Behiang determined to ensure education for its children

From M Kaimuanthang
Lamka, Dec 24 : Even at a time the Central government spends huge amounts of money running into crores of rupees so as to boost literacy rate of the country, many people are still living in the world of ignorance and poverty due to lack of education to date. 
Many ambitious schemes like the Sarva Siksha Abhyan, SSA, besides others launched so far by the government does not yield the desired result and for that matter the mind boggling problems of how to acquaint rural poor with atleast basic education has continued to remained unaddressed.
High rate of school dropouts in the rural areas is the natural result due to various reasons.
According to a survey conducted by IFP in Singngat Behaing areas which isregarded as one of the most backward and illiterate areas of Churachandpur district atleast six childrens per village in the area drop out of school each year.
About 65 or more students from about 14 villages also drop out of schools in the area each year after completing their classes IV or V. 
While talking to the parents of these school drop outs about the reasons, it was discovered that most of these students discontinued their studies as they had no hope to afford attending higher classes in towns particularly in privately run schools in Churachandpur after classes V standards.
At the same areas for 13 villages there exist a grant in aid schools with 35 teachers who draws altogether an annual salary to the tune of Rs 5,20,930. 
There have also been about 22 district council school with the teachers drawing an amount of Rs. 4,84,000 annually.  Apart from this there are schoolless teachers under the ZEO besides other mission schools under various church denomination. 
Inspite of this the education standard of the people continued to remained backward.
Concerned by the situation the United Zou Organisation, UZO, launched a new Education Policy and Programmes with a plan to established a school catering education upto Class X standard at three villages into the areas of Behiang, Muallum, Tuining and Sachih villages from the next year.
The UZO leadership under the president GS Haupu and general secretaryChinminthang organised on December 22 a public discussion at Behiang on the new UZO education policy which was attended by a good number of senior citizens and parents from the areas.
During the discussions it was agreed by one and all that education isindispensableand all must try every possible means to set up a school of Class-X standards in all the four villages. 
GS Haupu the UZO president said that development in education is the need for all and added that it is painful to see children dropping out of school after completing Class V only. 
He has also made a point that inspite of the existence of so many schools on paper, children could not make any headway in the field of education.
He said it is for the parents to do a rethink over reasons of such a state ofunderdevelopment and find an alternative.

Two Kuki victims of Nongbrang mob were innocents: Police

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 24: Preliminary finding of the Thoubal district police regarding the lynching of two youths at Nongbram village under Yairipok police station said that the two victims of mob were innocents and police in the followed up action picked up some villagers suspected to have been involved in the incident.

A statement issued by the Senior SP, Clay Khongsai of Thoubal today during the spot verification, police has established that the was imposed by the Nogbrang villagers on the road against extortion and threats by suspected KNF(P).

Suspected KNF cadres came and dispersed the bandh and fired some blank rounds which resulted into the injury of three women of the Nongbrang village. The two Kuki youths who were on their way to Bungbal Khuleen village for Christmas and stranded at Nongbrang due to bandh were the victims of the violent mob erupted as a result of dispersion act of the suspected KNF activists.

The two Kuki youths having been identified and has since been confirmed to be innocent victims and also students study in Shillong. In the aftermath of the incident, security has been deployed at Nongbrang village for the fear stricken villagers on the same day. At the same time, some suspected have been picked up in connection with the incident, the statement of the SSP informed and appealed to all to maintain peace and tranquility.

Meanwhile, blockade along the NH-39 at Keithelmanbi by the villagers has ended and normal passage of vehicles resumed today.

MTPRM condemns
IMPHAL, Dec 24 : The Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) has strongly condemned the killing of two Kuki students by Nongbrang villagers on December 22. The claim of Nongbrang villagers which were published in local dailies were all fabricated as Paosat Kipgen and Paolenlal Chongloi were never associated with any UG outfits in Manipur.
After thorough investigation, it is learnt that Paosat Kipgen was a student who graduated from Goodwill College, Shillong and cleared CPO (SI) exam 2009 and is set to appear for the interview on January 2, said a press release issued by MTPRM. 
Paolenlal Chongloi finished his M Com exam on December 16 under NEHU Shillong and was waiting for result. Both of them worked for KSO Shillong as Arts and Culture secretary and Games and Sports secretary respectively. 
As Paosat Kipgen hailed from Bongbal Khullen, Paosat along with his parents and friend Paolenlal Chongloi came to Manipur to celebrate Christmas at Bongbal Khullen and also to collect necessary documents from Yairipok police station for CPO (SI) interview. As they reached near Nongbrang village, all the vehicles were forced to go back. At this, Paosat rang up his parents asking to fetch them from Nongbrang. Accordingly, one villager went to fetch them. However, before reaching the spot, Kamching villagers informed him about the tense situation. So he returned home. A few minutes later, people of Nongbrang village stormed into Keithelmanbi Bazar and thrashed many people who were shopping there, the MTPRM said. Contending that there was no shoot-out between KNF cadres and IRB jawans at Keithelmanbi dam, it said that villagers heard sound of one gunfire at Nongbrang village side. There was some misunderstanding between Nongbrang villagers and KNF cadres, it said while appealing to all UG outfits not to demand money from the public unnecessarily. It further questioned if any passenger or passer-by could be killed and blame as culprits in the event of any bandh or blockade. (TSE)

MTC serves ultimatum to Govt

S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Dec 24: The Manipur Tribals' Council (MTC) in its attempt to
coerce the government on issuing election notification for district
council election, serve an ultimatum to the state government and
threatened to go on strike and indefinite economic blockade if their
dateline is not endorsed. Detailing the woes of the state tribals and
the subsequent denial of their right, the MTC said, in case the
government fails to issue election notification of the district
council on or before 16 January, 2010 an agitation it deemed fit will
be initiated so as to enjoy the tribal people rights and privileges
enshrine in the constitution.
The MTC also comes heavy on the recent incident wherein two tribals
students were allegedly lynched to death. Insisting that the incident
has shown that there is no human relation between hill and plain
people in the state of Manipur, a separate statement of the council
said the Christmas eve incident was in consonant with what have been
done at this time of the year in many succeeding years. (TSE)

CMO/CCpur denies involvement
By S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Dec 24: Expressing surprise over the threat issued to the Chief
Medical Officer of Churachandpur and published in the December 22
Manipuri edition of this paper, CMO/Churachandpur Dr Singkhozam today
said he was not at all aware of the accusation made against him nor
was involved in any such activity.
Failing to reason the basis on which KCP (KK Nganba group) issued a
threat to attack him at any available opportunity, Dr Singkhozam said
neither him nor his accountant were aware of any incident wherein he
was conniving with an armed group.
The threat he believed may have cropped up from a recent incident in
the district hospital, but claimed he was in no way connected with the
District Hospital that was managed by a Superintendent.( TSE)

2 Kuki youths killed, tension in Manipur

IMPHAL, DEC 23: High tension prevailed today in Manipur following the lynching of two Kuki youths, said to be students of NEHU, Shillong by villagers of Nungbrang in Thoubal district on Tuesday.
A lightning bandh on National Highway 39 was imposed today by people living in Sardar Hills area and many vehicles were damaged by protestors. However, the bandh was relaxed after the State Government assured to initiate action to book the culprits by December 31.
 On Tuesday, villagers of Nungbrang in Thoubal district staged a sit-protest and called for a bandh in protest against the monetary demand letters served by a Kuki underground group. Reports said that some Kuki militants, who came in a vehicle were prevented by bandh supporters. In the tussle the UG cadres reportedly opened blank-fire but in the process three women of Nungbrang village were injured. Thereafter, a furious mob stated intensifying the bandh. At the moment the two Kuki youths came along in an auto-rickshaw and the mob chased them and then lynched them. However, villagers of the two slain youths claimed that Paosat Kipgen was a degree student and Paolal Chongloi was doing his Masters at NEHU, Shillong and they had come back home to Manipur for Christmas. (Newmai News Network)

BSNL broadband a farce in CCpur

By S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Dec 23: The state owned BSNL's broadband despite its introduction in this township some years back, resembles a farce as the number of days it was worth nothing supersedes its actual working days.
For the past one month or so, for reasons best known to the department, the BSNL broadband fails to cons-tantly function for a day, and added to the subscri-bers' apathy was the cons- tant degradation of it ser-vices.
The erratic broad- band service of the state run BSNL has also forced many vernacular media houses in the district to run after pri-vate services such as Tata's Photon or SIM based GPRS providers.
As the private players are yet to introduce the speed resembling that of the BSNL and the high price they charge for their ser-vice, these houses inclu- ding Cyber Cafes and indi-vidual surfers were affected the most.
Despite the proximity of the district to the state capital and all weathered road connectivity, the infor-mation technology that was supposedly assumed to break the barriers fails to connect the local populace of the district with the other world and the many complaints lodged with the telecom office here barely falls on the ears of two technical assistants that were simply entrusted by the irregular officers including the JTO.(TSE)

Two lynched under contradictory claims

 

 

IMPHAL, Dec 23 : At least three women protesters have been injured in a firing attack by cadres of the KNF (P) while two 'alleged cadres' of the same outfit have been hacked to death by infuriated villagers of Nongbrang yesterday.
However claims have been raised that the two victims were innocent students, who had recently returned home from Shillong.
Nongbrang womenfolk were staging a protest demonstration against monetary demand served to them by KNF (P) which incidentally is a signatory of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with both the State and Central Governments.
As the womenfolk were blocking the Yairipok-Nongpok Keithelmanbi road since morning followed by a public meeting near Nongbrang community hall, about 12 kms North of Yairipok police station in Imphal East district yesterday, one Maruti van and a mini truck coming from Yairipok side were stopped.
Shortly after, around 20 cadres of KNF (P) including 10 armed cadres clad in combat fatigue arrived at the spot and asked why the road was being blocked. The next moment, the armed cadres opened fire towards the unarmed women protesters.
The firing caused bullet injuries to Pukhrihongbam Memcha (40) of Nongbrang Mayai Leikai, Nameirakpam Maloti (40) of Nongbrang Awang Leikai and Akoijam Mema (40) of the same locality.
Memcha sustained injuries on the right thigh and leg.
Her condition is said to be serious. She is undergoing treatment in Shija Hospital.
Enraged over the assault and resulting injuries to the three women, the villagers ran out in unison and chased the KNF (P) cadres with weapons like clubs, swords etc in their hands.
At this moment, the two vehicles stopped by the womenfolk drove away towards Keithelmanbi. The KNF (P) cadres also ran away towards Keithelman-bi, firing in the air as they ran.
But the mob could catch two cadres. The enraged mob hacked them to dead at Leirongthel agricultural fields. The villagers said that the armed cadres were all staying at Bongbal Khu-llen across Keithelmanbi barrage.
One individual who came to the place of incident was detained by the crowd but was freed later.
At about 7.30 pm of December 20, some KNF (P) cadres came to Nongbrang and demanded that each grocery shop of the village should give them two bags of dal, one bag of potato and one tin of cooking oil.
Accusing one shop-keeper of deliberately closing the shop at their arrival, the KNF (P) smashed the door of the shop. They also kicked the woman shop-keeper.
Truck owners of the village engaged in transporta- tion of sand were also asked to give Rs 3000 each. The same outfit made a similar demand of Rs 3000 each from all passenger auto-rickshaw owners and sand quarry owners.
In addition to these multiple demands made to peo- ple occupying different pro-fessions, the KNF (P) prohi- bited even keeping big dogs. They threatened to shoot and kill big dogs if they see one, conveyed one villager.
Unable to bear all these burdens and harassments, the village womenfolk undertook a protest demonstration today.
Fearful of revenge strike by the Kuki militant group, Nongbrang villagers have fled away from their homesteads following today's incident.
The villagers, particularly women and children, are now taking shelter at the relief camp opened at the residence of MLA Th Shyamkumar at Yairipok. Some other villagers are taking refuge at the homes of their relatives.
On the other hand, there was an exchange of fire for about 10 minutes between IRB jawans and KNF (P) cadres near Keithelmanbi Dam at about 4.15 pm yesterday.
The two suspected KNF (P) cadres killed by the enraged mob have been iden- tified as Paosat Kipgen (25) s/o Lhunkhojan of Bongbal Khullen and Paolen Chong-loi (25) s/o Chongkhothang of Keithelmanbi Military Colony.
However, Lhunkhojan maintained that the duo were students studying at Shillong besides being functionaries of KSO Shillong branch. They came to Keithelmanbi from Shillong on December 19. Then they came to Old Lambulane on December 21 and put up the night there.
They came to Yairipok from Imphal yesterday. At Yairipok, they reserved an auto-rickshaw and headed for Paosat's home at Bong-bal Khullen to celebrate Christmas there. They might have come across yesterday's incident on their way to Bongbal Khullen, Lhunkhojan said.
Meanwhile, decrying the killing of Paosat Kipgen and Paolen Chongloi, NH 39 has been blocked between Motbung and Kangpokpi since this morning.
Following the blockade, a number of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway.
On the other hand, a JAC has been constituted by the villagers of Nungaipokpi, Tumukhong, Itham and Nongbrang in the aftermath of yesterday's incident. It is reported that all these villages have been reeling under the frequent monetary demands of KNF (P).
Later in the evening that a team of the JAC may called on Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and gave a detail account of yesterday's incident.
They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister. In response, Ibobi assured that he would look into the demands of the JAC at the earliest.
A spokesperson of the JAC said they would be urging upon the Chief Minister to restrict KNF (P) cadres to their designated camps, avert such unwanted incidents in future, open posts of state security force at Nongbrang and Itham and another one at Nungaipokpi, if possible as well as extension of financial assistance to the injured victims. The KNF (P) cadres now staying at Bongbal Khullen were the same gro-up who severely thrashed two villagers of neighbouring Keihao village for delivering meals late on July 27 this year. Earlier in March, Keihao Pastor was beaten up by the same group.(TSE)

 

Appeal for calm
Newmai News Network
Imphal, Dec 23: The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students' Organisation-General Hqs (KSO), Move- ment for Tribal Peoples' Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) and All Colleges Tribal Students' Organisation Manipur (ACTSOM) have expressed their utmost concern over the killing of two Kuki youths by Nong-brang villagers.
The students bodies have appealed to all sections of the people in Manipur to remain calm and to apply wisdom so that no unwanted incident crops up. The five student bodies also urged the State Government to address the matter with urgency so that things do not flare up. The student bodies while strongly condemning the incident, have said that every concern social organisation should come out and find ways so that such ugly incidents are not repeated in future. Meanwhile, leaders of ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO carried out a spot visit to resolve the matter today.

Second airport for Mizoram

Silchar, Dec. 22: The Airport Authority of India (AAI), in association with the Mizoram government, is now all set to construct the second airport in the state as part of its scheme to ensure quick journeys in this hilly section of the region.

According to a senior government official, the airport will be set up at Kawmzawl, about 25km from the state's second biggest town of Lunglei in its southern flank bordering both Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The official added that the civil aviation ministry had already given a go ahead to the scheme to construct the second airport in Lunglei district, nearly 235km south of the capital Aizawl.

At present Mizoram has a lone airport at Lengpui, about 40km from Aizawl, where aircraft like Boeing and Airbus can land.

Lengpui was commissioned in 1994 at the cost of Rs 375 crore.

Mizoram chief minister Lalthanhawla has already asked for a central grant of Rs 9.8 crore from the 13th Finance Commission, in its first phase, to get the airport project started.

The official said the tentative deadline for the construction for the Lunglei airport at Kawmzawl has been set for early 2012.

The length of this small airport will be 750 metres and its width is estimated at 150 metres.

The source said at first only small aircraft, ranging from those which are nine-seaters to others having 19 seats, would be used for landing and taking off from this airport.

A yearlong survey for an ideal site for the airport in the southern part of Mizoram to identify at least two sites was started in the final months of 2008. The survey was done jointly by the AAI and the PWD department of the Mizoram government.

Phaizang helpawl hidia gingtak te'n, mawhna neilou siamsin naupang 2 mulkimna beiin kaplum uh.

 

LAMKA Dec23: Zan nitaklam dak 3 vel in UNLF hidia gingtak te'n Bongbal Kholen, Saikul subdivision, Sadar Hill mun a Christmas zang dia Shillong akipat inn pai poikhoihlou  Mr. Paosat Kipgen, BA 3rd Year, Goodwill College tulel a Secretary, Social & Culture KSO Shillong leh Mr. Paolen Chongloi, M.Com 3rd Sem, NEHU tulel a Asst. Secy Games & Sports KSO Shillong te mulkimna beiin kaplum in om uhi.(KF)

HRD Minister raps State on scholarship slack

HRD Minister raps State on scholarship slack
The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 19: Expressing serious concern over the failure of the State Education Board to submit the meritwise list of eligible students under the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal has sought the personal intervention of the Chief Minister for issuing suitable directives to the Education Board.
According to an official source, the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India initiated a scholarship scheme titled 'Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students' from the year 2008-09 for the benefit of students of class XII in pursuing higher studies.
The source explained that under this scheme, 82,000 fresh scholarships (4100 for girls and 4100 for boys) would be awarded each year to meritorious students from poor families for pursuing higher studies. The eligible students are to be selected from among the students of class XII who secure 80 percent and above marks and they would be entitled to get Rs 10,000 per annum for graduation level studies and Rs 20,000 per annum at the post-graduation level. The list of the eligible students is to be furnished to the Ministry by the State Education Board concerned.
However, in case of Manipur which is supposed to select 181 meritorious students, the Ministry has not yet re- ceived the meritwise list of the eligible students from the State Education Board, the source disclosed.
Consequently, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development has written to the Chief Minister directing the latter for personal intervention in the matter and issue suitable instructions to the State Education Board so that the meritorious Manipuri students are not deprived of this scholarship.

In his letter, the Union Minister has also pointed out that the funds not utilised in the current financial year would lapse and cannot be carried over to the next year. Besides this, students who are not awarded scholarship in the first year would find it extremely difficult to claim in the subsequent years and this would be a great loss to the meritorious students of Manipur who would lose out on this valuable scholarship, for no fault of theirs, the source further said.

Kiran Jagat attends school function in Churachandpur
S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Dec 19: The first lady of the State, Kiran Jagat, wife of Governor Gurbachan Jagat today attended the annual prize distribution day of Lalpuithluaii Foundation School here and handed over prizes to meritorious students of the school.
Praising the efforts of Vunglallian and Shanti in their endeavour of guiding the students in the right path, Kiran Jagat lauded for the achievements, the school has earned in the past 25 years of its existence.
Besides annual prizes, the Lady Governor feted former students of the school who have excelled in different professions like journalism, Air Force, medical, business, technology etc in the function.(TSE)

BSNL launches 3G mobile services in Aizawl

AIZAWL, DEC 19 (AGENCIES):
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today launched its third-generation (3G) mobile services in Aizawl, offering a plethora of services like live TV, high-speed mobile broadband and movie download facilities.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla marked the launch at a formal function here by making a video-call to Gopal Das, Director (HR) BSNL Board, New Delhi. Mr Thanhawla lauded the BSNL for being the world's seventh largest telecommunications company and for launching such high-technology services in one of the remotest parts of India. He also urged the company to expand and improve its network to cover the entire state and to ensure undisturbed network even in times of monsoon related disasters like landslides.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the 3G mobile service would prove to be helpful for video conferencing and telemedicine facilities, reported UNI.
However, he was worried by the huge amount of money Mizoram was spending on mobile phones. ''It is estimated that there are three to four lakhs mobile phone customers in Mizoram and they spend an estimated total amount Rs ten crore monthly for mobile phone bills. This is a whooping figure for a small state like Mizoram. This 3G service is likely to cost us more,'' he stated. He also emphasised the need to check cyber crimes, which has increased along with the advancement in information technology.
The BSNL had launched the 3G mobile services nation-wide earlier in February this year.
BSNL official Gopal Das described the 3G launch as an historic event for the company. The 3G mobile service enables a range of upgraded services, including rich voice, data and video services and high speed internet, to the subscribers. 3G makes possible video streaming applications such as live TV, movie downloads, high speed data download on mobile phones with 3G services enabled. Callers can also see each other on their mobile phone screens.
It will be launched in Lunglei, Champhai and Kolasib districts of Mizoram shortly, Mr Das said.

More airports in Mizoram soon

AIZAWL, DEC 18: Mizoram is going to have more airports soon, kudos to Lal Thanhawla led Congress government. It is reported that in collaboration with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the government of Mizoram will establish more airports in the state soon.

Reports said that in Lunglei district, two airports will be set up in which a survey work has been carried out.
The two airports will be known as Kawmzawl Airport and Saitluk Airport.
Elaborate survey in this regard had been done. AAI too had already conducted its survey recently.
The practical work of construction will commence immediately which is expected to happen soon, government official sources said.
As part of taking up the project, officials from Airport Authority of India (AAI), Lunglei, High Power Committee vice chairman Joseph Lalhlimpuia; Parliamentary Secretary to government of Mizoram S Laldingliana; Lunglei DC M Zohmingthangi and other high officials from state government had conducted final survey on December 16.
The Kawmzawl Airport would be used for small plane like 9-seater while Saitluk Airport would be for normal aircrafts, AAI officials said.
The Airport Authority of India had urged the central government to release the fund so that the project work could be taken up on war-footing.
According to reliable sources, government of Mizoram had asked Rs 9.8 crores from the Finance Commission for this purpose. Newmai News Network