Precarious sink on NH 31A in Gangtok awaits coordination to allow repairs

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 09 Aug: Driving along NH-31A especially in and around Gangtok has renamed an ordeal for quite some time now. Large pot-holes, slush and debris from the temporary patch works makes negotiating vehicles an uncomfortable endeavor here in the capital of the state.
With a major section of road hanging in precarious condition here in Hospital Dara, the busiest part of town, officials from the GREF, Sikkim Police and the line departments and BSNL visited the spot today and tried chalking out a way to solve the problem which is now an “emergency.” 

Sikkim Police edge out UKFC challenge

I-DAY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT FOR THE CHOGYAL SIR TASHI NAMGYAL MEMORIAL CUP

GANGTOK, 09 Aug: Sikkim Police Football Club outplayed UKFC [Kurseong] in a contesting match today at the Independence Day Football Tournament for the Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup played here at Paljor Stadium.
Sikkim Police defeated UKFC 2-0 to enter the semi-final round of the tournament.

Kirtey Parchas

Editorial:
Pamphlets have played a significant role as mediums of political activism throughout history [at least in times when enough people could read]. These cheaply produced treatises were used extensively in the times before mass-media to convey ideologies and infiltrate public opinion. In all its political manifestations though, pamphlets were always about propaganda - communicating essentially one-sided arguments and foisting a one-sided world-views. As mentioned, this was before the mass-media industry became what it has now become - more effective planks to hold forth and get heard. In its earlier avatar, pamphlets at least had an ideological grounding, and even though biased, attempted to at least make a point. This space is now offered by the contemporary forms of media, essentially newspapers in Sikkim’s case. Even if consumers have reservations over individual claims of being unbiased carriers of information, what no one cannot deny anymore in Sikkim is that every hue of the political landscape here now has access to presenting its version of the situation and communicate its allegations and defences.

Peddler picked up near Paljor Stadium

GANGTOK 09 Aug: The Sadar Police arrested Rajiv Sewa, a 30 year old resident of Gangtok, on suspicion of drug peddling today. The accused was picked up from the Paljor Stadium premises and 24 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon were recovered from him.
PI Tshering Sherpa, Officer in-Charge of the Sadar Police Station here, informs that the accused has already been arrested twice before, once last year and once the year before in connection with peddling, but was released on bail.
The OC further informed that the accused had already sold a portion of his cache while the rest was recovered by the police. He has been selling prescription drugs of abuse to students for a few months, it is suspected.
The police have filed a case under Sikkim Anti Drugs Act [SADA] at Sadar Police Station against the accused.

Singtam students say hey to Maths

GANGTOK, 09 Aug: Mathematics was formally introduced under Audio-Video System at Singtam Senior Secondary School here in East district today with the Khamdong- Singtam MLA, Am Prasad Sharma, inaugurating “Heymaths” along with the school library.
The inaugural function was also attended by Singtam Councilor Bisnu Maya Sherpa, Ram Naresh Prasad, SDC president, Rajesh Rai, panchayat secretary, Bimal Lamichaney, Pradeep Sharma, and other members from SDC and SMC.

DC directs work to be stopped at Stage VI dam-site after rock fall injures labourers

NAMCHI, 09 Aug: Two labourers employed at LANCO Teesta Hydro Power Project limited at Sirwani near Singtam were injured by falling boulders. The incident took place at around 9 a.m. on 07 August when a huge boulder fell at the dam site where they were working.
Of the two laborers, Ajit Kumar suffered minor injuries while Pradeep Menji suffered serious head injuries and was immediately taken to Singtam hospital and has now been taken to Siliguri for treatment.

40 beneficiaries receive allotment orders and first installment to convert kutcha houses into permanent habitations in Yuksom

YUKSOM, 09 July: The Block Rural House Construction Committee (BRHCC) constituted under BAC Yuksam for the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission (CMRHM) handed over the first set of allotment orders along with the cheques for Rs. 50,000 each to forty beneficiaries from three Gram Panchayat Units (GPU) at a function held in the conference hall at BAC Yuksam on Saturday.
Applications received from the three GPUs of Tashiding, Thingling-Khechuperi and Melli-Aching were verified and then approved by the BRHCC. Out of the nine GPUs under Yuksam BAC, the field verification of the applications received from six GPUs have been completed.

USFC Youngs edge past Sinolchu in hotly contested quarterfinal clash

I-DAY KNOCK-OUT FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

PURAN TAMANG

NAMCHI, 09 Aug: After a tough fight, Young United Sikkim Football Club, Gangtok made it to the semi-finals of the Independence Day Knockout Football Tournament 2011. In an interesting match played today at the Bhaichung Stadium here, the match ended in a tie-breaker won by Young United Sikkim FC against the home team, Sinolchu FC.

Rinchenpong hosts State-level Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations

GYALSHING, 09 Aug [IPR]: Tendong Lho Rum Faat was celebrated in grand fashion at Rinchenpong BAC, West Sikkim, yesterday. Chief Minister Pawan  Chamling, who was present as chief guest on the occasion, in his address highlighted that the festival was recognised as a state festival after the SDF government came to power. He further reassured that every community in Sikkim was well protected and secured and appealed to all to introspect on the facilities, security, peace and tranquillity provided by the present government.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling offers prayers at the State-level Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations held at Rinchenpong in West Sikkim on Monday

USFC kicks off new season with comprehensive win

I-DAY FOOTBALL FOR THE CHOGYAL SIR TASHI NAMGYAL MEMORIAL CUP BEGINS

DANIEL SLAMS HOME 4 GOALS IN 17 MINUTES!

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 08 Aug: United Sikkim Football Club thrashed Boy’s Club 8-0 in the inaugural match of the Independence Day Football Tournament for the Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup here at Paljor Stadium today.
This was USFC’s first match of the season and it made a strong statement even without Bhaichung in the line-up. Bhaichung was in the stands though, cheering his team and interacting with fans.
USFC played an attacking game from the start and to their credit, the Boy’s Club goalkeeper and stoppers defended well despite what the scoreline suggests. But in the 12th minute, Tenzing Tsephel turned a cross from his teammate into the first goal and the first half concluded 1-0 in favour of USFC.

Dentam trains masons for CMRHM constructions

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: A one-day orientation training was organized for masons at the Dentam Block Administrative Centre to familiarize them with the process of constructing pucca houses under the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission [CMRHM].
The Dentam BDO, Himmat Rai, informs that the training was organized as a follow-up to points discussed at the District Vigilance & Monitoring Committee meeting held at Gyalshing on 26 July.
The proposal for the mandatory orientation of masons to be engaged in CMRHM was put forward by the District Collector (West) at the said meeting to ensure quality work and completion within the stipulated time of six months, Mr. Rai explains.

Bhawani Pradhan elected GJM-Sikkim president

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Bhawani Pradhan was elected president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s Sikkim-unit following elections held on Sunday.
The election was held under the supervision of the vice-president, Kalyan Dewan and the assistant general secretary, Binay Tamang, of the central committee of the GJM.
The new executive committee has Deependra Dewan, BB Thapa, Dawa Sherpa, Jeewan Thapa as vice-presidents, Sudip Rai as general secretary, Bimal Pradhan, Ajay Megi, Suman Khawas, Umesh Chettri and  Kumar Rai as assistant general secretaries, Ujjwal Rai and Satyam Tamang as treasurers and Suraj Rai as publicity secretary.

65 beneficiaries receive CMRHM allotment papers at Wok-Sikkip, 23 collect first cheques

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Sixty-five beneficiaries were handed over their allotment papers and 23 received account payee cheques of Rs. 50,000 each as the first instalment of the funds to be released to them under the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission at the Wok [Sikkip] Block Administrative Centre on Saturday.
Beneficiaries from three GPUs – Wok-Omchu, Lamaten-Tingmoo and Sanganath - under the Block received the papers are a daylong programme which had Barfung MLA Sonam Gyatso Bhutia as chief guest accompanied by Sanganath Zilla Panchayat Delina Rai, Panchayats and BAC staff.
The Wok BDO, Vishal Mukhia, made a detailed presentation on the scheme and also submitted a brief report on the ongoing works under CMRHM. More than 30 families have already completed the land development works [funded under MGNREGS], he informed.
The technical details of pucca houses to be constructed were explained by Sunil Lama, Junior Engineer, BAC Sikkip. The programme was also addressed by the Panchayats of all the three GPUs.

SIBLAC cautions ruling party against ‘conspiracies’ of its spokesperson

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has taken strong exception to Sikkim Democratic Front’s party spokesperson, Bhim Dahal’s remarks accusing SIBLAC convenor, Tseten Tashi Bhutia, as being casteist and communal. In a press release issued as a rejoinder to Mr. Dahal’s comments made at a press conference recently, SIBLAC has argued that Mr. Dahal’s “unfortunate” remarks “tantamount to or invite mistrust and feud beneath the leadership”. The ruling political leadership must be careful and cautious of the hidden agendas and conspiracies of Bhim Dahal, which we don’t know, a SIBLAC press release states.

“PT GYATMTSO MISINFORMED READERS ON BHUM-CHU”

The quote that Bhum Chu has no recorded history has portrayed one of the most sacred religious belief and practice of the Buddhist devotees as unrealistic. It has disfigured the religious value and importance of the holy water as being merely a practice having no religious history. But the truth is that the record of Bhum Chu is present with the concern dept. and in the holy books or paycha and it is still found in the Holy Monasteries like Pemayantse (Pelling), Ralong (Ralong), Dupdi monasteries (Yuksum) etc.
Chogyal and three pioneer lamas (who visited Sikkim and the first Chogyal of the kingdom of Sikkim was consecrated in 1641 AD)  are the key witness of the holy Bhum Chu and had lots of contribution towards it. The Norbugang Chorten nearby still has the evidence of the consecration ceremony in the form of stone seats and a footprint of the head lama on a stone.

Regular screenings of Ishara from 12 Aug onwards

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Nepali feature film, ‘Ishara’, marking the debut of Uma Baby as a producer, will be released on 12 August at Denzong cinema hall.
The film had premiered on 07 April at Vajra and some social organizations have arranged charity shows at different places since then.
The producer of the film, Ms Baby mentioned that as the movie has tried to make women aware against exploitation and covers women-specific issues, especially the offensive trend of defaming them through circulation of private MMSes and other such mediums which prey on small mistakes and carelessness of the women leading to damaging results.

Kunga Nima Lepcha appeals people not to get carried away by rumours on SC petition

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson, Kunga Nima Lepcha, whose petition challenging the State Government’s withdrawal of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was disposed recently, has “appealed” to the general public “not to get carried away by mala fide and false rumour” in respect of the case and warned that “any misleading publicity pertaining to the case in question shall be brought to the notice of the Supreme Court along with necessary documents”.
In a press statement issued today, Mr. Lepcha informs that the Supreme Court disposed off the matter “giving liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh petition challenging the order of the State Government of Sikkim in response to the request made by the CBI seeking consent of the State Government to formally investigate the allegations made against the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling and 12 others”.

Badminton Championship to begin 07 Sept

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: The Badminton Association of Sikkim has announced plans to hold the 23rd Sikkim State Badminton Championship from 07 to 11 September. This was finalised at an executive body meeting held here recently.
“With India doing well in the International Circuit and ever-growing its popularity day by day, the association wishes to put more effort and induce more enthusiasm in the younger generation to excel. With added participation from the parents, not only can the state generate players of high calibre but also have healthier society,” a BAS press statement highlights.

Festival greetings from Governor and CM

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh and the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, and Mrs. Tika Maya Chamling, have extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people of the State on the occasion of Guru Rimpoche’s Trungkar Tshechu and Tendong Lho Rum Faat [observed across the State on Monday].
In his message, the Governor conveys, “We remember the great Guru Padmasambha with gratitude and seek his continued blessings for the people of Sikkim. We know that there can be no greater inducement, no greater obligation than the need to allow the present pluralistic society in Sikkim to carry on the way it has for years - with ample space and respect for the views of others. On his birth anniversary, let us take a pledge to maintain this prized peace and harmony among all communities.”

Special prayers mark Guru Rinpoche Trungkar Tsechu at Rakdong monastery

DIKCHU, 08 Aug:  Guru Rinpoche’s Tungkar Tshechu was observed in monasteries across the State today to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. The Dzog-Chen Tensung Monastery of Upper Rakdong in East Sikkim also observed the auspicious day today with the “Rikzing Sokdup” prayers offered by around 100 monks of the monastery led by the Omje and Dorjee Lopon. This annual Guru Tungkar Tshechu prayers was organised jointly by the Gumpa committee, well wishers and zindas.   Devotees from all walks of life attended the prayers. TS Lepcha, the president of the Gumpa committee expressed its gratitude to all the devotees and zindas for their wholehearted support for the prayers.

Lepcha youth undertake plantation drive on Mt Tendong

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Renjyong Mutachi Rong Ong Shejum [Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association] undertook a plantation drive as part of its observation of Tendong Lho Rum Faat today at Mount Tendong itself, a press release informs.
The association strongly believes that by seeking to protect the environment with the cultural preservation it can contribute towards a better world, a press release conveys.
The association has decided to make this plantation drive an annual event, the release adds.

“Knowledge is the currency of progress, create, share and apply it”

SAM PITRODA DELIVERS SIKKIM UNIVERSITY’S 4TH FOUNDATION DAY LECTURE
GANGTOK, 05 Aug: Dr Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on “Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation” and the chairman of the National Innovation Council, delivered the 4th Foundation Day Lecture of Sikkim University on ‘Towards a New Knowledge Paradigm’ through video-conferencing today here at Chintan Bhawan.
The function has Major General BK Sharma as the chief guest. 

Commerce stream begins at Samdong Senior Secondary School

UPPER SAMDONG, 05 Aug:  The HRD Minister, NK Pradhan, launched the Commerce stream here at Samdong Senior Secondary School in East Sikkim on 03 August, Wednesday. The area had been seeking this stream of education for its students since the upgradation of the school to Senior Secondary level some years back. The demand came through with the recent visit to the area by the Chief Minister during his village-to-village tour. Faculty has been deputed the school and the Commerce stream has now begun.

Motor Training flagged off for Perbing

NAMCHI, 05 Aug: Buildings Minister, Tilu Gurung, who is also the area MLA of Namthang-Rateypani constituency, today flagged off a two-month long “Motor Training and Basic Orientation Programme” for Self Help Groups here at Perbing-Baklogaon in South Sikkim.
The training, organized by State Rural Development Agency of the RM&DD under Skill Up-gradation of SGSY, will have 17 local SHG youth, including three ladies, taking the course. They will be trained by instructor Ramesh Pradhan while the institute of training is Excel Motor Training Institute, Jorethang. On the occasion, the Minister also handed over the Learner’s driving licences to the trainees.

From Revival to Confident Pride

Editorial:
Sikkim will celebrate Tendong Lho Rum Faat on Monday. The festival was almost lost and had become a shrivelled form of itself until it re-appropriated its position of significance with the declaration of a State Holiday. A State-level celebration followed, as did the revival of and patronage for the traditional worship at Mount Tendong itself. This process of recovery has noticeably subdued of late and should be revitalised. It is important for the community to realise that State patronage should ideally be expected only for the initial renaissance, after which people’s participation and involvement of its representative organisations should sustain and nurture the observation. This requires collaborative planning which rises above divisions of political ideology or even faith, because at their core, these rituals and celebrations are more cultural than religious.

PYKKA competitions and Tempo Lepcha Memorial I-Day Football tournament get underway at Samdong

UPPER SAMDONG, 05 Aug: The Late Tempo Lepcha Memorial  Independence Day Football Tournament kicked off here at Samdong Senior Secondary School ground on Wednesday with the Sports & Youth Affairs Minister, NK Pradhan, present as the chief guest accompanied by Tumin-Lingee MLA, Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia.

SU awards for faculty, management and students

GANGTOK, 05 Aug: Teachers, students and management staff were awarded today as part of the 4th Foundation Day celebration, as a part of which of Sikkim University the foundation day lecture was hosted here at Chintan Bhawan.
This annual awards to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution by both academic and management staff in taking the university to newer heights has been constituted by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mahendra P Lama on the occasion of 4th Foundation Day.

NSD conducts theatre workshop for Gangtok students

GANGTOK, 05 Aug: Thirty-five students from schools in and around Gangtok are presently undergoing a Children Theatre Workshop at Burtuk Junior High School. The workshop began on 01 August.
The workshop is been organized by the National School of Drama [NSD] in association with Kaala Multimedia Centre [KMC], Gangtok and will continue till 30 August. The workshop has students from 8 to 15 years age group.

Give 10% of Sikkim the Best of Everything

Editorial:
Little over 61,000 of Sikkim’s population is under seven years old, making up 10.05% of the population. The national share of population in this age-group is slightly higher at 13.1%, down from 15.9% in 2001. The proportion has not changed much for Sikkim, but what this low “young age dependency”, as census enumerators refer to the figure, means is that parents can now devote greater resources, including time, to their children. At a wider, society and State level, this means that the existing infrastructure and funds can go further since the number of beneficiaries is fewer.

Dawa’s “Ritual Journeys” bags jury’s Commendation at RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films

GANGTOK, 04 Aug: Filmmaker Dawa Lepcha is back from the 12th Royal Anthropological Institute International Festival of Ethnographic Film held in London from 23-26 June 2011. Featured in the Intangible Culture category, Dawa’s 75-minute documentary film, “Ritual Journeys”, was screened at the festival on 25 June. This poignant portrayal of the life and tasks of Meryak Lepcha, an 80-year-old Padim [Bongthing] of Dzongu, was put together from footage shot by Dawa over seven years of interactions with the Padim and the sensitivity with which the material has been put together is borne out by the Commendation Certificate awarded by the panel of festival judges to “Ritual Journeys”.

GMC begins keep Lall Bazaar clean drive

PARKING LOT HOSED DOWN IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 04 August: The Kanchanjunga Shopping Complex at Lal Bazaar owns the ignominy of having become a “Please Litter Zone,” and the Gangtok Municipal Corporation has sprung into action to repair the damage by starting a phase-wise cleanliness drive in and around the locality.
Picking up from an initiative taken by a local organisation, Rising Service Cooperative, which along with the Lal Bazaar Hawkers Association that had cleaned 300 hawking stalls on the first floor of the complex last Thursday, the GMC has now, decided that cleaning the complex will be a regular affair now.

Pious fasting coincides for Hindus and Muslims

Shastri Yadav Pokhrelji performing prayers for Nag Panchami.

The devout in prayer at Gangtok Jama Masjid

HOLY DAYS OF AUGUST

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 04 Aug: Yesterday was Drukpa Tsheshi, the day which celebrates the first sermon delivered by Gautama Buddha. We are already into the holy month of Ramadan which celebrates the period when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Mohammad. And today, the Hindus joined the Muslims in pious fasting as they celebrated Naga Panchami.
The month-long Ramadan fasting of the Muslims started on 02 August, informs Mohmmad Asgar Ali, the Maulvi at the Gangtok Jama Masjid. The fast is observed from dawn to dusk, while Namaaz is offered as usual five times a day, he added.

ECOSS AGM takes stock and plans ahead

GANGTOK, 04 Aug: Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) held its Annual General Meeting at Hotel Chumbi Residency on 29 July. ECOSS CEO, Rajendra P Gurung welcomed the members and presented the audited accounts with a report on the past activities of ECOSS.
Mr Gurung reported that the major projects and works executed by ECOSS during this period were the NABARD Rural Tourism Cluster Projects in Rey-Mindu village of East Sikkim and Lingee-Payong village of South Sikkim, the Ecotourism and Village Tourism Sensitization Programme conducted for the Department of Tourism, the NABARD Nettle Fibre Pilot Project in Dzongu, Ecotourism Consultancy for M/s Lea Associates in the ADB funded “Improving Connectivity & Destination Management of Cultural & Natural Resources in SE Asia Sub-region Project” of the Tourism Department, preparation of the State Vision Document for Quality Elementary Education for the HRD Department,  and various other trainings, workshops and study reports, informs a press release.

201 beneficiaries receive CMRHM allotment orders in Pakyong

GANGTOK, 04 Aug: Block Rural Housing Construction Committee (BRHCC), Pakyong, under the aegis of the Block Administrative Centre, handed over allotment orders to beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme (CMRHM) at special function held at the Pakyong BAC yesterday.
The function was chaired by Tourism and Forest Minister, area MLA Bhim Dhungel, and was also attended by Gnathang-Machong MLA, LM Lepcha, Namcheybong MLA BB Rai, and East Zilla Adhakshya Bimal Dawari.