Tumin-Lingee Teachers’ Forum felicitates outstanding and dedicated teachers

MANGAN, 03 Dec: 24 teachers which include 13 senior, 09 outstanding and two retired teachers of Tumin-Lingee constituency were felicitated here today by the Tumin-Lingee Teacher’s forum at Samdong Senior Secondary School in East Sikkim.
Minister, HRDD, NK Pradhan was present as the chief guest while Area MLA, Tumin-Lingee, Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia, Member of State Planning Commission, Lhakila Tongden, HRDD Secretary, CS Rao, Former secretary, LB Chettri, General secretary (ASDLF), Norzang Lepcha, BDO Tintek, TD Denzongpa, Joint director’s HRDD, OP Sapkota, headmasters and teachers of different schools, Zilla members, Panchayat and public were also present.
Earlier, the function was welcomed by advisor Tumin-Lingee Teacher’s forum, Dhiren Pradhan.
While highlighting the brief report of the Forum, president ML Koirala underlined that since from the past five years the forum has been felicitating the outstanding and dedicated teachers from Tumin-Lingee constituency.
He also highlighted about the provision of drinking water facility in some schools which needs to be repaired, appointment of Adhoc teachers before the beginning of the session, timely disbursement of mid-day meal fund, electrification in schools, timely disbursement of salary for PRT teachers under BACs and appointment of language teachers in some schools.  He further requested the HRDD Deptt. for the publication of an annual journal on every information related to education in Sikkim.
The HRDD Secretary, CS Rao in his address highlighted that the literacy rate in Sikkim was only 16.8% during 1975 but at present it is 82.2% as per the 2011 census.  He further added that there are 779 schools in Sikkim with 1, 18, 000 students.  The Secretary further appealed to all the teachers to be positive about the teacher evaluation system.
The area MLA in his addres appreciated the initiative undertaken by the teacher’s forum and urged every teacher and parent to work for the future of the children.
Addressing the function, the chief guest said that the SDF government has brought about changes in employment for the benefit of the employees. He also added that Sikkim pays the highest salary to its teachers as compared to the rest of the country.
While highlighting about the future of the students, he stressed that the responsibility lay on both teachers and students.  He also appealed to all the panchayats, parents and SMC to ensure proper implementation of education policies in schools.
The function ended with the vote of thanks delivered by general secretary Teacher’s forum, SK Pradhan.
The felicitated teachers were Rudra Mani Khatiwara, PRT, Marchak Pri. school, Hari Kumari Gurung, PRT, Tumin-Barang Pri. school, Chung Chung Lepcha, PRT, Darakharka Pri. school, Agam Bista, Headmaster, Tintek Chuba Pri. school, Nanda Lall Pokhrel, Headmaster, Tintek Saraswati Pri. school, Rinchen Ongmu Lepcha, Pathuk Chandey JHS, Bhim Lall Adhikari, PRT, Tintek Chuba Pri. school, Madav Prasad Lamichaney, Headmaster, Badamtam Pri. school, Prem Prasad Kafley, PRT, Raley JHS, Naradmani Niroula, PRT, Phalaichendara JHS, Hissey Lhamu Bhutia, PRT, Tintek Chuba Pri. school, Phurba Tshering Lepcha, Headmaster, Centre Pathuk Pri. school, Narad Prasad Luital, Dhabani Pri. school among the 13 senior teachers.
Similarly JD Khatiwara, PRT, Karjee JHS, Arjun Kr Chettri, Headmaster, U-Lingmoo JHS, Gadem Bhutia, PRT, Kokalay Pri. school, Lendup Kazi, GT Biology, Tumin SS, Rohit Kr Goutam, PRT, Dhanbari Pri. school, TS Lepcha, PGT, Samdong SSS,  Jagdish Sharma, Headmaster, L-Kambal Pri. school, Narendra Kr Rai, PRT, Samthar  Pri. school, Gopal Bista, PRT, Tintek Chuba Pri. school were among the 09 outstanding teachers felicitated.
Apart from this, two retired teachers, 81-year-old Shiva Kumari Rai of Makha who was the first woman teacher of Sikkim and LN Koirala, Payong JHS who is also a National Teacher Awardee 2012 were felicitated.