End bribery for regularisation of contractual employees, appeals Manipur CM

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Imphal, Sep 14 (IANS) Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday called for an immediate end to the practice of seeking regularisation of contractual employees through bribery, stressing that genuine service, dedication, and contribution should be the basis for considering their legitimate claims.

The Chief Minister’s appeal came in his address at the inauguration, launching, and laying of the foundation stones for various projects at the government-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) at Porompat here.

Expressing concern over reports of alleged bribery in connection with the regularisation of nurses, which had also appeared in the media and led to the lodging of an FIR, the Chief Minister said that employees who had rendered dedicated service, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, should not resort to corrupt practices for regularisation.

He said that more than 200 nurses had been appointed on a contractual basis in the state in view of the increased responsibilities and requirements of the healthcare sector, particularly during the Covid-19 period.

Khemchand Singh urged nurses and other contractual employees to place their genuine service and contribution before the government through proper, transparent and legitimate channels.

He stressed that the government would support employees who discharge their duties with honesty, dedication, and dignity, and assured that legitimate concerns regarding regularisation would be looked into through due process.

He urged employees to approach the government with confidence and dignity rather than resorting to bribery or other unfair means.

The Chief Minister also said that the state had been facing certain economic constraints, due to which recruitment in government departments had, for some time, been undertaken through contractual arrangements. However, he emphasised that the approach of seeking regularisation through bribery must end from this very day.

Khemchand Singh also acknowledged the immense responsibilities shouldered by doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and commended the Health Department for their work in strengthening the health sector over the past four months.

He later inaugurated, launched and laid the foundation stones for various projects at the JNIMS. The projects included the Multipurpose Gym, an Autoclave Machine at the CSSD, a C-arm Digital R90 Digital Radiology and Fluoroscopy System, the Cardio Hospital Management Information System under e-Gov Foundation, the JNIMS-EMS (Employee Management System), SBI Collect, and the Liquid Medical Oxygen Plant under NESIDS (OTRI).

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the College of Nursing at JNIMS under NESIDS (OTRI) of the Union Ministry of DoNER. He also inaugurated/launched the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment Pharmacy, the Unified Health Portal for health-related services, and two Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) intended to provide healthcare services to vulnerable and remote populations in Saikul and Jiribam.

The programme was also attended by Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur and other officials.

–IANS

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After losing Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan faces resentment within party

Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 (IANS) For perhaps the first time in his six-decade-long public life, Pinarayi Vijayan finds himself politically cornered, not by his political adversaries alone, but from within the very party structure he once controlled with unquestioned authority.

The stunning electoral debacle suffered by the CPI(M) in Kerala has triggered an unprecedented backlash against Vijayan across party committees, from grassroots area meetings to the party’s national leadership forums.

The man who for nearly a quarter century remained the undisputed power centre of Kerala CPI(M), and for the past decade ran the government with an iron grip where little moved without his approval, is now facing criticism on a scale rarely witnessed in the party’s tightly disciplined history.

What has particularly rattled the Kerala leadership is the outright rejection by the CPI(M) Central Committee of the state unit’s argument that there was no anti-incumbency sentiment in Kerala.

Leaders at the national level reportedly questioned how the party could collapse so dramatically if public resentment against the government did not exist.

The criticism has not remained confined to Delhi. At area committee meetings in Kerala, party members openly accused Vijayan’s style and public remarks of alienating ordinary people from the CPI(M).

At the Chalakudy Area Committee, members reportedly stated that the former Chief Minister’s words and approach distanced voters from the party.

There were also sharp criticisms over candidate selection and the functioning of local leadership.

State secretary M.V. Govindan, too, has come under attack, with party workers complaining that even cadre members struggled to understand his responses on sensitive political issues.

Yet, within party circles, there is a growing perception that while Govindan shares the blame, it is Vijayan who remains the principal target of anger and frustration.

Ironically, the same leader once seen as invincible within the CPI(M) is now confronting demands for sweeping corrections from the grassroots to the top.

Even as the party leadership attempts damage control, one reality has become impossible to ignore: the aura of political invincibility around Pinarayi Vijayan has suffered its biggest crack yet.

–IANS

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Kerala HC issues contempt notice to official over elephant regulation violations

Kochi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to an officer of the Cochin Devaswom Board under the Contempt of Courts Act for allegedly breaching its guidelines on the use of elephants during temple festivals. The action comes amidst growing concerns over the treatment of elephants at such events.

The court pointed to violations that took place during the Tripunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple festival held from November 29 to December 6. It noted that on December 2, 15 elephants were cramped into a small space, disregarding the mandatory three-meter distance between each animal, as stipulated in the court’s guidelines.

Last week, the court had directed the officer to file an affidavit explaining the alleged misconduct.

While the officer admitted to violations on only one day, he attributed it to non-cooperation from devotees, who accused the Devaswom official of disrupting temple rituals.

In response, the Court stated: “Will you disobey the Court’s mandate just because some devotees say so? Sorry, we cannot accept this affidavit. We will initiate contempt proceedings for outright defiance of our directions. The state cannot descend into lawlessness. How dare you jeopardize lives? We have zero tolerance for such behaviour.”

The Court further noted that the officer’s actions amounted to civil contempt and directed the registry to formally register a contempt case. The officer was ordered to respond by January 9, 2025. “We, therefore, direct the registry to formally register a Contempt of Court case and to issue a notice to the deponent Devaswom officer forthwith so that the deponent officer can respond to the same on or before January 9, 2025,” the court added.

During the proceedings, the court was informed about the deteriorating condition of a 65-year-old elephant. This prompted the bench to remark: “Elephants are symbols of Lord Ganapathi. Is this how we treat Lord Ganapathi? Why are we so cruel?”

The Court instructed the amicus curiae to consult experts regarding the determination of elephants’ age and condition and to submit a report.

“We need some rules in place if captive elephants are to be paraded, existing captive elephants must be taken care of, there should be places to rehabilitate elephants that are unfit to parade. Who will rehabilitate these elephants and where does the fund come from,” the court said and posted the matter to December 19.

–IANS

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Man shoots dog on busy road in Ranchi; arrested after video sparks outrage

Ranchi, April 8 (IANS) In a disturbing incident of cruelty to an animal, that sparked public outrage, a man shot a street dog with a rifle on a busy road in the Tatisilwai area of Ranchi. The man was arrested after his cruel action caused a furore.

The shocking act was caught on camera and widely circulated on social media, prompting swift action by the Jharkhand Police.

The accused, identified as Pradeep Pandey, was seen in the viral video walking down the road with two other men, carrying a rifle. As the group approached a few stray dogs by the roadside, Pandey suddenly took aim and fired a shot, killing one of the dogs.

The incident took place while several vehicles were moving on the road.

The cold blooded killing of an innocent animal sparked outrage among the people of the area and on social media, especially among animal lovers.

Eyewitnesses and residents also expressed concern that the bullet could have hit a passerby if the shot had gone astray. Many questioned the legality of using a firearm in a public space and demanded action.

The video was shared with senior officials of the Ranchi Police by local citizens, following which the administration took note of the matter.

Rural SP Sumit Kumar Agarwal directed the Tatisilwai police to take prompt action. Ranchi DIG-cum-SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha has also taken cognizance and ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

During questioning, Pandey claimed that the dog had turned aggressive and had injured several people in recent days. He said he opened fire to prevent further attacks. He also told the police that the rifle used in the incident is licensed.

However, legal experts and animal welfare activists point out that the law prohibits killing or harming of stray animals.

According to police, killing a street dog is a punishable offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. If the act is proven to be unlawful, the accused could face imprisonment of up to two years and a monetary fine.

–IANS

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