Oken joins condemnation cries
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 26 2012: While strongly condemning the recent rape of a class XII student by a Manipur police personnel, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh asserted that all those found guilty should be given befitting punishment.

The Minister also assured that regular Principals for Government educational institutions would be appointed by the next academic session.

speaking at the opening ceremony of the five-day State Level Aquarium Exhibition cum Flower Show at Manipur Science Aquarium, DMC campus today as chief guest, Okendro said that rape of the school girl amounts to blighting effort of the Government for overall development of education in Manipur.

Terming inhumane conduct of the police personnel as a challenge to the Government, he reiterated that the perpetrator deserve the severest form of punishment.

Expressing deep concern that presence of such inimical elements in the State police force will not only impede development of the education sector, the Minister observed that such heinous act would curb ambition of the girl students to pursue their academic goals.

Reflecting on the aquarium exhibition, he acknowledged and appreciated efforts of Manipur Science Aquarium personnel for preserving the endangered indigenous fish varieties at the DMC campus facility and called upon the State's fish farmers to breed fingerlings of indigenous varieties.

Expressing that keeping indigenous fish varieties in aquariums is one of the noble means to preserve the endangered fish species, the Minister also noted that such an endeavour will also enhance income generation source.

Out of 40 vocational courses being opened at both academic and non-academic Government institutions, 21 courses would be specifically extended to the students for which Rs 26 crores would be earmarked, maintained the Minister while expressing confidence that opening of these vocational courses would be able to address the problem of unemployment.

With regard to appointment of regular principals at 28 Government colleges, he urged the student community to bear the inconveniences for some more time as process is already underway to effect the appointment.

While describing ongoing agitation by primary teachers as unjustifiable, Okendro claimed that 10 months pending salaries would be released within the Ningol Chakkouba festival.

He cited slight financial problem of the State Government for the delay in releasing monthly entitlements of the primary school teachers.

Fishery Minister Md Abdul Nasir in his address assured that from the 2013 fiscal, separate budgetary allocation would be made for the Manipur Science Aquarium.

He also stressed on the need to develop for eco-friendly parks and water bodies to serve as recreational facility as well as enable enterprising local youths and organisations to transform such facilities into income generation source.

Among others Principal Secretary (Sc & Tech) LP Gonmei, who is also the MASTEC Member Secretary, and MASTEC Director Th Surendranath were also present at the event, organised by Manipur Science and Technology Council (Mastec) in association with Aquarium & Floriculture Entrepreneurs Association and International Plant Growers' Association, Manipur.

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