Five to receive State Civilian Award on Republic Day

GANGTOK, 25 Jan: On the occasion of 64th Republic Day celebration, the State Government is conferring State Civilian Awards to five individuals for their extraordinary contribution in their respective fields.
An official release informs that out of five, three personalities namely Kazi Sherpa, Ravindra Kumar and Anand Gurung are being conferred with the Sikkim Khel Ratna for their extra ordinary feat in conquering Mount Everest.
Tshering Namgyal and Dorjee Rinchen Lama are being conferred with the Sikkim Sewa Samman for their outstanding contribution in the field of public service and contribution towards development of Bhutia language respectively, it is informed.
State Civilian Awards was introduced by the State Government in the year 2012. Sikkim Khel Ratna carries a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh, a gold plated silver medal, a shawl, a memento, a citation and an additional cash of Rs. 8 lakh as cost of house site. Sikkim Sewa Samman carries a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh, a silver medal, a shawl, a memento and a citation.

Sikkim’s honor roll

25 FETED FOR SERVICE TO SIKKIM
GANGTOK, 16 May: State Day 2013 was celebrated with 25 personalities from all over the State, across generations and from diverse professional, political and ideological backgrounds honoured and feted with awards for the one aspect they all have in common – service to Sikkim. Two veterans from the movement for democracy of the early Seventies were conferred the LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement, two conferred the highest civilian award of the State – the Sikkim Sewa Ratna and 21 conferred the Sikkim Sewa Samma in recognition of their service to the State through their respective professions. The honor roll reads like a who’s who of Sikkim through several generations, including a ninety year old and also a teenager.
The LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement being conferred on BB Mishra and Chandra Bahadur Rai. They were presented with Rs. One lakh in cash, a Citation and a shawl.
Sikkim Sewa Ratna was conferred to two stalwarts of Sikkim politics, former Minister Sherab Palden Lepcha and erstwhile Member of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Advocate NB Khatiwara. The awardees were presented with the cash award of Rs 2 lakhs, memento, citation letter and shawl
Sikkim Sewa Samman was given to 21 professionals from different walks of life for their immeasurable contribution in their respective fields. The award carries Rs One Lakh cash, amedallion, citation and Shawl.
The 21 are: Dup Tshering Lepcha, TR Poudyal, Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, Dr. Ghanashyam Sharma, Pravin Rai Jumeli, Bhaichung Tsichudarpa, Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia, Yangdi Sherpa,  Amit Patro, Yishey Doma Bhutia, Deepraj Rai, Yougan Tamang, Arjun Kumar Rai, Sushil Tamang, Denzong Foning Lepcha, Passang Sherpa, Dewaker Basnet, Remanti Rai, Ganga Mukhia, Robin Mukhia and Geeta Sharma.
The Governor and the Chief Minister also released four books today - Gazetteer of Sikkim 2013 and Sikkim Model -1994-2013 People and Development published by IPR Department, Urban Strategic Plan of Sikkim and Comprehensive Mobility Plan Gangtok by UD&HD.

Sikkim Sewa Ratna to be conferred on NB Khatiwara and Sherab Palden

SIKKIM SEWA SAMMAN TO CELEBRATE YOUTH AND FETE ELDERS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SIKKIM
GANGTOK, 15 May: The State government has announced the highest civilian award of the state- the Sikkim Sewa Ratna – for two personalities this year: Nar Bahadur Khatiwara and Sherab Palden. While Mr. Khatiwara was a youth leader during the movement for democracy led by LD Kazi in the early Seventies and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1974 and then again in 1979, Mr. Palden was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1979 from Assam-Lingzey.
The award will be conferred on them by the Governor during the State Day celebrations scheduled to be held at Chintan Bhawan here on Thursday, 16 May. The Sikkim Sewa Ratna, instituted only last year, comprises a shawl, a silver medal, a citation and Rs. 2 lakh cash.
Meanwhile, 21 achievers will be conferred the Sikkim Sewa Samman on the occasion of State Day as well. The 21 are: Dup Tshering Lepcha, TR Poudyal, Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, Dr. Ghanashyam Sharma, Pravin Rai Jumeli, Bhaichung Tsichudarpa, Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia, Yangdi Sherpa,  Amit Patro, Yishey Doma Bhutia, Deepraj Rai, Yougan Tamang, Arjun Kumar Rai, Sushil Tamang, Denzong Foning Lepcha, Passang Sherpa, Dewaker Basnet, Remanti Rai, Ganga Mukhia, Robin Mukhia and Geeta Sharma.
The Sikkim Sewa Samman carries a citation, Tamrapatra and cash component of Rs.1 lakh each.
An official press communiqué received from the Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department informs that this year, the State Government has focused on “Youth Empowerment and Self Reliant Mission” and has chosen some of the most enterprising and talented youth for the State Civilian Awards along with the stalwarts of the past who have dedicated their lives to the cause of the State.
The release adds that the State Government had instituted the Sikkim State Civilian Awards last year to recognize the sterling contribution and achievements made by individuals in various disciplines. The objective behind instituting these awards was to felicitate those people who have immensely contributed in their respective fields so that they are encouraged to rededicate themselves with renewed vigour and in the process serve as an example for others to follow.

Sikkim’s Jewels celebrated on State Day

SIKKIM’S RATNAS: Kipu Tshering Lepcha, BB Gooroong, CD Rai, Dr Trilochan Singh, Sanchaman Limboo and Bhaichung Bhutia. [not featured in pix above] Tarundeep Rai, Phul Maya Tamang and TT Dorjee.

 MB Tamang receives the LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement

GANGTOK, 16 May: The 37th State Day was celebrated at Chintan Bhawan today with a special programme organised by the Home Department and which included the presentation of the Sikkim State Civilian Awards.
Present on the dais for the programme were the Governor BP Singh, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Minister for Roads & Bridges RB Subba, Minister for Power and Cultural Affairs Sonam Gyatso Lepcha and Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso.
On the day, the LD Kazi Award for Democratic Movement was conferred on MB Tamang of Pachey Samsing under Dugalakha in East Sikkim, while Bibek Sharma of Development Area received the medal and citation of the national award, Jivan Rakshak Padak.
Nine persons received the Sikkim Sewa Ratna and 20 other personalities received the Sikkim Sewa Samman.
BB Gooroong [ex-CM and Chairman, State Welfare Commission]; Sanchaman Limboo [ex-CM and Deputy Chairman, State Planning Commission]; CD Rai [senior journalist]; Dr Trilochan Singh [Director, Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi]; TT Dorjee [former Chief Secretary] and Kipu Tshering Lepcha [Social Worker] were awarded the Sikkim Sewa Ratna consisting of a shawl, a silver medal, a citation and cash Rs. 2 lakh, while three persons Bhaichung Bhutia [football], Tarundeep Rai [archery] and Phul Maya Tamang [mountaineer] received the Khel Ratna.
The 20 persons who received the Sikkim Sewa Samman consisting of a citation, shawl, silver medal and Rs 1 lakh each are LB Chettri, Lendup Lepcha and Tar Tshering Lepcha for engineering, others to receive the award were A Karthok [official], Chumsi Doma Bhutia [social worker], Anita Bhujel [nurse], KM Sarda [businessman] and Santosh Nirash [senior journalist].
Jas Lal Pradhan [boxing], Trilok Subba [tae-kwon-do] and Chungda Sherpa [archery] were conferred the Sikkim Khel Samman. Motilal Lakhotia [businessman] and Jagat Prasad Sharma [businessman] received the Sikkim Udyog Samman, while Jas Raj Subba [writer] and Dr Pushpa Sharma [writer] were awarded the Sikkim Sahitiya Samman.
Uttam Pradhan [actor] and BB Rai [artist] were given the Sikkim Kala Samman and Shanti Thatal [singer] received the Sikkim Sangeet Samman. Kul Bahadur Rai [teacher] was given the Sikkim Siksha Samman and Kailash Rana Mangar [farmer] received the Sikkim Krishi Samman.
Three books - ‘Sikkim Brahman 2011 – Chief Minister’s 42 days village-to-village tour’, a coffee table book with photographs of the CM’s Sikkim Brahman [by IPR Department] and ‘Ethno Ornithology of Lepchas of Sikkim’ by Prof Ajeya Jha [Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology] and Ms V Jha were also released during the programme.
Earlier during the programme two patriotic songs by school children of Modern Senior Secondary School and Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School were also performed, while the National Anthem was played by the Sikkim Police Band.
The programme was attended by Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Chairpersons, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, DGP, Commissioners and Secretaries, senior police officials, officials from various government departments and local gentries.

Civilian Awards to be conferred on State Day

GANGTOK, 09 May: The Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department today announced the State Government’s decision to confer Sikkim State Civilian Awards in recognition of “sterling contribution and achievements” by individuals in various disciplines and fields of activities. The awards ceremony will form part of the Sate Day celebrations on 16 May and will be conferred at a special function hosted at Chintan Bhawan on the day.
The Civilian Awards will be conferred in three categories - Sikkim Ratna [category A], Sikkim Sewa Ratna [category B] and Sikkim Sewa Samman [category C] and will be given in varied disciplines like social service [Sewa], Sports [Khel], Music and Arts [Kala], Literature [Sahitya], Trade & Industry [Udyog] etc.
The objective behind instituting these awards is to felicitate individuals “who have worked relentlessly for the cause of their community in their individual capacities so that they are encouraged to rededicate themselves with renewed vigour and in process serve as an example for others to follow”.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Conference Hall of Land Revenue & DM Department, New Secretariat, Gangtok today Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department , Secretary, Nalini G Pradhan informed about the awards and also presented the Department’s activities in a nutshell.
The Sikkim Ratna will be awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Sikkim Sewa Ratna for distinguished service of high order and Sikkim Samman for distinguished service in any field.
“Such awards are being announced for the first time by the State Government and for the year 2012 no one has been recommended for Sikkim Ratna [category A]. Meanwhile, nine persons have been recommended for category B [Sikkim Sewa Ratna] and 20 persons for category C [Sikkim Sewa Samman],” informed the Secretary.
The Sikkim Sewa Ratna Award carries a citation, shawl, gold plated- silver medal, a memento and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh. The Sikkim Sewa Samman Award carries a citation, shawl, silver medal, a memento and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Speaking on support extended by the Department to recipients of various awards in the state, Ms Pradhan said, “We do help them in every way possible. We have appreciation pension for the National Sahitya Academic Award and provide them with Rs 1000 every month. At present, we have 23 such awardees enjoying this benefit”.
She also took the opportunity to call on the people to visit the State Library housed in the ground floor of the Land Revenue Department and avail the facilities. There are libraries at the district level as well, in Namchi, Mangan and Gyalshing, informed Ms Pradhan, adding, “In fact, we are trying very hard to tie up with Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library and are also trying to bring the concept of e-library, so that anyone can access it on the internet”.
Mentioning that during the Chief Minister’s 42 days tour across the state, many demands from the people came up regarding the restoration and preservation of cultural and heritage sites, the Secretary further said “We have our own heritage sites and we want to regulate these heritage sites”.
IPR Secretary, KS Tobgay was also present for the press briefing today.

Cabinet defers decision on State Civilian Awards

GANGTOK, 16 Dec: Reports appearing in a section of the media concerning the State Civilian Awards have been termed as incorrect by officials. Sources inform that though there is a move to organize such a programme to honor eminent citizens of the State, no decision on it has been yet by the state government. Neither has there been any date fixed for the programme nor have the names of personalities been shortlisted for conferment of the award.