Misappropriation of bank funds under investigation at SBI Temi branch

INTERNAL INQUIRY UNCOVERS UNAUTHORISED TRANSFER OF Rs. 9 LAKH THUS FAR
GANGTOK, 13 Aug: It is now the turn of the State Bank of India to face charges of misappropriation of money with the Temi branch of the bank coming under the scanner following a complaint lodged by the Branch Manager. While a case has been registered under cheating and criminal conspiracy, the accused are yet to be identified even as misappropriation of funds amounting to over Rs.9 lakh by transferring of SBI funds into the accounts of private individuals has thus far come to light.
The current Branch Manager, NT Bhutia, the branch manager of the SBI branch at Singtam has been temporarily posted at the Temi branch for the internal inquiry underway there. It was during the internal inquiry, which is still underway, that the misappropriation came to light. As of now, the misappropriated amount is just over Rs.9 lakh but as the inquiry is still underway it is expected that the amount will go up.
As per reports, the malfeasance was detected during inquiry that funds had been unscrupulously transferreissd from the branch subsidy account (A/C no: 1189238857) to certain individual saving accounts. As of now the funds transferred have been traced to two individual saving accounts with A/C no: 317088108398 and 10364294006.
The amount transferred comes to Rs. 9,14,000. Subsidy account is the account into which various funds and loans provided by the Centre for certain schemes are released to the bank and is part of funds of the bank. This, it is informed, was between Rs. 40 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh with the Temi branch remaining in the account. It is from this fund that money was transferred to individual accounts.
It is suspected that this amount will go up as the internal inquiry is yet to conclude. The names of the account holders have also not been disclosed as yet. However, a criminal case has been registered at the Temi police station on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust by a public servant.
The police have not actively intervened and are awaiting the conclusion of the enquiry after which a clear picture will emerge and also because the core banking system in operation.

Birth anniversary of Padre Ganga Prasad Pradhan celebrated at Temi

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 04 July: The 161st birth anniversary of Padre Ganga Prasad Pradhan was celebrated with a colourful function at Temi Bazaar under Temi Namphing constituency.  Area MLA BS Panth was present as the chief guest accompanied by litterateur Gahar Udashi  as the guest of honour who spoke at length on the life of Padre Ganga Prasad Pradhan.
Calling him the father of Nepali literature in India, Mr Udashi said that the Indian government as well as great Indian literary figures have recognized Padre Pradhan as the first Nepali literary figure. His talent and contributions are yet to be recognized which must be done soon, he added.
Area MLA Mr Panth, in his address lauded the role of New Generation Social society in spreading awareness among the masses in the area. “We feel that Padre Ganga Prasad’s Birth Anniversary should be celebrated properly in the days to come. I will place this demand to the government for proper recognition of Padre Pradhan”, said Mr Panth.
“Padre Pradhan’s contributions and work have been kept in darkness and needs to be popularized”, he added.
He also announced that Rs. 5,000 will be awarded to the student who secures the highest marks in Nepali in the constituency.
On the day, New Generation Social Society also felicitated persons who have contributed to the society and awarded certificates to them. It may be mentioned here that the society after the earthquake last year had organized a door-to-door survey to assess the damages. The organization also felicitated those who donated blood to the needy following the earthquake.
Block Development Officer Temi, SK Pradhan, BDO Sikip Milan Rai, Temi Namphing SDF party president Shiva Kumar Sharma, local panchayats, believers and others were present on the occasion. New Generation Social Society general Secretary Dass Tamang thanked the Chief Minister and his government on behalf of the Christian community of the area.

Reconstruction of earthquake damaged houses begins in Temi-Namphing

GANGTOK, 23 May: Temi Namphing MLA, BS Pant laid the foundation stone of Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses [REDRH] at Namphing and Aifaltaar in a programme held on Tuesday. The constituency has become the first in the state to begin this scheme after the MLA laid the foundation stone for these two houses.
These houses are the first to be constructed in the state. The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling had earlier announced construction of pucca houses for the earthquake victims. A total of 14,000 houses will be constructed in the state under the Chief Minsiter Rural Housing Mission [CMRHM], Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana [MMAY] and REDRH of which 911 houses will be constructed in South under the REDRH scheme, informed District Development Officer, Namchi.
The beneficiaries and stakeholders were later provided orientation at the conference hall of the Block Administration Centre [BAC], Temi Tarku. Mr. Pant, the areal MLA, chaired the programme who in his address expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for providing the highest number of benefits to his constituency. He urged the beneficiaries for their involvement in the construction process. “It is the Chief Minister’s dream to provide these houses to earthquake victims”, he said and informed that the construction will take place under the supervision of the department.
The DDO urged for quality based construction stating that every construction will be later audited by a Chartered Accountant and Social Audit. The construction will be checked from time to time by the district committee, he informed.
The Block Development Officer [BDO], Temi Tarku, SK Pradhan informed that in the first phase, 156 houses will be constructed in the constituency. “We have considered those houses which are fully damaged by the quake. Altogether, a total of 446 houses were fully damaged in Temi-Namphing”, he informed adding that every house will be constructed using retro fitting technique.
These houses will be earthquake proof and with the use of good technology and new design is being initiated in the state with central funding, it was added.
“As the damaged houses in the area are totally collapsed, we recommended REDRH to all for which Rs. 4,89,000 for each house has been allotted.  The selection of beneficiary was made through the Gram Sabha”, informed Mr Pradhan.
AE, Akash Gurung appealed to NGOs and social organizations for a helping hand and urged the use of quality materials in the construction of these houses.

Third batch begin training for organic farming field functionaries in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 13 Mar: The third batch of the three-month training for organic farming field functionaries of South district commenced today at Bermiok Tokal Livelihood School for Organic Farming situated at Bermiok Tokal Agriculture Farm under Temi Namphing Constituency. A total of 104 educated unemployed youth of South District are enrolled in the third batch.
Deputy Director and In-charge of the school, Sonam Gyatso Bhutia briefed the participants on the aim and objective of the training and the state governments’ vision of making Sikkim a fully organic state by 2015. He said that the government wants to ensure employment opportunities for youth in this sector.
Resource persons from Morarka Foundation, a service provider agency, Mohan Chaudhary informed that a 100 days curriculum has been prepared for the training that includes one month each for theory, practical and project preparation. The successful candidates will be provided with a job as field functionaries in various service providing agencies working within and outside the state, he informed.
Additional Director, Sikkim Organic Mission (SOM), Kiran Kumar Pradhan later informed that till now 6,000 hectares of land has been certified and other 38,000 hectares are in the process of conversion out of the total 58, 000 hectares of land to be certified within the targeted period i.e 2015. With the completion of the targeted area, Sikkim will be totally organic by 2015 as per the vision of the state government, said Mr. Pradhan.
He further informed that the training for field functionaries of West District at Daramdin Livelihood School will commence from 14 March and for East and North Districts it will begin at Tadong Livelihood School from 15 March.
He mentioned that 460 candidates have passed out from these livelihood schools and most of them have got employment under various service provider agencies.

Public awareness on various developmental issues at Temi Tarku

GANGTOK, 05 Feb: Massive public awareness through cultural programmes on subjects like MG-NREGA, sanitation, Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission [CMRHM], formation of Self Help Group and national integration is being organized at Temi Tarku, South Sikkim. The venture is a combined effort of Song and Drama Division, Government of India and Sikkim Government under the guidance of Block Development Officer, Jorethang Block, South Sikkim, informed team leader, North Kolkata Prayasi, the cultural group, Baishaki Ray.
The programmes are being presented through dance, song and drama by North Calcutta Prayasi, cultural troupe of Song & Drama Division, Government of India. The programme is being carried out with the support of District Magistrate [South], Block Development Officer [BDO] and Panchayats of Temi block, informed Baishaki Ray.

First batch of Temi-Namphing livelihood school complete souvenir-making course

GANGTOK, 11 Jan: The convocation of the first batch of souvenir making course of Temi-Namphing livelihood school under the State Institute of Capacity Building (SICB) Karfectar, Jorethang was held today at Temi Bazaar. The programme was chaired by area MLA, BS Pant along with Chief Administration Officer, State Institute of Capacity Building (SICB), SD Dhakal and Joint Administration Officer SICB, KB Pradhan.
The area MLA in his address congratulated the students of the livelihood school and encouraged them to move on with attaining higher success from the trades learnt during the year long course. “You all have completed the course with sheer hardwork and struggle but now more challenges await as now the responsibility has come to you in making the best use of the course in the days ahead by  leading a successful life using the techniques learnt practically”, he added.
With regard to financial constraints in the establishment of outlets or manufacturing units for souvenirs he mentioned that there are numerous funding agencies operating under the State government like SIDICO, SIRDA, Khadi and Village Industry Board, Small Scale Industry, NEDFi to name a few but what is required is to approach the agencies for loans following proper criteria and in case of any help required the government is always there and can be approached.
Mr. Panth reiterated that if the finished souvenirs produced by the trainees are really attractive and of high quality then he on his part will even demand for an outlet at Chaar Dham along with tourism cafeterias, big hotels but the students need to be fully capable and skilled in producing the best possible souvenirs.
Like wise Mr Dhakal in his address stated that the government and SICB, Karfectar, Jorethang has provided the souvenir making course livelihood school to Temi-Namphing constituency so that the local youth can avail the best training and become self employed.
The government and SICB have provided the training required under the livelihood school to all the trainees but now it is the responsibility and duty of the trainees to make use of it.
He further added that the production and marketing of souvenirs must be taken up in a cluster approach. Mr. Dhakal also informed that the souvenirs prepared by the students of the livelihood school will be included in a web site which is being prepared to market these products.
Managing Director SiMTEI, also the service provider of SICB, MK Pradhan thanked the area MLA for starting a souvenir making livelihood school at Temi-Namphing constituency.  He also thanked Mr Dhakal for his initiative which he said would not only benefit the students but the entire area.
A total of 50 students were trained in souvenir making by five teachers. The trades on which the training was provided were mug designing,  photo framing, eight lucky signs carving, tea packing and khada printing.
The area MLA today handed out certificates to the students of the livelihood school. The function was attended by Zilla Panchayat, Panchayat, BDO, school teachers of the area, senior citizens and parents of the trainees.

SDF reorganises Temi-Namphing constituency committees

NAMCHI, 25 Nov: The reformation of committees for the ward and block levels, Cheli Morcha and youth wing of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front at Temi-Namphing constituency began today.

SDF coordination meet at Temi

NAMCHI, 11 Nov: The coordination meeting of the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] Temi Namphing Constituency was held today under the chairmanship of GM Gurung, the vice president of the SDF party and the Incharge South District at Temi Bazaar.

Enumerators and supervisors trained on SECC 2011

NAMCHI, 23 Oct: Daylong trainings were organized at Temi BAC on 20 and 21 October for enumerators and supervisors of Temi and Yangang BACs respectively and at Ravangla BAC [for enumerators and supervisors there] on 22 Oct. The training prepared the personnel assigned to undertake the Socio-economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 which is being carried out by the Government of India to generate household level information on social and economic indicators across the country.

New Generation Social Society formed for take stock of earthquake damage at Temi

NAMCHI, 29 Sept: All NGOs, SHGs and individuals of Temi-Namphing constituency have come together under the banner of ‘New Generation Social Society’ [NGSS] to take stock of the damages caused to houses, livestock and property in the area by the 18 Sept Earthquake.
A meeting-cum-basic training on Disaster Management for the people of Temi-Namphing was organized recently at the Temi Block Administrative Centre conference hall.

Teen busted at Temi with contraband

GANGTOK, 24 July: Temi Police, South Sikkim has recovered a large quantity of banned substance from the possession of a 19-year-old suspected peddler from Amley. 
The police, it is informed had been keeping an eye on the youth for the past few days, alerted to his dealing in contraband by source information, it is learnt.
On 22 July, a team headed by Temi Thana OC, SI Kinga T Bhutia, carried out a raid at the residence of the accused and recovered 1,642 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon, 145 bottles of Recodex and 120 N-10 tablets, all prescription drugs which are much-abused in Sikkim.
The accused however fled from spot. A case has been registered against him under section 9B, 11 and 14 of SADA while the police are still on the look out of the accused.

Official team inspects constructions under CM’s Rural Housing Mission at Temi

NAMCHI, 06 July: Additional District Collector (Dev) South, DK Pradhan, along with Divisional Engineer (RM&DD, South), BDO Temi, Satyen K Pradhan, Under Secretary Bandana Chettri, other district and block officials inspected the ongoing construction of pucca houses under the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission at Temi block yesterday, informs a press communiqué received from the BDO, BAC Temi.

Ram Nawami Mahotsav gets underway at Temi

TEMI, 10 April: Tourism Minister, Bhim Dhungel, called upon the youth to take full advantage of the State’s tourism potential to become self reliant by using and maintaining of the existing tourism infrastructure.
He mentioned that the state government is committed to tourism development and creating more tourism infrastructure in the State but there was need of equal participation from the people for sustainable tourism in the state.
The Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day long Ram Nawami Mahotsav-cum-Tourism Festival organised by the Temi-Namphing Tourism Development Committee [TTDC] here at Temi Bazaar.

Temi drafts Village Development Action Plan after training

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 22 Feb: A 3-day Sub-division level extensive training on Village Development Action Plan was held at Temi-Tarku Block Administrative Centre for Ravangla Sub-division to train supervisors, facilitators and note-takers for the drawing up of VDAPs.
Jointly organised by State Institute for Rural Development [SIRD] and RM&DD, the training was organised from 19-21 February and along with the training, VDAP for Temi GPU also drawn up.