Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee convenes meeting

GANGTOK, 08 Dec: A meeting of the 196th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee was convened on 07 Dec at Nepali Sahithya Parisad Bhawan, chaired by the president, NSP, BK Roka. The meeting was attended by all the members of the committee, informs a press release issued by the publicity secretary, Hemant Giri.

24 hours of disturbing spike in criminal transgressions

A VIOLENT HOUSE BREAK-IN, BURGLARY, FATAL ACCIDENT AND THE EXPECTED SADA BOOKING…
GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Criminal activity and transgressions showed none of the midweek lethargy one would expect on a Wednesday, but instead spiked with to a disturbing degree. Thefts, a violent burglary, a fatal road accident involving teenagers and a drug-bust rounded up a rather lawless 24 hours today. And these are only incidents which could be confirmed.

Governor presents first copy of ‘Sikkim’s Raj Bhavan’ to President of India

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Governor BP Singh presented the first copy of the book, “Sikkim’s Raj Bhavan”. to the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, informs an official communiqué from the PRO to the Governor.

Golay holds meeting at Aho; tension brews as SDF and Golay supporters exchange slogans

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Prem Singh Tamang [Goley], the dissident SDF MLA from Upper Burtuk constituency, began a tour of East Sikkim today with an indoor meeting at a private residence at Aho, under Ranipool police station jurisdiction, for which, it is informed, around 200 people, a sizeable number of whom, it is learnt, were from other parts of Sikkim, had gathered.

Sikkim paraglider wins fifth position in Spot Landing Competition

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: The Sikkim Paragliding Association [SPA] had sent two pilots to take part in the Open Spot Landing Competition held in Aizwal in Mizoram on 25 November. The competition which was held from 28 to 30 November was organized by Mizoram Tourism Department and 3 Dimension Adventure.

Sikkim Ornithological Society forms new executive body with Karma Takapa as prez

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Sikkim Ornithological Society [SOS] dissolved its ad hoc body yesterday at a small function held at hotel Mt Simvo to form a new team, informs a press release.

2012 to begin with sports competitions for the differently-abled

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Special Olympics Bharat [SOB], Sikkim Chapter, has been assigned as the nodal agency to conduct sports competitions for all disabilities in different disciplines in Sikkim by the PYKKA Mission Director, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Sikkim Police Band to participate in All-India Police Band Competition

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: A 33-member Sikkim Police Band will be participating in the 12th All-India Police Band Competition 2011 to be held at Gurgaon in Haryana from 12 to 16 December. The team left for Haryana on Wednesday. This is only the third time that the Sikkim Police Brass Band is participating in a national-level competition, which has participants from different State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces.

Red Fest concludes at PNGSSS

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: After travelling to ten other schools in East and West Districts, the Red Fest team of Sikkim State AIDS Control Society [SSACS] made its final stop at Palzor Namgyal Girls’ Senior Secondary School.

Kalzang Welfare Assoc seconds scrap hydel projects on Rathong Chu demand

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: The Kalzang Welfare Association of Tashiding in West Sikkim has also joined the ongoing debate over hydro-power projects on the Rathong Chu in West Sikkim. In a press release issued by its president today, the association has called upon the State Government “to kindly scrap all the anti-Buddhist Hydro electric project proposed over sacred Rathongchu River and declare the entire stretch of Yuksam-Tashiding-Pemayangtse, the interior Bayul Dremo Jong, as Project/Human activity free zone in ensuring preservation and protection of the sacredness of the same”.

Govt offices to remain open next two Sundays

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: This will probably be for the first time that all State government employees will have to attend offices on a Sunday, two Sundays in fact. As per a Circular issued by the Home Department Tuesday, the State government has decided to keep its offices open on 11 and 18 December, both Sundays.

Editorial

Petty Crimes, Bigger Worry
Today’s edition leads with a recap of some criminal transgressions reported over a period of 24 hours [Tuesday-Wednesday] in Sikkim. This is not a jab at spicing news up with some sensationalism, but a conscious effort to flag a development which should attract more attention and deeper introspection by all with a stake in Sikkim.

Free Diabetic Detection & Treatment Camp begins in Tadong

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: A two-day free Diabetic Detection and Treatment Camp started at Ayurveda Regional Research Institute, Tadong, on Wednesday. The camp has been organized by Divyatham Group of Multi-Specialties Ayurveda Hospital, Odisha, and sponsored by Amrutrasa, an Indigenous Device for Diabetic Care.  The camp has Dr Uma Kanta Patnaik and Dr Narmada Biswas as the resource persons for the camp. The camp aims at catering to around 1000 patients in the two days.

ATMA conducts review meeting of Farm Schools

GANGTOK, 07 Dec: Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) conducted a review meeting of Farm School at SAMETI Hall, Tadong today. A press release informs, the meeting was attended by around 40 farmers along with field functionaries of different farm schools and BTMs under ATMA East District, FS & ADD. The resource persons at the meeting were Dy. Director ATMA, East District, Asha Lama, ADO, Sushma Pradhan, Dy Director, Karma Doma Bhutia.

Baijuraj Sangh forms Pani House branch

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Sri Krishna Pranami Dharma Sewa Samiti, Pani House, Gangtok, celebrated “Prabartak Sadguru Sri Dewchanhra Ji and Mahamati Sri Pran Nath Ji Milap Diwas” on 04 Dec with Reverend Bhima highlighting the significance of the event, informs a press release.

NEMSICS muddle refuses to clear up

NO OFFICIAL COMPLAINT, HENCE NO FORMAL ENQUIRY EITHER; MEANWHILE THERE IS NO NEMSICS OFFICE IN SIKKIM ANY MORE EITHER
GANGTOK, 06 Dec: When NOW! first raised concerns over the operations of NEMSICS there was not much reaction either from the public or the authorities, namely the police. At that time, back in 2006-07, about 30 youth from all over the State had deposited between Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 each with the company in return for jobs, which they had been promised. They never got the jobs and most never got their money back either.

Muharram celebrated in Gangtok

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: The Muslim community of the capital observed Muharram today with a procession which started from the Anjuman Islamiya [Jama Masjid] mosque passing through Deorali going on to the Indira Bye-Pass and then returning to the mosque. This was also the reason behind the heavy traffic jam on this route in the evening.

Semi-High Tech Nursery for fruit-bearing trees coming up at Pangthang

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Work on setting up a “Semi-High Tech Propagation Nursery” of local fruit-bearing tree species under the JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project [SBFP] is being undertaken on a war-footing at Pangthang above Gangtok here.

Editorial

Unacceptable
Anyone who has been online at any time in the past 48 hours would know of the latest stunt being attempted by the Government of India – intimidating cyberspace into being more respectful of the powers-that-be. The Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Kapil Sibal, has been on the case for the past month and a half and has met top officials from the India offices of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook desiring that internet companies monitor and screen every single tweet, video, photo, blog-post and all other forms of user-generated content before it is published online.

State-level PYKKA games to begin 15 Dec

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Sports and Youth Affairs Department is organizing the state-level Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan [PYKKA] Competition from 15 to 23 Dec at venues around Gangtok.
Department officials are working round-the-clock to organize the games in ten disciplines spread across venues at Paljor Stadium complex, Guards Ground and Tashi Namgyal Academy ground.

TMI organizes workshops and community consultations to improve local governance along Singalila

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: In early 2010, The Mountain Institute-India [TMI] initiated a case study on “Governance mechanisms to control illegal trade of wildlife & NTFPs in the Singalila range of the Khangchendzonga Landscape”.

NASSS sees Lindong dacoity as ‘total failure’ of State administration

GANGTOK, 06 Dec:  The Nagarik Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan, Sikkim [NASSS] has condemned the Sunday night dacoity in the house of one Sonam Pinsto Bhutia, also known as Maila Mahajan of Simik Lingzey [Lingdong] as a “total failure of the State administration”, in a press release issued by the organization today.

Monks welcome Joint Action against hydel projects on Rathong Chu, confident CM will scrap projects

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: All the Sikkimese monks and monasteries have welcomed the Joint Action launched by eight organizations to protect and preserve the sacred Rathong Chu, conveys a press release issued by the general secretary, Enchey Monastery, Lopen Tshering Norbu Lama.

ADC leads inspection of developmental works under Temi Tarku block

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: The Additional District Collector (Dev.), South District, along with BDO Temi and other officials inspected various works being under taken under Temi Tarku block on 05 Nov, informs a press release.

Grand Muharram at Namchi

NAMCHI, 06 Dec: Muharram, celebrating the life and martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahuanhu), was observed in grand fashion by the Muslim community of South district here at Bhanu Path today.

NCSO observes International Volunteer Day

MANGAN, 06 Dec: The Nature Conservation Social Organization (NCSO), a Kabi-Lungtsok based NGO observed the International Volunteer Day yesterday here at Tingda Primary School under Kabi-Tingda GPU in North Sikkim.  

NASSS executive body discusses future course of action

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: The executive body meeting of the Nagarik Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan, Sikkim [NASSS] was held on 05 Dec to discuss the organisation’s future course of action, informs a press release issued by its president, TN Dhakal.

Sports meet held at Namthang Livelihood School

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: With a view to highlight the importance of team work and improve leadership qualities among its students, the Namthang Livelihood School organized a sports meet from 01 to 03 Dec, informs a press release.

West Sikkim NGOs contribute Rs 3,51,010 to the CM’s Relief Fund

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Hee-Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society have presented details of the contributions made by various NGOs of West Sikkim towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in support of earthquake victims, in a press release issued its president, TN Sharma.

SU students to participate in SAARC program

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Four students from Sikkim University have been selected to participate in ‘The Peacebuilding Training and Education Program for SAARC Emerging Leaders’, which is one of the programs under the Conflict Transformation across Cultures –CONTACT.

Power Grid holds free health camp

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility for the year 2011-12, the Power Grid Corporation of India organised a free health check-up camp on 04 Dec at its 32/55 KV Gangtok Sub-station site, near Ranipool.

Rhenock Pratibha Manch organises its annual programme

RHENOCK, 06 Dec: Rhenock Pratibha Manch organised its annual programme at Rhenock Block Administrative Center Ground on 04 Dec.The programme was chaired by Zilla Panchayat Upadyaksha, Asha Bhusal while Chujachen MLA, Puran Gurung was present as the chief guest.

PLEASE DON’T MODIFY PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY TEST CRITERIA

Letter:
I would like to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities and the Department, my humble requests, appreciations and facts with regard to the following matter. Sikkim Public Service Commission (SPSC) has been conducting various competitive examinations via written examinations, viva-voce and physical efficiency tests. Recently, the written examination for the posts of Sub-Inspector under Sikkim Police Department was held and was conducted by the SPSC.

ASSA organises drug awareness prog in Namchi

NAMCHI, 06 Dec: All Sikkim Students Association’s South district branch organised a drug awareness programme here at the Indoor Stadium today. The programme started with a rally, joined by students from schools in and around Namchi, from the Community Hall through Central Park and back.

Bhaichung ropes in Ronaldo, Cafu and Ruud Gullit to play exhibition match for Sikkim

GANGTOK, 05 Dec: Bhaichung Bhutia, still recovering from an injury, may be staying off competitive football for the time being, but has been keeping extremely busy. The task of nurturing a club he now co-owns, the demands of a newborn he was recently blessed with, the two football academy projects he is spearheading, and then his sense of responsibility towards Sikkim, a calling which has grown urgent because of the 18 September Earthquake.