WHAT’S IN A NAME: The confusion requiring Subbas to start writing their surnames as Limboo

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 05 March: The Yakthung Sapshok Songjumbo [Sikkim Limboo Literary Society] has often reiterated its appeal to members of the Limboo community to specify ‘Limboo’ as their surnames to the enumerators who call on them in connection with the ongoing Census 2011 operations. A majority of the community in the State uses ‘Subba’ as their surname and although the YSS has suggested that they write Limboo and add “Subba” in brackets, the Society’s president, SP Subba, adds that “Subba is just a title” and highlights that in the Government of India notification, only Limboo has been notified as a Scheduled Tribe. Writing Subba, he believes, could complicate matters, especially when it comes to calculating the number of “Limboos” in the State.

Tsemi, the man who walks for the dhamma

Tsemi's camp at the Convoy Ground bus stop in Gangtok

Tsemi walks

TSHERING EDEN
GANGTOK, 05 March: “Helping beings is the message of all the great gurus and of spiritual practice and is the principle message of all religions,” reads the message on the trolley that Tsemi pulls along as he travels, prostrating all the way.
“I am doing this to bring peace to all sentient beings of the world and set an example for people to follow their dharma which is the only way one can find peace,” reasons Tsemi on why he travels about performing the Jang-Cha [prostration], lugging along a trolley with his belongings. [click here for a photo-essay on Tsemi walking into Gangtok]

SDF’s birth, a turning point for the better in Sikkim: Gyaltsen

GANGTOK, 05 March: “The birth of the Sikkim Democratic Front on 04 March 1993 was an important turning point in the history of Sikkim as the day gave birth to the visionary leadership of Pawan Chamling,” said Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly KT Gyaltsen, while addressing the constituency-level celebration of the party’s foundation day here at Guards Ground, Tathangchen yesterday.

SDF’s journey has been momentous and consistent in service to people: Chamling

CM CELEBRATES PARTY FOUNDATION DAY AT NAMCHI
PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 04 March: The 19th foundation day celebration of the Sikkim Democratic Front for Poklok-Kamrang and Namchi-Singithang constituencies was held at the Bhaichung Stadium here today with the SDF party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling [who is also the elected representative from Poklok-Kamrang] hoisting the party flag here and addressing a huge gathering of party supporters.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chamling said that the SDF party was born in 1993 from a felt-need of the Sikkimese people, has been nurtured by their continuing support and remains committed to delivering on all the promises made to the people of Sikkim. The upliftment of the poor of Sikkim remains the motivating factor for the party, he stressed. The party, he said, has enjoyed a momentous success because of its appeal among the people and remains consistent in its service to the Sikkimese people.

Teesta Urja agrees to abide by Transport Minister’s instructions on use of local truckers

GANGTOK, 04 March: A tripartite meeting, convened yesterday between the Sikkim Truck Drivers Association, the Truck Driver Owners’ Association and the hydel developer Teesta Urja [which is working of Teesta Stage III] under the chairmanship of the Chungthang panchayat president, Chedup Lepcha, discussed the month old instructions of the Transport Minister, TT Bhutia, who also happens to be the president of the All Sikkim Drivers’ Front. As per the “instructions”, all hydel project-related carriage works in Sikkim should appoint local truck drivers and hire local trucks.

SDF celebrates 19th Foundation Day

Sikkim Democratic Front president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, cuts his party's birthday cake at the SDF foundation day celebrations held at the Bhaichung Stadium, Namchi, today. This was the party's 19th foundation day, and was celebrated at the constituency level by the party all over Sikkim. [Detailed reports on the Namchi meet, will be posted shortly]

Stricter guidelines issued for hoteliers

CCTVs FOR HOTELS HIGHER THAN 2-STAR AND USE OF LOCAL NAMES EMPHASISED FOR BUSINESSES
GANGTOK, 04 March: The Tourism Department, its name recently expanded to Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, has released a notification laying down guidelines and instructions for “strict compliance” by all hoteliers and travel and tour operators in Sikkim.
The 7-point list of guidelines begins by requiring every hotel owner to supply the name of the lessee of the property along with the Lease Deed Agreement to the Tourism Department. This, apparently “to monitor the performance, sanitation, local employment, disposal of garbage, accommodation and service charges in the hotels”.

Meeting reviews entries for Sikkim’s brand-name

GANGTOK, 04 March [IPR]: Additional Chief Secretary cum Development Commissioner, Karma Gyatsho, chaired a meeting today to review the shortlisted entries for brand-name of Sikkim at the Conference Hall of Tashiling Secretariat. The meeting was attended by heads of various state government departments.

UID team enrols Governor

GANGTOK, 04 March [IPR]: A team of officers from DESME called on Governor BP Singh at his winter camp in Rangpo today to enrol him under the Unique Identification Number. DESME has been declared the Nodal Department and Registrar for implementation of the UID project in Sikkim.

Cong criticises issuance of Aadhar Number to CM before formal launch of programme

GANGTOK, 04 March: The State-unit of the Congress party has challenged the issuance of the Unique Identification Number [“Aadhar Number”] to the Chief Minister even before the project was formally launched in the State. A Congress press release issued by the party’s vice-president, spokesperson, Kunga Nima Lepcha, states that the UID project was launched only today by the Governor, but as per media reports, the UID enumeration of the CM carried out on 01 March. [click here for report on UID team's visit to CM]

Exhibition of Roerich paintings of Khangchendzonga at Rachna Books

GANGTOK, 04 March: Rachna Books here at Development Area will be hosting a special exhibition which will offer audiences here with a rare peek into the art of Russian mytic, Tibetologist, philosopher and artist, Nicolas Roerich, and his equally gifted son, Svetoslav Roerich. Starting Saturday evening [5:30 p.m.], “Painters of Kangchenjunga”, an exhibition of paintings by the duo will be opened for public viewing at the First Floor at Rachna. The event, hosted here by “Friends at Rachna”, has been brought to Sikkim by the Darjeeling Goodwill Centre, and will include an introduction to the Roerich family by Fiorenza Bortolotti.

ASDLF reiterates commitment to labour issues, meets protesting pharma-company workers

GANGTOK, 04 March: The All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front convened a meeting with the protesting workers of Cipla, Zydus, Indicom and Alchem pharmaceutical units yesterday to discuss various issues facing them. The meeting, an SDF press release informs, decided to follow up on whether the industrial units have worked for the benefit of local employees and on what measured they had initiated on the ultimatum served to them by the ASDLF a month back. If these units are found wanting in their response to the 19-point charter of demands submitted by the ASDLF, a more concerted movement will be launched to make them come around, the release adds.

PM commends SDF Govt’s developmental achievements

GANGTOK, 04 March: Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has appreciated Sikkim’s developmental achievements.
This, reportedly in conversation with Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai when he submitted a letter to him on 27 February wishing the Prime Minister and the UPA government on behalf of the Chief Minister and the people of Sikkim.

Trade Licence renewal fee to be paid through Oriental Bank of Commerce challans

GANGTOK, 03 March [IPR]: A Press release issued by the Chief Municipal Officer, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, informs all Trade Licencees that fees for renewal of their licences have to be made through a Bank Challan from the Oriental Bank of Commerce. A bank counter has been opened within the office premises of the GMC.

Berozgar Sangathan and Chaatra Sudhar Sanstha welcome ASDLF move against industrial units

GANGTOK, 03 March: Sikkim Sachet Swarojgar Birohgar Sangathan and Sikkim Chaatra Sudhar Sanstha have welcomed the All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front move against private industrial units where the labour front has placed various demands in the interest of the local work-force.

CM reiterates commitment to Sikkim and the Sikkimese

NAMCHI, 03 March: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today reiterated that having already completed 25 years in politics in Sikkim, his life was now devoted completely to the service of the people here, with even his creative pursuits [the CM is also a poet] finding the muse in Sikkim and its people.
The CM was addressing the concluding day’s ceremonies of the Shri Vishwa Puran Gyan Mahayagya hosted at the Harishawar Shivalaya at Namthang in South Sikkim today.

UD&HD Secy inspects beautification and repair works at Namchi

NAMCHI, 03 March: Secretary, Urban Development & Housing Department, Topzor D. Bhutia, accompanied by officials of the Department was on a daylong visit to the South district headquarter town and inspected the beautification works underway here at the Central Park.

Determined, he travels up to Gangtok one prostration at a time

He won’t talk while he is on his walk [prostrations, actually], but a banner at the back of his trolley informs that he has been on a pilgrimage since 01 October 2006; marking his journey across countries one prostration at a time! He is following on the footsteps of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, travelling from one pilgrimage destination to the other and has already toured through Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, parts of India and arrived in Gangtok on Thursday afternoon.
Even though we don’t know his name at present, the man is a traffic-stopper, with everyone coming to a stop when they glimpse his determined pace. With leather chaps strapped on both his legs and protecting his chest and wooden hand-shields for his prostrations, he pulls along a trolley [carrying his belongings] tied to his waist and prostates flat, pulls himself up as he recites prayers and then prostrates again, and so his journey continues…

Directorate of Field Publicity organises awareness sessions on MG-NREGA, sanitation campaign and rural drinking water campaign

GANGTOK, 03 March: Directorate of Field Publicity [DFP], Government of India, Gangtok unit organized a day long Intensive Awareness Publicity Campaign at Ringhim and Naga in North Sikkim on 01 and 02 March respectively.
The topics covered were Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act [MNREGA] and Total Sanitation Campaign/ National Rural Drinking Water Mission. The resource person on the occasion was Ms. Passang Doma Lepcha, Field Facilitator, Mangan BAC.

Academic monitoring committees formed to facilitate quality education

GANGTOK, 03 March: The State Government, on 26 February last month, constituted 3-tier academic monitoring committees tasked with the responsibility to review and, as the name suggests, monitor academic activities at government schools with a prescribed view to bring in quality education. The 8-member academic monitoring committee at the headquarter level has the Secretary, Human Resource Development Department as Chairman, the academic monitoring committee at the district level will have the HRDD Joint Director for the district as chairman and the committee at the block administrative level will have the HRDD Assistant Directors of the respective BACs as chairmen.

Bar Khola receives traffic after week-long widening works

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 03 March: The Mangan-Singtam highway via Dikchu, which was closed for traffic owing to the repair works at Bar Khola bridge since 20 February here at Lower Mangshilla in North Sikkim [15 kms from Mangan towards Singtam] was opened for traffic on Tuesday evening.

A website on children’s literature with the young as curators

GANGTOK, 03 March: One might think reading books as a hobby or interest is no longer considered ‘cool’ especially when it comes to youngsters but a research carried out for World Book Day suggests otherwise. The very technologies that led kids away from books are also bringing them back to it. According to www.guardian.co.uk, a research that was carried out amongst 505 teens in the UK aged between 13 and 18, 40.8% had read a book on a computer, 17.2% on a mobile phone and 13.3% on a Tablet or iPad.
Now the Guardian is launching the first national newspaper books website devoted entirely to young readers on World Book Day as observed in the UK and Ireland on 03 March [while the rest of the world observes it on 23 April].

Alpha Foundation assists Round-II Intensive Pulse Polio Program

GANGTOK, 02 March: The Alpha Foundation (the Corporate Social Responsibility wing of ICFAI University, Sikkim) assisted in the monitoring and implementation of the Round II / Phase II of the Intensive Pulse Polio Program in Gangtok by the Immunization Cell, Family Welfare and Health Department, informs a press release.
The three-day program, from 27 Feb to 01 March, was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Shashi Pradhan, State Immunization Officer, STNM Hospital.

Students Assc condemns Suntaley JHS episode

GANGTOK, 03 March: The All Sikkim Students Association [ASSA] has strongly condemned the cheating indulged in by three teachers of Suntaley JHS in the Chief Minister’s Special Merit Scholarship scheme. [click here for background details]

HRDD suspends 3 teachers accused of forging documents for CM’s Special Merit Scholarship

GANGTOK, 02 March: The headmaster and two teachers of Suntaley Junior High School in South Sikkim accused of having forged documents to enable their ward to sit for the screening test of the Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship scheme were issued suspension orders by the Human Resource Development Department today. [click here and here for details of the case]
Director, HRDD, CS Rao, while speaking to NOW! late this afternoon, informed that the Department has drawn up the suspension orders and issued them before office closed today.

Bimal Gurung leads 11-member GJM delegation to call on Sikkim CM

GJM president, Bimal Gurung, speaks to media persons outside Mintokgang
after his meeting with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Wednesday 

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 02 March: An 11-member delegation of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha [GJM] office-bearers, led by their president, Bimal Gurung, called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintokgang here this afternoon. The delegation also included, GJMM, spokesperson Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, general secretary, Roshan Giri, and assistant secretary, Binay Tamang.

Deptt considers termination of 3 teachers who cheated State and students in CM’s Special Merit Scholarship scheme

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 02 March: The Human Resource Development Department has confirmed that the Headmaster, Purna Bahadur Gurung, and two teachers, Binod Gurung and Bhuwan Pandey, of Suntaley Junior High School had played foul in the conduction of the Chief Minister’s Special Merit Scholarship scheme at their school. Termination of the services of all three has been mooted by the Department and orders are expected soon. [click here for background details and public complaint]
The Department also claims that necessary action had been initiated immediately after the complaint reached the Department through the public of Sadam-Suntaley.

Sikkim Univ VC to deliver keynote address at international conference to celebrate 100 years of hydroelectricity in Nepal

GANGTOK, 02 March: The Afro-Asian 7th  International Conference on “Speedy Development of Hydropower in Developing Countries- Issues & Challenges” is being organized by the Internation Association on Electricity Generation, Transmission & Distribution (Afro-Asian Region) in Kathmandu to mark the 100th year of Nepal's First Hydropower Plant - 3rd  in Asia - 500 KW Pharping Small Hydropower Plant. The conference is being held in association with the Nepal Electricity Authority
Vice-Chancellor, Sikkim University, Prof Mahendra P Lama, will be delivering the key note address at the international conference, a Sikkim University press release informs.
Eminent hydroelectric and energy experts from various countries are participating in this 3-day conference. The President of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to inaugurate the conference on 03 March.

SDF youth work among students and teachers to inspire involvement to combat social ills

SDF youth Ganga and Karma after an awareness session with students

SINGTAM, 02 March: Ganga Mukhia and Karma Gyurmi Bhutia from Singtam and Pandam respectively are among the two dozen SDF youth workers who have been visiting schools and organizations in the area to generate awareness against socials ills plaguing the society.
Two youth had visited Singtam Senior Secondary School and Khamdong Senior Secondary School last Saturday and interacted with the teachers and students there and later also visited the Khamdong Block Administrative Centre.  On Sunday, they participated in the 31st Basibiyalo, a literary meet, at the Singtam Community Hall and spoke on the issues being pursued by them.
On their experience thus far, Ganga Mukhia said, “It was nice to receive wonderful feedback from the students and teachers of Singtam SSS and Khamdong SSS. The students took active part in the interactive sessions and we discussed different topics ranging from HIV/ AIDS to substance abuse and the role of youth in the making of a better society”.
Karma Gyurmi Bhutia added that the SDF youth were working at the grassroots level to generate awareness and inspire involvement of the society at large in tackling social ills. They stressed that this was in pursuance of the Chief Minister’s vision to empower the youth with awareness, involvement and a strong sense of responsibility.
[SHITAL PRADHAN]

Clinical establishments directed to get registered before applying for trade licence renewal

GANGTOK, 02 March: All clinical establishments, including optical shops, have been called to get themselves registered with the concerned authorities prior to approaching the office of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation for renewal of their trade licences. A Press release received from the Chief Municipal Officer, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, informs that without clearance from the concerned authorities, these trade licences will not be renewed by the GMC. 

Sikkim Police-A wins North and East Region volleyball tournament

The East and North Region Volleyball tournament, sponsored by NHPC, concluded
yesterday and the organisation to make the event a national level tournament
next year. Hope they spell the  sport correctly next time around.

GANGTOK, 02 March: Sikkim Police-A yesterday lifted the district-level volleyball tournament for the East and North districts sponsored by NHPC and held in association with NGO, Yuwa Jagriti Sangh, of Lower Samdong from 02 Feb to 01 March. The tournament had begun with the inauguration at the Tumin-Barang Primary School Ground and the final match was played at the NHPC Kendriya Vidyalaya school ground at Balutar near Singtam and had the HRD Minister, NK Pradhan, who also holds the Sports & Youth Affairs portfolio as the chief guest.

Crèche workers dismayed over having been left out from wage enhancement bounty in Union Budget

A crèche centre run by  Himali Bikas Sangathan at Barphok in West Sikkim

Nari Bikas Sangathan, Temi Tea Garden, South

Pragati Sangh, Rinchenpong, West Sikkim

A creche run by Sangam Samaj at Upper Polok in South Sikkim

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 02 March: The Union Government’s decision to double the wages of Aaganwadi workers [click here for details] has left the crèche workers [aayas] dismayed on having been overlooked for a similar enhancement even though they handle similar responsibilities as the Aanganwadi workers, but are paid much lower.
There are 125 creche centres under the Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Programme in Sikkim. These centres are manned by local NGOs under the supervision of the State Social Welfare Board [SSWB] and receive 90% funding as Centrally Sponsored Schemes [similar to ICDS centres] from the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare through the Central Social Welfare Board [CSWB] - a Government of India undertaking.

Unique Identification Number drive begins with CM

GANGTOK, 02 March [IPR]: A team headed by Director General, Department of Economic, Statistics Monitoring and Evaluation, SD Tshering, along with Project Coordinator, T. Gelek, and Enrollment Agency “Four-G” called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence, Mintokgang, yesterday for the enrolment of the Chief Minister under the Unique Identification Number (UID). The enrollment drive will soon commence after the issue of UID or “Aadhaar Number” of the Chief Minister.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been setup by the Government of India with the aim to issue unique identification numbers of “Aadhaar” to all residents in the country. UIDAI proposes to create a platform to first collect the identity details like demography, and then perform authentication that can be used by several government and commercial service providers. In order to ensure that each identity is unique and unduplicated, biometric details like, finger prints of all ten fingers of the hand, iris and photograph of each and every person will be captured.

Board exams begin

Students write their first paper of class X CBSE board exams at the Tadong Senior
Secondary School centre on Tuesday. 

GANGTOK, 01 Feb: CBSE students took their first examination of the class X board exams 2011 today, a day after the ICSE students started their tryst yesterday. The class X students took their second language exam today while the the class XII students had their Physics paper.
A total of 10,685 students are appearing for the CBSE boards this year. While 6,558 students will be writing their class X paper, 4,127 are sitting for the class XII exams.
Last year, 5,214 students had taken the class X exams.
[ANUPA RAI]

Yuksam school celebrates National Science Day

GANGTOK, 01 March: Government Secondary School, Yuksam observed the National Science Day 2011 with an exhibition on Popular Science (Hobby Electronics, Optics and Mechanics), Inter-House Science Quiz Competition and Complex-level Inter-School Painting Competition on the theme ‘Science & Technology in Human Welfare’ for the students of classes IV and V, informs a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Headmaster Sanjoy Acharyya stressed on the need of PPP (Public Private Partnership) between remote and under-privileged schools and private academic bodies like Vinayaka Missions Sikkim University [VMSU].

Sandam-Suntaley parents accuse JHS headmaster and teachers of sneaking in their wards for CM’s Special Merit Scholarship at the cost of genuine candidates

VILLAGE WANTS SERVICES OF HEADMASTER AND ACCUSED TEACHERS TERMINATED

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 01 March: The state government has been pursuing quality education by launching various unique programmes and schemes. The Chief Minister’s Special Merit Scholarship which seeks to place meritorious students hailing from underprivileged backgrounds and enrolled in government schools at the leading schools of the State and the country, is one such laudable initiative. Unfortunately, there are always opportunists around to undermine the best of efforts, and one such subversion was alleged today by villagers of Sadam-Suntaley in South Sikkim who accused the headmaster and two teachers of the junior high school there of having got their wards to sit for the screening test [for the scheme] at the cost of the school’s genuine class-V toppers. The screening test for the scholarship was open to students who secured the first and second positions in class V exams in their respective schools.

Lingtam assault victim adds attempt to rape and attempt to murder to allegations against accused

GANGTOK, 01 March: “New allegations leveled by the victim have come up in the Lingtam case where a woman was assaulted, stripped and paraded by a group of villagers on 12 February,” informed DIG [Range], N Sridhar Rao, while speaking to NOW! today.

Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland meets GJM supporters at Bagrakot and Kumani

Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland members at Sibchu in the Dooars

GANGTOK, 01 March: A delegation of the recently-formed “Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland” called on the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha [GJM] supporters on indefinite hunger strike at Bagrakot on 27 February to record their support and solidarity with Darjeeling’s movement for statehood.
On the way, the delegation also paid homage to three GJM activists killed by West Bengal Police at Sipchu by visiting the spot where the police firing had taken place.

Jal Power given temporary go-ahead to resume work on Rangit Stage IV Adit tunnel

Sludge from Adit-III tunnel bypasses the treatment tank to empty directly into Rangit at
Rohtak in West Sikkim where Rangit Stage-IV hydel project is under development

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 01 March: The inspection team from the West District administration and the State Pollution Board [SPCB], which visited the Adit-II tunnel site of Rangit Stage- IV hydroelectric project at Rothak, West Sikkim, this afternoon has given a “temporary go-ahead” to the project developer to resume work at the site. The DC [West], it may be recalled, had directed that work be stopped when it was discovered that the project developer was dumping untreated sludge [extracted from the tunnel excavation] into the Rangit [click here for details].
Coastal Project Pvt.Ltd, contracted by Jal Power Development Corporation working at the project site had been show-caused by the Department of Forests and the West district administration for “illegally dumping untreated waste” from the tunnels into the Rangit river.

Legal Literacy camp held in Lower Dzongu

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 01 March: The District Level Services Authority East/North Sikkim organized a Micro Level Literacy Camp at Lum village in Lower Dzongu, North Sikkim on 27 March.
Advocate Tarden Lepcha highlighted about the Human Rights and Child Labour Act to the general public while Advocate Sunil Baraily explained the Indian Penal Code (IPC), about bailable and non-bailable offences, the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT), Civil Suit and Legal Aid Services.

Bermiok-Tokal Shiloh Christian Church hosts Christian Musical Nite

NAMCHI, 01 March: A Gospel programme-cum-Christian Musical Nite was organized at Bermiok-Tokal Shiloh Christian Church on 25 and 26 February, attended by more than 500 people of the area. The inaugural session of the programme was chaired by ADO, Agriculture Department, Patrick Namchyo, as chief guest and Pastor Dhurba ‘Sisya’ from Darjeeling as the main speaker.

Bhanu Gurung and Milan Sharma create musical magic at Basibiyalo

SINGTAM, 01 March: Popular singer Bhanu Gurung along with Swar Sikkim winner Milan Sharma enthralled the audience at the 31st edition of the Singtam Basibiyalo at the Singtam Community Hall with popular Nepali songs from their latest album, ‘Astitwa’.

Australian delegates applaud conservation efforts in Yuksam

Kartok lake at Yuksam

PURAN TAMANG
YUKSAM, 01 March: Sally Padey [Director, Mogo Zoo, Australia] and Hannelie Van Der Merwe, [Head Zoo Keeper, Mogo Zoo] on a two-day visit to Yuksam [26 and 27 February], interacted with officials of the Khangchendzonga National Park [KNP]. During their visit they were accompanied by Director, Himalayan Zoological Park, Bubulay, Gangtok, Urmila Thapa, DFO [KNP], Tshering Pintso Bhutia and members of the Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee.

Regional parties look out for local interests best: Chamling

GANGTOK, 01 March: Sikkim Democratic Front party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, stressed that regional political parties were more sincere to local problems, issues and aspirations and more committed to the welfare of local residents than national parties. The Sikkimese understood this well, which is why they have only elected regional parties into government in Sikkim thus far.

3 SDF party workers from Jorethang quit party and express support for PS Tamang

GANGTOK, 28 Feb: Three SDF party workers who introduce themselves as the  president and vice-president of the Sikkim Democratic Front’s Jorethang ward no.4 unit, Bandhan Tamang and Ramey Gurung, and assistant secretary of Jorethang ward no. 3 unit, John Subba, have resigned from their respective posts and primary membership of the party.
A joint press release issued by them informs of their resignation and extends support to the SDF dissident MLA, PS Tamang. They have rejected Zoom-Salghari MLA, Madan Cintury's, leadership and accused him of nepotism and proclaimed Mr. Tamang as a leader who could deliver.

Aaganwadi workers welcome Centre’s decision to double wages

AANGANWADI WORKERS IN SIKKIM WILL NOW TAKE HOME Rs. 4500 PER MONTH
SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 28 Feb: “It’s minimal, but it will help us lots”. This was how an Aaganwadi worker [ICDS worker] reacted when this correspondent informed her that the Union Government has raised her monthly wage from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 3000 per month. This was one of the announcements included in the Union Budget unveiled today.

Rangit Stage-IV project developer drains untreated sludge into river

Untreated sludge from Adit-III of Rangit Stage IV slimes into the Rangit at Rohtak

Rangit Stage IV project site

RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF DEPLETED AQUATIC LIFE AND POLLUTED WATER AT ROHTAK
DISTRICT AUTHORITIES SHOWCAUSE COASTAL PROJECT Pvt Ltd, FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 28 Feb: Coastal Project Pvt. Ltd, contracted by hydel developer Jal Power Development Corporation and engaged at the Adit-II tunnels of Rangit Stage- IV hydroelectric project at Rothak, West Sikkim, 7 kilometers from Jorethang towards Legship has been show-caused by the Department of Forests and the West district administration for “illegally dumping untreated waste” from the tunnels into the Rangit river.

Adhoc body takes charge at Sikkim Press Assc

GANGTOK, 28 Feb: Xavier Subba was nominated president of the adhoc committee of Sikkim Press Association [SPA] at a meeting held here at Deorali on 26 February.
The meeting, chaired by the outgoing SPA president, Ganga Bahadur Rai, dissolved the existing committee and formed an adhoc committee which has been given charge to handle the activities of SPA until elections are held to form a new committee.

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