Sakya Trizin to deliver “precious Dharma advice”

Tibetology to also host seminar on different aspects of Buddhism

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (NIT), in keeping with its objective to propagate Buddhism, has announced a smart roster of events for the upcoming week, starting with a talk by Sakya Trizin Rinpoche.

66.75%- the final voter turnout figure for municipal elections

The final official voter turnout figures released by the State Election Commission for the municipal elections 2015. Overall voter turnout: 66.79%
Gyalshing Municipal Council: 77.01%
Rangpo Nagar Panchayat: 75.49%
Singtam Nagar Panchayat: 74.04%
Jorethang-Nayabazaar Municipal Council: 71.01%
Namchi Muncipal Council: 65.58%
Gangtok Muncipal Corporation: 64.75%

Municipal polls register 71% voter turnout

As per the final data released by the State Election Commission, elections held for the six municipal towns of Sikkim today received an overall voter turnout of 71.18%. Interestingly, Gyalshing Municipal Council, where elections were held only for two wards [five having already gone to SDF uncontested], recorded the highest voter turnout at 77.01%. With this, West Sikkim continues its record of registering the highest voter turnouts in Sikkim. For the Assembly elections 2014, West Sikkim had posted the state’s highest voter turnout at 82.94%.

1,058 students graduate at SMU convocation

Sikkim Manipal University [SMU] convened its 15th Convocation here at the SMU auditorium hall on 09 October. During the function, Vice Chancellor, SMU, [Retd] Brig. Somnath Mishra, awarded degrees of MBBS, MD, MS, BSc and Post BSc Nursing, BPT, MPT, Medical MSc, MHA and BSc MLT to graduates whereas Dean SMIMS Air Marshal Dr. G.S Joneja, administered the Hippocratic Oath to MBBS graduates.

Voter turnout as of 2p.m.

It appears that Sikkim likes to vote in the afternoons with the voter turnout having spiked across the state between noon and 2p.m. (for voter turnout update as of 12 pm, http://sikkimnow.blogspot.in/2015/10/swift-voting-for-municipal-elections.html). The total voter turnout at the 6 towns hosting municipal elections stands at 41% as of 2 p.m., with Gyalshing Nagar Panchayat’s two wards having surged ahead with 68% turnout already, followed by Jorethang Nagar Panchayat which saw 56% of its voters cast their votes and Namchi Municipal Council where 55% have cast their votes already. At Rangpo, 47.01 voters have cast their votes thus far while in Singtam, the turnout thus far is 43.01%. Gangtok brings up the rear with 36.65% voter turnout as of 2p.m. Voting is underway at 83 polling stations spread across 6 municipal towns where election are being held today.

Swift voting for municipal elections

Chanatar polling station of Rangpo Nagar Panchayat

As per the data released by the State Election Commission, Gangtok Municipal Corporation has recorded 36.65% voting as of 12.30 pm. Similarly Rangpo and Singtam Nagar Panchayats recorded 47.01% and 43.07% voting respectively till that time. On the other hand, Namchi Municipal Corporation recorded 31% followed by 38% voting for Jorethang Municipal Corporation. As of 12:30 p.m., Gyalshing Municipal Corporation has recorded 25% of voting.

Yoga for neck pain

Neck tension and pain is the most common problem that people face these days. This is also the most neglected part of our body workout. The most common cause of the neck pain is bad posture, stressful lifestyle, use of computer for a prolonged period of time, no exercise etc. Therefore it is important to take a little break everyday for at least 10 minutes to exercise your neck for a lasting relief of neck pain.

Here are a few neck exercises to stretch and strengthen your neck muscles:

The first four are strengthening exercises where you press the palm of your hand against the head on all four sides while keeping your head steady and strong.

The others are stretching exercises where you stretch your neck muscle on all four sides.

Vigilance arrests Forest RO on charges of misappropriating Kichumdumra project funds

Vigilance case lists Addl Director among accused, invites people to share further information

Sikkim Vigilance Police on 07 October, Wednesday, arrested PK Sharma, a Range Officer of the Forest Department, under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on charges of misutilization and misappropriation of funds in connection with the execution of a project at Kichumdumra in South Sikkim, around 30 KM from the south district headquarter town of Namchi, informs a press release issued by the SP, Vigilance Police.
The release further informs that the case is also registered against an IFS officer of the Department, Udai Gurung, Additional Director, who, along with Mr. Sharma, had supervised and executed the works titled “Development of Ecological Park with Recreation and Allied Facilities at Kichumdumra, South Sikkim”.

High Court admits petition challenging changes in seat reservation nomenclature for municipal polls

Vishnu Neopaney

The High Court of Sikkim on 06 October, Tuesday, admitted a writ petition challenging the government notifications published on 01 September and 09 September 2015 in connection with the municipal elections. These notifications were related to the reservation pattern for wards in the municipal bodies and did away with the community specific Bhutia-Lepcha and Limboo-Tamang seat reservation seen in the last municipal polls and clubbed them together as Scheduled Tribe seats for the upcoming municipal elections.

Rey Khola claims one more. Toll up to 5 in 4 months

Subash Rai

Another drowning at Rey Khola in East Sikkim was reported on Sunday, 04 October. With this incident the number of lives claimed by a paticular section of this river has gone up to five in four months! As per eyewitness accounts, a 24-year-old youth from Vajra, Baluwakhani died due to drowning at around 4.30 pm on Sunday. According to a friend of the victim, five of them including the victim’s younger brother were swimming at that particular spot but suddenly the victim’s brother started drowning. Seeing this, the victim jumped into the deep whirlpool and pulled his brother out but was himself sucked in.

Sanitation campaign underway

Sagar Chhetri

Rural Management & Development Department is launching a series of interventions this month as part of the National Sanitation Campaign. The month-long National Sanitation Campaign started on 25 September and will conclude on 31 October.
Addressing a press conference here at Janta Bhawan on 05 October, RMDD Secretary DR Nepal explained the various state-level interventions to be undertaken during the month-long campaign in the State.

Nation’s highest legal aid clinic opened at Thegu

Vishnu Neopaney

Executive Chairman of Sikkim Legal Services Authority, Justice SP Wangdi inaugurated the country's highest Village Level Care and Support Legal Aid Clinic at Thegu on the occasion of Gandhi Jayant. The Village Level Care and Support Legal Aid Clinic at Thegu is located at an altitude of 13,300 feet above sea level.

Half shoulder stand

Vipareeta Karani: Also known as the queen of asanas, Vipareeta Karani is used to treat almost every chronic ailment in yoga therapy. This posture stimulates the thyroid gland and revitalizes the cervical nerves. It increases the flow of blood to brain and ear, helps ease hearing related problems, headache and stress. It also stretches the spine and stimulates all the spinal nerves which improves circulation to the upper body and brain. Holding in an inverted position reverses the effects of gravity on the digestive organs and legs thus relieving  digestive problem and swollen legs issues.