Tourism or Trade Fair? Get the fact right
Imphal, November 23: Charging entry fee from the visitors has defeated the very purpose of organizing the Manipur Tourist Festival-2011, which is currently underway at Hafta Kangjeibung here, with the stated objective of promoting Manipur as ‘world class tourism destination’, according to visitors at the fair.
Billed as the biggest tourism festival ever in Manipur, the event is being organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur in co-ordination with other government departments and agencies.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, some of the visitors have questioned the idea behind levying entry fee to the festival pavilion. “The organizer should have a very clear about the concept of a festival and a trade fair. Charging entry fee of Rs 10 per head may be understandable if it is a trade fair or the event is being organized by some NGOs. But for a festival organized by the government, and that too, for the promotion of tourism, the whole purpose is defeated”, observed Programme Executive of AIR, Imphal, Bijaya Yulembam, who was among the teeming number of visitors coming to the festival.
“Are they going to charge fee from the visiting tourists (foreigners) as well? And how this is going to help in promotion of tourism?”, she wondered.
In the same vein, a government employee who came to the festival along with his family members pointed out that it is not the amount of the entry fee they charged but the whole notion of organizing a tourism festival that is questionable.
Requesting anonymity for obvious reason, the employee contended, “If the Tourism Department is short of fund, why it is organizing the festival in the first place?”
“In fact, amid all these prolonged bandhs and blockades, the tourism festival should come as relief to the wearied people and not as another burden”, wife of the employee opined.
Meanwhile, reiterating that the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, 2011 is being organized to introduce Manipur to tourism map of the world, Commissioner of Tourism KK Chhetry has appealed to all the civil bodies in the state to refrain from imposition of bandh or blockade during the course of the festival which would go on till November 30.
Talking to mediapersons, Chhetry explained that imposition of bandh and blockade may cause problem to many people who are willing to come and participate in the festival.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Kuki rights body appeals to lift blockade
Imphal, November 23: Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KMHR) appealed UNC leaders to lift the ongoing economic blockade with immediate effect for consideration of human sufferings in the state.
In a press release, issued by Chairman T Lunkim, KMHR, stated that the session of Christmas ought to be free from all kinds of disorderliness in the family, village and the state for the preparation of the joyous celebration of the birth day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For whatever reasons, disintegration of the state territory, southern Nagaland, greater Nagaland, alternative arrangement and countering the Sadar Hills District, the matter can be settled for peace and social harmony, and the same can be done by negotiation with competent authority. Remembering that in Manipur, in the hill areas in particular the tribals (Kukis and Nagas) have been living together as neighbours from the time immemorial,” it stated.
He further stated, “When the mighty British wanted to colonize the land of Manipur and the Kuki Inpi fought them back in both fighting and the imprisonment, thus saved the ancestral land for all the people of Manipur. Very sadly when the merger agreement was signed much against of the Kuki Inpi plea, the valley land has been lost. However we, tribal people, still maintaining land ownership till today. There is no watertight compartment areas which one particular tribe should claim as its own land. We own the land together in peace. Any misunderstanding of this ownership right by vested individual interest may rather endanger the undisturbed ownership, therefore communal interest has to be given up forthwith,” it added.
Further, urging the UNC to lift the economic blockade, the release stated that whatever the future holds, for the sake of the session of Christmas in order that we all celebrate Christmas by singing “Joy to the world and Lord has come”, who is the price of peace.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
Kenyan in Manipur festival
Imphal, Nov 23: One of the most crowded stalls in the ongoing Manipur tourism festival, The Sangai Festival 2011 at the historic Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal, is ‘Africa Kenya’ stall selling all kinds of attractive items, including African massaimala, a yellow wood in natural colour.
Africa Kenya booth, sold items ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 3,0000, said its owner Mariam Idd Makame, a Kenyan and her husband Ruel Bo Laranjo, a Philipino.
She told Newmai News Network the she “really love the Sangai Festival and the people are so warm” and because of the hospitality, she came back again to the fest this year also.
“The response of the people is very nice and they are attracted to the items sold at our stall. No time to take rest due to non-stop proceeds. People are flooding around our booth buying all kinds of items. An officer came enquired yesterday at the stall as it was overcrowded with customers”, Makane said.
Lady bags, cowboy hats made of camel skin, and clothes which are usually used in making queen’s special clothes are also available in the form of lady bags, she informed.
The cowboy hats which are sold at Rs 500 per piece is one of the most favourite items of customers. A giraffe statue, men, women and many items made of Africa massaimala are also attracted by the people, the couple said.
Ruel Bo Laranjo met Makane in Kenya and married her where he used to work before and its is his first time in the Sangai Festival, he said.
Makane further said she is looking forward to come again here along with their children to participate in the fete next year.
Interestingly, the couple has 10 different stores in three countries called “African Bags and Jewellery”, five in Kenya, three in Philippines and another five in India.
It is worth noting that so many foreigners have been participating in the ongoing festival which was inaugurated on Monday by Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh at Hatta Kangjeibung here.
People from countries like Kenya, Myanmar, Thailand and North Korea are participating in the festival. Exhibition and sale of local products like handloom and handicraft items, exhibition of indigenous games like Mukna Kangjei, Mukna, Kang, Yubu Lakpi, Sagol Kangjei and Arambai are featuring in the festival.
Other events like, adventure sports and eco-tourism like expeditions to Dzuko valley, Loktak Lake and Lamdan, rock-climbing, Para-gliding are also be included in the festival which ends on November 30.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
Film on Sharmila awarded
IMPHAL,Nov 23: A film on Manipur’s human rights activist and poet Irom Chanu Sharmila was awarded best documentary award in the 2nd Siliguri International Short and Documentary film festival.
The 15 minute film is titled ‘The Silent Poet’ produced and directed by journalist Borun Thokchom, correspondent of Guwahati based TV channel DY365. “The festival committee informed me to come and receive a certificate and a memento during an award distribution function to be held at Siliguri on November 27″,says the young film maker Borun when contacted.
The film that highlights the poetic side of Sharmila who has been on indefinite fast since November 2, 2000, was edited by Biju Das. Out of the many poems she has written, she narrates “O’ Stranger” mirroring the amalgamation of events happening in Manipur, North-East India.
Iron Lady of Manipur has been on a hunger strike since November 2, 2000 to have the act, which provides unlimited powers to security forces to shoot at sight and arrest anybody without a warrant, repealed. Sharmila launched the indefinite hunger strike after she heard the killing of 10 people by armymen in Malom, on the outskirts Imphal. Inside a highly guarded hospital prison, 39 year old Sharmila scribes her notebook while serving her sentence for “attempt to commit suicide”.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
500 delicacies in Sangai festival
Imphal, November 23: “If you wanted to have a unique taste to tingle your taste bud you should visit Chinzak( food)court of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2011 at Hafta Kangjeibung in Manipur’s state capital.”
This was a quick reaction from Khuraijam Athouba, one of the coordinator of the Chinzak (food) court when this reporter tried to explore what are other attraction besides adventure, cultural and musical extravaganza of the ongoing the state tourism festival which is popularly known to the local populace as Sangai festival which entered third day today.
Of the 300 stalls offering different varieties of handloom and handicraft products of more than 30 different ethnic groups of Manipur besides health care services and others, more than 100 food stalls in the festival have been offering more than 500 different indigenous delicious cuisines and mouth-watering continental delicacies and dishes. Above all Thailand food stalls are another attraction of the festival.
Food lovers can check out for the typical local cuisine of the season such as Chakhao bora or Chakhao matum (Pakoda made of puffed sticky black rice) Koujeng Kanghou, (Fried Locust),Oak Chagem pomba, a typical skilled pork curry, varieties of chicken, dug and pork fry and curries, Ngaprum Singju, a spicy eel-salad, local sauces, rice beer, fermented juice etc.
“So if you wanted to promote tourism, we need to focus on our foods resources including the indigenous ones because they are the key components of attracting tourists these days in the region”, says Athouba. “Visitors hardly escape from the food court once they strolled in whether they buy goods or not.”
Urging to maintain neat and cleanliness besides having a separate smoking zone and avoiding use of plastics, KK Chhetry, Tourism Commissioner expressed the need to have quality tourism instead of quantity tourism.
Having regular food waste cleaning mechanism utilizing two water tankers daily besides installing fire extinguisher etc, the food court seem to have a well organized look unlike previous festivals.
However the continental food stalls outnumbered the indigenous food stalls overshadowing popular local snacks such as Kabok (sweet made of puffed rice), Heingan(fruit candy),Watin (Gram flour snacks), local Rasogola in the food court of the festival which is scheduled to conclude on November 30. Is this the sign of a quality tourism, comments a visitor.
Sobhapati Samom
Source : Hueiyen News Service
Anti-talk ULFA names 16-member committee
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 23 – The hard line faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today announced its new 16 member central committee headed by Dr Abhijit Barman, who will be the acting chairman, while, the commander in chief Paresh Baruah will also be the acting vice chairman of the outfit.
The hard line faction, in a release issued to the media today, announced the list of new central committee members but it refrained from divulging the identity of the new acting chairman. Paresh Baruah has got the additional responsibility and his rank in the outfit has been upgraded from “colonel” to “Major General”. The outfit also revealed that the new committee was formed in the mobile military headquarter.
As per the list, senior ULFA member Jiban Moran will be the assistant general secretary and acting finance secretary while, Drishti Rajkhowa and Bijoy Das will be the deputy commander in chief. Michael Deka Phukan and Partha Gogoi will be the assistant finance secretaries, while, Montu Saikia, Nayan Medhi, Salim and Azhar Ali will be the assistant organizing secretaries.
The release said that Samiran Bhuyan, Sagar Topno and Jyotirmoy Bharali would be the assistant cultural secretaries and Arunodoi Dohotiya will be the assistant publicity secretary. Dr Pranmoy Asom will be the assistant foreign secretary of the outfit.
The identity of the new acting chairman of the ULFA is still unknown as even the security agencies do not have any information on him. Interestingly, the hard line faction of the ULFA has not named a new general secretary as the ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia is in the protective custody of the Government of Bangladesh. Moreover, the outfit has appointed persons in crucial posts not on permanent basis.
The hard line faction of the ULFA has earlier announced that in addition to a 16 member central committee, a three member permanent committee would also be formed but that has not been announced today. The ULFA faction is also planning to appoint three prominent persons as political advisers but their names have also not been announced today.
Source: Assam Tribune
Tripura Govt accepts NEET for medical admission
Correspondent
AGARTALA, Nov 23 – Tripura Government has agreed to switch over to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission in MBBS course for the next academic session.
After taking into consideration all aspects, the government has on principle decided to go ahead with the MCI mulled NEET that will be mandatory for the medical admission in the country from next academic session, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Tapan Chakraborty here on Wednesday.
“But a decision on whether the government will demand for conducting NEET in vernacular languages is yet to be finalised”, he said to a question.
Chakraborty said the NEET would be conducted centrally and 85 per cent seats of the government-run medical colleges will be reserved for domicile students while rest 15 per cent will go to Central pool. Though the entire admission will be based on NEET results, there is no provision of Central pool in case of private or society-run medical colleges, he said.
It means, while 15 seats of Agartala Govt Medical College will be reserved for Central pool, there will be no seat for Central pool in society-run Tripura Medical College.
It may be noted that States like Gujarat, Karnataka and West Bengal have already asked if the national NEET could be conducted in their vernacular languages. Some NE States had objections to the eligibility conditions of NEET.
Source: Assam Tribune
Seven Naga girls rescued in Chennai back home
Correspondent
DIMPAUR, Nov 23 – Seven Naga girls who were rescued from the clutches of flesh trade in Chennai during July this year were brought home on November 13 last by members of the Miqlat Ministry.
The Ministry was assigned the task by the Directorate of Women Development and the Nagaland Government.
The release of the girls (name withheld) was ordered by a Chennai Court on October 13 with the condition that they be escorted till Nagaland by two Chennai Police personnel for each rescued girl.
However, the case against them will be dismissed only after Chennai High Court reviews the character and behaviour of the girls after one year and finds it satisfactory. A progress report has to be sent by the Ministry every two months.
The girls reached home only now because there were reportedly no police personnel to spare owing to the Tamil Nadu election.
All victims of human trafficking, the seven girls were arrested on July 6 by Tamil Nadu Police along with one Korean international, identified as Park Ju Dei, for running a prostitution racket under the pretext of running a hotel cum bar at Nemili near Sriperambudur in Chennai. Seven other Northeastern girls from Manipur and Mizoram were also arrested along with the Naga girls, it was learnt.
The girls from Nagaland, mostly aged between 17 to 25, were sent to a Vigilance Home in Chennai after their arrest and kept there along with the other NE girls. The girls from Manipur and Mizoram are reportedly still under the custody of the Chennai vigilance commission.
Addressing a press conference today, members of the Miqlat Ministry informed that the rescued girls will be kept under their care for rehabilitation for a year or more depending on the wish of the girls.
The mission of bringing back the girls back home was assigned to Miqlat in August. However, despite the team making two trips down to Chennai along with Nagaland Police, the vigilance home refused to release the girls since the case was registered in Chennai High Court, and the team did not have certain required documents of the said case. The girls will be housed at Miqlat Ministry for shelter and rehabilitation.
On the promise of lucrative jobs and other opportunities, the seven Naga girls had become victims of human trafficking. The case scenario being that the victims were gullible coupled with ignorance of their parents. Another matter of serious concern is the growing evidence of the existence of trafficking nexus operated by the locals here.
According to Miqlat Ministry, most of the girls are school dropouts and children of poor farmers or daily wage earners. They were tricked to the city with rich promises and then sold for flesh trade by locals.
“Since they don’t have educational qualifications, it added to their vulnerability,” Miqlat Ministry Director said, adding that the rescued girls had themselves revealed their unexpected journey to the illegal and immoral profession. “With limited job opportunities, girls from the NE States are easily lured for lucrative jobs and better opportunities,” she said.
Stating that these girls had sent enough money home with their handsome earnings, the Miqlat Director, however, said parents of the girls had been ignorant of their children’s profession.
Source: Assam Tribune
Manipur experiences 23 tremors in a day
Imphal, November 23: According to a reports of the Seismological Observatory, Manipur University, Manipur experiences at least 23 minor tremors in a day but these tremors could not be felt by the people, Director of College Development Council, Manipur University Dr RK Ranjan has disclosed.
He was speaking as Chief Guest of the inaugural function of a 5-day long NSS Mega Festival at Youth Hostel No. 3, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. The camp is being organized under the aegis of State National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell.
Dr Ranjan informed that these minor tremors could be detected only by earthquake monitoring equipments. Some experts opined that such repetitive minor tremors is an indication that no major quake would occurred in Manipur while others maintained that these minor tremors are only regrouping of the elements that would ultimately erupted into a devastating quake sooner or later. In spite of contrasting views, one thing is certain that the land mass of Manipur has been formed along the fold lines that have no joining between one fold and another.
There is one large fold line running from Mao to Churachandpur and this would pose greater risk in the event of a major earthquake and this could happen at any time. So, there is the need to step up the activities of Disaster Management in Manipur, Dr Ranjan said.
It is also high time for the people to think over why there is acute shortage of the drinking water in Manipur despite receiving highest annual rainfall, he observed.
State Liaison Officer of State NSS Cell M Chandrakumar presided over the function which was also attended by Principal of Imphal College Rameshchandra Hamom as Guest of Honour. In all 85 girl students and 89 boys are participating in the camp which would go on till November 26.
Sangai fest impresses Miss Meaw from Thailand
Imphal, November 22: “The Manipur Sangai Festival, 2011 is being organized on such a large scale that this is the biggest festival I have ever participated”, Miss Meaw, who has come from Thailand to participate in the ongoing festival, has observed.
She has a stall in the festival selling Thai food items as well as decorative items. Interacting with Hueiyen Lanpao, Miss Meaw informed that it is her first visit to Manipur. But she already knew many things about Manipur and its people from what her elders have told since childhood.
“We have the same look and feature. The only difference is the languages we speak”, she observed, adding that she has made no difference in the price of the goods being sold in her stall and the price she charged in Thailand.
“To help us in selling the goods, we have hired two local youths and they are given Rs 200 to Rs 300 per day”, she disclosed, adding that all visitors coming to her stall are very nice and they also bought many expensive items.
On her impression of Manipur, Miss Meaw said Manipur is a beautiful place and the foods available here are delicious. “I would like to visit many more places in Manipur. But the only fear is whether I would have the time”, Miss Meaw added.
Apart from participants from Thailand, a 10-member delegation from Myanmar also reportedly arrived at Imphal today to participate in the festival which would continue till November 30. Most of the Myanmarese delegates are said to be business men and women coming to study market scope.
