Manipur Research Articles

Tourism Potentiality in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam: An Analysis

North East of India, popularly known as N.E., comprises of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim and geographically situated in the North East corner of India with an area of 25.5 million Sq. Km (7.8% of the land mass of the country). N.E. shares the International boundaries of India with China to the North, Bangladesh to the South-West, Bhutan and Nepal to the North-West and Myanmar to the East. It has from time immemorial been the meeting ground of diverse ethnic and cultural streams. Through the long columns of history, people of different races and ethnology have migrated into this land and merged into a common harmonious whole in a rare process of fraternization and assimilation. Tourism in Assam is essentially nature based; therefore, national parks, wild life sanctuaries, rivers, lakes, hot water springs and thick wooded forest and wildlife are the major components of tourist attractions in Assam. Tinsukia is one of the twenty seven administrative districts in the state of Assam. The district occupies an area of 3790 km² and has a population of 1,316,948 (as of 2011 Census) of which males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. The Tourism potentiality of the Tinsukia district of Assam is immense with a combination of human, natural, cultural, ethnic beauty, religious attractions, heritage sites and deep forests. Most foreign travelers look for ethnic and culture mosaic, adventure and Tourism while a domestic tourist is enthused by religious attractions, wildlife and flora and fauna. In all these areas the Dehing Patkai Region of the Tinsukia District of Assam has tremendous scope for attraction. The lush green valleys and scenic splendour of this area covering the geographical areas of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts and South-Eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, cast spell on visitors. The lush green rain forest patch of Joypur, Dirok and Upper Dehing locations are ideal for a wide variety of flora and fauna as also for trekking. Thus the whole region of the Tinsukia District of Assam has tremendous potentiality for furthering Tourism development. Hence the area also has tremendous scope for entrepreneurship development. The paper intends to highlight the potentiality of tourism development in the Tinsukia district of upper Assam with that of its infrastructure planning.

Governor in Manipur State Politics

Governor in Manipur State Politics

Grandmother’s Recipe of Pangal Chanam Eromba (Allium sativum L.) in a Traditional Curry Pangal (Meitei-pangal) Community of Manipur State, India - Part 1

The traditional curry of Chanam Eromba (Garlic Eromba) by Pangal/Meitei pangal community in Manipur has been confirmed from the present research through the traditional plantation of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in their front-yard/pots garden, home gardens, mosque garden, agriculture, etc.

Bacterial dynamics during yearlong spontaneous fermentation for production of ngari, a dry fermented fish product of Northeast India

Ngari is the most popular traditionally processed non-salted fish product, prepared from sun-dried small cyprinid fish Puntius sophore (Ham.) in Manipur state of Northeast India. The microbial involvement in ngari production remained uncertain due to its low moisture content and yearlong incubation in anaerobically sealed earthen pots without any significant change in total microbial count. The culture-independent PCR-DGGE analysis used during this study confirmed a drastic bacterial community structural change in comparison to its raw material. To understand the bacterial dynamics during this dry fermentation, time series samples collected over a period of nine months through destructive sampling from two indigenous ngari production centres were analysed by using both culture-dependent and culture-independent molecular methods. A total of 210 bacteria isolated from the samples were identified by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) based grouping and 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis. The dominant bacteria were Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii (38.0%), Tetragenococcus halophilus subsp. flandriensis (16.8%), a novel phylotype related to Lactobacillus pobuzihii (7.2%), Enterococcus faecium (7.2%), Bacillus indicus (6.3%) and Staphylococcus carnosus (3.8%). Distinct bacterial dynamics with the emergence of T. halophilus at third month (106CFU/g), L. pobuzihii at sixth month (106CFU/g), S. carnosus at three to six months (104CFU/g) and B. indicus at six to nine months (105CFU/g) in both the production centres was observed during ngari fermentation. However, the other two dominant bacteria S. cohnii and E. faecium were isolated throughout the fermentation with the population of 106CFU/g and 104CFU/g respectively. Culture-independent PCR-DGGE analysis further showed the presence of additional species, in which Kocuria halotolerans and Macrococcus caseolyticus disappeared during fermentation while Clostridium irregulare and Azorhizobium caulinodans were detected throughout the fermentation. Principal component analysis showed a drastic bacterial community structural change at the sixth month of fermentation. These identified dominant bacterial cultures of T. halophilus, L. pobuzihii, S. carnosus and B. indicus could be effectively utilised for designing starter culture and optimizing fermentation technology for industrialisation of ngari production.

Burn Deaths: A Study on Female Victims in Manipur

This retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital during 2004 to 2013 to assess the pattern of burn deaths amongst females in the State of Manipur. Out of the total 38 burn cases brought for autopsy, 26 were female burn cases. The highest number of victims was in the age group of 21 to 30 years (53.85%). Majority of the cases were non-Manipuris (57.69%) and 84.62% of the victims were married. The body surface area involvement of >80% was observed in 61.54%, and 57.69% of the cases died within 24 hours. The cause of death was due to burn shock in 65.38%, and the nature of death was accidental in 50% of the cases. History of domestic violence was present in 40% of the suicidal deaths and in all the three cases of homicidal deaths. High mortality in young married women from burns is attributed to dowry in rural India. Dowry system is almost non-existent in the State of Manipur, and it is reflected in the present study where majority of the female victims of burns were non-Manipuris residing in this State.

A Study on the Performance of MGNREGA in Manipur

Being premised on the planks of inclusive growth, livelihood security and democratic empowerment as envisaged in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the state of Manipur is implementing the scheme with the mandate to provide at least 100 days of demand based guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work and creation of durable social assets in the process. In this backdrop, the present study examined the performance of the scheme in that state with respect to extent of employment generation, efficiency in work completion rate and efficiency in fund utilization through analyzing official records of 7 years between 2008–09 and 2014–15. During the period under study, a total of 3228861 number of job cards were issued of which the share of backward communities (ST and SC) was 53.83 per cent. In terms of social category wise employment generation, the shares of backward communities and women were 69.58 per cent and 42.37 per cent respectively. However, there remained a gap of around 5.39 per cent in the matter of employment provisioning as against actual number of job card holding households deserving the benefit of employment. The shabbiest parts of the scheme were detected in the forms of provisioning of 100 days employment to only 7.39 per cent of job card holders and failure to complete 95.55 per cent of the undertaken works by scheduled time. This calls for playing of more responsive role by the state authority so that very purpose of MGNREGA is not defeated.

Spectrum of unnatural female deaths in Manipur: A postmortem study

Background: Unnatural deaths may be caused by unintentional or intentional injuries. Unintentional injuries are mainly accidental, while intentional injuries may be suicidal or homicidal. Female deaths due to unnatural causes, especially in the first few years of their married life, have been observed in Indian society for the last few decades. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital during the period of 10 years from January 2004 to December 2013, to assess the pattern of unnatural female deaths in the state of Manipur. A thorough analysis of the history and postmortem findings was carried out, and the findings were statistically analyzed. Results: Out of the total of 4313 cases brought for autopsy, 320 cases (7.42%) were of unnatural female deaths. The year 2004 recorded the highest number of female deaths, and the number of cases declined in the following years. The maximum number of victims was observed in the age group of 21-40 years (36.3%); the majority of the victims were married (70.3%). Road traffic accident victims constituted 68.4% of the cases, while 13.1% were victims of firearm injuries and bomb blasts. Most of the cases were accidental deaths (72.5%), while 23.75% were homicidal in nature. Conclusion: The scenario of unnatural deaths among females in Manipur is different from those of the other parts of the country. Female deaths because of unnatural causes are mostly due to road traffic accidents.

New records of lichens from Manipur State, North-eastern India

A total of 140 lichen species belonging to 50 genera and 23 families with 39 species recorded for the first time from the state of Manipur, Northeast India, being reported. Fourteen species are new additions to the lichen flora of Northeast India. The crustose morphotype (49% of the species found) dominated the area, followed by foliose (43%), dimorphic, fruticose, leprose and squamulose lichens, each contributing by 4%, 2%, 1% and 1% of the species found, respectively. Nine species of phorophytic foliicolous lichens that usually colonize live leaves were also encountered. The occurrence of foliicolous lichens is quite characteristic of species diversity and indicate rather high richness in this relatively small phytogeographical area. A brief note on the phytogeographic affinities and distribution of the newly recorded lichens in Manipur has been provided.

The Student Unrest in the State of Manipur: An Empirical Analysis

The problem of students‘ unrest has become a peculiar feature of every society, with the scenario being witnessed at global levels. The nature of student unrest has taken different dimension in recent years. They are up in arms and open revolt, thus reflecting their anxiety in regard to a society which seems incapable of allotting them a befitting place. Students are an important part of the youth population and subject to various pressures of life and consequently adopt indiscipline means to meet their ends. Today, student unrest has come to be recognized as one of the most visible perennial problems of significance. The incidents of students‘ unrest which have assumed a greater enormity and implication, is precipitated by several factors: non-participation in decision-making, academic stress, changing value systems of students, parental influence, contemporary national issues, and welfare problems. An attempt is made in this research article to explore the factors which were responsible for student unrest and to examine the nature and pattern of student unrest in Manipur University campus, Imphal. Further, the article will also draw insights into various socio political, economic and academic conditions prevailing at a given point of time, and to suggest the ways and means to tackle the problems of students‘ unrest.

Postpartum Hemorrhage and Maternal Deaths in North East India

Hemorrhage, usually occur in the postpartum period, is responsible between one quarter and one third of obstetric deaths. According to the world health organization, obstetrics hemorrhage causes 127,000 deaths annually worldwide and is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a frequent complication of delivery and its incidence is commonly reported as 2% - 4% after vaginal delivery and 6% after cesarean section with uterine atony being the cause in about 50% cases. The risk of dying from PPH depends not only on the amount and the rate of blood loss but also the health status of the woman. PPH remains the number one killer of mothers and accounts about 28% of all maternal deaths in developing countries. There is an increase risk in the PPH even in developed countries due to number of changes in recent years. In India, Maternal mortality rate (MMR) is 212 but in the state of Manipur (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS), situated in the far corner of North East MMR is 91.68 (94 maternal deaths/102525 live births during year 2000-2010). Out of 94 deaths, 53.19% died due to hemorrhage and PPH accounts about 21.27% of total deaths. Again, almost all these PPH died within the first 24 hours of admission. High parity and home delivery brought late due to varied reasons with preexisting anemia are the common problems on analysis of maternal deaths due to PPH in our set up. Whatever the cause, death should be preventable and outcome is largely dependent upon timely interference and efficiency and vigor of medical practitioners. A pregnant woman and her family must understand the risks involved in each pregnancy. Even with different interventions and blood transfusion facility, maternal deaths cannot be brought down to zero. But the best available health care facilities should be made available to all.

Study on Growth and Instability of Sesame in North-Eastern Hill Region of India

Alongside making considerable progress in the production of food grains and oilseeds especially during the last three decades, the Indian agriculture has simultaneously been indicative of growing instability in the production front for several reasons. It was in this backdrop, an attempt was made through the present study to examine the growth and instability of sesame over five of the six sesame growing states of North-Eastern Hill Region of the country by way of analyzing the time series data of 20 years. The growth rate of area and production found to be highest in Nagaland state but in terms of productivity it was highest in Manipur state. The instability which was highest observed in case of area and productivity for Manipur was observed lowest in Nagaland state. Hence, the study highly recommends the use and adoption of site specific scientific package of practices of the crop to avoid the prevailed instability.

Concerns and constraints of Film-Making in North-East India

The focus of the study is to assess the issues and challenges of filmmaking in North-East India particularly in states of Assam and Manipur. Film-making in the region began amidst variety of odds, be it financial constraints or technological shortcomings. However, against such uninspiring background, artistic ambience and commercial prospect filmmakers in the region ventured to explore the novelty of this medium. This study examines the i) status of filmmaking in Assam and Manipur as they are the largest filmmaking producing states in the region and ii) the reasons why filmmaking has not prospered much as compared to other film producing states in the country. The region has the potentiality of emerging as an important entertainment powerhouse given the adequate resources, infrastructural support and proper outlets for distribution. While there are many deserving filmmakers, talented artists and a great reservoir that could be tapped, the pace of growth and development of film industry in the region is rather slow.

Traditional dye yielding plants used by different communities of Manipur, north eastern India

Manipur harbours rich diversity of dye-yielding plant species and some of the species are at the verse of extractions. Since time immemorial, different ethnic groups in the valley and hill regions of Manipur State have practiced the art of dyeing clothes and other items with natural dyes. The natural dyes were obtained from different plants species which have been used by weavers for imparting different shades of colour to different clothes, bamboo baskets, flower pots, fishing nets etc. The present study was undertaken to survey, document dye-yielding plants and the indigenous knowledge of preparation of natural dyes by the tribal communities of Senapati District of Manipur State. The Survey was carried out during May 2010 to April 2013 by frequent visits to different parts of district located between 24°45΄-24°51΄ N latitude and 93°48΄-93°55΄ E Longitudes at an altitude ranging from 865 m to 1785 m above mean sea level. The information on traditional knowledge of preparation of dye was collected through the interview and formal discussion with weavers/dyers. During the survey, 30 dye yielding plant species belonging to 23 families have been identified and documented used for the preparation of natural dyes by the local inhabitants of the state. Mahonia manipurensis Takeda, the endemic plant species belonging to the region. The present study was undertaken to explore and document availability of 30 natural dye-yielding plant species of Manipur with indigenous knowledge of preparation of natural dyes by the tribal-communities of the state.

Awareness, Knowledge and Misconceptions about Some Reproductive Health Issues among the Married Couples in High-risk States of India

In India, the HIV/AIDS epidemic represents one of the most serious public health problems. According to National AIDS Control Organization, about half of the new infections occur among persons below 25. More than 80 per cent of the total infections are transmitted through sexual intercourse. Importantly, the infection is growing faster among the married. What makes youth more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS? Most evidence suggests that knowledge about HIV/AIDS is low among youth. Knowledge about the modes of transmission is considered to be the only means of prevention against this disease. The objective of this article is to study awareness, knowledge and misconception regarding RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS among the married couples in high-risk states of India. Data for this paper have been obtained from the Rapid Household Survey under Reproductive and Child Health Survey, Round II, during 2002–04. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu were purposively selected for the analysis; except Gujarat all these states were in the category of high risk. A total of 82,596 married couples were considered for the study. A bi-variate technique was used for the analysis. In addition, a knowledge index was computed as a summary measure of knowledge and misconception. It was categorized into Low, Medium and High Knowledge. The analysis revealed that in Tamil Nadu around 33 per cent husbands and 27 per cent wives had high knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS. In contrast, in Gujarat 8 per cent husbands and 6 per cent wives had high knowledge. Further, the analysis illustrated the gap of knowledge between husbands and wives.

English

OBJECTIVE: To find out the bactericidal effect of extract of the Acacia catechu and Ficus hispida which are commonly used by the local quacks for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery in the villages of the state of Manipur where the medical facilities are not available. METHODS: The plant barks are collected from different parts of Manipur during the period of March 2006 to February 2007, dried at room temperature; make powder in the grinder and soxhlated at low temperature to get the yield (extract). In case of Acacia catechu dried power form is available in the market. The powder is soxhlated to get the yield. These extracts are tested for the bactericidal effect in serial dilutions against the known strain of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and incubated at 37 0 C overnight. After overnight incubation, the tubes are checked for the growth of the organisms and from the tubes sub cultures are made serially corresponding to the dilutions on to the Blood agar, Mac Conkey and Nutrient agar media, incubated at 370C overnight. After overnight incubation, the dilution where the growth of the organisms does not occurred, are noted and tabulated. RESULT: The aqueous extract of Acacia catechu shows bactericidal effect up to the dilution of 1:8 whereas the aqueous extract of Ficus hispida shows no bactericidal effect even at higher concentration. CONCLUSION: These plants extract have been using for the treatment of ailments in the villages of the state of Manipur by the local quacks since time immemorial. In this study it has seen that Acacia catechu has the medicinal properties whereas Ficus hispida has no bactericidal property though the plant has other medicinal properties. It is therefore, necessary to do further studies to identify the ingredients present in this two plants for safe use and large scale production in the state.

English

With the on-going National Rural Health Mission the healthcare sector in the rural areas are becoming relatively better well-organized than the urban areas. This affects the poorer section of the urban community who cannot afford costly treatment in private-run health facilities. To prepare an effective health-plan for this population under the up-coming National Health Mission, it is imperative to study the socio-demographic and healthcare utilization pattern among the urban poor. The study was taken up in Imphal, the capital of Manipur State in 2012. Both quantitative data (3844 poor migrant households) and qualitative data were collected. There was no identified slum area in Imphal. Majority of the cross-State migrants were from Bihar. Migration was mainly for economic reasons. Most of the migrants (92%) lived in rented houses out of which 63% were katcha houses.67% of the migrant households lived in a single room. Main fuel for cooking was LPG. Main sources of water for drinking were house-hold tap and tanker-trucks. None of the houses had own latrines. Closed drainage system was present for a few households (8%) only. TV/Radio which was possessed by all the households was the main source of information. The usual source of medical care was from the two teaching medical institutions existing in the State. Other public healthcare facilities were accessed only by a few. Transportation to access the health facilities was to be arranged by self. Out of the pocket expenditure was the usual mode of expenditure for meeting expenses during times of seeking healthcare. Home-visit by healthcare workers was a rare phenomenon except during Intensified Pulse Polio Campaigns and for Routine immunization services. Very few (<1%) received free medicines from the health facilities. The main reason for not accessing government healthcare facilities was long waiting time. There was hardly any discrimination because of being a migrant. Nearly half of the women had 3 or more ANC visits. Home-visits by government health workers for ANC and PNC services were almost non-existent. Institutional delivery rate was 86% with delivery by Caesarean section being 20%. Fully immunized rate among children was 49%.

The Act of Watching with One's Own Eyes

Contemporary cultural productions from India's northeastern borderlands, both in English and languages like Assamese and Meitelon, powerfully illustrate how subjects who inhabit states of dispossession continue to imagine potential forms of action and collectivity beyond the forms of ‘death’ and non-being that states of exception supposedly engender. Moreover, such works also show how relational forms of subjectivity herald renewed possibilities of being and existing in postcolonial ‘death-worlds.’ A good illustration is Siddhartha Deb's English novel An Outline of the Republic (2006), which shows how the psychological investments of a male mainland Indian narrator in the discourses of sovereignty are gradually rent asunder as he begins to identify with the existential predicament of a subject in a state of dispossession: a woman from the northeastern Indian state of Manipur who becomes a sacrificial pawn in the political endgames played between statist and non-statist authorities. I argue that the narrator's encounters with supposed forms of death-in-life in the borderlands, and the ‘strange’ recognitions that accrue from these, facilitate a subjective metamorphosis in two ways: ethically, it helps the narrator acknowledge the demands of dispossessed others; politically, he recognizes alternative modalities of being and existing beyond sovereign governmentality and autonomous subjectivity.

Analysis of Muscular Endurance among Adolescent School Boys of North-Eastern States of India

In the present pushbutton era most of the adolescent are not participating in leisure activities and concentrate are on studies. Regular physical activity would be important for life’s quality even if it had no relationship to disease and longevity. Physical activity is a significant ingredient in the quality of life, because it increases energy and promotes, physical and mental well being in addition to conferring health benefits. Boys from various schools of [Tripura (TR), Meghalaya (ML), Assam (AS), Mizoram (MZ), Manipur (MN), Nagaland (NL) and Arunachal Pradesh (A.R.)] (N=21000) North-Eastern states of India were selected as subjects at random. Their age ranged from 13 to 15 years (studying from 7th to 10th standard). Muscular endurance was measured by the number of sit-ups in a one minute. The collected data were analyzed by using one-way ANOVA. Among the groups, if any significant difference, scheffe’s post hoc test was used to find out the paired mean difference (P ? 0.05). The results of the study show that the adolescent boys of North-Eastern states were differ on muscular endurance. Hence it was concluded that, age, geographical region, growth, social behaviour, food habits and level of physical activity may influence the muscular endurance of adolescent boys.

CLIMEX simulated predictions of Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) geographical distribution under climate change situations in India.

climate change on future potential distribution of Oriental fruit fly (OFF), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), a polyphagous pest on a wide variety of fruit crops in India. Prediction of the potential distribution of OFF was done for different time-frames (2030, 2050, 2070 and 2090) under the A1B climate change scenario (CSIRO-Mk3.0, a global climate model) using CLIMEX software. The model predicted an overall gradual decrease in terms of area suitability for OFF in India by 2090 due to increase in various stress factors to the pest. In temperate regions of the north and northeastern parts, incidence of the pest may increase due to rise in temperature coupled with decrease in cold stress. In North India, the model predicts the regions of Jammu&Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Punjab to be more climatically suitable for OFF by 2030 and there is an expected steady increase in suitability by 2050, 2070 and 2090. The CSIRO model for North East indicated that by 2090, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur would become highly suitable for the pest. The projected range expansion in terms of area suitability was recorded up to 100 km in temperate regions. Central and western India are projected to become progressively less suitable by 2030, 2050 and totally unsuitable by 2090. In South India, there was a slight reduction in climatic suitability for OFF in terms of ecoclimatic index over timeframes 2030, 2050, 2070, 2090 as highly suitable, optimal, suitable and marginally suitable respectively. Regression analysis was carried out using growth index obtained from CLIMEX and pest trap counts. Additionally, field level validation of the model was carried out for selected locations.

Ethnicity and place in a ‘disturbed city’: ways of belonging in Imphal, Manipur

This article explores the relationships between ethnicity, place and belonging in the city of Imphal, capital of the state of Manipur in India’s Northeast border region. Manipur has experienced decades of conflict from ethno-nationalist separatism, inter-ethnic territorial disputes and counter-insurgency operations. These ethnic conflicts play out on the urban landscape of Imphal. Control of the city from above is diffused among the civilian government and the armed forces. Non-state actors such as insurgent groups and ethnic organizations exert their own control from below. On such unstable ground, struggles by residents seeking to create place and a sense of belonging affirm ethnic boundaries. These boundaries are not static and the lines between inclusion and exclusion are continually redrawn along existing and emerging fault-lines among the population. Yet these boundaries are also transcended in unusual ways that may seem trivial but in Imphal are essential to realizing alternative ways of belonging.