Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

The women in Manipur as in certain other parts of the country have been glorified and extolled as those occupying a high position in society, as a section of the community that has a voice that is heard and taken into account. In Manipur for instance, Meira Paibis amongst the Meiteis are given near sacred positions in the public sphere related to uprisings against excesses committed by state armed forces. The same goes for various other women groups in the hills. Khasi women in Meghalaya are portrayed as following matriarchy though it is only the matrilineal system that they follow: in terms of property rights. Here again, there is a wide gulf between what is perceived and what actually is. For instance, any property arrangements in terms of its sale, is not in the hands of the woman. Rather, it is only with the sanction of the maternal Uncle that decisions can be taken. The ‘Dorbar” which is the traditional decision making body of the Khasis do not allow the participation of women in ...

Protest over UG extortion: Imphal, May 3: Employees of Manipur’s higher education department did not allow any outsider to enter the office by locking up the main gate on Saturday intensifying their protest against monetary demands from militant groups. The employees said they could not work because of demands made by militant groups for certain percentages of the budget allocation of the department, contract work and supply orders. "We did not allow anyone including government officials and teachers to come inside the office complex. We also did not allow entry of any files from outside the office," an official said. This would continue for one week and the employees may intensify the agitation further if the "demands and pressures" were not withdrawn. The employees expressed resentment that though the matter was informed to the government no concrete steps were coming. Tribal students warn of indefinite blockade: Imphal, May 3: The All Tribal Students Union, Man...

CII award for state health worker : Imphal, May 2: The Confederation of Indian Industry in its effort to promote women's empowerment at the community level has instituted an award known as Women Exemplar for grassroot community women who have excelled in different fields of work thereby making a significant contribution to the development process. Since 2006 the award has been given to women of the country for their outstanding contributions to the society. For the year 2008 the award was given to Manipur Voluntary Health Association`s program director N Nanda for health by the chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit on April 29 at the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. 50-yr-old suffers fatal stroke after UG demand: Imphal, May 2: In a bizarre incident a 50-year old headmaster of a primary school died after suffering from a BP stroke on April 30 at Moreh after he was asked to give Rs. 5 lakhs by one of the valley based UG groups, sources said. The victim, Naorem Bisembor, 50, of Tentha K...

Monika wins medals in Asian Weightlifting: New Delhi, Apr 29: Laishram Monika Devi fetched the first medals for India in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Kanazawa, Japan on Tuesday by finishing overall third in women's 69 kg category. Monika lifted a total weight of 222 kg (100 in snatch and 122 in clean and jerk) to finish behind Liu Chunhong of China (262: 117+145) and Kao Ya-chun of Chinese Taipei (222: 98+124) respectively. The Manipuri girl added a silver and bronze as she was second in snatch and third in clean and jerk. Army Launches Tipaimukh Vigil: Imphal, Apr 29: Troops of the 57 Mountain Division started patrolling the Tipaimukh Hydel Project site in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Tuesday after militants blew off a drilling rig and brought work to a standstill on Saturday. Militants had blasted a drilling machine using an IED, forcing all engineers and workers to flee the project site, located on the Manipur-Mizoram border. The Hmar Peoples Convention (Demo...

Alleged rapist escapes: Imphal, Apr 21: A man belonging to Andro village who is accused of raping a 11-year old girl escaped from the custody of the underground RPF during a public trial held on Sunday evening, but the RPF has warned the rapist to surrender to the party within five days from Monday. The 50-year old man Aheibam Pishak, son of late A Hem Singh of Andro Makha Leikai is charged of raping an 11-year old girl identified as Chingakham Nirmala of Andro Mamang Leikai and reportedly escaped from the custody of the RPF/PLA on Sunday evening while the outfit was conducting the final trial in the rape case at Andro village. Later, the public at Andro village on getting information that the rapist had escaped became restless and demanded the immediate production of the culprit before the local public for necessary punishment on Sunday night. In the meantime, the spokesman of the RPF/PLA`s department of publicity and communication during a press conference held somewhere in greater I...

12 hr state bandh comes into force on Tuesday: Imphal, Feb 4: Demanding the safe release of AE Naorem Keshwar Singh from the custody of the armed outfit PULF, the JAC formed against the abduction has called a State wide 12-hour general strike with effect from 5 am on Tuesday. A resident of Kakching Wairi Senapati Leikai, AE Keswar who is attached with the Kakchig sub-division of Electricity Department was abducted by armed cadres of PULF from his office on January 31. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on Monday, the JAC gave 12 noon Tuesday as the deadline for securing the safe release of the abducted engineer. Otherwise, a State wide general strike which would cover even essential services would be called, the JAC had announced. In protest against the abduction, the Manipur Electricity Employees' Union, Kakching Branch staged a dharna in front of the gate of the head office of the Electricity Department here on Monday. Apart from Meira Paibis from Kakching area and M...

Women killed in New Samtal blast: In a tragic incident, three women were killed when a bomb exploded while they were working under the NREGS programme at New Samtal area in Chandel district at about 12 noon on Monday. The incident took place while the women were clearing the road. The three victims have been identified as Lhingkhonem (45), Hoikim Guite (45) and Paumeng Haokip (43). Many others were injured in the bomb blast. Nurses retract: Following the assurance given by the Health and Family Welfare Minister to consider at least some of the demands of the striking nurses after the end of the ongoing Assembly session, Nurses Association of Manipur has called off its cease work strike with effect from Monday. The decision to call off the cease work strike was taken after a serious deliberation on the assurance of the Health Minister during an emergency meeting of the general body of the Association, its general secretary N Memchoubi Devi informed. The cease work strike would remain su...

Meira Paibis felicitate them: Imphal, Feb 2: The eight women who were rounded up for reportedly protesting on Republic Day in support of the boycott called by underground groups within the jurisdiction of Lamshang police were released on Saturday. They were released unconditionally, said the Meira Paibis who were taking part a public meeting held at Mayang Langjing in connection with the rounding up of the women of the locality. Four cases were registered at four police stations in Imphal West regarding the burning down of the Indian national flag and a copy of the Indian Constitution and carrying out protest by shouting anti-Indian slogans on January 28. The cases were registered as suo-motto cases at Lamshang, Patsoi, Mayang Imphal and Sekmai police stations based on the reports carried in the local newspapers. All the cases were registered under under section 124-A of Indian Penal Code, IPC and 2 of the prevention of insult to national honour Act 1971. One of the cases taken up by t...

Four MU deans released after abduction: Four deans of different departments of the Manipur University were reportedly detained by some unidentified persons suspected to be cadres of an underground group early on Thursday and later released unharmed at night. The four officials who were abducted were the Dean of Humanities O Ibochou, Dean of Students Md Islamuddin, Dean of Life Sciences PS Jadav and Dean of History Mangsatabam Jiten. Reports said that they were taken into custody by the miscreants on Thursday around 5.30 am and later released at night at around 7.30 pm. The report of their release, however, could not be immediately confirmed. A highly reliable report said that they were summoned apparently in relation with some matter concerning the administration of the university by an underground group. However, there were no formal complaints to the police regarding the disappearance of the four deans. Source: The Imphal Free Press 8 women arrested for protesting on R-Day: Eight wo...

People's convention on Sunday: Imphal, Jan 3: A people's convention inclusive of civil organisations and student bodies has been convened on January 6 to deliberate on the issue of delimitation. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, convenor of Delimitation Watch Manipur H Nabashyam stated that any delimitation process based on the contested census report of 2001 will be opposed till the end. He asserted that the planned delimitation exercise of the Delimitation Commission of India is aimed at creating communal distrust and tension in Manipur. With ample evidence to prove that the census report of 2001 was full of flaws, a representation was submitted to the Registrar General of the Census Commission of India in 2005.Acknowledging that the census report was faulty, the Registrar General assured that the matter would be forwarded to the Home Ministry, he said. For the people of Manipur it is unacceptable that there was 100 percent population growth in some hill districts when the v...

28th anniversary observed: Imphal, Dec 29: The 28th anniversary of the Meira Paibi movement was observed on Saturday at Iboyaima Shumang Leela complex by women leaders of different communities. The function was organised by the All Manipur Women's Social Reformation and Development Samaj under the theme "Responsibility of Meira Paibi in Resolving Conflict Situation in Manipur". Addressing the gathering, Nupi Samaj secretary Ramani recalled that women came to the forefront in the campaign against drugs and intoxicants in 1975. A few years later, the Government allegedly started resorting to various repressive measures against the youths of the State who refused to acknowledge Manipur as a part of India Union. The youths were then declared outlaws, she said. From 1980, security forces started committing various excesses and violation of human rights against civilians in the State. With the changing situation, the Meira Paibi movement earlier launched to check drug abuse and...

JAC seeks financial help from public: Imphal, Dec 19: With some of those critically injured in the Pourabi bomb blast of December 16 likely to require further medical treatment outside the state, the JAC, Pourabi has solicited assistance from the public to help meet expenses likely to be incurred by them. In this connection, two helpline units are being set up at RIMS and JN hospitals from Thursday, said a statement issued by the JAC, Pourabi. The JAC has also expressed its profound gratitude to all those individuals, social organisations, meira paibi groups, transporters, doctors and hospital staff, and others who had extended their assistance to the victims of the bomb blast, whether by coming forward personally, providing vehicles, supplying medicines, or donating cash. It also acknowledged those who have issued statements of condemnation of the incident. Meanwhile, the Centre of Child and Youth Development, Keibi Mayai Leikai, has demanded that the proscribed RPF/PLA should court m...