Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has stressed on proper implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which was launched in all nine districts of the state.

It is high time Parliament took serious note of the sordid story of the unwarranted hike in the prices of petroleum products.

An amount of Rs 5.89 crore has been allocated to Manipur under Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for the year 2007-08 comprising Rs 4.42 crore as Central contribution and Rs 1.47 crore as State contribution. This was stated by V Radhika Selvi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Union Minister assured that the Government of India would extend all possible assistance to the State for meeting the situation caused by heavy rains and floods in Manipur. She also informed that the execution of rescue and relief operations in the wake of natural calamities was primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government. The Government of India supplemented the efforts of the concerned State Government by providing requisite logistic and financial support to meet the situation. For the purpose, a Calamity Relief Fund was constituted with contributions of Government of India and the State Government in the ratio 3:1.

IMPHAL, Feb 17

It is ironical that bird flu should deal a crippling blow to the West Bengal countryside shortly after the Government of India declared that the country was free from the scourge.

Theatre artistes are adding to the State's efforts to create mass awareness for the prevention of bird flu in Manipur. Artistes of the Courtyard Theatre staged Aruba Echel (Clear Stream) at Iboyaima Shuman Leela Shanglen Place compound here to send a message across that poultry farming on scientific lines is safe. The play depicts that thousands of unemployed youths could take up poultry farming, cattle farming and piggery and makes a decent living.

>> Newspapers in Manipur stopped publication indefinitely from October 12. Cable networks have also stopped telecast. The media reaction is a response to threats by a rebel faction of the

A year after India declared itself free of bird flu, the virus h5n1 has again struck the country. This has affected the country's poultry industry