17 state boys on their way to world class sports training at Pune

IMPHAL, Feb 7: Seventeen boys from the state have been selected by the Army Sports Institute, Pune to undergo training with the institute, which has been establshed by the armed forces in pursuit of India`s quest for medals at the Olympics.The Manipuri boys went through a rigid and highly specialised array of tests at the Maha Union Public School ground before they were selected out of a total of 300 young children from the state who participated in the selections. The 17 boys aged between 10 to 12 years were among 26 boys who were shortlisted for the final tests and are now on their way to Pune along with their fathers.The Army Sports Institute had sent a talent scouting team to the state on the invitation of the 20 Assam Rifles and conducted the tests at Chandel from November 10 to 14 last year. The institute has its own officers, international coaches, doctors and consultants.The boys include those from the Naga, Kuki, Meitei and Muslim communities and during their stay at Pune the institute will be providing them free world class training infrastructure, boarding and lodging, public school education till Class X and an honourable career in the Army once they attain the age of 17.5 years.The boys were sent off on their way to Pune at a function at Pallel where the commander of the 26 Sector greeted each one of them and their parents.Mohd Khas Mohammad, the father of one of the selected boys Mohd Warish stated that his entire village in Thoubal district was extremely happy at the boy getting the dream opportunity with the aid of the Assam Rifles.Mohd Warish, who is just 11 years old, said that he never imagined he would get a chance like this in his life. He has already promised to be a army soldire and win a medal for the country.

State govt distributes 100 cycle rickshaws to beneficiaries

IMPHAL, Feb 7: With the main objective of enhancing income generating capacity leading to economic empowerment, the department of minorities and other backward classes (MOBC), government of Manipur distributed cycle rickshaws to 100 select beneficiaries belonging to the minorities and other backward classes under an economic development programme (EDP) for the year 2007-08.The distribution function was held at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles parade ground today with the state Governor Gurbachan Jagat as the chief guest. Md Alauddin Khan, minister for MOBC, RD and PR/FSY and M Prithiviraj Singh, MLA, graced the function as president and guest of honor respectively at the function.The Governor said that the plight of cycle rickshaw drivers and pullers of the state who could not afford to buy their own cycle rickshaws but depended on hired rickshaws would ease to some extent with the distribution of cycle rickshaws to 100 beneficiaries belonging to minority groups and 40 belonging to the OBC communities.The grant of cycle rickshaws to the poor and needy minorities and OBC rickshaw drivers would help them to a certain extent in enhancing their income generating capacity. He further said that everybody should take part in building a society free from caste and class, from exploitation of every kind, social and economic, racial and religious. The rickshaw drivers should also realise that they are contributing to the humanitarian services in society besides earning their livelihood, he added.So far, 21,008 beneficiaries who are below the poverty line have benefitted under various schemes of EDP since its inception in 1999-2000 with a total expenditure of Rs. 1,942.54 lakhs.However, some people in the city who did not take the humanitarian act kindly have said that in Imphal city rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were causing heavy congestion and the distribution of 100 more cycle rickshaws today would give more inconvenience to the traffic movement.

Ansari to open Moreh-Mandalay telecom link today

Mandalay (Myanmar), Feb 7: Wrapping up two days of intensive talks with Myanmar's top leaders focussing on security and economic cooperation, Vice President Hamid Ansari arrived here today on the final leg of his visit that will have a mix of serious business and sightseeing.Ansari will inaugurate an optical fibre link between Mo-reh town of Manipur bordering Myanmar and Mandalay, a bustling commercial town in northwestern part of the country whose importance from the point of business is next to Yangon.Connectivity has been a key theme in talks between the two countries for economic cooperation. The telecom link being executed by TCIL has been set up at a cost of seven million dollars given by the Exim Bank of India to Myanmar Government. The Vice-President will make the first call from Mandalay to Moreh tomorrow.Ansari today visited the picturesque Mandalay Hill which houses an ancient pagoda and attended a banquet hosted by the Mayor of Mandalay city. The Vice President will visit the Mandalay Palace and a pagoda tomorrow before returning to Delhi at the end of his four-day visit.

Development projects endangering citizens !

IMPHAL, Feb 7: Cases of allergy and asthma among the people has been on the rise as a result of the dust and other harmful particles in the air caused by the ongoing construction of roads and other projects in Imphal city, according to a study report of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases.The report also points out that death of around 30 children in Tipaimukh sub-division sometime during March-April last year was simply due to lack of basic health care facilities in the sub-division.It is said that digging up of the roads in Imphal in connection with laying pipeline of Imphal Sewerage Project, delay in black-topping of approach road after construction of bridges as well as deterioration in the condition of Tiddim Road and others leading to the city even before black-topping have all led to unpreceden-ted level in the pollution of the air with dust particle.When The Sangai Express conducted a survey in this regard, it was noticed that traffic police personnel on duty at various points of the city were wearing masks and pedestrians covering their noses and mouths with cloths to avoid inhaling dust particles.Even though State Government has consistently assured of giving a new look to Imphal city along with black-topping of the roads after the onset of working season, the new look of Imphal still remains illusive from the view of the people.On the possible health hazard posed to the people from being exposed to the dust particle enveloping air of the city, Additional Director of Public Health Dr Th Bhubonchandra observed that cases of asthma and allergy on skin in the State had been on the rise.Instances of coughing, sneezing, etc are becoming very common as a result of inhaling these dust particle, he noted. The Additional Director himself admitted that he too has been wearing mask and caps even while driving inside his car to protect himself from the dust particle. On the other hand, death of around 30 children in Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district during March-April last year has been attributed to lack of basic health care infrastructure in the sub-division. According to a report of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases forwarded to the State Health Dept, even if the main causes of the deaths were respiratory tract infection, the problem had been aggravated due to absence of doctors, other medical staff and necessary medicines in the hospital of the sub-division. As to the hospitalisation of over 30 villagers of Misao Lhouvom located near Khuga Dam of Churachand-pur district from an alleged unknown diseases recent, results of the clinical test conducted have been found to be negative as the villagers have suffered from fever, another source conveyed. To contain outbreak of any disease at any time and place, the Health Department is prepared along with setting up of its rapid response teams, the source added.

Credit Card facility soon in State

IMPHAL, Feb 7: The State denizens will see ‘plastic money’ soon as the State Bank of India (SBI) is making all out efforts to bring Credit Card facility to its customers. This upcoming development was announced today by Assistant General Manager SBI, Imphal Benu Hazarika while speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of the bank held at SBI Old building at MG Avenue. Benu Hazarika said that the public sector bank had launched the facility in Guwahati recently with similar facility to be extended to the State at the earliest. He further said that despite its low interest rate, the rate of availing Home Loans in the State is very low. He however opined that it might be due to people of the State not aware enough regarding the facilities provided by the bank in Home Loans. Benu Hazarika also said that four more ATM machines have already arrived and will be installed at MG Avenue branch shortly in addition to the two existing ATMs. He also expressed confidence that with the installation of these four machines, the customers would be mitigated from the associated inconveniences of having to stand in long queues.To sort out the technical complicacies, if any, Benu maintained that the Imphal branch has purchased new UPSs and a 100 KVA generator. With regard to ‘connectivity’ with other branches within the State and beyond, it depends fully on the service provided by BSNL, Benu added. The Assistant General Manager further said that the branch has also conveyed to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding the ‘mutilated notes’ circulating in the State. The Imphal branch has also a Coin Vending machine from which one can draw out any number of coins, he informed. Benu also said highlighted to the gathering that SBI is providing Real Time Gross Settlement Scheme (RTGSS) in which any SBI customer can transact money to the accounts of other banks with a minimal charge of Rs 25. To provide paperless and hassle free banking to its customers, the bank too is providing Internet Banking (INB) like any other private banks. Business community can enjoy benefits from SBI through Power Pact and Power Gain facilities, he added. The Golden Jubilee celebration function was graced by former Minister Lt Col (Retd) H Bhubon Singh as chief guest and SBISA NE-Circle, CVP Th Rohini-kumar and SBI Develop- ment Banking Division Ma-nager Tonglu as guests of honour. SBI Imphal AGM Benu Hazarika presided over the function. The SBI Imphal which was launched on January 25, 1959 with taking over of manpower and infrastructures from the erstwhile Manipur State Bank Limited now has 20 branches in the State.

Education Department mulls sponsoring students to US

IMPHAL, Feb 7: To sponsor education of two native students in the field of Atmospheric Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Ecology from Undergraduate level in the United States of America, the Education Department of the State has started holding talks in this regard.Conveying this to The Sangai Express, an official source informed that the State Government has been considering to sponsor ed-ucation of students in the three disciplines and in this connection the State Education Department has been establishing communication with authorities concerned of the United States of America.After finalisation of the matter, the State Government would be signing an agreement formally in this regard, the source informed, adding that the agreement is likely to be signed within the current year after a detailed discussion of the matter very soon.The proposed agreement, however, would not be applicable to whole of United States of America and it would confine only to the States concerned with which the agreement of the signed, the source further disclosed.The number of students to be sponsored may be increased after considering the expenditure and the available resources of the State, the source said, adding that the State Govern- ment is also considering sponsoring the education of the students in the United States of America in the field of Agriculture and Animal Sciences.For sponsoring the education of the students in the three disciplines, preference would be given to those who have opted Physics and Mathematics , the source said.Meanwhile, according to another source the Chief Minister has given his approval in-principle on the proposal of introducing ‘One Laptop per Child’ Scheme for students at the primary level. The State Government has earmarked Rs 3 crores for implementation of the scheme and the officials of the company concerned manufacturing the laptops have been invited to come to Imphal in this connection.

One shot dead, two bodies found

IMPHAL, Feb 7: A suspected KYKL activist has been gunned down by Thoubal police commandos while two bullet riddled bo-dies were recovered from a paddy field alongside an inter-village road in between Phumlou and Lairenkabi this morning with one of the deceased identified by family members later today.According to a statement issued by SP (Thoubal) Clay Khongsai, a team of district police commandos rushed to Phundrei Langathel at about 3 pm today to conduct operation following on information regarding movement of KYKL cadres in the specified area.About 30 minutes later when the commandos were inching towards langathel Phundrei hill 2/3 youths opened fire resulting in a brief encounter during which one got killed and others managed to escape towards the hill.Subsequent search of the encounter spot yielded in the recovery of one 9 mm pistol and a magazine with two live rounds from near the body of the slain militant, the SP added.On the otherhand, bodies where the two persons were found falls within the jurisdiction of Lamshang police station in Imphal West district.According to police report, the victims were found at around 6.30 am today with their hands tied behind and one fatal wound each on the heads.Police speculate both might have been shot in the night.Family members identified one of the deceased as Loitongbam Angelo (33) s/o L Rajen of Konjengbam Leikai who also used to stay at Mongshangei and Yu-rembam.Informing that Angelo’s original birthplace was Konjengbam Leikai but stayed at his mother’s maternal home in Mong- shangei after separation of his parents, the family members who identified the de- ceased at RIMS morgue today further said Angelo used to frequent to his wife’s place in Yurembam as well as his aunty’s at Chirang.They also quoted eyewitnesses as saying that Angelo was whisked away by some unidentified persons at around 8 pm yes- terday from Koutruk area where he had gone to watch a religious programme (lai haraoba).An insurance agent, who was also involved in contract works, Angelo is survived by his wife and three daughters.The other victim is clad in a blue colour jeans, black jacket, T-shirt with red-black stripes and wore a chappal. Lamshang police have registered a case on the matter.In the meantime, official measures have been taken for disposal of a body awaiting identification at RIMS morgue. A statement issued today by Officer in-charge of Moreh Station said the body would be disposed off in case the same is not identified/claimed by tomorrow. The corpse was among two suspected underground activists slain by troops of 29 AAR at Leibi village of Chandel district on January 30 night.

Village Defence Forces Recruitment

IMPHAL, Feb 7: The State Government today issued notification for the recruitment of 1550 Village Defence Forces (VDF) who will be deputed with regular police personnel at police stations and outposts. The recruitment process will commence from February 15. Three hundred and fifty VDFs each will be recruited for Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur districts respectuvely while 500 VDFs would be reserved for duty in Thoubal district alone. The VDFs will be initially engaged for one year with a monthly remuneration of Rs 3000, which can be extended subsequently.Interested persons may participate in the recruitment which will take place at 2nd Bn Manipur Rifles ground, MPTS Pangei, BASU Ground (Khangabok) and Bishnupur Mini Stadium for Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts respectively, informed a press release issued by State DGP Yumnam Joykumar.Application forms for the said recruitment are available in the offices of respective SPs of the district from February 10, added the release.