Representatives of NESO’s constituent units and sports personalities at a sit-in-protest staged against L Monika Devi’s exclusion

Probe to verify students’ figure
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 4: Owing to apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure of the students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different educational institutions under the Edu- cation Department of the State with an eye on siphoning off extended benefits, the State Government has decided to conduct an extensive household survey to detect ambiguity on the stated figure.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said the Government has been suffering loss financially in the implementation of welfare schemes for the students as the actual number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 and studying in the schools has not been quoted in the right perspective.
According to the reports submitted to the Department by the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), the number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different schools is around 60,000 with the number of school dropouts hovering in the range of 58,000.
As there is strong apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure in the reports submitted by the respective ZEOs, the Government would rope in the service of an NGO to conduct a household survey for verification and authenticating the actual number of students enrolled in these schools. Along with that steps would also be taken up for proper mapping of the actual locations of the schools, the source disclosed.
There is various pitfalls in taking up developmental and other welfare programmes based on inadequate or over-inflated datas, the source added.
It may be noted here that upto 2005, the total number of schools in the State was 3257. Out of these, 604 were aided schools.
The source further infor-med that in connection with the confusion over the num-ber of students in the said age group, a joint meeting of the Education Commissio-ner and Deputy Commis- sioners to be chaired by the Chief Secretary would be held on October 10 to discuss the matter.
It is said that the Centre has stopped releasing fund for implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the State for the current year as the ZEOs concerned have not submitted the utilisation certificates of the fund used earlier. But the implementation of the scheme is still being carried out with expenses from State share and some remaining fund of the scheme.
According to another source, introduction of e-education of the NEC would be started in 20 selected schools under the Education Department very soon. Under this system of education, students would be im- parted with practical knowledge of science subjects and internet facilities would be provided to these educational institutions.

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The slush and mud that pass off as the road connecting Tamei and Kuilong making it a hazardous route for the villagers

A

ttack at MLA’s house
CM to crack SoO whip
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 1: Informing that the Government has been investigating to establish the identity of the UG group/s involved in the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio, today assured the Assembly that appropriate action would be taken up if any of the UG groups which have signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) were behind the attack.
Replying to a question raised by MLA RK Anand during the question and answer hour session of the Assembly today, the Chief Minister explained that SoO with two apex bodies of the Kuki UG groups namely Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) have been signed under a well-defined set of ground rules which cannot not be violated.
Demanding to know the objective behind signing of the agreement with KNO and UPF separately, RK Anand, while maintaining such measures may be counter productive, observed that the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, which occurred after signing of the agreement, may be due to difference of ideologies between the two groups.
In his response, the Chief Minister said that along with signing agreement with the two groups, SoO has been effected from August 22 for a period of one year.
Some of the main points laid down in the ground rules include non-violation of the ground rules by any of the constituent units of the two groups and to cease operation against the two groups by the State police and other security forces, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister went on to say that to monitor the operation of SoO, a Joint Monitoring Group has been set up. It would ensure that the ground rules are not violated, that the designated camps of the underground organisations are set up close to the State force or other security forces, identity cards are issued to all the cadres of the two UG groups, pay a reasonable amount towards maintenance of the cadres staying in the designated camps from the side of the Government, to keep the arms and ammunition after being double locked in the respective designated camps and imparting vocational training to the cadres.
He further infomed that the House that political dialogue between the Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) as chairman and the leaders of the two groups are already underway. Although the UGs may be having some of their own aspirations and ideologies in the ongoing peace talks, no attention has been given in this direction. Nonetheless, efforts are being made to see whether the National or the State interest is being affected or is there any possibility of causing inconveniences to other communities as a result of the ongoing peace talks, the Chief Minister said. Noting that problems are being faced due to existence of a large number of unlawful organisations in the State, the Chief Minister observed that peace talks has been initiated as these problems could not be solved without making a beginning. Informing the House that some of the valley based underground organisations have also shown keen interest to enter peace talks with the Government, the Chief Minister asserted that solution could be brought about only through political dialogue.

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