REGIONAL

IMPHAL : BJP Manipur president and Rajya Sabha MP A Sharda Devi on Sunday said the people must support the efforts of Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh to bring peace in the north-eastern state. Addressing a gathering, as part of Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra in Imphal, Sharda Devi said, “The chief minister has been interacting with different communities across different parts of the state, including Kangpokpi and Senapati. This is part of the government’s policies and programmes. We must support the stand of the chief minister in his efforts to bring peace.” On Saturday, Khemchand Singh, during a visit to Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, announced that the National Highways in the state would be reopened and the Imphal to Guwahati bus service would resume for all communities. The state BJP president also said, “I appeal to the people of Manipur to stay away from negative notions and have positive thoughts towards the efforts and undertakings of the government. The people must have confidence in the government’s efforts to bring peace in the state. As an Indian citizen, we must convey several messages to the youths on how the country has moved forward with the coming of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” She also appealed to all people to display the national flags in every household in the state as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. (Source: PTI)    

JORHAT : In flood-hit Jorhat district of Assam, potable water is worth its weight in gold. Coming to people’s rescue is ‘NEERI-ZAR’, a gravity-based, zero-energy water purifier developed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute of CSIR. A total of 100 units of the water purification system were distributed in the district on Saturday, with 75 of those meant for single households and the rest for larger communities, officials associated with the endeavour told PTI. “Today, we handed over five units each of household and community-based units at Jonakimondal village under Titabor block. The remaining 90 were handed to the Jorhat district commissioner. His office will ensure their further distribution,” an official said. CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, Director S Venkata Mohan, and his CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, counterpart V M Tiwari were present at the distribution programme. A water treatment unit with two 22-litre vessels for a small household can serve five to six people when operated for one hour a day, based on the assumption of six to 10 litres per capita/day for drinking and cooking. One community-level water filter with the two 100-litre vessels can serve the drinking and cooking water needs of around 10 households. Officials said that these purification systems come in handy in emergencies such as floods. “The unit is designed for easy operation and does not require electricity. It is also easy to transport and install, making it extremely useful in emergencies and flood-affected regions,” another official said. The technology was developed in 2006, during the floods in Rajasthan that swept through Barmer. It was improvised over the years and deployed during natural calamities, most recently during last year’s flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said special measures would be taken to repair breached embankments and assured all possible assistance to flood-affected people across the state. Inspecting a breached embankment along the Kulsi River at Naharbari during a review of several flood-hit areas of Darrang district, Sarma said the floods had caused considerable hardship to people in the area following damage to the embankments. He said the government would take special measures to rebuild the breached portions with enhanced strength. He also assured that all flood-hit families would be provided necessary assistance at the earliest as per government norms. The CM also visited Bengabara to take stock of the flood situation and assess the condition of the affected areas. He inspected the breached portion of the embankment along Noa River near Bengabara village and reviewed the ongoing repair works. Sarma also visited relief camps set up at the under-construction anganwadi centre at Bengabara village and Outala HS School, and interacted with people taking shelter there. He enquired about their well-being and assured them of all possible assistance. At least 98 people have died, and over 1.55 lakh people remain affected in floods in the state this year so far. (Source: PTI)  

IMPHAL : In a major step towards restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday announced that national highways in the state will be reopened for free movement of people from all communities. Singh made the announcement during his visit to Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, where he inaugurated several development projects. Movement on National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Silchar) has been severely affected for sections of the population since ethnic violence broke out in the state in May 2023. Both highways pass through Kangpokpi district. On his arrival at Kangpokpi, Singh was welcomed by Kipgen, Saitu MLA Haokholet, Deputy Commissioner, SP and other senior officials. Inaugurating various development projects, Singh said Manipur had a history spanning nearly 3,000 years and that its boundaries had been shaped by contributions from all communities. He said people from different communities had made sacrifices to safeguard the state’s territory. “Because of the conflict that has happened, future generations have been affected. To reduce that effect, Imphal-Dimapur bus services will resume very shortly for all communities,” Singh said. Singh said it was unfortunate that some vested-interest groups were trying to create confusion among people, but stressed that there was a solution to every crisis. He urged members of all communities to trust and support one another and said people should first consider themselves Indians and then Manipuris. The chief minister said India’s development would remain incomplete without the development of the Northeast and Manipur’s progress would be incomplete without the development of Kangpokpi district. While inaugurating a dialysis unit at the Kangpokpi district headquarters, Singh said everyone should forgive and forget and stressed that the government was taking the situation arising from the conflict seriously. Earlier, on his way to the district headquarters in the morning, the chief minister received a warm welcome from villagers of Gamgiphai in Kangpokpi district. In a social media post, Singh said, “Today marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy in Manipur. In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and NDA legislators, it was decided that the Imphal-Guwahati Bus Service will resume shortly and the national highway will be open to all communities.” “These steps will strengthen connectivity, rebuild trust and deepen people-to-people bonds. Let us move forward together in peace, reconciliation and hope for a peaceful, united Manipur,” Singh said. Speaking on the occasion, Kipgen said national highways belonged to the nation and should be accessible to everyone. “National highways are not the property of anyone but the property of the nation. I also agree that the movement of all should be allowed on the highways,” she said. Kipgen also said that the day marked a historic occasion for everyone and said the present BJP-led government has been consistently working to bring development to the state. She added that Manipur can achieve complete development only when both the valley and the hill areas progress equally and that peace in the state can be ensured through mutual love and trust among communities. She also sought the support of civil society organisations, public leaders, intellectuals and others to bring lasting peace to the state. Saitu MLA Haokholet said he was happy to meet his fellow MLAs after nearly three years and appealed to all communities and those involved in the conflict to leave the past behind and return to normalcy. He said National Highway 2 had been the lifeline of all communities in the state since World War II. (Source: PTI)  

AIZAWL : The Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), which represents indigenous Zo or Mizo communities across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, on Saturday renewed its call for reunification of the community’s people living across the three countries, asserting that greater unity was essential to safeguard their common identity and future. The call came at a rally organised here to mark the 31st World Indigenous Day. Around 1,000 people representing different Mizo ethnic communities took part in the rally, which began at Millennium Centre in Dawrpui and culminated at Vanapa Hall, ZORO said. Participants also showcased traditional attire representing 48 different Mizo communities, it said. Addressing the march, Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Robert Romawia Royte said unity was crucial for the survival and progress of the Mizo people. He urged the gathering to support ZORO’s initiatives, stressing that the organisation was not affiliated with any political party, church or other organisation and could therefore serve as a common platform for bringing the Zo people together. State Art and Culture Minister Lalsawivunga graced the main event held at Vanapa Hall. Speaking on the occasion, Lalsawivunga highlighted key issues and challenges that needed to be addressed as the Zo people continued to work towards their future. He also spoke about the framework established by the United Nations for indigenous peoples and its relevance to the Zo community. ZORO president R. Sangkawia said the 2011 census put the population of Zo people at around 30 lakh across their inhabited areas, which together covered nearly 90,000 square kilometres. He said the Zo people, despite living across regions dominated by different religious communities, shared a common identity and faith. The ethnic Zo people (also synonymous with Mizo) are an indigenous ethnic community spread across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They have historically sought to overcome the territorial divisions created during British rule and reunite under a common political administration. In India, the largest concentration of Zo people is found in Mizoram and Manipur. In Myanmar, they are predominantly found in Chin state, while in Bangladesh they identify themselves as indigenous inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The Zo ethnic communities are identified primarily under three nomenclatures – Mizo (particularly in Mizoram), Kuki (particularly in Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland), and Chin in Myanmar. ZORO was established in 1988 with the objective of bringing the Zo people together under a single administration. The organisation is affiliated with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and regularly sends representatives to various UN forums. Despite being divided by international borders, the Zo communities in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh have continued to maintain close ties and extend mutual support during periods of crisis. (Source: PTI)          

IMPHAL : The Manipur government has conveyed to the Centre its willingness to conduct the NRC exercise within the constitutional and legal framework, state Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said on Friday. Addressing the inauguration of a two-day consultative meeting-cum-seminar on the demographic profile of Manipur here, Konthoujam said the state had informed the Union government of its position on the issue. “The Manipur government has conveyed to the central government its wish for conducting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise within the constitutional and legal framework,” he said. Konthoujam said the Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier constituted a high-level committee to examine issues relating to demographic changes in the country. Calling for collective efforts to address the state’s challenges, he said, “We may have many political and other differences, but when it comes to the public and their interests, all should come together for the state and the people. We should join hands to resolve all the issues.” Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh, who also addressed the seminar, said repeated bandhs, blockades and agitations had adversely affected the state’s economy. “Manipur is tired. Bandhs, blockades and different types of agitations have affected the economy of the state. Such agitations hurt daily wage earners the most,” he said. The chief minister said the ongoing blockade had also created serious difficulties for truck drivers stranded on national highways while transporting essential commodities to the state. He said the government was always ready to support any step that benefits the people and expressed confidence that the deliberations at the two-day seminar would yield constructive recommendations. Singh stressed that all recommendations should remain within the provisions of the Constitution. Later, in a post on social media, the chief minister said, “Protecting Manipur’s identity, land, culture and the interests of our people remains a priority of our government.” (Source: PTI)  

KOHIMA : Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio on Friday launched the Chief Minister’s Yarn Bank Scheme to provide subsidised natural yarn to weavers, saying the initiative will strengthen the state’s handloom sector and improve the livelihoods of thousands of artisans. Launching the scheme virtually from the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex on the occasion of the 12th National Handloom Day, Rio said the yarn bank would supply natural yarn at mill-gate prices, with the state government providing a 15 per cent subsidy. Describing it as a landmark initiative to strengthen the state’s handloom sector and improve the livelihoods of thousands of weavers, Rio said National Handloom Day is not merely a celebration of a traditional craft but a tribute to a living heritage that has shaped the identity, culture and spirit of the Naga people for generations. He said every shawl, wrap and woven motif reflects the artistry, resilience and traditions of the various Naga tribes. Paying tribute to the state’s weavers, particularly women, whom he described as the backbone of the handloom sector, Rio acknowledged the challenges they face in accessing quality natural yarn at affordable prices. Many artisans, he said, have had to travel long distances to procure raw materials, bearing high transportation costs and inflated prices that affect productivity and incomes. The yarn bank will supply natural yarns, including cotton, eri silk, muga silk, bamboo fibre and other natural fibre blends, at mill-gate prices, with the state government providing a 15 per cent subsidy to make quality raw materials more affordable. The CM said the scheme is expected to benefit between 5,000 and 10,000 weavers annually. Eligible weavers holding a yarn pass book will be able to procure yarn directly through a transparent and efficient distribution system. Describing the initiative as more than a supply mechanism, Rio said it reflects the government’s commitment to reducing raw material costs, ensuring timely availability of quality yarn and creating better opportunities for artisans to improve productivity and household incomes while preserving Nagaland’s textile heritage. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of preserving the state’s cultural heritage while creating sustainable economic opportunities by strengthening the rural economy, empowering women and promoting entrepreneurship. Calling on eligible weavers to avail themselves of the scheme, he urged government departments, cooperative societies, self-help groups and community institutions to ensure its benefits reach every deserving artisan. Advisor for Industries and Commerce department Hekani Jakhalu said the launch of the scheme marked a significant milestone in addressing one of the biggest challenges faced by weavers — access to quality natural yarn at affordable prices. She thanked Rio for supporting the handloom and textile sector and for allocating funds under the Chief Minister’s Innovative Fund 2025–26, which enabled the establishment of the Yarn Bank. (Source: PTI)