Pedestrian flyovers to keep walking safe

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 15 April: The Urban Development & Housing Department has begun initiatives to avert accidents involving pedestrians along the National Highway, especially at junctions approaching schools areas.
Work on the long pending demand for a flyover at Deorali has begun; the project pegged at an estimated Rs. 6 crores.
“We are hopeful that this four-way pedestrian flyover will be ready for public use by August this year,” the UD&HD Minister, DB Thapa, informs.
He further informed that two more flyovers, one each at the Tashi Namgyal Academy gate and Tadong Senior Secondary School, will be initiated within this financial year itself.

DB Subba Memorial TT tourney gets underway with more than 200 paddlers

GANGTOK, 15 April: More than 200 participants have signed up for in the fourth edition of Late DB Subba Memorial Inter-School Table Tennis Championship started here at Paljor Stadium indoor gymnasium on Friday.
The three-day tournament was inaugurated by the STTA president, CK Basnet, and has been organized by the Sikkim Table Tennis Academy, Tadong, under the aegis of the STTA.

USFC returns to train for final challenge en route to main I-League

TEAM ACCORDED WARM WELCOME BY FANS AT RANGPO
SAGAR CHHETRI
RANGPO: The United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] was accorded a grand welcome at Rangpo today. The team is returning to Sikkim after having topped its pool in the qualifying round of the second division I-League. They will now be playing in a final pool of eight qualifying teams, the top-2 of which will make it through to the main I-League this season itself.
The USFC played six qualifying matches in its pool and won 4 matches, lost one and drew another which was enough for the team to top the pool and qualify for the final round of the second division.
The reception at Rangpo was organized by members of USFC Fans Club and Rangpo-based organizations and the team was escorted to Gangtok in a convoy lead by motorcycles.

TAAS welcomes declaration of Tourism as “Infrastructure Industry”

GANGTOK, 15 April: A Notification issued by the Home Department [No. 28/Home/2011 dated 29 March 2011] records that the tourism sector has helped tremendously in economic development and employment generation in the state of Sikkim. A number of financial incentives become available under Infrastructure Industry if Tourism is declared an Infrastructure Industry, the notification explains. “Hence, in order to achieve the above objective, the state government has declared and notified ‘Tourism’ as Infrastructure Industry in the state of Sikkim with immediate effect,” the Notification announces, informs an IPR press release.
The Travel Agents Association o f Sikkim [TAAS] president, Lukendra Rasaily, expressed “great happiness” on behalf of his organization and tourism stakeholders over the notification of Tourism as an Infrastructure Industry

SSACS presents best display of AIDS awareness literature at national workshop

SIKKIM FOLK PERFORMERS COME IN THIRD IN ‘FOLK MEDIA’ COMPETITION
GANGTOK, 15 April: A four-day national workshop of state folk artists for “Standardizing Scripts, Folk Performances and Developing State/ Regional Resources” at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi was organized by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in association with Family Health International and AIDS Prevention and Control Project from 05 to 08 April. Sikkim secured the 1st position in the “Display of HIV/AIDS IEC materials & photograph exhibition” competition and 3rd in the ‘Folk media’ competition, informs a press release.
The Sikkim troupe performed a fusion of Lok Dohori and drama in the ‘Folk Media’ category which was much appreciated by authorities from NACO, UN AIDS and APAC, the release informs. Sikkim was represented by a team comprising of AD/ Doc & Pub, Lubhana Rai, Consultant Youth Affairs SSACS, Chung Chungla Bhutia, Norden Lepcha and Gayatri Rai from the Song & Drama Unit [Culture Department], and artists, Uttam Rai, Pirtha Rai, Chandra Chettri, Ranjana Manger and Anita Manger [Kala Kunj Natya Sadan, Sakyong, West Sikkim].

Rotary sponsors Science Centre excursion for Bojoghari Secondary School students

GANGTOK: The Rotary Club of Gangtok, in association with the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, organized a daylong visit to the Sikkim Science Centre at Marchak for class IX and X students of the Bojogari Secondary School on Thursday on the occasion of National Science Day.
The idea behind organizing such a programme was to encourage students to take up science in their higher studies and also to explain to them the various concepts of science through the over-100 exhibits at the science centre, a press release informs.

DoNER Minister urges Delhi Police to nab culprits behind assault on Manipuri sigblings

GANGTOK, 15 April: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has urged the Delhi Police to take “urgent steps” to nab the culprits involved in the assault on a Manipuri brother-sister duo on the night of 12 April in the Munirka area of South Delhi.
A DoNER press release conveys the condemnation of the assault by the Minister for DoNER, Bijoy Krishna Handique, who said, “It is a matter of grave concern that the culprits are yet to be arrested after three days of the incident. However, we have full confidence on the Police and we have asked them to hasten the process of locating and arresting the accused immediately. The use of spy cameras in the rented buildings also needs a proper investigation. Our Ministry officials are closely following up with the concerned authorities and also taking measures on the recovery of the sibling who is recuperating at the hospital.”

EMRS girls win, again

GANGTOK: The girl’s basketball team of Eklavya Model Residential School [EMRS], Gyangyap, has once again impressed with its outstanding performance. This time by lifting the Xavierian Cup played on 14 and 15 April at St Xavier’s School, Pakyong.
EMRS lifted the cup thrashing another good girl’s basketball team of St Philomena School, Kalimpong, 50-21.
It had already defeated St Philomena School in its first round 42-24, with whom they met again in the finals. St George School, Pedong, was humbled 48-02 in the semi-final by EMRS.
The team captain, Nim Doma Bhutia, along with her mates, Rinchen Doma Bhutia, Pem Choden Lepcha, Diki Doma Bhutia and Tshering Eden Bhutia, impressed the spectators with their game and skills.
The team was escorted by the EMRS Principal cum coach, Siddharth Yonzon, and Chewang Kidan as manager.

Sneha Kinetic agrees to demands, affected people withdraw protest

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN: The affected people of the 96 MW Dikchu hydel project withdrew their protest Friday, following a meeting at Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd. [SKPPL] office at Dikchu. A letter of understanding was signed between the affected people and SKPPL, leading to a resolution of the protest which had come to a head yesterday with the affected people gheraoing the project developer, Sneha Kinetic’s office and bringing all work to a halt at the project site.
The meeting was held between the affected people and the project developer and was also attended by ASDLF general secretary, Norjang Lepcha, ward panchayat Tanek Block, Kado Lepcha and representatives of SKPPL headed by General Manager AK Dutta including representatives from Drillcon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd headed by its Project Coordinator, Ram Babu Gupta.

First batch of 15 beauty therapists call on CM

GANGTOK, 15 April [IPR]: Fifteen beauty therapists who were trained at Ananda Spa Institute in Hyderabad under the Skills Development Scheme of the Directorate of Capacity Building called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence Mintogang today.
All the trainees hail from rural backgrounds and thanked the Chief Minister, the State government and the Directorate of Capacity Building for providing them an opportunity to shape their careers. The 2010-11 batch of 15 youth trained in the same trade and institute has been placed in renowned, popular and big brand-name spa centers across the country like Oberoi Hotel & Spas, Mumbai/ Kolkata/ Shimla; Westin Resort & Spas, Sohna/ Gurgaon; Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai; Moksha Spa, Himachal Pradesh and May Fair Hotels and Spas, Gangtok.

At 74, Prem Dhoj Pradhan can still sing up a storm!

GANGTOK: When renowned Nepal-born singer, 74-year-old, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, sang ‘Goreto Gaonko…’ , a song recorded in 1962 in a studio in Kolkata, the jam-packed Sikkim Government College Auditorium, including the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling burst out in a rapturous applause on Friday evening.
Sikkim was treated to this rare experience this evening on the concluding day of the two-day Baisakhi Parva 2068 organized by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Sikkim here at Sikkim Government College auditorium.
The concluding day’s celebration was dedicated as a musical nite-cum-felicitation programme for the veteran singer Mr. Pradhan, whose songs include Ghumtima na aoun hai, Hasiney rahar haru…etc., which have remained evergreen till date.

Now Showing at Star Cinema Hall- Projecting Gangtok

SIKKIM PROJECTED, NOW FOR THE FEEDBACK
TSHERING EDEN
GANGTOK: ‘Projecting Gangtok’, an exhibition on proposed public infrastructure projects being developed in and around Gangtok opened to Gangtokians Friday at the Star Cinema hall. “...a healthy dialogue is necessary in a robust democratic society between the people and the decision makers,” reads a flyer which underlines what the exhibition is essentially about.
Addressing media persons today, Kailash Pradhan, a member of Architects of Sikkim [AS], the curators for this exhibition, explained that  they seek to create an open platform for the public to articulate their feelings about the proposed projects thereby involving them in the decision-making process. Visitors can do so by filling up a questionnaire, writing in a register, or on posting sticky-notes on the project details displayed at the exhibition. The feedback will then be forwarded to the concerned authorities.

Tourism declared “Infrastructure Industry” in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 15 April [IPR]: A Notification issued by the Home Department [No. 28/Home/2011 dated 29 March 2011] records that the tourism sector has helped tremendously in economic development and employment generation in the state of Sikkim. A number of financial incentives become available under Infrastructure Industry provided Tourism is declared an Infrastructure Industry. “Hence, in order to achieve the above objective, the state government has declared and notified ‘Tourism’ as Infrastructure Industry in the state of Sikkim with immediate effect,” the Notification announces.

USFC qualifies for final round of Second Division I-League

GANGTOK, 14 April: United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] topped its pool after thrashing Golden Thread [Kerala] in its last qualifying match of the second division I-League today.

After completion of the qualifying round, the USFC and Southern Samity both stand with 13 points each, but on the basis of goals average, USFC leads +7 while Southern Samity has +5 against its name. Both clubs are however through to the final rounds of the second division I-League scheduled to start on 25 April in Shillong. 

In its last qualifying match played today in Guwahati, a hattrick by Bhudiram Tudu helped the USFC win its last qualifying match 4-1. Bhudiram has also become the Highest Scorer in his pool with 07 goals. 

Continuing his attacking scoring game, Bhudiram scored his first goal in the 32nd minute and with goals in 54th and 59th minutes, completed his hattrick.

By taking an advantage of a penalty, Sajith MP of Golden Thread scored a goal for his team in 70th minute and a goal by India International, Bijen Singh, in the 81st minute from a long range outside the D-box sealed the victory of the USFC. 

Speaking over the phone from Guwahati, the Senior Manger USFC, Arjun Rai, expressed his happiness over the team is performance and send that the squad was now looking forward to the final round.

He mentioned that Nim Tshering Lepcha and Tenzing Tshepel also played the last match. 

“As the weather climate in Shillong is similar to Gangtok, the team has decided to hold a week-long practice session in Gangtok before leaving for the final round”, Mr Rai inform.

The team is arriving in the capital on Friday.

Pooja Pariyar is Miss Lampokhari 2011

DALAPCHEN, 14 April: The second day of the Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav saw Pooja Pariyar win the Miss Lamphokari beauty pageant while singer Prakash Sundas, an Indian Idol aspirant and winner of Namchi Mahotsav 2010, entertained the over 2,000-strong audience in a highly-anticipated late evening show yesterday. The show included a fashion show by models from Kolkata.
Area MLA Puran Gurung was present for the function accompanied by Dhiraj Pradhan, BDO Rongli, Tenzing T Kaleon, SDM Rongli, KB Chamling, SDF vice-president, Bimal Dawari, East Zilla Adhakshya, and members of the Lampokhari Paryatan 2011 Festival.
Chunki Bhutia and Preeti Tamang were the first and second runners-up respectively in the beauty pageant judged by PK Subba, Deputy Director [Agriculture], Passang Tamang of SSACS and Sonam Tshring Bhutia, DE Power.
The evening’s entertainment belonged to Prakash Sundas, a member of Singtam-based Spark NGO, who sang over a dozen popular Hindi and Nepali songs.
Meanwhile, Aarju Pariyar, representing Singtam’s ‘Basibiyalo Singtam’, performed a dance number which was followed by a performance by Modern Dance Academy, Rongli, choreographed and performed by Sajan Basnet and his young group.
[from SHITAL PRADHAN]

Sapta Mahapuran For World Peace concludes in Namchi

NAMCHI, 14 April: The “Sapta Mahapuran for World Peace” organised by the Namchi Puja Committee at the Parking Plaza premises here concluded Thursday. The prayers had begun on 09 April and enjoys the active support of 12 local NGOs. The programme was inaugurated by the Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai.
The prayers were conducted under the guidance of Rohit Raj Maharaj of Mangal Dham, Kalimpong, assisted by Premananda Shastri. The Sangitik Toli assisting them comprised of Shyam Dumi, Bishal Pranami, Braj Kishoreji and Shrawan Ghimirey.

Ambedkar Jayanti celebrated in Namchi

NAMCHI: The 120th birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar was observed here at the District Administrative Center conference hall with a special function organized by the Anusuchit Jati Kalyan Sangh, Namchi.
Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai, was present as the chief guest accompanied by Namchi Municipal Council vice-chairman, NH Aasari, social worker TM Bardewa, AJKS chairman Dushant Pariyar and officers from the various departments.
Social worker TM Bardewa, who has recently been conferred with a national award, was felicitated by the AJKS for her selfless work towards the society today.

Hanuman Tok gears up for Hanuman Jayanti

GANGTOK: The annual general meeting of the Hanumantok Committee was held today and resolved to continue the tradition of a grand Hanuman Jayanti Puja at the Hanumantok Mandir Dham. The holy day fall on 18 April this year, next Monday, and this time, the prayers will be performed over two days, it is informed.
The Hanuman Tok  Maha-avishek will be performed on Sunday at 4 p.m. and the temple opened for public darshan the next day at 6 in the morning. Prasad and Langar will start at 7 a.m. and the AGM decided to invite the Governor and Chief Minister to perform the main Aarati.
The GOC, 17 Mountain Division, Maj. Gen. SL Narasimhan, who is also the chairman of the committee will perform the Havan, a press release informs.

Start Firming Up For the Monsoons Ahead

editorial:

Sections of the still-being-widened highway in North Sikkim are already turning into bogs with the pre-monsoon showers. The unusually consistent [and abundant] evening showers, even as they are unhealthy for the fields, should get everyone involved in any aspect of disaster mitigation concerned about what the later months, when the monsoons open up, hold for Sikkim. While road-connectivity problems are expected during monsoons, Gangtok should also consider shoring up the protective works installed for the pipelines carrying water to the Selep reservoir. These have collapsed in the past, and if the present weather is any indication, will be put under tremendous stress very soon. The weather pattern suggests that 2011 will record at least an above-normal monsoon and the crumbling tendency of recently constructed infrastructure [roads still in excavation stage for widening] should have everyone worried. Both, the highway expansion and the Ratey Chu supply line repairs, are less than season-old efforts and have a history of unnerving collapses behind them.

Forest-fire awareness at Samardung

RANGPO: The South district Forest Division organised a daylong awareness programme on forest fires here at Samardung on Thursday. The programme, supported by Lanco hydel project, was  attended by DFO (T), South, Monalisha Dash, Range Officer BS Tamang, Block Officer Bal Krishna Dahal along with several other forest official and staff, Panchayat members of the area, local residents, representatives from Lanco and Hindustan Construction Company, senior citizen TP Kharel.

Baisakhi Utsav dazzles despite drizzle

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling flagged off the two-day Baisakhi Utsav organised by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad here at MG Marg on Thursday. A heavy downpour, notwithstanding, the inaugural events cultural programme kept the spirits high in town this afternoon.
The numerous cultural dance and song performances by school children, representatives of social organisations and artists from outside the state are the highlights of this year’s celebrations.
The Chief Minister, who kept his inaugural address brief in light of the inclement weather, before leaving the podium today, commented, “The rains won’t allow me to speak long and I know everyone here wants to enjoy the gala cultural programme instead of listening to my speech, so let’s enjoy the programme together”.

Affected people gherao Dikchu HEP site; Will not allow work to begin without clear commitments from project developer

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 14 April: The affected people of the 96 MW Dikchu Hydel Power Project staged a protest against the project-developer, Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd., accusing it of not having entertained the affected people while awarding various project-related works despite a standing commitment to do so.
The affected youth, including All Sikkim Demcratic Labour Front executive members from its branch office at Dikchu headed by their president, Ezekiel Lepcha, gheraoed the power house site on Thursday and stopped work at the project office in Dikchu.

Stand up against disparity of all kinds to pay true homage to Ambedkar: CM

Taekwondo star Sabina Sundas being felicitated.

Felicitation for social worker Maya Sherpa

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 14 April: The Chief Minister today stressed that people should work collectively for the betterment of the suppressed sections of the society if they wish to extend real homage to Dr. Ambedkar. Taking inspiration from his life and ideals is the only genuine tribute, not just gathering and offering garlands to his statues, he said, while reiterating that the people should collaborate efforts to end disparity of all kinds from the society.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the 120th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Bhimji Rao Ambedkar at the Sikkim Legislative Assembly complex today.
While on the theme, the CM highlighted that some sections were still trying to suppress the people in the name of religion and on communal grounds. On the same, he urged the people at large to stand up to such conspiracies by following the true principles of Dr. Ambedkar.

Architects of Sikkim initiate dialogue for Gangtok

GANGTOK: “Architects of Sikkim”, a body of concerned architects, has announced plans to organise an exhibition, “Projecting Gangtok – Dialogues for an Emerging City”, showcasing public projects in Gangtok and collecting public opinion on the Gangtok of the future. Opening its doors to public footfalls after decades of having remained shut will be the Star Cinema Hall at MG Marg where the exhibition will be hosted from 15 to 30 April.
“The purpose of the exhibition is to bridge the gap between decision makers in the urban bodies and the aspirations of the people who live here,” the AoS explains in a press release.
“Urban growth is a global phenomenon and Gangtok straddles a critical juncture between a large town and a nascent city. Some cities just about cope with the problems that accompany this growth, others are stretched and some take the situation as an opportunity to transform their cities into something better. The direction Gangtok takes is dependent on the decisions we make today as citizens, planners and policy makers,” the release states.

Ray’s Sikkim to screen every evening for a week at Vajra

Satyajit Ray’s documentary film, “Sikkim”, which had its world premiere on 06 April to a select audience in Gangtok will now open for regular screenings from Friday onwards at Vajra cinema hall here.
The Art & Culture Trust of Sikkim, which was instrumental in restoring this lost film made in 1971, in a press release issued today, announced that the movie will screen for one show [5:30 p.m.] every day from 15 to 21 April.
“We were overwhelmed by the response of the audience at the World Premiere on the 6th of April 2011. There has been a constant demand for a regular theater release ever since the premiere. We understand that there is a huge audience waiting and wanting to see the film. We are also aware that the purpose of the restoration of this very rare film carried out by the Art & Culture Trust of Sikkim was to reach out to the maximum Sikkimese people,” the ACT of Sikkim secretary, Atul Kaura explains while announcing the screening schedule.
The film, commissioned by Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, and completed in 1971, was never formally released until last week, its prints lost and then painstakingly restored.

ICAR sets up State’s first poultry seed unit

DEMAND FOR DAY-OLD CHICKS COULD NOW BE MET LOCALLY
GANGTOK: A poultry seed-unit has been established at the Indian Council Agricultural Research, Sikkim centre. The institute has started a poultry hatchery unit along with maintenance of parent stock for backyard poultry in collaboration with Project Directorate on Poultry, Hyderabad, an ICAR press release informs.
The unit was inaugurated by Minister of Food Security and Agricultural Development, DN Takarpa, on Wednesday.
The Minister welcomed the ICAR initiative to meet the demand of day-old chicks in the state. The project will help meet the requirement of poultry farmers and open up new avenues for entrepreneurship development, he said.
An ICAR release highlights that there is a “great disparity” in egg consumption among urban and rural areas due to non-availability of eggs and chicken which are produced mainly in urban areas. The rural areas are rich in natural food base that can be brought back into human food chain by converting them into nutritionally balanced egg and chicken meat by adopting backyard poultry farming, the release adds.

Kewzing entrepreneurs bag Best Stall award at NE Festival

Two youth, NT Luksom and Chewang Rinzing, both entrepreneurs from Kewzing in South Sikkim represented the State at the 2nd North East Festival held in Shillong from 07 to 09 April 2011 and put up a stall displaying handicrafts and handloom products from Sikkim. They won the “best exhibition stall” prize at the festival.
Dr. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, not only handed over the award to the duo but also bought many of the exhibits put on display by Mr. Luksom assisted by Mr. Rinzing, which was an even bigger promotion.
The products, Mr. Luksom shares were a big hit with all the exhibits selling out in record time.
“Even the Meghalaya chief minister came and appreciated the products personally. He directed that similar training should be incorporated in his state too so that his youth can also take example from the state of Sikkim which is doing so well in the handicrafts and handlooms scenario,” Mr. Luksom shares.

Kickboxers return from national championships with 11-medal haul

GANGTOK: The Sikkim Association of Kickboxing Organizations [SAKO] team returned Wednesday, loaded with a rich haul of 11 medals from the 16th Junior & 17th Senior National Kickboxing Championship held at Angul Stadium in Orissa from 07 to 10 April.
The state team has bagged eight medals in junior nationals and three medals in the senior nationals.
Passang Putit, Deeki Palmu, Mandira Karki, Lhamit Lepcha and Shezey Lepcha bagged gold medals in junior catgory, while Phur Chuki Lepcha and Joshan Lepcha won silver medals and Lakden Lepcha won bronze medals in the junior nationals.
In senior nationals, Susmita Rai and Bimla Tamang bagged gold medals and Dojree Pintso Lepcha won a bronze medal for the state.
The 14-member SAKO team was led by Navin Rai as coach and Tempa Gyatso Lepcha as manager.
The Additional Director, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, RK Rai, handed over the medals and certificates to the state team members today at a special function held here at Paljor Stadium.

CM renames Singtam's Manpari Basti as “Aadarsh Basti”

SINGTAM, 13 April: South Sikkim’s Manpari Basti near Singtam has been renamed, “Adarsh Basti”. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling announced this during his visit to the village on Tuesday to attend the Srimad Bhagawat Mahapuran organized there coinciding with Ram Nawami by a local NGO, Kalyan Samaj.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced a Rs. 15 lakh contribution towards the expansion of the present infrastructure of Siddhidevi Temple in the village.
While expressing happiness over the organizing of religious functions regularly at the temple premises, Mr. Chamling also handed over Rs. 1 lakh to the organizing committee as assistance towards organizing such functions in the future.

PHE Secy leads trek to scout water sources to augment supply for Namchi

NAMCHI: Secretary Water Security and Public Health Engineering Department, TB Rajalim, led a two-day trek into the mountains above Ravangla to seek out new sources and inspect the existing water tapping infrastructure there to figure out ways and means to augment the water supply situation for Namchi.
The Secretary was accompanied on the inspection by Additional CE, TT Bhutia, SE (S/W) BP Kharel, DE, DC Khatiwara, DE (South) Rajdeep Rai, AE (Ravangla) Saurav Lepcha and JE (Ravangla) Sunil Rai.
The trek first headed for the Bermeley source where water is currently being tapped for supply to Namchi.
The tour started on 08 April at 8:30 a.m. from Ravangla and reached Bermeley after four hours of trekking the team. Bermeley is situated at 8,300 ft.

Minister visits Zusing Druga Mandir damahed by PMGSY road project

MANGAN, 13 April: Power Minister, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, who also happens to be the concerned area MLA, visited the Durga Mandir here at Zusing basti in Mangshila yesterday in follow-up to public complaints regarding the damage caused to the temple by the recently constructed PMGSY road there.
The temple is located right below the PMGSY road and has been damaged by debris from the excavation carried out for road construction. The roof and some portion of the structure have been damaged.

Seek Out the Stories that Census Figures Tell

editorial:

The Provisional Population Totals of Census 2011 have been released. Sikkim’s population as of March 2011 has been counted at 6,07,688 people, recording a 12.36% growth since 2001. Since 1911, when the first proper Census operation was undertaken in Sikkim, only three decades, the last being 1941-51, have population growths lower than this. With the release of more detailed Census 2011 findings in the days to come, the reasons why growth has been so slim in the last decade will be better understood from the clearer demographic patterns which subsequent Census data will illustrate. While one waits for these details to emerge and explain the present better, it would be worthwhile to go over the data thrown up by Census operations in Sikkim thus far. The first Census of Sikkim was conducted in 1891 by the Political Officer. A decade later, in 1901 the West Bengal Census authorities of British India were deputed to carry out the task and it was probably only in 1911 that the Directorate of Census Operations brought the detailed methodology by which India does a head-count of all its people. In the decade of 1901-11, Sikkim’s population grew by 48.98%, the second-largest population spurt of the century. In the next decade, 1911-21, the population fell by 7.05%, the only time it has done so since Census operations were initiated in Sikkim. Population growth in Sikkim has shown marked variations, growing by little over 34% in the decade of 1931-41 and then almost grinding to replacement fertility-rate figure of 10.67% in 1931-41, creeping only slightly higher to 13.34% in 1941-51 and reaching 17.76% in 1951-61.

Nabbed second time on extortion charges, youth now also faces SADA booking

GANGTOK, 13 April: 22-year-old Dipesh Trikhatri, a resident of Thakurbari in Kalimpong, arrested by the Sadar Police here on charges of extortion on 10 April is under police custody till the 14th and is now staring at additional charges framed under the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act. This is the second time that the youth has been taken into custody inside a month on charges of attempting to extort money in Sikkim in the name of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
Out on bail at present, the accused, it appears, returned to the same trick when he allegedly started making threatening calls to the Marketing Manager of Rising Sun Cooperative Society and demanding Rs. One lakh to ensure his personal safety and that of the trade fair that the group is currently organising at Lall Bazaar.
Sadar Thana OC, PI Tshering Sherpa, informs that the accused was harassing the complainant with threatening calls claiming to be the GJM chief, Bimal Gurung.

Upper Sichey works out its garbage collection woes

GANGTOK: The residents of Upper Sichey convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss out-sourcing of garbage collection in the area.
The meeting decided that United Upper Sichey Educated Unemployed Co-operative Society would take over as the garbage collection agency working in the area. Services of the Golden Circle which was previously in-charge of garbage collection have been discontinued ‘as a result of certain circumstances’, informs a press release issued by the Society.
The Gangtok Municipal Corporation has provided a vehicle for garbage collection, which will visit the area on alternate days starting this Thursday, the release informs.  The areas to be covered by the service are Upper Sichey, Ward No 3 under executive councillor, NB Chhetri, and Lower Sichey, Ward no 2 under councillor, Ariti Giri, and Burtuk, Ward no 1, up to Jhakri falls.
The release further appeals to the residents to “act responsibly” and informs that offenders, who continue to dump garbage in the area will be fined and suitable action taken against them.

ASGEA celebrates 34th foundation day

NAMCHI, 14 April: The 34th foundation day of the All Sikkim Government Employees Association (ASGEA) was celebrated here at Namchi on Wednesday. The Namchi branch of the association observed the day here at the ASGEA office. According to a press release issued by the association, the president of the Namchi branch, Gajendra Subba, while speaking on the occasion, urged employees falling under the C and D groups of South Sikkim to become alert and responsible employees. He also urged all members to come forward and work sincerely to make the association even stronger in the days to come.