibang gawmlo mah leng
Thangvan ah tuibang kigawn nawn ni

Danny the One motion album

Zogal Hall, Zoveng ah Dec 12, 2008 sun nai 1:00 in (late) Danny Ginlianlal @Lainlal theigige na ding a, music album kibawl “Danny the One” kichi honkhiatna programe um ding a, tuanah Chinngaihpau, President ZYA Hqtrs. Chief Guest a pang in album hongkhe ding hi. Functional President in K. Chongloi Manager, Canara Bank, Dispur, Guest of Honour in T. Goukhomang D.I. DDO. ZEO pang ding a, Chief Host in G.S. Haupu Special Contractor pang ding hi.

MUTSU reiterates demand

Imphal, Dec 11: The Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union (MUTSU) has reaffirmed its demands for a full-fledged Hill Univ-ersity or 34.2 percent reser- vation at the Manipur University (MU) stating that the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) is not what it demanded nor does it fulfils their demands. MUTSU said that after having had found out that IGNTU is similar to IGNOU, the tribal students were disappointed.

Speaking to NNN, Som-thang Haokip, president of MUTSU stated that the tribal students of the university have never been really happy with the decision of the government to set up a regional centre of IGNTU in the state. ‘‘What we demand is either 34.2 percent reservation or a sepa- rate full-fledged Hill University’’, affirmed the presi- dent stating that IGNTU was not what it demanded.

Earlier, IGNTU was accepted by MUTSU and All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSOM) becau-se it was Centrally funded besides an opportunity for the tribal students who had left the campus to come back, added the president.

The tribal students of the university left the campus on Oct 6 following its agitation for a separate univer- sity or a 34.2 pc reservation.

====================

Mary Kom felicitated

IMPHAL, Dec 11: World Boxing championship Mary Kom was felicitated by Governor Gurbachan Jagat at Raj Bhavan today. The Governor presented a memento to the champion pugilist, conveyed a Raj Bhavan release.

Mary Kom won gold in the Fifth AIBA World Championships held at Ningbo city, China recently.

====================

Thanlon BCC

IMPHAL, Dec 11: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has reconstituted Than- lon Block Congress Committee with K Chinlian as president and H Pauzalal as secretary, informed release issued by MPCC general secretary (Admn) Vidyapati Senjam. Moreover, 14 other functionaries have also been appointed, it added.

==================

Recruitment rally

IMPHAL, Dec 11: For a total post of 127, Assam Rifles recruitment rally (Group C) will be held at Pallel from January 16 to 22, 2009, informed a AR PRO release. [TSE]

Intl meet on medicinal plants, Manipur on global map, attracts Intl eyes

IIMPHAL, Dec 11: Aiming to tap the rich potential of medicinal plants through enhanced co-operation, a three-day long International conclave on medicinal plants for ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries has started from today at the Jubilee Hall of RIMS here.

Besides delegates from member countries of ASEAN and BIMSTEC like Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, represen-tatives of International orga- nisations like FAO and TRAFFIC are also partici-pating in the conclave which would go on till December 13.

Minister of Forest and Environment Th Debendra Singh inaugurated the conclave as chief guest in the presence of former Secretary of Department of AYSUH, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Anita Das who presided over the function.

Principal Chief Conser-vator of Forest, Government of Manipur S Singsit and Chief Executive Officer of National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) BS Sajwan also graced the occasion as guests of honour.

The conclave is being organised by the Department of Forest, Government of Manipur in collaboration with the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and World Health Organisation (WHO).

Delivering the key note address, Singsit stated that according to an estimate of WHO in 2002, the global market of traditional therapies stands at $ 60,000 millions and is growing steadily due to resurgence of traditional medicine across the globe.

These traditional system of medicines are heavily dependent on the medicinal plants for their drugs and therapies. So with the accelerated growth of traditional medicine, the demand for medical plants is bound to grow substantially, he observed.

He further said that the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries collectively have diverse and almost all kinds of forest types which are repository of immensely valuable and large varieties of medicinal plants. The 3-day conclave would help in paving a long way towards providing a road map for enhancing co-operation and boost this sector and trade among the member countries, he hoped.

In her presidential address, Anita Das said that the region of ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries is one of the most important regions of bio-diversity and it is included in the six hotspots of the world.

Maintaining that medicinal plants can provide so- cially beneficial, environmentally benign and econo- mically viable system of livelihood to the people of the region, she, nonetheless, pointed out that altho- ugh the people of the member countries of ASEAN and BIMSTEC have vast knowledge on natural healing , insufficient attention is being paid to the quality assurance and control of herbal medicines. So adequate measures should be taken to make the medicinal plants safe in respect of microbial load, residues and contaminants.

Speaking as chief guest of the function, Th Deben-dra noted that the World Health Organization has published a comprehensive guidelines on good agricultural practices for medicinal plants and these guidelines are particularly important for those medicinal plants which are being destructively harvested.

Plant materials are being used across the globe as home remedies over the counter drug products and as raw material for the pharmaceutical companies, thus representing a substantial proportion of the global drug market, the Minister said.

The WHO has emphasised the need to ensure the quality of medicinal plant products by using modern techniques and applying suitable standards, he added.

He also requested the Chief Executive Officer of National Medical Plants Board (NMPB) to help in co-ordinating all aspects of medicinal plants and the Department of AYUSH to esta- blish one cluster of AYUSH industries at Imphal as the capital city of the State can easily procure the raw materials from the whole of the State as well as from the entire NE States and the products may be easily exported to ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries. He hoped that the outcome of the conclave would help in formulation of specific programme for deve- lopment of a medicinal plants- based livelihood system.

[TSE]

6th Pay Commission, Requisite amount estimated

IMPHAL, Dec 11: To implement the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission for the employees of the State Government, the Committee of Officers headed by the Chief Secretary as Chairman has estimated the total amount that would be necessary to hike the salaries of State employees.

The Committee has also submitted a report to the Finance Department and is awaiting a Cabinet decision for implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission.

A highly reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the Committee has estimated the requisite amount for payment of salaries to State employees according to the 6th pay Commission in first instalment at Rs 780 crores (approximately).

For the Committee to further work on implementation of the 6th Pay Commission after due perusal of the estimate by the Chief Minister, the Finance Department has been entrusted with the task to do the needful.

However, implementation of the 6th Pay Commission depends on the 13th Finance Commission as the estimated amount is too big for the State Government to meet it from the Plan amount.
This would also severely cripple the State Govern-ment in taking up deve- lopment works, conveyed the source.

It is reported that the State Government is considering to send a proposal to the 13th Finance Commission to sanction Rs 4000 crores for implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission to the State Govt employees. Significantly, a team of the 13th Finance Commission would be visiting the State from Jan 20 to 22. The Committee of Officers will also be looking into pay anomalies of State employees after a Cabinet decision has been adopted in this regard. On the other hand, State Govt employees have been agitating demanding implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission. [TSE]

RIMS OPD, Casualty to close from today

IMPHAL, Dec 11: In protest against the abduction of two engineers of RIMS by the proscribed KCP in connection with a demand of Rs 3 crores, OPD and Casualty Ward of the institute will be closed from 8 am tomorrow.

A decision to this effect was adopted during a meeting of RIMS employees held today. The same decision is in line with its earlier decision adopted during an emergency meeting held yesterday which declared that various modes of agitation will be launched in case the abducted engineers are not freed by 6 pm today.

AE Ng Robindro of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai and SO Y Surjit of Sega Road were abducted from the former’s house in the afternoon of December 9.

Briefing media persons about the line of agitation in the institute’s mini auditorium today, RIMS Medical Superintendent Prof Y Mohan said that in case the two engineers are not released even after closure of OPD and Casualty Ward, indoor patients would be told to leave the hospital.
Moreover, a proposal will be sent to the Centre for transfer of RIMS employees outside the State, he disclosed while declaring that RIMS authority would not pay any ransom money.

These decisions were adopted in a joint meeting of the Heads of Departments, Teachers’ Welfare Association, Non-Teaching Staff Welfare Association, Junior Doctors’ Association and Trained Nurses Association of India, RIMS Branch, Prof Mohan said. On the other hand, family members and local people of the two abducted engineers gheraoed at the office of RIMS Director Prof L Fimate with a demand that RIMS authority shou- ld make arrangements to fulfil the demand of the KCP in order to secure safe release of the engineers. To this, RIMS authority maintained that they could not pay the demanded amount. Speaking to reporters, Robita (35), wife of AE Ro-bindro, disclosed that the KCP called up the family repeat- edly on telephone asking to urge upon the RIMS authority to give the demanded amount. They also threatened the families that failure to fulfil the demand will lead to unwanted consequences. The abductors further said that a demand note was served to the RIMS Director earlier but there has been no response which prompted the outfit to abduct some employees of the institute, Robita conveyed. She asserted that only RIMS authority should solve the issue. The demand note signed by KCP’s chief project officer cum information and public relations secretary Ibungo Ngangom was served to the RIMS Director in November.

[TSE]

Lal Thanhawla sworn in as Mizoram chief minister

Aizawl: After a gap of a decade, former underground insurgent leader Lal Thanhawla, who steered the Congress to a landslide win in Mizoram assembly elections, was on Thursday, 11 December, sworn in as chief minister for a record fourth time along with two ministers.

Governor Lt General M.M. Lakhera administered the oath of office to 68-year-old Thanhawla, R. Lalzirliana, senior vice-president of Congress in the state and H. Liansailova, a former bureaucrat and party treasurer, at the Raj Bhavan here.

Liansailova is a second-time legislator known for his clean image when he was an officer of the state government. He had been private secretary to three chief ministers—Brig. T. Sailo, Lalthanhawla and late Laldenga.

The portfolios of the two ministers and other ministerial berths would be decided after consultation with the Congress high command in Delhi, party sources said.

Mizoram can have only 12 ministers including the chief minister, under a restriction imposed by the constitution since 2004.

Thanhawla, the sixth chief minister of the state, spearheaded Congress to a thumping win in the 2 December assembly polls toppling Mizo National Front (MNF) from power.

The Congress bagged 32 seats of the 40-member assembly while the MNF could manage only four seats. - PTI -

Govt, Opposition speak with one voice against terrorism

Press Trust of India | In a rare display of unity, government and the opposition on Thursday spoke in one voice on tackling terror as Parliament adopted a resolution against the Mumbai attacks and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologised to the nation that the carnage could not be prevented.

"On behalf of the government, I would like to apologise to our people that this dastardly act could not not be prevented," the Prime Minister said winding up a day-long discussion on the Mumbai terror attacks that was by and large devoid of usual recrimination and went beyond partisan lines.

Vowing to gear up the security apparatus, including land, coastal and aerial protection, to pre-empt future terror attacks, Singh outlined various steps to deal with terrorism including setting up of National Investigation Agency.

On the external front, he said the international community has to be galvanised into "dealing sternly and effectively with the epicentre of terrorism, which is located in Pakistan. "The infrastructure of terrorism has to be dismantled and permanently. This is for the good of the entire world community, including the well being of the people of Pakistan themselves."

Singh moved a resolution declaring the country's resolve not to cease its efforts in bringing to justice the terrorists and those who trained, funded and abetted them. It also resolved to firmly counter all evil designs against the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted "gaps" in intelligence machinery and "lapses" like "systemic mistakes" and "indecision". As those in government, they accepted the responsibility for the lapses and promised to take corrective steps.

Singh said India has so far exercised "utmost restraint" but let not its commitment to civilised norms be "misconstrued as a sign of weakness."

Making an intervention during the debate on the Mumbai attacks in Lok Sabha, Singh noted the action by Pakistan against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed but asserted that Islamabad needed to do "much more" to take things to logical conclusion and convince the world about its actions.

Opening the debate, Leader of the Opposition and BJP stalwart extended full support to the government in the "war on terror". "The Home Minister has talked of taking hard decisions. Whatever steps you take which would help win the war on terror, my party and the NDA will support them," Advani said in the Lok Sabha.

He said it must be understood that the "epicentre" of terrorism against India was in Pakistan and that the ISI was also a "non-state actor" as it was "not under the control of the elected government in Pakistan and is answerable only to the Pakistan Army".

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee ruled out war as an option against Pakistan but said "there would be a situation that we do not want" if the neighbour failed to act against elements on its soil spreading terror against India.

The unity of political parties against recent terror strikes was evident from the start of the day when both the Houses suspended question hour and took up discussion on the issue after government made a statement on the Mumbai attacks.

Outlining steps to gear up the country's security system to meet the "unprecedented threat", Singh said the government has decided to set up a National Investigation Agency, decentralise NSG, form more commando units, strengthen coastal security by making the Coast Guard the sole force responsible for it and step up air surveillance.

The Prime Minister said the government has already decided to strengthen the legal framework to deal with terror and also set up a national investigation agency. He asserted that terrorism will be fought with determination to ensure that the scourge is destroyed from its roots and for that "all means and measures" would be used.

He said the government's immediate priority was to restore a sense of security among the people of the country and prepare the nation to meet "these kinds of assaults". The government will also have to galvanise the world community into dealing "sternly and effectively" with Pakistan and press Islamabad bilaterally to act against terrorists.

Ridiculing Pakistani statements that non-state actors could be behind the terror attacks in India, Mukherjee asked "are these non state actors from heaven? Are they coming from another planet? They are located in the territory of a particular country."

The External Affairs Minister raised questions over Pakistan's sincerity in curbing the activities of terror groups operating from its soil as he suggested that "house arrest" of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed was not enough.

He wanted Islamabad to take "serious" action to completely dismantle terror infrastructure and end infiltration. Mukherjee also slammed Pakistan for creating a war "hysteria" by indulging in "propaganda" on the basis of a hoax call that "big power" India was going to attack.

The Minister said India has repeatedly given Pakistan a list of 40 terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim, with a demand that they be handed over and expressed hope that Islamabad would respond positively.

Chidambaram, who was shifted to Home Ministry after the November 26 Mumbai attacks, said "hard decisions" would be taken in the coming days and weeks. Advani said India was facing a "terror war" and the whole nation is united including the government and the opposition when it comes to fighting this war.

In his speech, which at times saw ruling coalition members joining those in the opposition in thumping desks, Advani described the current action against some of the terror outfits in Pakistan as a "drama" and "show" and asked the Indian government not to be "fooled" by such acts.

Congress' heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi described the Mumbai strikes as a "war on India" and said the message should go to the perpetrators that there is a "cost" to killing innocent Indians. "It is not enough for us to protect the people ... we should go one step beyond," he said.

Mukherjee gave a strong warning to Pakistan, saying if Islamabad failed to act against elements responsible for spreading terror against the country, "there would be situation that we do not want". "I expect them to act. Otherwise it will not be business as usual.

There would be situation which we do not want," he said in Rajya Sabha. However, to a demand from one of the members that India should attack Pakistan, Mukherjee said "I am making it quite clear this (war) is no no solution".

Chidambaram said the government proposes to bring a set of Bills "to strengthen the legal provisions relating to the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of terror acts".-NDTV

ZSF in Mary Kom kithuahpih ding

Lamka, Dec 10: Zomi Students Federation, Ghq saina in World Women Boxing Champion MC Mary Kom kithuahpihna program December 17 2008, 11 am in YPA Hall, New Lamka ah om ding a, zinglam dak 10 in Kangvai khua ah thupitak in vaidawnna neih masak hiding a, amah tuanna di liauliau gari khat sehtuam ahihding ban ah, stage hoihtak kibawlsa tung ah tuansak hiding a, Kangvai apan mipi tawh kizui in Lamka khawpi lutpih hiding chih thu ZSF makaite apan kiza a, district sung apan mipi palai dia telching MLA teng host in pang ding uh chi uhi.

Kuki Idol kidemna om: Mipi hall dimlet

Lamka, Dec 10: Kuki Idol 2008 Organising Committee saina in B.Vengnuom Community Hall ah tuni zinglam dak 11 in Kuki Idol Competition program om hi. Huai ah H.Rupachandra Singh, MCS ADC/ CCpur in khuallian hihna toh uap a, Functional President in L.Haopu, Secy. Thadou Tribe Council pang hi. H.Rupachandra in a thugenna ah Kuki Idol tungtawna tuailai tamtak te’n la( song) ah halhthakna atut ngei lamet thugen a, kidemna atel teng lawhching vek dia adeihsak thu leh Christmas nuamtak a zangchiat ding in deihsak thugen hi. Tuni’n Kuki Idol kidemna area 9 apan mi 342 te’n pan ngal ua, kidemtu teng B.Vengnuom Community hall dim ua, mipi amu ut tamtak te’n window ah en mai uhi.

ZRO in thusuah bawl beh

Lamka, Dec 10: Zomi Re-Unification Organisation nuai a Ministry of Home Affairs Director V C Zomi in December 3, 2008 in khawpi sung nopzawkna ding leh lemna leh muanna kipsem om ding deihna ziak a thupuan/theihsakna point 9 abawl nung in tuni in a kisaipihte zuih ngeingei ding in theihsakna bawl nawn hi. MHA/ZRO thusuak dan in, Teddim Road leh Tipaimukh Road a lamlian kiang a building/Inn neaten varanda peehsawn a nulla/drainage tungtan sukha tengteng in Dec 11&12 2008 sung ngei a phelsiang ding in zasak uhi. Tuaban ah, Town tbus tengteng in amau stand ding a signboard kitaak chiat ah passenger la ta ding in theisak ua, passeng ten leng bus stand chauh naihta a, mah ni inn kiang hiam ahih kei leh mun lemchang khat peuh ah bus pawng kham nawnlou ding in ZRO/Home Ministry in zasak uhi.

Source: Manipur Express @ zogam.com

Fourth time World Champion MC Mary Kom

Fourth time World Champion MC Mary Kom who bagged her fourth champion's title in the recent Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) at Ningbao city of China and Laishram Sarita arriving at Imphal's Tulihal Airport. M Rachancdra, BC Sharma and other officials of Manipur Police Sports Board and many players received the players with much gaiety and pomps.






Photo Courtesy :: Rishikhesh Wangkhem / Hueiyen News Service
==============================


MC Mary Kom retains world champion title
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 02 2008: WHEN MANIPUR boxer M.C.Mary Kom boarded the flight to Ningbao City to take part in the fifth World Women's Boxing Championship, not many expected her to retain the gold medal for the fourth consecutive time. Yet, the pint-sized 46kg boxer, who returned to the capital on Monday, bagged the top honour with a comprehensive 7-1 verdict over Romania 's Steluta Duta.

"Since I was out of boxing for two years, many people thought I won't be able to repeat my performance again in the rings," said the 26-year-old, the mother of two.

"But I was confident that I will be able to make it," said the inspector in Manipur police.

"In the final, I was pitted against the Romanian boxer whom I had beaten in the final in Delhi last time.

I knew if I stay cool, I will be able to win again.

That's exactly what I did" .

Mary Kom is sad that despite her tremendous success at the world level, she has not received any recognition from the government.

"Women boxers in India should be treated with more respect.

They have been bringing laurels for the country regularly," said the world's most successful woman pugilist.

"I was extremely pained when I was denied the Khel Ratna Award," she said.

"I had three world titles under my belt but the selection panel did not find me good enough to get the award.

"I was very upset because the panel had some eminent sportspersons, including the legendary Milkha Singh.

At least they should have realised my contribution.

It happened to me twice," the boxer said with regret.

Mary Kom said despite being ignored time and again, she was not going to call it quits so easily.

"I hope they include women's boxing in the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games," she said.

"People will then know how I bring honours for the nation.

"I am sure my greatest moment will be when I will be able to represent the country in the London Olympics in 2012.I am waiting for that day," she said.

"It is not easy to pursue the sport when you have two kids back home waiting for their mother.

But fortunately, I have a very caring husband, who takes care of my sons.

Both of us see to it that the family life is not disturbed," said the boxer.

Source: http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Sport3..031208.dec08

Survey for more designated camp in CCpur begins

[Hueiyen News Service] Imphal, December 10 2008: A TEAM of the Joint Monitoring Group, JMG of the Suspension of Operation has started survey to various places in Churachandpur district for setting up designated camps of the Kuki based militants group included in the SoO agreement.

Official source said that the survey was started from yesterday and after conducted survey in some places in district headquarters, the team had left for further survey at Henglep, Parbung, Tipaimukh and Thanlon areas of the district today.

The survey team is leading by an official of the 27 Assam Rifles and members of the Central security forces and representatives of the different militants groups under the KNO included in the SoO like the Kuki Liberation Army and officer-in charge of the Churachandpur district headquarters and other concern police station took part in it.

After four places have been confirmed for opening designated camps for the Kuki militants maintaining Suspension of Operation (SoO), a team of the Joint Monitoring Group or JMG has started inspection to six more places where the outfits included in the SoO proposed for opening their designated camps from today, an official said Saturday.

The JMG is also conducting verification of list of 2519 cadres of eight different militant outfits which proposed for making identity cards as the implementation of the ground rules for the Suspension of Operation is under progress, official added.

The Kuki based militant outfits included in signing the Suspension of Operation, has put up 22 places for opening designated camps.

Out of them 10 places have been selected by the JMG in separate meetings held between the representatives of KNO and UPF, apex bodies of the Kuki militants who signed the tripartite agreement on suspension of operation in August 22 this year.

The meeting of the JMG under its chairman DS Poonia, state principal secretary (home) with the KNO was held on November 13 while with that of UPF was held on November 15 last in Imphal.

Mention may be made four places for settings up the designated camps have been confirmed by the JMG after inspection on November 18 and 19 last.

The places were- Nathanjang village also known Chongkhonjou in Churachandpur district, Chelap village in Chandel district, Samusang in Sadar hills under Senapati district and Vangai ridge near Tipaimukh of Churachandpur bordering with Tamenglong district.

The location of designated camps at Nathanjang has been proposed by the KNF(S), KNF(P) and ZDV, at Vangai ridge has been chosen by the Hmar People Convention, HDC(D) while Chelap has been selected by the UKLF and Samusang has been chosen by the KLA and KRA for opening their respective designated camps, the official source said.

RIMS sets deadline to free hostages

Dec. 10: Faced with a ransom demand for Rs 3 crore, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences gave the abductors of two of its engineers time till 6pm tomorrow to release them without harm or warned that the hospital will be shut down.

Sources at the institute said suspected cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Ibungo Ngangom) abducted Ng. Robindro Singh, assistant engineer and Y. Sujeet Singh, supervisor, from Robindro’s home at Khurai in Imphal East yesterday afternoon.

They said the abductors informed the institute this morning that the two employees were in the group’s custody and demanded Rs 3 crore ransom by December 12 for their safe release.

The sources said the kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostages if the institute failed to meet their ransom demand.

The institute has lodged complaints with Imphal West superintendent of police L. Kailun and Imphal East superintendent of police Th. Radheshyam Singh.

After the abduction and ransom call, a meeting of officers, teachers and other employees, presided by the director of the institute, L. Fimate, was held this morning to chalk out a strategy to deal with the situation.

The meeting strongly condemned the kidnapping of the employees and demanded that the hostages be freed without any harm by 6pm tomorrow.

The institute decided to launch an agitation from December 12 if the hostages were not freed by the deadline.

The meeting, however, did not specify the course of action to be taken.

The sources said the teachers and other employees of the institute are contemplating closure of the casualty and out patient department if the hostages were not freed by the deadline.

An official source said the police had launched a manhunt in various areas to rescue the hostages. However, the police are still clueless about the whereabouts of the hostages.

The unfortunate incident occurred ahead of a three-day international convention on medicinal plants at the institute.

The state forest department is hosting the meet.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the conference tomorrow morning at the jubilee hall of the institute.

A forest department official said the conference would be held according to schedule.

Suspected Kuki rebels also abducted three officials of Khadi and Village Industries Board in Churachandpur district today.

“The member secretary of the board N. Borjendro Singh, chief executive officer Th. Biragopal Singh and field worker Chungkhosei Haokip were abducted by about five well-armed militants in combat attire from an interior village around noon,” police said.

The officials left this morning for the village to hold a bee-keeping training programme there.

The programme was cancelled after the abduction.

Sources said the abduction could have a link to monetary demand by a militant outfit. The police have launched a search.

Hostage freed

Suspected Kuki National Front activists abducted and released Rengmeithang Kom, the chief of Thayong village in Senapati district after a ransom payment of Rs 80,000.

Kom today said about 15 armed cadres abducted him from his house last night and demanded a sum of Rs 1 lakh as a fine for not attending a meeting of village chiefs of the area.

He said the abductors released him this morning after taking the ransom. - The Telegraph India