Ex-gratia for Martam-Nazitam fire victim

GANGTOK, 06 Jan [IPR]: On the evening of 31 December, the house of Lok Nath Poudyal of Patim Nazitam under Martam Nazitam GPU was gutted by fire wherein a major portion of his house had got damaged along with his belongings.
The District Collectorate, East has released ex-gratia of Rs. 35,000 as per the NDRF norms through BDO/Martam to the affected house owner. In addition tarpaulin sheets have been provided to the house owner for temporary shelter of his family.

Martam Nazitar ward panchayat assaulted, SDF’s Zilla panchayat booked

GANGTOK, 07 Nov: There are a total of 3 FIRs lodged with the police in connection with the incidents at Adampool and Yanthang Martam, East Sikkim, which led to the hospitalization of a woman Independent candidate, Geeta Sharma. One FIR was lodged with the Ranipool police and the other two with the Singtam police.
What is confounding is that she was assaulted upon by her own party members allegedly led by the Zilla Panchayat Deepak Tamang. This, because lthough the victim had contested the panchayat ward polls as an Independent, she, as per reports, is affiliated to the SDF party.
Deepak Tamang, the SDF Zilla Panchayat elect from Byeng-Martam, was arrested by the Singtam police late in the evening on 06 November. He has also been challaned by the Ranipool police for having taken out a victory rally without prior permission.
The first incident occurred on the Yanthang Martam road where the motor rally of Deepak Tamang intercepted the supporters of the complainant, Geeta Sharma at around 3 PM on 06 November. She had contested and won the Martam Nazitar ward as an independent candidate albeit one with clear SDF party affiliation. As per police records, she then proceeded to congratulate the zilla panchayat elect and wanted to offer him khadas but this was rejected by Deepak Tamang. As per reports he and his supporters then began threatening her and a scuffle ensued. Geeta Sharma was reportedly dragged away and the SDF party flag being carried by her supporters was also forcefully taken away from them.
However, Geeta Sharma, who is undergoing medical treatment at the Central Referral Hospital here, while speaking to NOW! today, clearly denied having approached the Zilla Panchayat member or his supporters yesterday. She was going around the Ward thanking people along with her supporters at around 3 PM when they came across Deepak Tamang and his supporters who then confronted her and threatened her. In the ensuing scuffle, Geeta Sharma alleges, she was pushed to the ground, dragged some distance and her clothes were also torn.
“While taking the party flag away from her supporters, Deepak Tamang also said that we did not belong to the SDF party and were from the opposition and therefore had no right to carry the party flag,” she further alleged.
“I was not even allowed to move or to be taken to a hospital”, she stated and added that only at around 6 PM, she was allowed to be brought to the hospital.
This was not the only incident that afternoon. Shortly after, Deepak Tamang and his supporters are also accused of having assaulted 62-year-old Kharka Bahadur Tiwari, a resident of Yangthang Martam during their so called victory lap.
While Deepak Tamang and his supporters have been charged with assault and criminal intimidation, Geeta Sharma today stated that she would be consulting her lawyers in order to explore the imposition of more serious charges against the zilla panchayat elect.
However the series of incidents did not just there.
Later, at around 4:30 PM when the victory rally reached Adampool it met Melli Sonam, Kala Rai and other known Golay camp supporters. They were agitated that an Independent candidate had been assaulted and in the ensuing confrontation damaged the Zlilla Panchayat’s vehicle, a Bolero. There was also scuffle between the two sides and the drama played out late into the evening with Golay supporters also picketing the Ranipool thana.
SP East, MS Tuli rushed to the spot and along with the Ranipool police brought the situation under control.

Martam Nazitam GPU awarded one of 9 best GPs in country

East District vigilance & monitoring committee discusses schemes and projects

GANGTOK, 02 Feb: The fourth District level Vigilance & Monitoring Committee meeting of East District was held on 31 January at Janta Bhawan, Gangtok under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, PD Rai.
The ADC (Dev.) East welcomed the participants and requested them to actively participate in the meeting.
That Martam Nazitam Gram Panchayat has been awarded as one of the nine best performing Gram Panchayats out of more than 25000 GPs in the country was disclosed and shared by the ADC with the house. The District Collector, East in his introductory speech apprised the house on the importance of the meeting and  directed the BDOs to submit the estimates of MGNREGS passed in the Gram Sabha for placing before the DPC for the shelf of schemes, 2012-13 by first week of February,2012. He also apprised the house regarding the posting of new RS/ARS (Amins) in the newly created Circles and requested the Panchayat Presidents to accommodate them in the nearest Gram Prasashan Kendras and monitor their attendance so that they are accessible to the public.
The MP expressed happiness over Martam Nazitam Gram Panchayat being awarded one of the nine best performing Gram Panchayats and congratulated the entire MGNREGS team. He further expressed that due to such achievements, the Authorities of the Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India are also praising the state and with such dedication of the implementing agencies, demands of the people of the State are being considered.
The meeting was followed with discussions on the implementation of all Central and State schemes being implemented in the rural areas such as MGNREGS, PMGSY, ARWSS, SGSY, CMRHM,MMAY,IAY, OAP etc. The MP stressed on the implementation of SGSY which is being converged with the National Rural Livelihood Mission wherein this scheme will be implemented at the village level and will be beneficial to the unemployed educated youth. It will also be closely monitored.
He further stressed that all schemes sanctioned by the Chief Minister on the spot during his village to village tour be taken up on priority.
The meeting was attended by Bimal Dawari, Zilla Adakshya, East, Panchayat Presidents of East District, District Collector,East, ADC(Dev.)East, Representative of NGOs, Post Master of Postal Department, Joint Secretary, Welfare Department, Divisional Engineers, Block Development Officers, Assistant Engineers of BACs and officials of the District.