Manipur Today, January 2020 Issue Chief Editor Heisnam Balkrisna Singh, MCS Director, IPR Senior Editor L. Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Director Content Editor Sagolsem Snehprabha, DIO Editorial Board Seema Sanjenbam, PRO L. Roshan Singh, PRO N. Bidyananda Singh, Translator Oinam Shyamo, Translator Maringmei Gaijinmeilu, Translator News INDIAN REPUBLIC Inputs from NEWS Section, DIPR THROUGH 70 YEARS OF 09 CONSTITUTION OF INDIA Photographs DIPR Photo Section Contact DIPR Manipur 70 YEARS OF Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal REPUBLIC INDIA Manipur 12 email: [email protected] www.diprmanipur.in Printed at 14 NEST Advertising, Babupara No. of Copies: 2500 WOMEN POWER 21 GENDER EQUALITY WHY33 MANIPUR 26 OBSERVES NUPEE An interview with LAL DAY NEMCHA KIPGEN 29 BETI BACHAO BETI PADHAO MANIPUR MSPDCL: WINNING STATE WOMEN ACCOLADES IN THE 36 COMMISSION POWER SECTOR 49 MANIPUR STATE RURAL 52 LIVELIHOODS MISSION Inclusive Education and its Benefits to Differently- 69 Abled Children 60 73 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL BLOSSOM CHERRY GAAN-NGAI 62 88 MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2019 ORANGE FESTIVAL Dr. NAJMA HEPTULLA Governor of Manipur MESSAGE am very happy to know that the Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Manipur is bringing out a special issue of “Manipur Today” on the occasion of the Republic Day 2020. IIt was on this day in 1950, that we gave ourselves a Constitution which is the guiding principle of our country. Despite reservations from various quarters, the experiment of democracy in India has been successful and we are going from strength to strength, respected by other nations. On this occasion we should revere and offer our homage to those founding fathers for their foresight and understanding. This solemn occasion enables us every year to ask ourselves as to what we have achieved, which are the areas where desired success has not come our way and why and about our plans to meet the ever-challenging future. In this process of stock-taking, we not only think about our State but also get an opportunity to search our hearts as to how much we have been able to do for the Nation and to ask ourselves as to whether we have been steadfast and sincere in discharging our duties towards the millions of our expectant countrymen. It is, indeed, a glorious Pan-Indian tradition that we have been able to build up on the psychological as well as the material plans. It is a source of satis- faction, solace and strength when we realize that our desire for individual identity has no conflict with the fact of our being the part of a mighty and glorious whole - that is, a vast motherland rather we derive unique advantages from this phenomenon. Once again, my best wishes to all the citizens of Manipur on the occasion of Republic Day, 2020. (Dr. Najma Heptulla) SHRI N. BIREN SINGH Chief Minister, Manipur MESSAGE t gives me immense pleasure to learn that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Manipur is bringing out a special issue of ‘Manipur Today’ magazine on the occasion of India’s 71st Republic Day. It is a day to remember when India’s Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950 Icompleting India’s emergence as an independent country from the ashes of the British Empire. On this day, the people of India solemnly adopted our constitution and constituted India into a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. On this historic occasion, let us remember and pay homage to our visionary leaders in the Constituent Assembly who has gifted us our Constitution. I also extend my gratitude to our great freedom fighters who made untold sacrifices for the cause of India’s independence. On this day, as we salute the National Tri-colour flag, let us resolve to work with firm commitment towards a peaceful, corruption-free Manipur and live up to the values enshrined in the Constitution. I extend my heartfelt greetings to the people of Manipur and wish the publication of Manipur Today a grand success. (N. Biren Singh) SHRI TH. BISWAJIT SINGH Minister, IPR MESSAGE am happy to learn that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Manipur is bringing out a Special Issue of “Manipur Today” on the occasion of the Republic Day, 2020. I am fully confident that onus of dissemination of information undertaken by the Directorate will be of immense help in enlightening the people of the State about the initiatives the Government Ihas been taking up in different domains and will serve as an encyclopedia of information for the general public. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all ranks of the Directorate and wish the endeavour all success. (Th. Biswajit Singh) T his year’s Maipur e d i t o r i a l (H. Balkrisna Singh) Director, IPR Manipur Today, January, 2020 INDIAN REPUBLIC THROUGH 70 YEARS OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA A Significant Journey of Socio-Political and Economic Development Dr. Aheibam Koireng Singh Asst. Professor, Centre for Manipur Studies Manipur University “I feel that the Constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad constitution. What we will have to say is that man was vile.” - Dr. BR Ambedkar ndia gained its hard-earned 1950 when the Constitution of the nationalist and democratic independence on 15th India came into force. The day aspirations of an independent August 1947. Even that, is celebrated with nationalistic polity following decolonization. at that time, the country fervour and festivities as the With the constitution coming into did not have its own Republic Day in India far and force, the transition process of Constitution and it entirely relied wide at its national capital, and India becoming an independent Ion the colonial Government all the states and union territories republic was completed. The of India Act, 1935 before the uninterruptedly without any Constitution of India sought adoption of Constitution of break since then. The making of to have a welfare state and an India on 26th November 1949. free India’s constitution by the egalitarian society with a liberal Regardless of India gaining Constituent Assembly is reflective democratic polity following the independence, it relishes the real of the efforts that the founding pushing out of colonialism. taste of democracy on 26th January fathers undertook to translate 9 Manipur Today, January, 2020 The Constitution of India is the executive, legislative and judicial amendments further deepen and supreme law of the country. It branches of government and are widen the significant changes in frames fundamental political bound by it. With the aid of its the journey of socio-political and principles, procedures, practices, constitution, India is governed economic development. rights, powers, and duties of by a parliamentary system of The Sixty-first Amendment of the the government. It imparts government with the executive Constitution of India, officially constitutional supremacy and not directly accountable to the known as The Constitution parliamentary supremacy, as it legislature. The President of India (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, is not created by the parliament is head of the executive branch with 1988, lowered the voting age of but by a constituent assembly, the duty of preserving, protecting elections to the Lok Sabha and and adopted by its people, with and defending the constitution to the Legislative Assemblies of a declaration in its preamble. and the law. The Prime Minister as States from 21 years to 18 years. The parliament cannot override head of the Council of Ministers, This amendment had made it. The constitution declares aids and advises the President the Indian democracy more India a “sovereign democratic in the performance of their broad-based and participatory republic” and to secure all its constitutional duties. The council by involving its youths as one citizens “justice, liberty, equality, is answerable to the lower house. of the key stakeholders making and fraternity”. The 42nd Hans Raj Khanna (2008) in them more engaged and Constitutional Amendment in his book, Making of India’s informed citizens. 73rd and 74th 1976 incorporated ‘Socialist’ constitution writes, “If the Indian Amendment, 1992 introduces and ‘Secular’ in the Constitution constitution is our heritage local self-government in rural and of India. ‘Socialist’ here would bequeathed to us by our founding urban India thereby deepening mean that wealth should be fathers, no less are we, the democracy at the grassroots shared equally by society through people of India, the trustees, and level. Right to Information Act, distributive justice, and ‘Secular’ custodians of the values which 2005 provides for setting out meaning that all religions get pulsate within its provisions! A the practical regime of Right to equal respect, protection and constitution is not a parchment of Information for citizens to secure support from the state. The paper, it is a way of life and has to information under control of Constitution of India provides be lived up to. Eternal vigilance is public authorities, to promote its citizens with six fundamental the price of liberty and in the final transparency and accountability rights. These rights are the Right analysis, its only keepers are the in the working of every public to Freedom, Right to Equality, people.” In fact, the constitution authority. Cultural and Educational Rights, needs to be adhered, not only Right to Constitutional Remedies, The present Prime Minister of in letters but by the spirit also Right against Exploitation and India, Narendra Modi assumed for greater socio-political and Right to Freedom of Religion. office on 26 May 2014 and is economic development towards Recently, the Right to Privacy continuing for the consecutive realising the goal of achieving has also been added to the list of term.