Young talent impresses at SDF Bhawan chess tourney

TSHERING EDEN
GANGTOK, 26 Feb: The 3rd Open Chess Tournament organised by the Sikkim Democratic Front Bhawan Trust, which began on 21 February with 108 participants concluded with the prize distribution ceremony yesterday. Minister, Human Resource Development and Sports & Youth Affairs, NK Pradhan, was present as the chief guest accompanied by Tourism Minister, Bhim Dhungel, as the special guest.

PM assures delegation of personally reviewing Karmapa's "problems"

GANGTOK, 26 Feb: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made time despite his hectic Union Budget schedule to meet a delegation which called on him to discuss the problems hounding Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
A press release issued by the Joint Action Committee of Buddhist Organisations of Sikkim, former Finance Secretary, Kunzang Sherab, informs that the Prime Minister reassured the delegation that “he fully understood the sentiments of the Buddhists” and promised that as soon as the Budget session was over, he will personally look into the matter and have a review of the entire case.

Work underway to deliver Rinchenpong a Rs. 1.69 crore makeover

IT WOULD HELP IF CONCERNED OFFICIALS VISITED MORE OFTEN, RESIDENTS COMMENT
RINCHENPONG, 25 Feb: Coming in the heels of ‘beautification’ makeovers for the district headquarter towns, the smaller towns too are now burnishing up for slicker looks. Rinchenpong in West Sikkim is one such town, currently under a Rs. 1.69 crore cosmetic job, the task being undertaken by three cooperative societies of the area.

114 singers shortlisted for SDF’s ‘Sargam Sikkim’ talent hunt

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 25 Feb: 114 participants from all four districts of Sikkim will be competing in the first round of the 1st season of ‘Sargam Sikkim’, a State-level talent hunt for singers organized by the cultural affairs wing of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. The first round of competitions is scheduled to be held from 11 to 13 March here at the SDF Bhawan conference hall.

Perbing-Khop updated on CCE, RTE and school dropouts

PURAN TAMANG

NAMCHI, 25 Feb: An awareness programme on Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), Right to Education (RTE) and School Dropouts, organized by the Human Resource Development Department [South], Namthang Block Administrative Centre was held at Perbing Khop Primary School, South Sikkim yesterday.
Perbing Khop is a rural area with a predominantly Sherpa population who are mostly farmers where a lack of awareness on the importance of education and many other issues created a need for this programme, it is informed.

Workshop prepares Sumbuk for development and management of water sources

GANGTOK, 25 Feb: As part of the “Provision of safe domestic drinking water through sustainable development and management of water sources in rural areas of East and South Sikkim” project in convergence with the NREGA Dhara-Vikash Programme of the Rural Management & Development Department, TMI-India organized a district level workshop on Water Security at Block Administrative Centre, Sumbuk, South Sikkim yesterday, informs a press release.

Traditional archery tournament begins in Mangan

MANGAN, 25 Feb:  The Traditional Archery Tournament 2011 organised by Mangan Youth and Welfare Organisation (MY&WO) in coordination with, Mangan Archery Association (MAA), kicked off today at Mangan, Public ground.

Farmers Club awards ceremony reiterates Organic State resolve

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, Feb 25: “We can make Sikkim a Switzerland, the dream of the Chief Minister, in its true sense, but for this to happen, we all need and have to work together,” said Dawcho Lepcha, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Livestock and Veterinary Services Department.
He was speaking at the Farmers Club awards function to felicitate Best Performing Farmers Clubs at the National level during the years 2007-08 & 2008-09 and at State level during the year 2009-10 organized by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development [NABARD] at Hotel Denzong Regency here today.

Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland formed in Sikkim

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 25 Feb:  ‘Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland’, a self- professed non-political organization, was officially launched here in the capital today. Congressman Bharat Basnett, former chairperson of the ruling SDF party, CC Shengderpa and other executive members of the forum held a press conference here to speak on the initiation and also announce the forum’s first public meeting called for 06 March at the private bus stand at Deorali.

Believers Church distributes blankets in Maniram-Bhanjhyang

NAMCHI, 25 Feb: A community development programme was organized at Maniram Bhanjhyang Believers Church on Wednesday by the Believers Church, Head Office, Gangtok. As part of the programme, around 60 blankets were distributed among the 32 families of the locality.
While addressing the programme Rev. Wargeri said that this was not a step or move to motivate the people towards Christianity but was a symbol of love which Jesus Christ preaches.
The programme was attended by Administrator, Believers Church Gangtok Head Office Rev. Roken Wargeri, Pastor Bikash Chettri, and Madam GG along with the Supervisor South District Rev Father Silash Limboo.
[PURAN TAMANG]

Yuksom MPCS bags NCDC Cooperative Excellence Award 2010

GANGTOK, 25 Feb [IPR]: The Yuksom Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, a registered cooperative society under the Sikkim Cooperative Societies Act, 1978, was selected for the NCDC Cooperative Excellence Award 2010. The award, comprising of cash amount of Rs. 50,000, a memento and a certificate of recognition was presented to Purna Bdr. Pradhan, Manager, Yuksom MPCS Ltd, at a special function held on 04 February in New Delhi, a Press release received from Cooperation Department informs.

Blood donation camp at Namthang

NAMCHI, 25 Feb: The Voluntary Blood Donors Association of Sikkim (VBDAS) organized an outdoor blood donation camp at the Namthang Primary Health Center yesterday, supported by NSS cadets of Namthang Senior Secondary School and the Red Ribbon Club of South District.

Day2 at Blossom Fest

NAMCHI, 25 Feb: Yesterday, the second day of the Blossom Fest organized by the students of Namchi Government College, featured a dance competition as the main attraction. Five dance groups from all over the state participated. Three groups made it to the final round- CCCT dance group [Chisopani], BRSTP group [Namchi] and Slave of Dance group [Singtam].

Kamling School bids farewell to headmistress

PURAN TAMANG
KAMLING, 25 Feb: Government Secondary School, Kamling, West Sikkim, yesterday organised a farewell programme for headmistress Shakun Subba, who retired from duty in November last year. She was honoured with a felicitation letter and traditional khadas.
School staff, students, and the local public expressed gratitude towards Mrs. Subba for her services and contributions to the field of education during her tenure at Kamling. On the occasion, students of the school presented a number of colourful cultural performances and a ‘Bidai Song’ especially composed by the school for the farewell.
Also on the day, the new Headmistress, Lata Sharma, was accorded a warm welcome to the school.

Awareness workshop for East district JFMCs and EDCs

GANGTOK, 24 Feb: After Joint Forest Management Committees [JFMCs] and Eco- Development Committees [EDCs] from the West and South districts, the Department of Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department conducted a one-day awareness workshop for the East district committees here at Forest Secretariat today.
Next week, the same workshop will be organized for North district JFMCs.

SDF’s labour front ramps up focus on worker woes, serves ultimatums to investors to hire local and pay notified wages

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 24 Feb: Those keeping track of the news would have noticed the frenetic resurgence in the activities of the All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front [ASDLF], the labour front of the ruling party, in the past couple of weeks. ASDLF teams, led by their vice-president, BM Ramudamu, [the SDF president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in the ASDLF president as well], have visited around 15 firms and enterprises, including hydel projects, pharmaceutical companies, educational institutions etc., and served ultimatums directing them to fulfill an 8-point charter of demands pertaining to the human resource management practices at these units.
According to Mr. Ramudamu, his organization was “forced” to adopt this strong approach because investors have, despite reminders, refused to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] signed with the State Government prior to establishing their firms in Sikkim.

Reduced supplies drive up cigarette prices

A ROUTINE WHICH PLAYS OUT BEFORE EVERY BUDGET SESSION
AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 24 Feb: Cigarette smokers in Sikkim have, for more than a fortnight now, been made to pay more than what their respective poisons are priced at. Shortage of cigarettes in the run-up to the Union Budget is a routine affair [since this is one product which is confirmed to attract an enhanced tax], and it is invariably the peripheries [accept it, Sikkim is one] where the supplies are cut back as the manufacturers wait for the new rates and opportunist hoarders start stocking up to earn usurious profits by selling stock picked up in old rates for the hike prices.
Needless to add, this leads to a lot of speculation and extensive allegations.

Blossom Fest gets underway at Namchi College

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 23 Feb: The four-day cultural fest, ‘Blossom Fest 2011’, organized by Namchi Government College, was inaugurated today by Chairman, Namchi Municipal Council, BT Tamang, accompanied by NMC Vice Chairman, NH Ansari, as the special guest.
The inaugural programme had various cultural performances by the college students and students from different schools of Namchi.

Post-harvest technology awareness programme held at Hee-Gyathang

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 23 Feb:  A one-day technology awareness training on post harvest management and processing of ginger was held here at Hee Gyathang, Lower Dzongu in North Sikkim, today.  The training was sponsored by National Horticulture Board and conducted by SIMFED in association with SIBIN Group and resource persons from ICAR.
The training began with an awareness session chaired by Panchayat Vice President, Hee Gyathang GPU, Karma Lepcha and Panchayat Secretary, Lum/Gor/Sangtok GPU, Tshering Gyatso Lepcha as special guest.

Denzong Boyz to train for I-League second division reprise with acclimatization in Siliguri

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 23 Feb: Denzong Boys’ Football Club [DBFC] has qualified again for the second division I-League. It had debuted in the league the last season. With this, Sikkim will have two clubs in the I-League. This time, it may be recalled, United Sikkim Football Club has also qualified.
DBFC is now leaving for further practice at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri after completing its practice sessions in the state. An important reason to train in Siliguri to acclimatize for the league venues- likely to be either Guwahati or Shillong in the month of March.

AIDS awareness programme held at DHH

GANGTOK, 23 Feb: An HIV/ AIDS awareness programme was organized by the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the Directorate of Handloom & Handicrafts yesterday for trainees, paid workers and other staffs members at the establishment. The audience for the awareness session comprised mostly of youth, a SSACS press release informs.

Temi drafts Village Development Action Plan after training

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 22 Feb: A 3-day Sub-division level extensive training on Village Development Action Plan was held at Temi-Tarku Block Administrative Centre for Ravangla Sub-division to train supervisors, facilitators and note-takers for the drawing up of VDAPs.
Jointly organised by State Institute for Rural Development [SIRD] and RM&DD, the training was organised from 19-21 February and along with the training, VDAP for Temi GPU also drawn up.

Workshop seeks to make tourism “sustainable, equitable and just”

GANGTOK, 22 Feb [IPR]: “Tourism is a vast sector and eco-tourism, equitable and just tourism is the need of the times,” stressed Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, KT Gyaltsen, in his inaugural address at a workshop on “Talk for Change for Making Tourism Sustainable Equitable and Just” organized by Impulse NGO Network of Shillong.

New team takes charge at ARCEIS

GANGTOK, 22 Feb: A new team of office-bearers of the Association of Roman Catholic Educational Institutions of Sikkim [ARCEIS] took charge on 19 Feb and held their first meeting of the year at St. Thomas’ School, Gangtok, informs a press release.  ARCEIS is the representative body of the 26 Missionary Schools in Sikkim.

Primary school teachers complete Quality Education training

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 22 Feb: 298 primary school teachers from various government schools of Sikkim have completed the final phase of ‘Proficiency Development Training Programme’. Now, to see how well they deliver quality education in their classrooms.
These teachers- 120 from East district, 72 from West, 31 from North and 75 from South district recently completed their 3rd and the final phase of training here at Paljor Namgyal Girls’ Senior Secondary School recently.

50 Tonne Crane Crashes into roadside home; One Injured

ANAND OBEROI
AHO, PAKYONG, 22 Feb: A family of eight had a miraculous escape this morning when a 50 tonne crane belonging to builders, Punj Loyd Ltd working for the Airport Authority of India [AAI] at the airport site at Pakyong, lost control and crashed into the home of one Tikaram Poudyal at Bar Pipal Dara at Lower Aho, 10 minutes from Saramsa Gardens towards Pakyong today.

Poultry profiteers rapped for fleecing consumers; Rate-board display made mandatory

GANGTOK, 22 Feb [IPR]: The Department of Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries & Veterinary Services, informs that the recent “unauthorized hike” in the rate of chicken in Gangtok and surrounding areas was brought to the notice of the Department and on 19 February, a team led by Dr. Madan KS Shanker, Dy. Director (Marketing & Quality Control), visited various meat retail shops located at Tadong, Deorali and the Non-Veg building at Kanchanjungha Shopping Complex here for verification of rate.
It was revealed that the retail shops were selling dressed chicken at the rate of Rs. 130 to 140 per Kg, the rate much higher than that fixed by the Department. The Department has already notified the rate for selling dressed chicken at the rate of Rs. 120 per Kg. It was also found that the meat stalls located in Lall Market neither displayed rate-boards nor displayed their Trade Licence.

Bye-elections called for 4 GPUs

GANGTOK, 22 Feb [IPR]: As per a Press release received from the State Election Commission, Sikkim, the programme for Bye Election to the following Gram Panchayats in the State of Sikkim has been scheduled as under:

District        No. & Name of Gram             No.& Name of Gram                       Reserved for

                   Panchayat Unit                        Panchayat Ward

West           11-Singyang Chumbung          1-Naku                                             OBC (W)

                   31-Suldung Kamling               1-Reshi Tinzerbong                          UR

                   36-Chakung                            3-Lower Chakung Gossala Gaon      MBC

East             12-Premlakha Subaneydara    3-Subaneydara                                 MBC(W)

a) 3.3.2011 -    as the last date for making nomination

b) 4.3.2011-     as the date for scrutiny of nomination

c) 7.3.2011 -    as the last date fro withdrawal of candidature

d) 28.3.2011 -  as the date before which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken

e) 4.4.2011-    as the date before which the election process shall be completed.

3rd Open Chess Tournament attracts 108 contestants

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 21 Feb: The third edition of the Open Chess Tournament 2011, organised by the Sikkim Democratic Front Bhawan Trust, unveiled as a grand competition today with an awe-inspiring lineup of 108 contestants. The tournament was inaugurated by UD&HD Minister, DB Thapa at the SDF headquarters here.
This year, the tournament has the world-ranking, Asiad and national-ranked players from outside the state along with the local players from different parts of Sikkim.
In total, 108 participants are taking part in this five-day tournament, which has the technical support of Sikkim Chess Association.
18-year-old Asiad player, Monalisa Khambu and 12th in U-13 World Ranking, Rupesh Kumar Jaiswal, both from Nepal are also taking part in the tournament along with the current Assam state and North East champion, 15-year-old, Maha Sweta.
Likewise, the tournament also has the participants from Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong apart from the participants from different parts of Sikkim.
The tournament has the International Arbiter from Sikkim, Mahendra Dhakal as the Arbiter.

Kalimpong team lifts T-20 trophy at Melli

GANGTOK, 21Feb: The final match of 10th T-20 Champions Trophy was played in Melli on 19 Feb with WGYC of Kalimpong lifting the championship trophy defeating Melli Gumpa Cricket Club by 82 runs.

High-level committee instituted to review telecom services in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 21 Feb [IPR]: The Central government, on the request of the State Government here, has constituted a committee to review telecom services in the State. As per the Department of Information Technology, the committee has the Chief Secretary as Chairman, Principal Director, I.T as Member Secretary and other members include Secretary, IPR, DGP, Sikkim Police, Joint Secretary (T) from the Department of Telecommunication, CGM and GM/BSNL –West Bengal and Gangtok circle, GOC and BRO/Swastik.
The committee held its first meeting on 17 February at the Tashiling conference hall here and the Chief Secretary expressed concern over the telecom issues prevailing in the State. Principal Director, I.T, Rajesh Verma, gave a briefing on the current status and issues relating to the internet connectivity being provided by BSNL and highlighted the lack of manpower provided by BSNL, lack of backup provisions, lack of spare parts and other problems which were undermining the reliability and efficiency of the telecom network.

President’s-7 outshoot Changey archers to lift traditional bamboo archery tournament

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 20 Feb: President’s Seven has lifted the 2nd edition of the President’s Cup Archery [Bamboo] Tournament which concluded here at the Sikkim Archery Association [SAA] archery field at Tathangchen today. They beat archers from Changey 36 points to 14 to lift the champion’s trophy.
Samso Bhutia was awarded both, the Man of the Match and Man of the Series trophies. He hit the maximum targets in the final match as well as in the tournament overall.
A total of 31 teams from different parts of the State and Pedong in Kalimpong [West Bengal] had participated in the tournament which had begun on 14 January, organised by the Sikkim Archery Association [SAA].
After the President’s Seven and Changey, Sichey stood on the third position, outplaying Pachey-Pakyong in the third place match.
The final match had the Sports & Youth Affairs Minister, NK Pradhan, as the chief guest, accompanied by the PHE Minister, TT Bhutia, who is also the SAA president, and Joint Director, Sports & Youth Affairs, Doma Tshering Bhutia.
This tournament in traditional archery [using bamboo bows and arrows] was organised in an effort to nurture the still popular traditional sport of Sikkim and in an effort to provide sporting talent from rural areas with a big enough to platform to get noticed.

SRDS conducts free health camp at Ranipool

GANGTOK, 20 Feb: Sikkim Rehabilitation & Detoxification Society [SRDS] facilitated a free health camp and distributed medicines to people from in and around Ranipool today.
More than a 100 people from different age-groups were treated for different ailments by Dr LB Limboo of the SRDS, assisted by members of the organisation.
SRDS organized the camp under the Targeted Intervention Project on the sponsorship of Sikkim State AIDS Control Society [SSACS].
Also at the camp, free medicines, condoms and IEC materials were distributed.
Speaking to NOW!, Project Coordinator [TI Project], SRDS, Milan Rai, informed that the aim behind organizing the health camp was to provide medical benefits free of cost to the people while also creating awareness on the HIV/AIDS.
[SAGAR CHHETRI]

Bar Khola Bridge goes in for renovation, Singtam-Mangan highway closed for a week

MANGAN, 20 Feb: Renovations began yesterday on the notorious Bar Khola Bridge at lower Mangshila in North Sikkim, 15 kms from the North district headquarter town towards Singtam on the Mangan-Singtam axis. The repair work is scheduled to continue for a week, during which time the Singtam-Mangan highway via Dikchu will be closed. While heavy vehicles will remain off this road, light vehicles will have the option to ply from the Dzongu route via Hee-Gyathang and Sangkalang to Mangan. It may be recalled that this bridge has already been washed away twice in the past two years and 2010, traffic here was closed for almost a month.

[WANGCHUK BHUTIA]