MP takes stock of SICB performance, suggests remedial school for slow learners at Livelihood Schools

GANGTOK, 26 July: Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai, who is also the advisor to the State Institute of Capacity Building (SICB) at Karfectar, visited the Institute today and attended a brief meeting, an official press release informs.
During the course of the meeting, Joint Chief Administrator, KB Pradhan, appraised the house about the framing of Rules and Regulation for all Livelihood Schools and about the preparation of a Training Calendar and establishment of the Livelihood Schools of different trades in all territorial constituencies of the State, the release informs.

‘Commitment to work for the people still as strong as 18 years ago’

CM COURSES THROUGH SHYARI AND NAMCHEYBONG CONSTITUENCIES ON DAY 33 OF VILLAGE-TO-VILLAGE TOUR
GANGTOK, 26 July: “I have been using the power given to me by the people responsibly for the benefit and welfare of the State and its people. After 18 years on the job, your trust and endorsement keeps me committed to the task and I want to make things even better in Sikkim,” shared Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at Assam Lingzey Senior Secondary School ground today, the 33rd day of his village-to-village tour of the State when he toured Shyari and Namchebong constituencies of East Sikkim.

One arrested with Yarchagompu at Serathang

GANGTOK, 26 July: One person was detained today in possession of 1.2 kg of Yarchagompu [caterpillar grass] by Customs officials at Serathang, official trade mart for the Nathula border trade on the Indian side. The origins of the consignment and what the accused planned to do with it is not yet clear. Yarchagompu, an insect parasite fungus having high commercial demand as a health tonic and aphrodisiac, is found in altitudes above 11,500 feet. Its trade is bound by several laws in India and traffic not allowed.

To the young minds of Sikkim

ANIMESH GAUTAM
Already blessed with the lush natural beauty, Sikkim is now emerging as a tourism giant and it plays a significant role in tea production. Every time a Sikkimese mentions his hometown in the outside world, the first remark one definitely has to hear is the usual phrase - “Wow! Sikkim is such a beautiful place!” – well, at least that is what I hear. There are so many visible accomplishments in Sikkim by the government and the citizens which truly prove that Sikkim deserves the title of an epitome state. However, the rest of the world does not begin their day by reading the Sikkimese newspapers neither do they watch the local news channels every night. Sadly there are some events in Sikkim which are invisible to the outside world.

Rs 1.26 crore pig-breeding farm inaugurated at Pastanga

GANGTOK, 26 July:  A pig-breeding farm of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at Pastanga in Assam Lingzey under Namcheybong constituency today.
The farm, with the capacity to hold 55 adult “parent stock” of Large White Yorkshire breed, was set up at a total cost of Rs 1.26 crore under the Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana [RKVY]. Work on it began on 24 December 2009 and was completed on 23 June earlier this year.

St Francis School wins ARCEIS Science Exhibition

GANGTOK, 26 July: Association of Roman Catholic Educational Institutions (ARCEIS) organised a Science Exhibition at Namchi Public School on 23 July, informs a press release. The exhibition was divided into senior and junior categories with seven and eight member schools participating respectively.
The science exhibition is organised annually by ARCEIS at different schools and this year president of ARCEIS and principal of St. Joseph’s School, Rhenock, Rev. Fr. Paul D’souza was present as chief guest. The judges for the competition were professors, Sandhya Rai and Srijana Dewan from Loyola College of Education, Namchi along with Diwashkar Sharma, the release informs.

CMRHM begins at Dentam BAC with allotment orders for 14 beneficiaries

GANGTOK, 25 July: A co-ordination meeting of the “Block Rural House Committee” with the panchayat members of eight Gram Panchayat Units under Dentam Block was held on 22 July at the Dentam Block Administrative Centre conference hall for the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission. The meeting was chaired by area MLA [Maneybong Dentam], Chandra Maya Subba, and was convened mainly to draw up the future course of action of the BRHCC for the Dentam Block in the implementation of pucca house constructions under CMRHM.

So Many NGOs, So Little Social Work

Editorial:
With 1,843 registered NGOs, Sikkim is arguably among the best-serviced states in the world when it comes to the density of organisations engaged in ‘social service’. Put the numbers in perspective and one stares at a number that projects one NGO for every 325 people in the State! Just to drive the point home, every set of 325 people in Sikkim, has an NGO dedicated to its welfare. This figure was presented in the year 2009 in the State Legislative Assembly, when the irony of so many NGOs and so little social service came home. In an apparent move to weed out the dubious from this plethora, the State Government had announced plans to make it mandatory for NGOs to submit audit reports to remain registered. One does not know what came of that exercise.

Plantation drive at Rumtek

GANGTOK, 26 July: A plantation drive was conducted yesterday from Adampool to Rumtek Monastery initiated by Block Officer, Ranipool Territorial, Bhim Narayan Sharma with the help of Rumtek Gram Panchayat.
Around 1,200 saplings of fruit-bearing trees like guava, mango and cherry were planted on the day.
The BO informed the participants that such plantations have been carried out since 2006 but due to lack of awareness and general carelessness of the people, the plantations have not been successful. He urged the people of the area to take care of these saplings since Rumtek was a tourist spot and such plantations will add to the natural beauty of the area.

Paruhang Sapten Mangkhim mourns passing away of patron

GANGTOK, 26 July: Parughang Sapten Mangkhim, Rai Gaon, Ranka, East Sikkim, convened a somber meeting today in memory of its patron, IB Rai, who passed away on 24 July in Delhi. He was 63 years old. The meeting, held under the chairmanship of the organisation’s president, DB Rai, observed two minutes silence to mourn the death.
The meeting, acknowledging contributions made by Mr. Rai towards the society, recorded that he was an able leader and that his death was a great loss to the state and the society, a press release informs. 

‘Mission Sikkim needs people’s participation to succeed’

CM TOURS GANTHANG-MACHONG ON DAY-32 OF SIKKIM BHRAMAN

PAKYONG, 25 July: “The mission to make Sikkim a Model State is a big challenge, but an obsession that I have taken up and will pursue diligently,” Chief Minister Pawan Chamling reassured the handsome gatherings which had turned up for his halts along parts of Gnathang-Machong constituency today, the 32nd day of his village-to-village tour of the State.
The missing targets were clear, he said – a house for every Sikkimese, land for the Sukkumbasis, good health, good education, justice for all and an end to all forms of disparity and denial. The policy interventions and political will required to achieve these goals were in place, and what was now required was the active participation of the people, without which the final steps cannot be spanned, he said.

Lepcha youth meeting discusses PTG status and demands

MANGAN, 25 July: Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association (SLYA) North District organised a meeting in coordination with the association’s central body here at the Zilla Bhawan yesterday.
The SLYA North District president, Kukoo Pakimoo, in his address, detailed that the association was working in different sectors for the upliftment of the Lepcha tribe and that the district level meeting had been called to follow up on the changes that the Primitive Tribe Group status accorded to Lepchas has brought about.

Chochen Pheri lake at Chochen under Gnathang-Machong constituency in East Sikkim, less than two hours drive from Pakyong towards Bara-Pathing, is eyeing a slice of the tourism pie of Sikkim. As the name suggests, a circumambulation of the lake is usually undertaken by the devout here. Now it has a "Buddhist Circuit" paved around it and a stroll over a footbridge to a covered enclave in the middle. Although barely a pond, the spot is ideally located for a weekend getaway, amidst paddy fields and even a guest house option within strolling distance.

Payong shores up resolve for comprehensive tourism development

GANGTOK, 25 July: The annual meeting of Comprehensive Tourism Development Committee of Payong village in South Sikkim was convened yesterday under the chairmanship of a senior teacher from the area, DP Bhattarai, at Payong-Kau Gram Prashasan Kendra.
The meeting endorsed an amendment to the organisation’s constitution changing the name of committee to “Comprehensive Tourism Development Society”, informs a press release. 

‘Triangular meet’ at Deorali Girls School discusses challenges and coordination

GANGTOK, 25 July: “Easy access of gadgets like cell phones can hamper their studies.” This was one of the outcomes in the “triangular meeting” held today between teachers, parents and School Managing Committee of Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Deorali.
The distraction, combined with the unhealthy disinterest in preparing for exams because of the ‘no detention’ Policy were proving damaging for the students and required the concerned involvement of parents to confront.
Addressing the meeting, the recently appointed Principal, Sashi Lata Chettri highlighted that the primary level students need not to be sent to tuition as the different teaching methods at school and tuition class was confusing the kids.

GoI Inconsistency Keeps China Entertained

Editorial:
Last week, five members of a team of Karatekas headed for the Asian Karate-do Championship held at Quanghou City in Fujjian province of China, were prevented by Indian immigration officials from boarding their flight in New Delhi because they had been issued stapled visas by China. The Karatekas hailed from Arunchal Pradesh, parts of which are under dispute between India and China. The Chinese embassy issuing stapled visas for people of Arunachal visiting the country is an oft-repeated stunt, played out to suggest that these were travel passes issued to people from China itself. The games China plays to reiterate its claim over parts of Arunachal cannot be set to rules by us, but what is disconcerting is that the Central Government remains typically inconsistent on how it confronts this issue.

Dzongri Sporting Club resolves to revive lost glory

GANGTOK, 25 July: A meeting of the Dzongri Sporting Club, one of the premier football clubs of Sikkim, was held here yesterday and attended by most of its founding members. The meeting was held following overwhelming demand from fans and well-wishers of the club to revive the lost glory of the club and popularity of the game by leveraging the priority given to sports by the present Government, a press release from the club informs.
The decision was also influenced by the club’s concern towards diverting the younger generation away from negative influences, the release adds.

Malikyong wins Singhik-Sentam PYKKA games

MANGAN, 25 July: The Singhik-Sentam GPU under Mangan BAC organized the block-level PYKKA [Panchayat Yuva Khel Krida Abhiyan] games at Singhik Senior Secondary School ground for Malikyong, Lingding-Ringdang, Bung-Tumbok, Kazor and Pakshep panchayat blocks from 21 to 23 July.
Competitions in football, athletics [discuss throw, javelin throw, long jump, table tennis], taekwondo and archery were held. Malikyong block were declared the overall champion scoring 5 points, followed by Lingden-Ringdang on second place with 4 points and Pakshep third with 3 points.
The winners were awarded certificates, tokens and trophies by chief guest, North Zilla Adhyaksha, K Lepcha.
The inaugural programme was also attended by Zilla member Tshering Lepcha, Headmaster KT Bhutia, PYKKA member (PET Singhik), Sudin Pradhan, Panchayat President, Achong Lepcha, Panchayat Secretary, Palchen Lepcha, Panchayat, Akit Lepcha and Mr. Bagda, participants and members of Pakshep NGOs.

Affected people endorse Ting-Ting HEP

GANGTOK, 25 July: A section of the people of Tashiding-Yuksom constituency, under the banner of “Block Level Project Protection Committee”, has challenged objections raised against the proposed 96 MW Ting Ting hydel project on the Rathong Chu.
A press release issued by the president and general secretary of the Block Level Project Protection Committee, LP Kafley and Tashi Gyatso Bhutia of Tashiding, has also condemned the religious slant being given to base the protests against the project.

Tshering and Alexander selected for Allianz Jr Football India Camp

NAMCHI, 25 July: Tshering Zangpo from Namchi Senior Secondary School and Alexander Paul from Dr. Grahams Homes, Kalmpong, rose to the top from among 240 hopefuls on Saturday to make the grade for the Allianz Junior Football India Camp. The final selection trials were held here at Bhaichung Stadium for interested footballers from Sikkim and West Bengal.

Kupup's Sholay!

The VCR killed cinema halls, but that was decades back and it is in the rarefied breathlessness of Kupup at 13,900 feet that one is reminded of the wiping out of video halls, "vidio" in this case, by cable television and the affordable VCD players. Only a closer inspection of what one might ignore as another grafiti on this stone hut plays back the fact that entertainment used to come in spools of video cassettes at one time, which was quite some time back for this "hall" which appears to have closed with a screening of Sholay. No one there remembers how far back that was.

17-year-old Ugen leaves to represent country at Taekwondo tourney in Russia

GANGTOK, 24 July: Ugen Gurung of the Sikkim Amateur Taekwondo Association left today to represent India at the 6th World Taekwondo Poomsea Championship scheduled to be held at Vladivsadtok in Russia from 29 to 31 July.
Ugen is part of the 5-member Indian team and will be competing in the junior individual category. A total of 192 countries are taking part in the championship.17-year-old Ugen is studying in class XII at Holy Cross School here.

Sikkim Bhraman to connect better with people

CM CAUTIONS FIELD OFFICERS AGAINST PREPARING ESTIMATES WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING GROUND REALITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
GANGTOK, 24 July [IPR]: On the 31st day of his tour, the Chief Minister announced that the village-to-village tour would be made a yearly event in order to understand the problems faced by the people in every nook and corner of the state. The CM interacted with the public of Duga, Pachak, Central Pendam and Saku on the day.
The CM informed that the various demands received from the public during his tour and sanctioned by him would be brought before the coming monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly and passed in the interest of the people. A compilation of the demands will be brought out in the form of a book and sent to the Gram Panchayats, the CM added.

Let Rural Pragmatism Decide

Editorial:
The Sikkim Bhraman of the Chief Minister is a welcome move. Of course, work in government department’s suffers when the CM takes the Government to the people, but that should hardly be a reason for complaint since government offices were never models of efficient management even when the Secretaries were in station. Detractors of the government also snigger at the effort, alleging it to be politicking and contending that attendance was thin. Such comments are expected and hardly surprising, and while they are fine to keep some political conversation going, it should not detract from the possibilities that a Chief Minister undertaking a 40-day village-to-village tour of a State can achieve in promoting rural pragmatism to the primacy it deserves in rural development planning.

Goals continue to pour at second division Sikkim League

GANGTOK, 24 July: A hattrick by Tika Hang Subba helped GVSFA [Central Pendam] to register one more victory at the ongoing Second-division Sikkim League at Paljor Stadium on Sunday.
GVSFA outplayed Tibetan Youth Club [Gangtok] 3-1.
Tika Hang completed his hattrick with goals in the 21st, 34th and 68th minutes. The lone goal for TYC was scored by Phu Tshering in the 63rd minute.
In the second match of the day, Brotherhood FC [Ranipool] thrashed RYSFC [Middle Arithang] 10 goals to nil.

Tissue-cultured planting materials to rejuvenate cardamom plantations

GANGTOK, 24 July: Planting material grown through closely monitored tissue-culture is being introduced as a bid to rejuvenate the failing health of Large Cardamom plantations in Sikkim by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR Research Complex, Sikkim Centre.
A training-cum-demonstration programme on “organic large cardamom production technology” was organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra on 22 and 23 July at the KVK premises at Ranipool, informs a press release.

Football tournament for girls at Kabi

GANGTOK, 24 July: The Independence Day celebration organising committee of the Kalzang Gyatso Secondary School, Kabi, is organising a Girls Football tournament in memory of former Parliamentarian, the late Kalzang Gyatso, informs a press release.
The purpose of this tournament, which was started last year, is the empowerment of women especially in the rural areas, “to unleash their talent and develop competency”, the release explains.
The winners will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 along with a trophy, Rs 5,000 along with trophy to the runner-up team and Rs 1000 to the woman of the tournament.
Fixtures will be drawn on 26 July at 11 am, and interested schools, NGOs and clubs can contact 9593979608, 8759248917.

Teen busted at Temi with contraband

GANGTOK, 24 July: Temi Police, South Sikkim has recovered a large quantity of banned substance from the possession of a 19-year-old suspected peddler from Amley. 
The police, it is informed had been keeping an eye on the youth for the past few days, alerted to his dealing in contraband by source information, it is learnt.
On 22 July, a team headed by Temi Thana OC, SI Kinga T Bhutia, carried out a raid at the residence of the accused and recovered 1,642 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon, 145 bottles of Recodex and 120 N-10 tablets, all prescription drugs which are much-abused in Sikkim.
The accused however fled from spot. A case has been registered against him under section 9B, 11 and 14 of SADA while the police are still on the look out of the accused.

NASBO writes to President, wants Merger reviewed because Ting-Ting HEP is cleared

GANGTOK, 24 July: National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation [NASBO], in a letter addressed to the President of India, has appealed for a review of Sikkim’s annexation with the Indian Union with regard to the proposed 96 MW Ting Ting Hydro-Electric Project over the Rathongchhu river.
The Rathong Chu in West Sikkim is considered a sacred river with the patron saint of the state Guru Padmasambhava having directed its preservation, the letter explains.

GTA pact fails to please AAGSU

GANGTOK, 24 July: The All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) has contested the claim that the tripartite agreement for formation of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has secured identity for the Gorkhas for the country. The GTA, AAGSU argues, is a territorial and sociopolitical arrangement worked out for the people of Darjeeling and stresses that it should not be misconstrued as offering solutions for Gorkhas elsewhere in the country.