Oppn parties unite; SKM to contest municipal polls under protest

VISHNU NEOPANEY

Opposition parties of the State today formalized ‘United Forum for Democracy in Sikkim’ [UFDS], a coalition which they state will collaborate on issues of importance to Sikkim. The Forum is made up of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, Bharatiya Janta Party, Sikkim National People’s Party and Sikkim Sangram Parishad.

First arrests since possession of chemical fertilizers was made a criminal offence in Sikkim

VISHNU NEOPANEY

On Wednesday evening, 09 Sept, Sikkim Police made the first arrests under the Sikkim Agricultural, Horticultural Input and Livestock Feed Regulatory Act of 2014 which made the import, sale and use of chemical fertilizers a criminal offence in Sikkim when it came into effect in November last year.
Superintendent of Police, South, Tashi Wangyal, confirmed that the Melli Check Post personnel intercepted a vehicle [bearing registration number SK02D/0559] which was carrying 10 bags of Urea [50 kg each] and 10 bags of DAP [Diammoniun Phosphate] into Sikkim from Siliguri, West Bengal. The vehicle was heading towards Sombaria. Both chemicals are banned in Sikkim in pursuance of its Organic State aspirations.

The Smart City Primer

The Smart Cities project of the Modi government has been in the buzz of late especially after its shortlist of 98 potential smart cities was announced. The South Sikkim town of Namchi has also made it to this list. The shortlisted cities are now tasked with preparing proposals that can get them into the final list of winners. Designed like an all India competition, the Smart Cities project has garnered considerable interest amongst the public but much of the process remains unclear. So, here is an attempt to explain exactly what the project is about.
To begin with, what is a Smart City?

Blood donation

A daylong blood donation camp was organized by Club Mahindra today at Demazong Resort, Chongyek, East Sikkim. Around 40 people, including Club Mahindra staff, participated in the camp.
A crew of seven technicians as well as volunteers from Central Blood Bank, STNM Hospital, led by Senior Consultant of Blood Bank, STNM Hospital, Dr. Chintamani Sharma conducted the blood donation camp.
[REBYNA RANA]

Mindful Meditation

There are two methods of developing mindful meditation one is active meditation and the other is seated meditation.
Active meditation involves silent walking where one observes any sensation associated with walking in a quiet place. Sensation can be in physical or mental level example the heaviness in the legs, sound of your shoes against the ground or just your breath. With regular practice this activity can bring a profound bliss, feeling of complete relaxation, decrease any tension related problem like ulcer, insomnia, joint problems etc.

SKM warms up for municipal elections

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has announced that it is fully prepared for the municipal elections called for 09 October in Sikkim. An SKM press release informs that the party advisor Taraman Rai chaired a meeting yesterday, 09 Sept, to discuss the upcoming elections. The meeting resolved to announce the list of its candidates soon. The official notification calling the municipal elections was also issued yesterday by the State Election Commission.

Upset with state election commission, Cong will not contest municipal elections

The Congress party will not contest Municipal elections scheduled for 09 October in Sikkim. This, as a sign of protest against the State Election Commission ignoring opposition parties while proceeding with delimitation of Municipal wards and in deciding reservation of posts in Municipal bodies.

Team behind Red Panda Day calls on Governor

A group of six entrepreneurs led by Sonam Tshering Tamang, MD, Kokkivo Clothing and founder Pakyong  Jankalyan Sangh, and  Bhupendra Gurung, CEO and Chief Editor of The Accelerator, called on Governor Shriniwas Patil at Raj Bhavan on 09 September. An official press communiqué from Raj Bhawan informs that the team briefed the Governor about the Red Panda Day scheduled to be held on 19 September at Pakyong.

Election Commissioner meets HoDs, delegates roles to ensure smooth municipal elections

Gangtok, 09 Sept [IPR]: Regarding the forth coming Municipal elections which are scheduled to take place on 09 October in the state of Sikkim, and to ensure that it is conducted smoothly, Sikkim State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam, today held a meeting with Heads of Departments and Secretaries of various departments including officers from Police department, All India Radio, and BSNL.

Detox Drink

You have to try it to believe it!
Apple and cinnamon water is one of the best detox drinks to not only flush out your LDL (bad cholesterol), boost energy, encourage weight loss but also is a zero-calorie flavourful replacement for your sugary juices and fizzy drinks.
This very simple Detox water recipe can change your life. Here's how:
You will need:
-    2 Apples thinly sliced (Don't peel the skin if it is organic)
-    2 Cinnamon sticks
-    A large glass pitcher (never use a metal one)
Drop the sliced Apples and Cinnamon sticks in a pitcher full of water (2 litres)
And let the water sit overnight in the refrigerator so that the water absorbs all the nutrients from the cinnamon and apples.
Remove it the next morning and drink the water throughout the day.
[Karma Chookela Bhutia hails from Rabongla, South Sikkim and is currently living in Belgium. She teaches different styles of yoga, breathing techniques and meditation in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. She has been working in collaboration with a Dutch organisation which specializes in reeducation program for people suffering from chronic ailments. She has undergone yoga training in three prestigious Indian yoga schools - Rishikesh Yoga Peeth, Shiva Yoga Peeth and Asana Andiappan college of Yoga and Research Centre in Chennai].

Municipal polls set for 09 Oct

Municipal elections in the State will be held on 09 October and all election procedures will be completed by 14 October. This was announced by Sikkim State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam today during a press briefing. The official notification to this effect is scheduled to be published on 09 Sept, Wednesday, and with that, the model code of conduct will also kick into place in the towns going to polls.
The politics and politicking aside, the municipal polls in Sikkim involve very few voters. All the seven urban bodies together muster up barely 71,534 voters [37,178 male and 34,356 female]. Gangtok Municipal Corporation is the biggest with 47,432 voters in its 17 wards. Mangan Nagar Panchayat has the lowest number of voters at 1,522.

Referee Referrals

Sikkim has two big hospitals - STNM Government Hospital and Manipal Central Referral Hospital - but as far as treatment for patients ailing from critical diseases or serious accidents is concerned, both fail to deliver on expectations. Meanwhile, the district hospitals and primary health centres are only equipped to treat minor ailments like flu or to dress wounds.
The STNM Hospital, which is still the more trusted institution for most here in Sikkim and is also a referral hospital, is facing acute shortage of beds. If a patient in critical condition is taken to the emergency ward of the hospital, he or she will immediately be forwarded [not referred, mind you] to the CRH with a note on the hospital card that says “patient sent to CRH due to unavailability of bed”.  The patient is then required to be taken to the CRH.

Yoga to improve eyesight

Lot of people has eyesight problems these days and many resort to lenses, glasses and laser surgery to clear or improve their vision. But as time passes, the glasses and lenses make the eyes worse than what they were and laser surgeries are risky.
Excluding disease such as glaucoma, trachoma and cataract caused by bacterial infection, the common eye disorders nowadays are short and long sightedness, squint and presbyopia caused by functional defects in the ocular muscles due to mental and emotional tension. Other small factors that contribute to poor eyesight are prolonged TV and computer use, poor diet, aging, bad lighting etc.

Suren Chettri attends AIFF “D” Licence Course

Sikkim Football Association nominated Suren Kumar Chettri, the only AFC "B" License certified football coach in Sikkim, to attend the AIFF "D" License Course in Goa from 01 to 05 Sept 2015. Anthony Lobo conducted the course as Course Director at Fatorda Stadium, Goa, a press communiqué from SFA general secretary Menla Ethenpa informs.
As of 01 Jan 2015, AIFF has made it mandatory for all aspiring coaches to successfully pass the AIFF "D" License Certificate Course in order to appear for the AFC "C" Certificate Course.

Sandalwood bust stinks up border trade

The confiscated sandalwood

VISHNU NEOPANEY

For the second time in ten seasons of border trade over Nathula, Sikkim Police has confiscated a sandalwood consignment from Gangtok suspected of being readied for smuggling into Tibetan Autonomous Region over Nathula under the cover of border trade. The bust was made in the wee hours of 07 September, Monday, from Manbir Colony on Indira Byepass. As per Sadar Thana officials, the consignment was scheduled for transport to TAR later in the day via Rhenock in East Sikkim. The police raid was carried out at 5:30 a.m. and led to the seizure of 745 kgs of sandalwood in 125 logs valued at Rs. 24 lakh.
Red sandalwood is in huge demand in China and commands a high price of Rs 10 crore per tonne in China while in India, as per Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials quoted in several media reports, red sanders cost something between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 per kg. Its export is banned and movement within the country requires special permits and documents. It is unlikely that the consignment seized today had such paperwork in place. It is also suspected that Nepal and Bhutan are extensively used as conduits to smuggle red sanders from South India into China via Tibet.

Rights of the Elderly underlined and discussed

VISHNU NEOPANEY

A sensitization programme on “Rights of Elderly vis-à-vis Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007” was organized by the Legal Aid Clinic, Department of Law, Sikkim University in collaboration with Sikkim State Legal Services Authority here in Gangtok on 05 September.

All prepped, Sikkim awaits announcement of dates for municipal elections

VISHNU NEOPANEY

The State Election Commission, Sikkim, has completed preparations for urban body elections across the State and the final announcement of dates could happen over the next few days, informed Secretary, SEC, Ambika Pradhan, while speaking to NOW! over the phone recently. The State Election Commission, it may be mentioned here, has called a media briefing for 08 September. The election schedule for the municipal elections is expected to be announced at that briefing.