The spokesperson further informed that the grand reception function will be attended by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as chief guest and will be presided by himself. The incentive award of Rs 10 lakhs already announced by the State Government will also be handed over to the champion at the occasion. With regard to the recruitment of primary teachers in the School Education Department, the spokesperson said that the Cabinet discussed the report of the committee headed by the Chief Secretary thoroughly and later referred the matter to the Law Department for necessary review. A final decision is likely to be taken very soon, he added.
Among other issues, today’s Cabinet meeting has also approved the setting up of a Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund under which upto Rs 1 lakh will be provided as one time assistance to families below poverty line towards the cost of treatment and to set up a five member committee with the Chief Secretary as the chairman in this regard, the spokesperson informed. Provisions for financial assistance to families who do not possess BPL cards would be on the basis of the recommendation made by the SDOs concerned. The gravity of the ailment will also be taken into consideration a screening committee with Additional Director Health as the Chairman, to work out the amount of money payable.
Furthermore, the Cabinet has given its nod to conduct the Civil Service Combined Examination of the State only on General Studies at the preliminary stage instead of the earlier arrangement of offering optional subjects and relaxation of the academic age of the candidates by three years. Apart from the stamp of approval given to appointment of liaison officer and necessary staff of the State Government in connection with extension of financial assistance to students and patients going to Bangalore for studies and treatment respectively, today’s Cabinet meeting has also recommended direct appointment of 78 specialist doctors in the Health Services, the spokesperson informed.
The spokesperson also conveyed that to discuss the issue related to overlapping of villages in the Census report, the Chief Minister has convened separate meetings with officials of the districts and local MLAs concerned starting from 4 pm tomorrow, the spokesperson added.
Leader's baton passed on to Mary Kom
NEW DELHI, Sep 22 : Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom beat jet lag and stiff competition from “best friend” L Saritha Devi to make the cut for the three-member Indian women’s boxing team announced on for the Asian Games in China this November.
The 27-year-old mother-of-two, who competed in the 48kg division to clinch a historic fifth World Championship title in Barbados last Saturday, was picked for the 51kg flyweight division - one of the three weight categories in women’s boxing which has got the International Olympic Committee’s nod for inclusion in the 2012 London Olympics as well.
The team was picked after a second round of trials this morning as the initial trials conducted in Bhopal last month had been deemed “inconclusive” by the Indian Boxing Federation.
Mary Kom fought against Meena Kumari and Saritha, a former World Championships silver-medallist, on Wednesday at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, just a day after lan- ding in India from Barbados.
“I am very happy to have made the team but I am hurt for Sarita. She is a good boxer but both of us cannot be selected for the same weight category. She is my best friend also but what to do, we are in the same weight category now,” Mary Kom said after the team’s announcement.
“But the good part is that my hard work and patience has paid off and I am very happy about that,” she added.
But the fatigue hardly showed when the Manipuri took the ring as she dominated her two bouts to get the nod of the selection panel, which has, among others, Manchester Commonwealth Games gold- medallist Mohd Ali Qamar and Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General Col PK Muralidharan Raja.
“She was outstanding in both her bouts.
Despite the fact that she was coming into the ring after such a long journey, she fought so well in both her bouts that there was hardly any doubt,” said Col Raja.
Mary Kom has been dubbed ‘Magnificent Mary’ by the International Boxing Association for her unprecedented success at the international, which many believe would remain untouched for a long time to come. The other two boxers picked for the November 12 to 27 Games are Preeti Beniwal (60kg) and Kavita Goyat (75kg). Preeti is the sister-in-law of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar, who would be defending his bantam weight 56kg category gold medal next month in Delhi.
