Northeast Platform

NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Commonwealth champion Judoka Khumukcham Tombi (48 kg) who represented India along with Diviya at the Beijing Olympics 2008 has been selected for Arjuna Awards for the year 2007. She was among 11 sportspersons selected for the awards.The government of India today announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2007, Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2008 and Dronacharya Awards for the year 2007 based on the recommendations of the selection committees constituted for the purpose. Milkha Singh was the chairman of the Selection Committee for selection of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2007), Arjuna Awards (2007) and Dhyan Chand Awards (2008). Kh Tombi from Manipur, presently working with the CRPF, won the gold medal in the Commonwealth judo championship in January this year. She also bagged the bronze in the Asian Judo Championships held in Kuwait last year.26-year old Tombi is the daughter of Kh Munal of Mayang Imphal.Arjuna Awards are given

IMPHAL, Aug 19: The accumulated losses to the economy of the state due to bandhs and economic blockades during the period from 2004-05 to 2006-07 (i.e. three years) was estimated at Rs. 1319.96 crores, the state directorate of information and public relations stated today in a report.The economic loss due to bandhs and economic blockades on the national highways during the year 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 was Rs. 246 crores, Rs. 553.23 crores and Rs. 520.73 crores respectively while the loss in the per capita per day was Rs. 22, Rs. 24 and Rs. 27 respectively. Thus the accumulated economic loss during the last three years has been estimated at Rs. 1319.96 crores, it said.Reduction of per capita income due to bandhs and blockades was 6.10 percent in 2004-05, 11.79 percent in 2005-06 and 9.93 percent in 2006-07 upto January this year, according to data available with the state department of economics and statistics.An analysis of the Manipur government said that the number of bandhs and

IMPHAL, Aug 20: Life in the state remained paralysed for the second consecutive day today as another 12-hour nationwide general strike called by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions kept people off work after the 24-hour statewide strike yesterday.The Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions, Manipur while claiming that 65 different organizations supported the general strike, said that it was carried out successfully and peacefully in the state. They also thanked the people for their cooperation.Normal life was severely affected yesterday owing to the 24-hour general strike called by the coordination committee against the exclusion of L Monika from the Beijing Olympics. The strike concluded at 5 am today. However, another 12-hour general strike commenced from 5 am today.The 12-hour general strike of the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions concluded at 5 pm this evening peacefully. No violent or untoward incidents were reported during the strike hours.Even though the strike was support