Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

IMPHAL : Tribals, young and old, in the remote villages of Old Lemta, Dunong and Makuinong in Manipur’s Tamenglong district bordering Nagaland have never seen electric light. Only the lucky few who visited Imphal or other towns in the country had seen this wonder. However, thanks to the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency, a government undertaking, now the tribals have solar electricity. Solar lighting panels were installed at the personal initiative of N. Awangbow, MLA representing the remote and neglected villages. C. Kadijaiwi, chieftain of Old Lemta, said it would take not less than half a century for the Electricity Department to power the villages. There are no modern amenities available to the villagers and electricity is still a pipe dream. C. Hungamkhambou, chieftain of Dunong, said students had no light to study at night. A litre of kerosene costs Rs. 40 or more in the district. As poor villagers cannot afford to keep lamps, they have dinner before nightfall and go to...

ZYF, Nungba decries Govt. negligence in Tamenglong: Decrying the alleged negligence of the State Government towards development of Tamenglong district, Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Nungba Zone has urged the Government to do the needful at the earliest possible. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the youth front said that the people in this part of the State are felling a sense of negligence and discrimination as a result of the State Government's arrangement of posting in-charge officers when the district is in need of regular and competent authorities to speed up the developmental activities of the backward district. At present there is an in-charge Deputy Commissioner, an incharge Superintendent of Police and an in-charge Sub-Divisional Officers both at Tamei and Tousem to run the district administration, the memorandum pointed out. The memorandum further said that the protest against such negligence attitude and indiscriminate treatment of the Governmen...

Relief delay prompts stir threat: Imphal, Feb 2: Setting February 5 deadline for payment of the promised rehabilitation package to families in the five hill districts of Manipur affected by the ethnic violence of the Kuki-Naga, Kuki-Zoumi and Kuki-Paite clashes, the Communal Victims' Relief and Resettlement Association has cautioned the State Government to do the needful failing which intense agitation would be launched. Speaking to newspersons at the Manipur Press Club on Saturday, Association president Ajang Khongsai informed that Ministry of Home Affairs had on June 2006 released over Rs 8 crores to mitigate financial hardships besetting those families who lost their members during the Kuki-Naga ethnic clash in the early part of 1990s. After the NSCN (IM) served quit notices to Kuki villages in 1991 bloody clashes broke out from June, 1992 affecting 8800 Kuki families scattered in the five hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati, for whom the Ce...

Chandel district affected: Like in two hill districts of Manipur, Churachandpur and Tamenglong district, bamboo flowering has occurred in some parts of Chandel district. There are reports of bamboo flowering in Chandel district at Moreh, Tengnoupal and Lokchao areas but gregarious flowering of bamboo did not happen except bamboo flowering in small groups and small areas, said a Chandel newsletter. No spectacular damage to human life and its economy was encountered, the report added. Chandel district has a geographical area of 3313 square kilometers with bamboo brakes covering 212.39 square kilometers. The area is out of total 1591.93 square kilometers area covered by bamboo brakes in the state. Most of the bamboo growing areas are concentrated in Tengnoupal and Moreh sub-division and maximum flowering occurred during the year 2006-07. Maximum flowering has been detected in Moubi wa (Melocana baccifera) species. Bamboo flowering is a threat to human life, its economy and the environment...

Tamenglong observes ‘Black Day’: Tamenglong, Jan 31: People in Tamenglong district suspended all work for the day and participated in the observation of "Black Day" of the Zeliangrong Region, GPRN/ NSCN-IM on Thursday. Streets in the district wore a deserted look as all kinds of vehicles including light vehicles went off the roads. Shops, business establishments and other institutions in the district headquarter also remained closed for the day showing solidarity to the observation of the black day of the NSCN (IM). Official reports said that Imphal bound passenger buses due to leave this morning were suspended and no bus from Imphal reached the district headquarter. Churches too held prayers and extended cooperation responding to the appeal of the Zeliangrong Region, GPRN/ NSCN-IM. A memorial stone to commemorate those warriors who selflessly sacrificed their lives for the Naga cause was opened at Nganping Battalion HQs of Naga Army, Buning village in Tamei sub-division of T...

AJFMC alleges disparity in fund allotment: Imphal, Jan 31: The All Joint Forest Management Committee (AJFMC), Tamenglong district, has alleged the existence of imbalance in the allotment of funds under the Central Government's National Bamboo Mission (NBM) in the hill districts of Manipur and urged the concerned Department to take up remedial measures. The AJFMC has alleged that under the NBM, which is implemented through the State Forest Department agency (FDA), there is disparity in the allotment of schemes hectare wise. It pointed out that, out of the total 4000 hectares targeted in the whole State, only 500 hectares have been allotted to the western Tamenglong division though it is considered as the only 'bamboo district' among all hill districts of the State. Out of the 4000 hectares targeted area, 600 hectares have been allotted to the eastern Ukhrul Forest division where no traces of bamboo are seen, it alleged. As per the FDA allotment, the northern Kangpokpi divisi...

Anti-Leprosy Day observed: As in other parts of the country, Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on Wednesday to coincide with the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhiji in remembrance of the works done by him during his lifetime for the welfare of Leprosy patients at the hall of Leprosy Control Unit of Thoubal District Leprosy Society. Along with offering floral tributes to the photograph of Gandhiji, a one minute silence was observed. The main objective of the observance was to spread awareness among the people and encourage them to join hands in eradicating leprosy disease. Four persons who have been cured from the scourge of Leprosy were also felicitated with gifts at the occasion. The All Manipur Medical Department Leprosy Employees Association, AMMDLEA observed the "Anti Leprosy Day 2008 at the Leprosy Hospital, Lei-Ingkhol today at 10.30 am. The observation was marked by the distribution of gifts like blanket, fruits, etc. to the leprosy patients. As part of Anti-Leprosy week `08 observat...

State braves boycott, drizzle to celebrate R-Day: Imphal: Boycott call by insurgent outfits and the chill generated by the January rain failed to dampen the spirit of the country's 59th Republic Day celebration as an impressive crowd thronged Kangla Fort to witness the riot of colour on Saturday. The celebration culminated with the Beating of the Retreat programme at 1st Manipur Rifles ground on Sunday afternoon with Governor Dr SS Sidhu gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Prizes to position winning march past contingents, cultural troupes and schools were also distributed by the Governor. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh took the salute from the march past contingents, which official report put at 64 security forces, NCC and schools, and 14 cultural troupes apart from taleaux of nine departments highlighting acheivements and policy/programme of the Government. Soon after arrival for the function a contingent of Manipur Women Police under the command of Miss Puspanjali (IPS) a...

2007 -- A year of new twist: Imphal, Jan 3: The calendar year 2007 ended and issues relating to HIV and AIDS surfaced every now and then throughout the year, touching the consciousness of the people. Going by the figures, this year there were 2528 new HIV positive cases reported and 177 AIDS cases and 21 deaths. This is based on the epidemiological analysis report published monthly by Manipur State AIDS Control Society. Though the report is to be published monthly, the latest report published by MSACS for the year 2007 is till the month of October. From September 1986 to January 2007 out of 1,86,095 blood samples screened, altogether 25,433 positive samples were found. The rest are males with only 5,892 female blood samples. Out of this, 3,977 people developed AIDS and 578 died. In the September 1986 to October 2007 report, out of 2,21,119 blood samples screened, the number of positive samples were 27,961 with the number of female rising to 7,106 and AIDS cases reaching 4,154. There we...

FCS Minister cracks whip against cheats: Imphal, Jan 3: A godown illegally storing PDS rice that had been diverted before it reached the beneficiaries was discovered in a raid conducted by the state food and civil supplies department led by the FCS minister Y Erabot at Mantripukhri. FCS Minister Y Erabot Singh along with officials of the FCS department detected more than 5000 bags of rice (50 kg per bag) meant for AAY and BPL at the godown located near the NRL oil pump at Mantripukhri along the NH-39 under Heingang police station on Thursday at around 11.30 am. A total of 42 road movement permissions issued by the Food Corporation of India, FCI from its godown at Sangaiprou to various PDS agents were also seized. No arrests were made but the minister has asked the police to seize the item for necessary action after thorough investigation. The godown belongs to Bipin Traders run by one Kewal Agarwal. It was rented to one Manglem, proprietor of the NRL retail outlet station, Mantripukhri...

Work on in full swing: Jiribam, Dec 31: Works on the Jiri-Tupul rail line have been on full swing since November 24 with the survey conducted by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) at its final leg. Already land for laying 10 km of the rail track has been acquired by the North East Frontier Railway in Jiribam sub-division. The rest of the land needed for laying the track will be acquired from Tamenglong district. Presently work for a distance of 15 km from Jiribam to Dholakhai is on with three private companies engaged in the said work. The three companies are CC Company, Bharatya Company and Triveni Company. The 15 km, for which work is presently underway, have been divided equally among the three companies, 5 km for each company. Speaking to this correspondent, the Officer-in-charge of CC Company, BM Sharma, said his company has undertaken the works from Jiribam station to Phaitoul covering a distance of 5 km. The construction works include cutting, leveling and b...

AMWJU GBM on Thursday: An emergency general body meeting of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, has been convened on Thursday at 10:30 am at Manipur Press Club, Imphal. This is in connection with two statements received at media offices from the KCP (MC) group. As there has been pressure from a quarter to publish one statement and not to publish the other, the meeting has been convened to decide the AMWJU’s stance. All AMWJU members and media editors have been asked to attend the emergency meeting. National Tent Pegging meet begins on Thursday: The National Tent Pegging Championships being held for the first time in Manipur, commences on Thursday at the Imphal Polo ground. The five day long competition is being organised with the theme, ‘Save Manipuri Pony’. Altogether eight teams, plus the hosts, will be participating in the competition, including the ITBP, Haryana; ASC, North Gaya; Assam Rifles, Jorhat; UP police; ASC, Bangalore; West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police and E...

Wildlife experts find droppings: Tamenglong, Dec 18: State wildlife experts investigating into the presence of a Bengal Tiger in Bhalok (Phalong) village on Tuesday discovered the droppings of the tiger and bones of a buffalo left after being eaten possibly by the tiger. With the detection of these materials, experts opined that a full grown tiger is present in and around the forest of Bhalok and five volunteers who were engaged by the forest department for close vigil on the movement of the tiger since December 2 and the villagers were asked to hunt for the foot prints of the tiger to ascertain its movement by the experts. An expert team of the state forest department comprising of L Biramangol Singh, Forest Range Officer (FRO), A Kuber Singh, FRO, Khomeimacha Kamson, FRO, Ninthemba, deputy forest ranger of wildlife wing on Tuesday detected the bones and muck at a spot located in the forest between Bhalok-Irang road at Bhalok-2 village where domestic cattle graze. After analysis, the ...

Govt. releases Rs. 208.40 cr on a single day: Imphal, Dec 11: Manipur government released a huge chunk of plan fund amounting to Rs. 208.40 crores in a day on November 26 from funds available in the budget. An official source said that the finance department agreed to the authorization of such a huge amount for meeting expenditures for implementation of projects under special plan assistance, in a move apparently related with the effort of the state government to achieve 70 percent plan expenditure by December 31. The released amount of Rs. 208.40 crores was 14.68 percent of the total outlay of 2007-08. The amount also exceeded the total expenditure incurred during seven months of the fiscal year 2007-08. The amount that was released on November 26 included a total amount of Rs. 57.50 crores for the construction guest houses at hill district headquarters including at Mao, Jiribam, construction of two floor Manipur Bhavan at Ulubari, improvement of Speaker and Deputy Speaker bungalow an...

Zeliangrong post-harvest celebration ends: Imphal: The annual post-harvest festival, Chakan Gan-Ngai celebration which was going on since December 5 at Luangrang (Nungnang) Village in Nungba sub-division of Tamenglong district concluded on Sunday. The five-day long celebration of the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong people was marked by cultural events like Mairapmei (igniting of sacred fire), traditional sports, performance of ritual rites, presentation of dances and songs, joint dinners for Khangchu-Luchu/Thel-Khel (members of Boys’ and Girls’ dormitories), reading of future omen and trekking to Long-kumei peak. Video film shooting of the event as documentary feature and research was another highlight of the celebra-tion. The same festival was celebrated at Tousem headquarters in last week of October this year. Posted On: The Sangai Express

Tousem villagers prefer Nagaland solace: Imphal, Dec 6: Disconnected to Imphal or other parts of Manipur, people of 13 villages of Katang and surrounding area in Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district have been heading to Nagaland for marketing and shopping and other purposes to the neighbouring State. Here, all educational programmes, health facilities and other development schemes under the Tribal Development Department have turned out to be an unpalatable joke. Katang is a frontier village of Manipur located about 20 kms north of Tamei sub-divisional Hqs. Hemmed in by the Barak river and the Maguiki river, the Katang villagers are most vulnerable to diseases spread by mosquitoes. But bad transport infrastructure or absence of it has been the worst misery of these hapless villagers. The harsh reality of the Katang villagers came to light only when a team of reporters went to interior areas of Tamei sub-division along with members of the Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (...