Monday, July 20, 2009

German Measles stalks IE district

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2009: Following outbreak of German Measles in some parts of Imphal East District for the first time in Manipur, the State Health Services has taken up necessary measures for mass vaccination.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Director of Health Services Dr W Motilal informed that for the first time in the State outbreak of German Measles in Khurai Puthiba area of Imphal East district has been confirmed from laboratory test of the samples conducted at National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi.

German Measles Signs


The laboratory testing on German Measles was confirmed on July 16, though the report was received here yesterday, Dr Motilal said.

However, the test conducted at Indian Council of Medical Research at Dibrugarh on the urine samples and the throat swabs collected from Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai following suspected outbreak of Measles in first week of last months have been found to be negative, he added.

Following suspected cases of Measles outbreak in Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, health workers have screened 832 children who in the age group of 3 to 13 years in the neighbouring Khurai Puthiba Leikai as well.

During the screening, 30 children were found with signs of fever and the samples of nine children were send to NICD on June 15 for testing of possible German Measles.

All the nine samples were positive.

The result of the test conducted at NICD after the samples were send by the Integrated Disease Services Project, which is under the Department of Health Services, was received yesterday, Dr Motilal informed.

Based on the result, the Director of Health Services has written to the State Government with the recommendation for including vaccination for MMR Measles, Mumps and Rubella in the normal immunisation of the children even as the Health Services have taken up necessary measures towards combating spread of the disease along with deployment of health workers far and wide in screening more number of suspected cases among the children and find out origin of the outbreak.

Confirming report of out-break of German Measles, Health Minister Ph Parijat, said public should not panic over the outbreak of the disease even if for the first time in Manipur as provision for MMR vaccination would be included in the routine immunisation programme.

According to doctors of Health Services, symptoms of German Measles include fever marked by distinct red spots followed by rashes.

Once affected the viral disease lasts for 3-4 days.

It is a contagious viral disease that spreads through saliva droplets from sneezing and coughing as well as mucus.

In case of male child, the virus attacks the heart while it may even lead to blindness in case of female child.

outbreak of German Measles is common summer, the doctors informed, adding that in case of infection among pregnant mothers, it may cause deformity to the foetus.

Meanwhile, report has been received regarding admission of a patient at PHC Moreh with symptoms similar to that of Chicken Pox

Friday, July 17, 2009

Bane of Being a Bachelor! - I Never Knew Until The Other Day

Suddenly, the 'Heavenly' ring tone from my mobile phone woke me up while i was in a deep heavenly dream. For a while, i tried to hold myself from picking up the phone thinking it would stop by itself. On the contrary, it continued singing. While it used to be soft and sweet 'Heavenly' the other times, at that moment it wasn’t really heavenly. I got annoyed. And obviously, anyone would feel annoyed and irritated whenever being disturbed from sleep. It’s one of those things in life that we don’t want to be disturbed in any way while 'indulging in the act'.

Moreover, the number on the phone screen looked strange. i mean where in the world would anyone call me this time? My friends and my home would never call me this time unless it’s extremely important, because they know i would be sleeping and wouldn’t want to be disturbed. It was around 10 in the morning. It happened a week back.

As anyone would, whenever there’s a strange number on the phone screen, normally i hesitate to pick up. But who could be this...! It wasn’t my bank customer care calling nor my network operator calling because i already know them by heart by now. It wasn’t from consultancies calling for job interview because i deactivated my number from their sites two years back. But who could this be...

After a thoughtful few moments, a strange curiosity in me led me to pick up the phone.

“Hello”. I said.

“Hello. Am i speaking to Mr. Pangamba*?

I was caught surprise by the sweet lady voice from the other end. It’s understandable why companies hire sweet voiced ladies. And so i decided it was from some unknown company trying to sell something to me. And I began to say no.....

“Yes, of course, I am. You’re speaking to the right person. What happened?” I sounded curious like an idiot.

“Hi Pangamba, i am Puja calling from Raghuvansh Mall, [name changed]. Did you enter your name for a lucky draw contest in our mall recently?”

My mind began to accelerate diving into the past. I remember entering the mall. Couple of guys and gals handing out forms to any customer who enters the front robot glass door of the mall. One guy approached me as he saw me entering the call, ‘Sir, it’s for a lucky draw contest, please fill your name and phone number and that's it' And he handed me the form and i thought i had nothing to lose by filling that form. So i filled up.

“Yes, I did. I entered my name for the contest. So what are you trying to say...?” My adrenaline began to rush. Different kinds of thoughts began to travel faster than light.

“Well, Congratulations Mr. Pangamba, we are happy to declare that you are the proud winner of that Lucky Draw.” Suddenly i soared on the wings of wild imaginations and reached cloud number nine instantly, excited and elated like a child who gets his first toy car as if he’s going to sit in it and drive it. At the same time, i was riding on the wave of disbelief.

The lady voice on the other end continued, ‘As a winner of the contest, you're being entitled for a holiday trip to Singapore and a voucher gift worth 25K.’

“Oh really!’, came from my lips and i knew i sounded like an idiot again.

But you know life has a strange way of delivering the most unexpected dreams into reality at your doorstep only at a time when you least expect. And it makes life more interesting and enigmatic.

The lady continued, “And you’re required to collect the voucher from Mall management office. And one more thing, you need to come with your wife to collect the voucher and couple tickets within three days’.

What... wife? Did i hear it correctly?

“Sorry, i – i am single -- i am bachelor now”.

“Oh’, she sounded sorry, ‘Actually it’s a couples ticket. By the way, girlfriend is also accepted, not necessarily a wife.’

In three days......!!!!!

At last, I thanked the lady who woke me up in my deep sleep and i said i would come but i never went to collect the couple tickets to Singapore and the voucher gift. I mean where in the world would any girl accept to my proposal to be my wife in just three days, just to have a trip to Singapore? A foregone conclusion.

I am writing this because, you know, the fish is always bigger only when it's slipped out of your hand, whether small or big. It will be bigger and bigger as days go by. It's hard not to be ever regretful, but i tell you just move on. The better and best days are not those gone by but those that are yet to come.

Once Francis Bacon said, 'A bachelor's life is a fine breakfast, a flat lunch, and a miserable dinner'. This may be true but i am having a fine breakfast now. Dinner is yet to come. And it's not going to be miserable.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

STPI will be upgraded to IIT, Ibobi informs House

Courtesy: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 13 2009: Chief Minister Ibobi has said that the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) located at Mantripukhri will be upgraded to an IIT for the state under the Vision 2020 Document.

Replying to a question raised by opposition MLA, O Joy during the ongoing Assembly session today, the CM said that the institute will be up-rated with a project of Rs 25 crore as a part of developmental projects under Vision 2020 document.

O Ibobi further said that the Thematic Working Group of the North East, under the Ministry of DoNOR has been charting out plans relating to the implementation of the Vision 2020 document on priority basis.

He said, meetings of the Thematic Working group were conducted in October and December last year.

The Chief Minister further said that construction of roads, tourism, IT industry, and trade and commerce may be given priority in the state under Vision 2020 .

Since the need and role of information technology has been increasingly felt, the STPI located at Mantripukhri will be upgraded to the status of IIT.

The up-gradation of STPI will be done by acquiring 26 acres of land around the park at the cost of Rs 25 crore, Chief Minister O Ibobi said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that six culprits involved in the killing of Yengkhom Krishnadas have been arrested by the police and the amount of Rs 25 Lakh which was paid as ransom money has not been recovered.

He was replying to a question raised by Kakching MLA Y Surchandra.

Ibobi said that since there has been media report that some bigwigs including the local MLA were reported to have involved in the killing case, their statement may be recorded if necessary.

Responding to a question by Chingai MLA Khasim Ruivah, O Ibobi said that the government has no policy to provide allotment to tribal women vendors at the Khwairamband Ima Keithel.

The CM said, the vendors of the Khwairamband Bazar have been licensed since long time back.

There may be furor if their licenses are canceled and issued the same to others.

Moreover, there has been no vacant shed to accommodate new vendors in the shopping complex.

He added, there are 1808 license holders at Luxmi Market, 840 at New Market and 1252 license holders at Old Market.

O Ibobi also said that there has been no plan to extend the retirement age for government employees from 52 years to 60 years.

He was answering to a question raised by Oinam MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Casablanca: A classic romance you can't afford to miss!

Old will always be remained golden. I love classics. Today i happened to bump on Casablanca, out of my sheer curiosity. Let me tell you, i haven't watched anything of this movie of a magnitude of love, romance, friendship, to tell you the least, so far until this one. It delivered exceedingly surpassing on most counts more than I had expected about this classic 1942 movie,Casablanca. It defeated all my presumptions after watching this movie. In fact, it's no wonder why it stands tall and undefeated in the IMDB top 250 list.

Set in the backdrop of sometime during Second World War, the movie starts with the African port city called Casablanca. An American ex-pat by the name Rick Blaine [Humphrey Bogart] runs a 'cafe' -- Rick's Cafe Americaine -- which happens to be a delightful destination for everybody, the Nazis, thieves, spies and refugees trying their every luck to escape from the world of misery to the New World, that's America, via Lisbon.

In the whole movie, the kind of friendship between Rick and Captain Renault stands out. I find this as much intriguing as the enigmatic relationship between Rick and Ilsa, a woman who adores and worship her husband [Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid] but somehow can't ever bring herself to the point to say she loves him. A mysterious thing about women any guy would have a hard time to think of.

And another thing about this movie, it's got the an awesome dialog. The writer did the fantastic job.

There's so much to say about this movie. But I will leave it here with the last scene dialog at the airport.

[Courtesy: Imdb Qoutes]

"Rick: Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong.

Ilsa: But, Richard, no, I... I...

Rick: Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louie?

Captain Renault: I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist.

Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go.

Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

Ilsa: But what about us?

Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.

Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.

Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at you kid."

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Today's Singjus & Boras!

Mumbai Monsoon: Right here and right there

Well, monsoon showers in full swing, incessant rains continue and that's how the days here are going nowadays. Several parts of the city waterlogged, city traffic disrupted, local trains running behind schedule. No surprise please, it happens in this so called financial capital of India. Every year. No matter how MMRDA and BMC tries their best, it happens. By the way, no blames. And if you have to, you have to blame on the geography.

You know what, i like this season here in mumbai, but i don't like rainy season in Manipur. Here as it comes after hot April, May, June months, it serves kind of as a respite from the heat for mumbaites. Of course, like many people would feel, these rain showers from above make me feel dull and lazy. But at least i am trying not to be pressed down by this laziness anyway.

You know, whether you like it or not, everything you see around you in this world by their nature is not absolute. Down here monsoon creates chaos, or a respite from the heat or for farmers and growers it's a godsend boon from above. But surprisingly, in the north and northeast part of the country, a fear of an advent of a drought seems imminent.

In Manipur, the situation is already more serious. The SPF led government has already announced Manipur as a drought hit state. Of course, Central government is yet to approve of the drought hit status, by the way. However, it's a sad thing to see lands hard and dry even in the second week of July when normally paddy plants are grown at this time of the year. The other day I called up my mother and asked about the fields and rains. My mom said sadly, 'Ibungo, not even a drop of rain has fallen from the sky so far. All the fields are hard and dry. They're already tilled and ready but the rain hasn't arrived yet.' And for sure it's going to pose a serious problem in the near future if this trend continues further.

Conclusion: when we are thirsty, we quench our thirst by having water. But how thirsty these rain-starved lands would have been when rains haven't arrived on time and delayed for so long? I hope rain gods must be listening.


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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Hello, I am back again!

It's been a long while since i took time off my 'sweet blogger abode'. Now I am back again. Maybe hopefully i will try and keep you posted about what's going on in this seesaw like game called life. Sometimes you are up, at times you are down.

The world is never the same again and i don't expect it to be. It will keep changing. everyday. As long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

In this span of three or so months, in retrospect, among those memorable events that happened, a particular mention may be made, the killing of the Kasom Khullen SDO Dr. Thingnam Kishan Singh along with his two subordinates by some hoodlums of NSCN-IM group. It was a heart wrenching moment for me in particular. And the general Manipuri Public felt the same pain of anguish of losing a rare gem from the 'soil of jewels'. And even after three months of the heinous crime, the government and concerned authority has failed to deliver the appropriate justice. It's the sorry state of affairs in the remote state called Manipur where there is a serious drought of justice going on presently.

We also saw the Lok Sabha elections being held across the country, india and the UPA government under the leadership of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and PM Manmohan Singh got re-elected to run the country for another five year term.

Looking at the whole worldwide, the common thread that runs across the globe is the phenomenon called recession. there isn't a part of the world that's not attacked by this monster. The whole world is reeling under its spell. Many companies laid off employees, the joblessness is rising every other day on a worldwide basis. it's a cruel economy out there. being in the financial market space, i know the extent at which it has devastated the lives and the world economies globally. Many analysts predict this downturn may not recover even into the first quarter of 2010.

And the recent demise of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, due to his untimely heart attack can be mentioned. Even if I do not know much about this guy, seeing the global phenomenon that's happening around him after his demise says a lot about this man.

On the public memorial for MJ on Tuesday, the late pop star's 11 year old daughter, Paris Jackson says it all when she says with full of tears in her eyes, 'Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much'.

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years - Abrahan Lincoln