Audio-books for Class X students in Manipur soon

IMPHAL, July 29: Manipur’s Science and Technology department is planning to produce audio-books for Class X students under Board of Secondary Education Manipur syllabus.

“It will take some time but discussion is on for the project in association with the experienced teachers which can be used as one the teaching tools (for the needy students),” says Uttamchanda Laishram Director of Science and Technology department. “A new project for communication by the Deaf & Mute students, using Smart phone and Wi-Fi campus connectivity is being explored for feasibility.”

Stating that the department has took up the project for Smart Manipuri to English E-Dictionary in association with National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Imphal, Uttamchand said Android mobile version of the Dictionary has been released through Google Play.

The department also completed one project for computerized transliteration of Manipuri from Bengali script to Meitei script. This will not only be useful to the students and public, particularly publishers, but will enable semi-automated transliteration of existing Manipuri books in Bengali script into Meitei Mayek script, he said.

After Guwahati and Jorhat, Manipur will be having the first ever 50-seat Digital planetarium, he said adding that for this construction of an eight metre diameter dome under North Eastern Council, Shillong funding is almost completed, he added.

At the same time, NEC has also given approval for setting up two district science centres in Manipur’s Churachandpur and Ukhrul districts on 90:10 fund sharing basis.

“We’ve also identified suitable site for setting up of another District Science centre in Thoubal district near the existing Fire Department office,” he said. “The department proposes to set up Science centre and planetarium in every district headquarters in phased manner.” Interestingly the existing Green Chroma Key TV studio and new exhibits of mirror magic gallery are the most attractive venues for the science loving visitors at Manipur’s only Science centre at Takyelpat, about 4 km west of Imphal.