Retirements create two vacancies in Sikkim cadre central services

GANGTOK, 29 Oct: The state government is to have a meeting with central officials, particularly officials from the UPSC and other Ministries regarding the appointment of 2 central officials with the state government in the light of existing vacancies. One is the appointment of an IAS officer and the other of an IFS official, it is learnt.
Officials inform that these 2 vacancies have been created as two officials have retired. It has been clarified by officials that these appointments are not to do with the creation of more posts for IAS / IFS officers in the state. Recently the sanctioned strength of IAS officers had in fact been reduced by the state government.
As informed the meeting is to take place on 01 November; there will be a member of the Union Public Service Commission who is a Minister of State ranked official and along with him will be two Joint Secretary ranked officials of concerned ministries.
On the side of the state government will be the Chief Secretary, Secretary, Department of Personnel, Secretary, Forests and the senior most IAS officer in the state. The meeting will also decide in what rank the central officials will be posted which will depend on seniority in the state service.

KVK works towards rejuvenating ‘Lum ko Suntala’

GANGTOK, 29 Oct: While most of the people were busy making gala during the Puja holidays, officials of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, North Sikkim who were camped at Lum village of Lower Dzongu from 18 October were busy facilitating the Orange growers of the village to regain the lost fame of once famous “Lum Ko Suntala”.
A press release informs that during their stay in the village, the officials made field visits of almost all the orchards and demonstrated the technique of ‘Inarching’ to rejuvenate the old and sick trees. For the next four days, the officials supervised the farmers in carrying out Inarching of old and sick trees of their respective orchards and imparted on-field training on the importance of Field sanitation by collection and dumping the infested fallen fruits in organically treated plastic drums for effective management of Fruit Drops in Citrus.
Apart from Citrus, training on Integrated Disease Management of Ginger was also delivered. The KVK sojourn to the beautiful hamlet was made memorable through the co-operation rendered by the members of LOGA (Lum Orange Growers Association) headed by its president Tshering Gyatso Lepcha, the release states.
The programme was sponsored by National Horticulture Board.

Editorial:...and then what?

Ridicule and criticism are necessary ingredients of a political speech, but need they also define the intellectual limits of the political speaker? Only a section of the panchayat bodies, more than in past elections but still only those not already secured uncontested by the ruling party, are going to poll on Saturday and the Dasain hiatus has pushed campaigning to a frenetic level in the few days still at hand for politicking. For all intents and purposes, there is only one party in the fray, albeit in two aggressively divergent factions. And they are more than making up for the absence of other players, having even worked in a scale of violence [in one episode] rare even for the bigger stakes assembly polls. The violence apart, even the speeches have been scathingly virulent, which should perhaps have been expected since both factions are privy to too much inside information. This is one episode which has ensured some vicarious pleasure for the Opposition camp as it joins the rest of Sikkim in watching the two factions slash extensive self-inflicted harm which is ridiculous and confusing at the same time. Dissidence and rebellion are to be expected in any organisation, and the latest conflict within the ruling party is neither surprising nor new. That said, now that the confrontation is on campaign mode, it needs highlighting that criticism, while it is always entertaining, is best deployed to put issues in perspective and highlight failures and shortcomings of opponents. Once the premise has been established, political debates should delve on how the aspirants would have handled the situations better and how they propose to repair what they see as ‘damage’. The substance of the public addresses has to be in the solutions that the respective parties and their speakers have devised, the vision they have sketched out for Sikkim and its people. Of course, vicious public rhetoric will make a leader a popular public speaker, but it is yet to translate into votes at least in Sikkim. Politics in Sikkim offers itself to no easy interpretations and parties in Opposition have already learned that they cannot ride an anti-incumbency wave or elevate their poll chances just by scratching away at the government’s failings. After every low-blow has been delivered, the audience will be softened, but the knock-out punch of complete conversion will have to come in the form of alternate plans and remedies. And this approach applies as much to the ruling party as it does to its dissident faction, because while both are doing a rather vicious job of ridiculing the other and running each other down, they are both still at the level of settling scores and have not outlined how the mistakes will not be repeated...

USFC establishes I-League credentials despite going down 2-1 to Dempo

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 28 Oct: Bhaichung’s United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] went down a fighting 2-1 to the defending champions, Dempo SC, at Paljor Stadium today in a keenly contested match which saw tempers flaring both on and off the field. Even though the scoreboard posted the home club as the losing team, Bhaichung’s squad emerged winners, having established beyond doubt that even though seen as the underdogs in the senior division, they more than deserve to be among the best.
The home club put up a good fight and brought its best game to the ground today, playing their third home match of their I-League debut.
USFC players displayed oodles of fighting spirit till the final whistle and received boisterous support from the home crowd. As the match proved today, they pushed the defending champions to the wall today. The match also witnessed some controversial refereeing decisions which were lustily protested by the USFC players and spectators.
The match started strong with USFC launching strong early attacks but missing the Dempo net much to the frustration of the keen fans who packed the stadium today. Just as the Dempo defence appeared to be crumbling in the face of USFC forays, the Goan strikers came good when a counter attack in the 21st minute saw Koko Sakibo score the first goal of the match and pulling Dempo SC in the lead. The first half ended with the Dempo ahead at 1-0.
USFC returned strong after the drinks break and their attacking game won them the equalizer in the 58th minute from the boots of Nurudeen Salau.
The attacks and counter-attacks continued relentlessly through the second half but defenders at both ends held strong. The teams were so evenly balanced that regulation time ended in a draw and the match was decided in the 3 minute injury time right at the end. And even that to a controversial refereeing call which awarded Dempo SC a penalty shot.
At the root of the incident was a rough tackle which brought down a Dempo striker in the USFC penalty box. The horror continued for the home club when an emotional USFC defender Sandesh Jhingan, gesticulating wildly to protest the penalty accidentally hit a Dempo player on the face. This earned him a red card.
Being a man down so late in the game would not have affected USFC much but they have now lost the services of this able defender for the next two matches and to rub salt on their hurt, Ryuji Sueoka converted the penalty and won the match for Dempo SC.
Dempo goalkeeper, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury was awarded the Man of the Match title.
Addressing the post-match press conference, Dempo SC coach, Armando Colaco, lauded the game of his squad and shared that the club is not only going home with 3 points but also fond memories of Sikkim despite the challenging weather conditions and other difficulties. He also appreciated the game played by the home club.
“USFC players played a very good game and control over the Dempo SC players but the experience of the Dempo SC took over at the end,” he said. Mr Colaco further commented that he really liked the game of some USFC players and will be monitoring their game closely and exploring possibilities of signing them on when the next transfer season arrives.
USFC coach, Philip De Ridder, was elated with the performance of his boys and mentioned that the team deserved points for the fantastic game they played. He added that the team has been improving with every match and pointed out that it was the credit of the squad’s commitment that no difference was obvious between the I-League champions and the debutants at Paljor Stadium today.
Responding to media queries over the controversial referring decisions, Mr Ridder commented that referees made decisions on the spot and being human could make mistakes, but their decisions need to be respected.

ITBP transfers ‘errant’ jawan away from border detail

GANGTOK, 28 Oct: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has transferred its allegedly ‘errant’ jawan posted at the Nathula border in order to ensure smooth border trade and maintain normal relations with Chinese officials on the other side of the border. Roshan Singh, the ITBP jawan from Haryana was removed from his post at Nathula following his overbearing attitude while on duty which saw him rough up a trader from Tibet Autonomous Region some time back, an action which nearly derailed the seven year old border trade. Sources also inform that there has also been pressure from Chinese authorities who were reportedly adamant that the Indian authorities take “tangible and effective” steps to show their commitment to sustaining amiable relations and also to acknowledge their fault.
On 16 October, a Chinese trader was roughed up by Roshan Singh at the border. As the Chinese were lining up in their vehicles there was a hold up as the trader was in conversation with an Indian trader who was getting ready to cross over into Tibet. Both were in the vehicles.
The delay irritated the ITBP personnel who then caught the Chinese trader by the scruff of his neck, dragged him out of his vehicle and allegedly began beating him up. Even officials from other agencies at the border, both from India and China, were reportedly speechless and could only look on stunned. Soon, traders from both sides gathered and threatened to stop trade altogether should the ITBP continue behaving in this way.
Soon after the incident there was an adamant and stubborn standoff between the ITBP on one side and Indian and Chinese traders on the other side; the traders threatened to completely shut down trade indefinitely and it was only a written apology forwarded by the ITBP which soothed emotions. While normal trade resumed the next day the Chinese trade officer was not satisfied and, as informed, gave the Indian authorities till 22 October (last Monday) for decisive action on the basis of which the Chinese were to take a final decision on whether to continue trade or not or take some other measure.
In what is being seen as some as a pressure tactic, a Chinese chopper is also informed to have violated Indian airspace over Nathula recently.
It may also be mentioned here that this was not the first complaint against the particular ITBP jawan. Sources inform that earlier too he was found to be uncouth in his interactions with the traders. The Chinese were already irked as it is with the arrest of one of their traders by the ITBP on charges of spying at around the same time.
The ITBP apparently decided to take some modicum of disciplinary action and stand down and removed Roshan Singh from his post. He has been transferred and following this it is informed that trade is expected to continue normally till the end of November.

District Election Cell declares list of candidates in South

39 ZILLA PANCHAYAT AND 232 GRAM PANCHAYAT CANDIDATES IN THE FRAY IN SOUTH SIKKIM
NAMCHI, 28 Oct: The South District is all geared up for the upcoming Zilla and Gram Panchayat elections. The District Election Cell has finalised the list of candidates contesting in the Zilla and Gram Panchayat elections for which the number of polling stations have also been finalised. According to the Deputy Secretary (Election), Vishal Mukhia, a total of 39 Zilla Panchayat candidates are contesting for 15 Zilla Panchayat seats and 232 Gram Panchayat ward candidates are contesting for 99 Gram Panchayat ward seats. He further informed that a total of 149 Polling Stations have been set up for the Zilla Panchayat Elections while 100 Polling Stations have been identified for the Gram Panchayat Ward elections.
Regarding the prevalent law and order situation in South district, SP South, Manoj Tiwari told this reporter that after the clash between SDF and Golay supporters at Namthang and imposition of section 144 of CrPC in Namchi earlier this month, the situation has been kept under control and no untoward incident has been reported since.
Following the Namthang incident, the police has remained on high alert in the district and one platoon of IRBn deployed as reserve in Namchi. A section of IRBn has also been deployed as reserve at Namthang, Melli and Jorethang.
Two platoons have been kept on standby at the PTC Yangyang and Pipaley respectively for back up force in case of emergency, said SP South. He further informed that the ruling SDF party has taken permission to hold a rally at Namthang on 29 October while the PS Tamang [Golay] camp has taken permission to hold a public meeting at Yangyang on 31 October along with a similar meeting at Namthang as well.
With this things could heat up again in South Sikkim and the police are ready to take on any situation.
On the other hand, the contesting candidates had a very busy Dussehra as the Durga Puja celebrations along with the campaigning heightened the level of festivities for the public of the rural areas.
It may be mentioned here that the Panchayat elections are to be held on the 03 November, 2012 and the results shall be declared on the 05 November, 2012.

CS heads committee to look into employee issues

GANGTOK, 28 Oct: The state government has constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to look into various issues related to employees both regular and temporary under the state government. Representations made by various groups of employees organisations and individuals relating to service matters will also be taken up.
Cadre strength of all services and particularly where review is necessary will be examined; the government has also thought it fit to examine the matter of regularisation of muster roll, work charged and other temporary employees in the various departments for which the committee is required to put up recommendations. The committee has till 25 December to put up its report in the various matters charged with it.
Besides the Chief Secretary other members include the DGP, Development Commissioner and Secretaries, Finance and Department of Personnel.

Vajra Guru Dhondrup concludes at Samdruptse

NAMCHI, 28 Oct: The Vajra Guru Dhondrup which had started on 16 October at Samdruptse here concluded today. The last day of the prayer was attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling accompanied by Sangha MLA, Phituk Tshering Bhutia.
The Chief Minister reached Samdruptse at around 10 AM this morning and attended the morning prayer ceremony. He also met Khochhen Rinpoche who arrived yesterday from Mindroling Monastery, Dehradun. The Chief Minister presented a miniature statue of Lord Buddha to the Rinpoche.
During his brief interaction with the committee members of Samdruptse, the CM urged them to preserve and protect the sanctity of the place, and also appealed to them to provide all the required information in detail to the visitors and tourists, so that they can go back satisfied and well informed.
Further he added that the committee members should work seriously towards preventing plastic or non biodegradable products from entering the area and see that only eco friendly products are allowed inside Samdruptse complex.
He also urged the members to have a good plantation of fruit bearing trees in the area, so that flora and fauna in the area could flourish and the place as well as the whole area becomes eco and environment friendly.
Talking about the Rope Way which will be starting shortly for Samdruptse, the CM informed that it is going to be a huge attraction for tourists as well as locals, and unlike vehicles which can cause pollution these rope ways will be eco friendly. Therefore the committee members should advocate the use of ropeway in Samdruptse, he stressed.
‘Kawang’ at Samdruptse is scheduled for 29 October [Monday] by Khochhen Rinpoche. Since the first day of Vajra Guru Dhondrup, devotees from within and outside the state visited Samdruptse to participate in the fourteen-day prayer ceremony and the spiritual events associated with it.
Domestic as well as foreign tourists also visited Samdruptse during the prayers. The organizing committee, Guru Padma Sambhava Society of Namchi was the key body which was also the managing committee who conducted and organized this annual spiritual event that concluded successfully today.

A Tribute - on the Passing Away of Mrs. Reechung

Mrs. Rinchen Doma Reechung at the reception she organized for the visiting President of India, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy [seated], at Pemayangtse Tourist Lodge, in October 1979.

KC PRADHAN
Rinchen Doma Reechung did her Preliminary Law from Mumbai and joined the Sikkim Durbar Service in 1969 as Assistant Superintendent, GICI (Govt. Institute of Cottage Industries). She was one the ablest administrators and a no-nonsense officer blessed with drive and artistic talents.
During my long tenure in Sikkim Tourism, I got to see her administrative capabilities from very close quarters and feel no hesitation in endorsing that every assignment entrusted to her was carried out with perfection and finesse unknown at that time. She was at the Department when tourism was in a nascent stage in Sikkim and we tried to use her prodigious skills to the best extent possible. For example, when Sikkim was allotted a corner for a Sikkim Tourism Counter at the Bagdogra airport, she was assigned the task to design and execute it. She did it so well that it remained a real showcase to project Sikkim. She was meticulous - a perfectionist par excellence I should say – which is a rarity in the administration. She was undoubtedly a one person army and once a job was assigned she did not tolerate any interference. She was a workaholic to the extent that she ruined her health many times by stressing herself too much. I remember the way she organized several functions, including the visit of the then President of India, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, to organizing Sikkim Evenings at Sikkim House in New Delhi with poise and finesse that flowed in her so effortlessly. Her contributions to the realm of Sikkim Tourism are immense.
As Secretary Culture, she brought in many innovative ideas and the various programmes performed in various parts of the country were highly appreciated. Her contributions at GICI, where she brought in a breath of fresh air, are equally praiseworthy. It needs to be accepted that she laid the foundations of many of the departments that she was associated with. She was a hard task-master and considerate at the same time and her subordinates loved her. As for her bosses, they needed special skills to handle her.
It is hard to get an Officer so dedicated to her job, such a perfectionist and honest to the core. Like her late father, Tse Ten Tashi (TTT), an eminent personality in his own versatile manner, she was a person in a hurry. Idleness was not in her nature and she did not tolerate it in others either. In many ways, like her father, she was ahead of her times.
She accompanied her late husband Reechung Rinpoche, hailing from the illustrious Pheunkhang nobility of Lhasa in Tibet, and also once Director of the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, to many foreign sojourns. He, a very humble personality, was an authority on the Tibetan system of medicines and his book published in France was very well received and he was highly respected. Temperamentally they were poles apart, but yet they had high regard for each other. If Rinpoche was the fountainhead of knowledge on very many intricate Tibetan rituals, Rinchen Doma was the driving force who brought grace wherever they travelled abroad. She was a rare personality infused with Sikkimese ethos. Aggressive and yet humble and knew perfectly well how to glide in high circles with grace and humility.
Sadly, her health deteriorated over the years and she remained mostly confined to her apartment in Development Area. Her large family was however always by her side to boost her morale.
We miss her immensely. We pray to the Almighty that her soul rest in peace.
[The writer is a former Chief Secretary, Sikkim. He has also authored the book, “Life and Times of a Plantsman in the Sikkim Himalayas”]

Plastic surgery camp to be held in Gyalshing

GANGTOK, 28 Oct: The District Hospital, Gyalshing, West Sikkim in collaboration with Interplast Germany is conducting a Plastic Surgery Camp from 28 October to 08 November at District Hospital, Gyalshing.
An official press release from the DAC Rabdentse informs that a nine-member team of Doctors and Nurses have already arrived here at Gyalshing from Interplast Germany. The Chief Medical Officer, West in coordination with the West District Administration has made all the requisite logistic arrangements for conducting the camp.
The camp will be covering the cases of Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate and Burn Contractures. The camp is targeting to cover more than 50 cases from all parts of Sikkim and is the first of its kind held in the District in collaboration with the foreign Doctors and Nurses so far, the release mentions.
The following telephone nos. can be contacted for further information; District Collector, West -9434406753, CMO, West-9733076770, DMS, West -9733020950

Golay lashes out against State Govt at Kabi

GANGTOK, Oct 28: Dissident MLA Prem Singh Tamang’s [Golay] campaign against his party reaches North Sikkim today with a public meeting at Kabi today. Continuing his tirade against the State Government and the SDF, he focused his address on corruption and nepotism allegations. Given the venue of the meeting, he also alleged that the State Government has remained indifferent to the needs and aspirations of people of North district.
As for the political party he is expected to launch after the panchayat poll process, a press release from Jacob Khaling informs that Mr. Tamang announced that the party was ready and awaiting an auspicious date to make the formal announcement.
Returning to issues close to North district, he alleged today that despite frequent claims of striving to bring the Karmapa to Rumtek, the SDF Government has been unable to do so because of a “controversial” report submitted to the Centre by one of its chief secretaries [KS Rao] which remains ignored by the State Government.
He also contended that the State government’s attitude of posting ‘victimised’ teachers to North Sikkim was the reason why schools and students in the district were not receiving the best services.

APPRECIATE AND CONTRIBUTE INSTEAD OF CRITICISING

Letter:
This is in response to the letter sent by a group of ‘tourism stakeholders’ (A Rejoinder to Mr. Bardewa and Mr. P.D. Rai) published in NOW! dated 20 Oct 2012 where they have raised their objections to statements made by Mr. P.D. Rai and Mr. Satish Bardewa. The objections are lopsided and utterly myopic at best! Whatever Mr. P.D. Rai and Mr. Bardewa said regarding the impact of the Damthang incident on tourism is best left to their wisdom. But allow me, as a very concerned Sikkimese (without any raato batti or VIP gaadi aspirations or pro or anti sentiments and without any chamcha-giri) to present some facts without any kind of distortion. Some rationale on part of the readers is expected when we discuss such issues.
Roads in Sikkim seem to have become everyone’s pet subject. We always complain about them to everyone and anyone. We have this uncanny knack of blaming the State Government for everything that goes wrong. Why do we forget that there are other factors which are responsible for failures and delays?
The total length of roads in Sikkim was 1800 kilometres in 1994. Today the total length has increased to 3700 kilometres. Sikkim has the highest road density in the country. The state has also bagged an award for this feat! Why are we so eager to portray only the negative aspects? It won’t harm anyone if we for a change, project and acknowledge the good things.
We blame the State government for the bad roads. But how come we conveniently ignore factors like monsoon, difficult terrain and other natural phenomena that make construction and maintenance of roads comparatively difficult. The September 18th earthquake is a case in point. We all know that the long spell of monsoon delays all work relating to roads. And we cannot blame any person or organisation by any stretch of imagination for this! Restoration and up gradation of important roads are on the anvil. Money has already been sanctioned for the purpose. Once the work commence, why can’t we be vigilant and ensure that the work is done well instead of crying hoarse about the road condition. As part of the civil society, why can’t we make an effort to monitor the quality of work? We prefer to criticise because it takes less effort than to appreciate.
I have travelled to most of the tourist destinations in the state both in peak and off seasons. But I do not remember having spent a single day or a night in candlelight, either in Pelling or Ravangla.
And for the record, Ranka Tourist Centre was envisioned by the State government and not by the Centre.  The State government has created innumerable tourist infrastructure whether it is Char Dhaam or Statue of Guru Padmasambhava. Sikkim now boasts of a wonderful amalgamation of both natural and manmade tourist attractions. On the one hand we have the world’s third highest mountain and on the other hand we have the Chaar Dhaam which has already bagged the award for the most innovative tourism product.
And one of the persons who has written the letter apparently owns a hotel in Gangtok. I want to ask him why he spent so much on constructing a hotel if he knew the tourism scenario was so grim in Sikkim. Or he had the noble intention of offering free accommodation to tourists as a philanthropic act? Or was he willing to suffer losses but construct the hotel at any cost. If the latter is the reason, then I salute his spirit!
Today, there are more than 50,000 vehicles in Sikkim today against 7,000 in 1994. We all have gone through the ordeal of not finding a taxi during tourist season. Isn’t this an enough indication of the growing and flourishing tourism in Sikkim? Home stays and village tourism have generated ample job opportunities for the youth. One home stay owner from west Sikkim was even featured recently in the Guardian magazine as one of the best in the tourism sector.
The two day bandh was called by All Sikkim Democratic Labour Front (ASDLF) and not Sikkim Democratic Front.  I assume that the writers know the glaring difference between the two! Losses may have been there but nobody was caught off guard as the bandh had been announced in advance. Tourists were not stranded anywhere. Nothing untoward happened. Moreover, as Sikkimese, we must put the interest of our people first. If my memory serves me right, the bandh had been called against private companies in Sikkim who were meting out unfair treatment to the locals. Isn’t the bandh justified given the fact that our people’s welfare was at stake?
If we are really so concerned about the stakeholders in the tourism sector incurring heavy losses, then why don’t we stop the trend of leasing out our hotels and restaurants to outsiders and collecting a hefty lease amount annually. Why do outsiders run our hotels, mess with them, damage our assets and laugh all the way to the bank?
Why do we relate loss only to money? What about the loss of our environment and the fragile eco-system. What about the losses that our youth incur when the manager, the bell boy, the receptionist, the cook and the waiter are all outsiders? What about the losses that we incur when other regional cuisines replace gundruk, kinema and chhurpi? We incur loss every time we fail to promote our culture, tradition and heritage. We incur losses when we fail to convince tourists to try the best of Sikkimese cuisine. We fail when we do nothing to make tourists aware about the do’s and don’ts while in Sikkim. We fail when a tourist litters Tsomgo Lake. We fail when tourists take pictures on the sly in restricted areas.
Success is always equated with hard work but our problem is that we hardly work! Every hotel owner I know of is looking or has looked for a party from outside who is interested to take his/her hotel on lease. If we run our hotels ourselves, if we take care of our infrastructure and assets, if we develop a sense of belongingness and affinity for the state, then Sikkim will be better than Switzerland.
But we also need to remember that the developmental era of Switzerland started more than three hundred years ago while the journey of development and paradigm shift in Sikkim started barely eighteen years ago. But with this kind of negative and regressive attitude, Sikkim will take ages to be at par with Switzerland. If we want to see Sikkim as the Switzerland of the East, everyone must contribute towards this vision. The State government alone cannot work miracles. Development will remain a distant dream if we do not work collectively with common goals.
We need to be the change you want to see instead of seeing everything with a cynical view!
The issue of Service Tax has also been raised in the letter. But we need to understand the fact that tax is a way of contribution towards the state or the country. Dutiful citizens will never complain about having to pay taxes as it brings a sense of ownership and belongingness. Taxes are in the interest of the state which ultimately is in the interest of its people.
If you are truly concerned about Sikkim, then why don’t you come to the fore and promote Sikkim as a tourist friendly state given the unrivalled peace and security that it offers to everyone. Not only tourism, you could do your bit in every sphere.
Why is it so difficult to talk about good things?
Democracy calls for equal responsibility and equal opportunity. So make the most of both! The state creates opportunities. You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink!  I hope you got my point!
Jiwan Gurung, Chakung, West Sikkim [recvd on email]

Editorial: The Next Batch of Panchayats

By the time this week ends, the people would have sealed the immediate political aspirations of candidates in the running for the 70 [out of 108] zilla panchayat wards and 420 [out of 987] gram panchayat wards in the State which go to poll on Saturday. The new week will begin with the counting scheduled for 05 November and after the celebrations wind up, the new batch of panchayats will begin a tenure in office with the aspirations of rural Sikkim riding heavy on their shoulders. The new term will also be interesting because more panchayats will come to office after contesting elections this time than in the past. This will make them even more accountable to the people with whom the small size of panchayat units in Sikkim accords them even more immediacy. One hopes that they will use every power already devolved to them to take the State forward from the grassroots onwards and power a future that learns from the past, not obsesses over it. There will be a whole fresh round of workshops, awareness meets and sensitization programmes laid out in the near future to keep the Panchayats occupied, but because they enjoy an immediacy with their voters, one hopes that the theory classes do not curtail their inherent pragmatism, which, one hopes is the character trait that led to their victories and not party affiliations alone. The fact that half the panchayats will now be women, one also looks forward to even more sensitivity in how rural affairs are managed in Sikkim. One hopes that the Panchayats grow more powerful in the coming years and rural Sikkim better informed. This, because development plans drafted by city-bred minds in department offices and ministries in Gangtok and Delhi have not been as inclusive and workable as would have been good for Sikkim. As the Panchayats become more powerful, rural Sikkim will find a stronger voice in dictating affairs of the State and that can only be good. For all their well-meaning, West-inspired and semi-educated interventions, urban folk, even in Sikkim, do not really have the connect with the land and its ways to fashion practical solutions for the future. That is something only the people who live in the real Sikkim, in the bastees, can deliver. Thus far, rural pragmatism has been overpowered by city-bred ideas of inferred political correctness. Now there is a fighting chance for the rural aspirations to come to the fore and get heard. That is the responsibility that the fresh lot of Panchayats carry on their shoulders, a responsibility that the municipal corporation and nagar palika types need to assist for once, not direct like always.

GM Gurung surrenders at Namchi, thunders against false allegations

FORMER MINISTER MAINTAINS THAT SDF CADRE SHOWED RESTRAINT WHILE GOLAY GROUP CAME WITH VIOLENCE ON AGENDA

NAMCHI, 19 Oct: Sikkim Democratic Front party vice president, former Minister GM Gurung surrendered to the police today here at Namchi today in connection with the FIR lodged by Golay supporters alleging his involvement in the Namthang clash of 14 October. Following his surrender, his bail petition was accepted and granted by the District & Sessions Court here. Mr. Gurung and five other SDF supporters, since released on bail, have been booked under sections 147/ 148/ 149/ 447/ 427/ 323/ 506 of the IPC.
Following his release on bail, the ruling party took out a massive rally through town and its supporters gathered in strength at the public ground, Singithang, where a public meeting was held.
The rally was joined by political advisor to the Chief Minister, KN Rai, South District working president Gagan Rai, South District youth convener cum MLA Namchi Singithang, Binod Rai and GS in-charge South District, RN Rai along with other party leaders, party youth and Cheli Morcha and more than 800 SDF supporters.
The rally started from the party office here where Mr. Gurung was offered garlands and khadas and then proceeded to Singithang.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Gurung explained, “Our party leaders and our party are not above the law and though false allegations have been levelled against me by the opposition group on the Namthang incident, out of respect for the law of the land, I came here to surrender”.
He stressed that the SDF party has always protected and maintained peace in Sikkim and will remain committed to this ideolog.
About the Namthang episode, he explained today that he, along with the Namthang area MLA Tilu Gurung and other party leaders were in a meeting at the Namthang party office when they learned of a large number of Golay supporters coming up to Namthang for an Anthyesti Kriya. They decided against a confrontation and stayed in the office waiting for the motorcade to pass.
Mr. Gurung further detailed that when the vehicles had passed, they were stepped out to return home when some of the vehicles turned back towards them and raised slogans against the party and the Chief Minister. It was then that on the SDF party workers, Prahlad Gurung, approached them and told them not to raise slogans his party and president.
“With this, the Golay supporters attacked him with Khukuris and iron rods and soon the mob started attacking everyone, even women were not spared by them,” he said.
Mr Gurung reiterated that the Golay supporters were trying to damage the peace and tranquillity of the state.
“The lack of issues has driven the Golay group to desperation and are hence, attacking innocent people and misleading them,” said Mr Gurung.
“If PS Golay truly wants to bring change in Sikkim in favour of the Sikkimese people he must play good politics. He has to come up with a better agenda than our party instead of spreading terror in the state,” he added.
He challenged the dissident SDF MLA to resign from the party, form his own party and then fight the by-election against an SDF candidate from the Upper Burtuk constituency.
“Our party had given him all the respect as a founder member of SDF. I and many others had never opposed the party and the party president for not being made a Minister then why is Mr. Golay against the government after serving 15 years in the government as a Minister from the SDF party?”, he questioned.
Political Advisor to the CM, KN Rai in his address said that Mr. Tamang’s politics is becoming synonymous with violence. Condemning the alleged act of Golay supporters in Namthang, he said the incident has only made the people aware of what his “revolution of change” is about.
The meeting was also addressed by GS In-charge South, RN Rai and Cheli Morcha vice convenor Sanju Rai.

GOVT NOTIFIES SIKKIM PANCHAYAT AND MUNICIPALITIES RULES, 2012

Rural and Urban reps to collaborate on district development plans

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: The UD&HD has notified the Sikkim Panchayat and Municipalities (Election of Members of District Planning Committee, Manner of Convening Meetings and Power and Function of the District Planning Committee) Rules, 2012. These rules govern the constitution of such planning committees comprising of Zilla Panchayats and municipal members and their functions.
These committees are to be formed soon after the constitution of a zilla panchayat or municipal body within the district. A joint meeting of the newly constituted zilla panchayat members and municipal members will be convened by the Secretary, UD&HD within the district for selection of the committee members.
The meeting can only proceed if two thirds of the total membership is in attendance. If there is no quorum within an hour of the time fixed for the meeting it will be adjourned. However for the next date scheduled for the meeting no quorum will be required, it has been stated.
The members are required to propose and second names of candidates from among themselves for election as members of the district planning committee and in the event of more candidates proposed than seats allotted an election will be conducted. Term of office of the committee members will expire with the term of the zilla panchayat and municipal body.
As for the functions of the committees it has been specified by the government that these committees are to consolidate the plans prepared by the gram and zilla panchayats as well as the urban local bodies in the district. A draft development plan of the district as a whole is then to be prepared from these plans.
While developing these district development plans the committee will have to consider matters of common interest between the panchayats and municipalities including spatial planning, sharing of water and other natural resources as well as environment conservation. The members will also have to bear in mind the availability of resources both financial and otherwise.
At the same time they are to develop the plans in consultation with institutions and organizations as the government may specify. These plans are then to be submitted to the state government.  
In the event that no zilla panchayat is duly constituted within the district and there is likelihood of delay the Secretary, UD&HD is empowered to constitute the district planning committee from members of the municipalities without delay. However, in such cases the representation from the Zilla Panchayat as required under Sikkim Panchayat Act, 1993, shall be kept vacant till the constitution of the Zilla Panchayat.

High Court sets aside conviction by Sessions Court in Makha murder case

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: The High Court has set aside the conviction and sentencing of rigorous imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 5,000 pronounced on Purna Bahadur Chhetri of Manzing, South Sikkim, by the Sessions Judge, Special Division-II, East Sikkim at Gangtok in a murder case.
The appellant was accused of the murder of one Chandri Maya Chettri in 2010 near Makha in east Sikkim.
The Division Bench of the High Court recorded in its judgment while acquitting Purna Bahadur Chettri that “On close examination and careful consideration of the entire evidence and the overall facts and circumstances of the case, appellate court find that the prosecution has failed to prove the primary circumstances set out against the Appellant beyond all reasonable doubts, and, therefore, even if those circumstances do form a chain, it cannot be said that the chain is so complete as to lead to the sole hypothesis of the offence having been committed by the Appellant and none other.”
The High Court has directed the Registry that a copy of the judgment and the original records of the case be remitted forthwith to the Trial Court for compliance.
While rejecting the major evidence of CLFS report of blood of deceased and accused person relied by the prosecution and tail court , the High Court said that  “…the Appellant is a married person, and, therefore, in order to rule out any other possibilities, it was incumbent upon the prosecution to have taken the blood sample of his wife also. This having not been done, it cannot be said that the blood found on the underwear of the Appellant is of none other than that of the deceased. We, therefore, have no hesitation in rejecting this part of the impugned judgment.”
The Divisional Bench observed that the findings in the impugned judgment was relying upon the “inculpatory portion” of the disclosure statement which “will have to be discarded as being prohibited under Sections 25 and 26 of the Evidence Act...”
Apart from the above, the court found that from the evidence of witness 13, Laxmi Kumar Chettri and witness 18, Lakpa Dorjee Tamang, the witnesses to the disclosure statement and the recovery of the incriminating articles at Tungtar, Makha, read along with the disclosure statement, Exhibit 8, the places said to have been shown by the Appellant are not inaccessible to others being a jhora, a paddy field at Tungtar and below the Tanak Bridge. Moreover, it has not been stated anywhere by the Appellant that he had concealed those articles, the High Court observed.
The Division Bench recorded that even assuming that the recovery of the articles were made in pursuance to the disclosure statement of the Appellant, no nexus is found to have been established between such recovery and the death of the deceased.

Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Sikkim

STATE SETS UP SIKKIM INNOVATION COUNCIL

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: The state might just experience a spurt in innovation and entrepreneurship in various fields now that the state has a Sikkim Innovation Council for the promotion of inclusive innovation and entrepreneurial talent of the Sikkimese people.
This council has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister with the Minister, Department of Science and Technology as vice chairman. This is a 17-member multidisciplinary body with heads of various departments as well. The Council will function under the Department of Science and Technology.
Primarily charged with promoting innovation in various fields the council is also to identify and reward talents who display innovation. At the same time it is envisaged that there will be special research fund created to encourage innovation outside the formal structure.
Taking the state to the next level in entrepreneurship there will be innovation ecosystems created along with seminars, workshops, conferences etc on innovation; besides there is also to be a state innovation portal. Interestingly, the Council will also look into aspects of encouraging and identifying avenues for innovation in governance.
The focus will be on inclusive growth which will serve as the basis for the state model of innovation. The state is to come up with special schemes and policy measures as well as to drive this in rural as well as urban areas.
The policy measures, it is informed, will cover social sectors including agriculture, horticulture, education, health, ecology, rural and urban development, water resources, renewable energy, etc,.
Other members of this Council include Secretaries, Forest, Health, Horticulture, RMDD, Animal Husbandry, Industries and Science & Technology. Also in the Council are officials of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan and Environmental Development, ICAR, Micro Small Medium Enterprise Development Institute, National Research Centre for Orchids and Spices Board. Also included are Principals of Tadong College and the Law College.

Army team scales Mt Kokthang in West Sikkim

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: With the view to renew the spirit of adventure following last year’s earthquake, the Black Cat Division planned to summit Mt Kokthang, a 6147m high peak in West Sikkim.
As per a press release, a select team of mountaineers of the Black Cat Division under the leadership of Major Gaurav Negi was flagged off by the General Officer Commanding of Black Cat Division on 27 September. The peak has fascinated mountaineers in the past and has been scaled thrice.
“Motivated with the spirit of ‘creating and not repeating history’ the team decided to scale Summit ‘Charlie’ of the peak, a feat never attempted before”, the release informs.
On 08 October, the sunrise on Mt Kokthang was witnessed by seven summiteers who broke the shibboleth of Summit ‘Charlie’ and hoisted the flags of Army’s Trishakti Corps and Black Cat Division on the summit. Major Gaurav Negi gave complete credit of the success to the camaraderie and never-say-die attitude of the team and his deputy Capt PK Rai, the release adds.
The scaling of the peak will provide the necessary impetus to adventure tourism in the state while the synergy between the actions of the Army’s Black Cat Division and the state has again come to the fore, the release further mentions. The expedition team safely returned to Gangtok on 14 October.    

Creation of 14 posts sanctioned for JNMIH

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: The state government has sanctioned the creation of 14 posts in the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Institute for the Handicapped located at Boomtar, Namchi. This institute is under the supervision of the Social Justice Department.
It is informed that this sanction has been made with the concurrence of Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department and Development Planning, Economics Reforms and North Eastern Council Affairs Department.
Among the created posts are that of In-charge, 5 posts of special teachers, two school mothers, a UDC, hostel superintendent, peon, cook, safai-karamchari and night guard.

Road mishap on Tibet road leaves 8 injured

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: Eight persons were injured while three vehicles and one shop were damaged when a van [Ecco] lost control on Tibet Road, this afternoon.
The van, carrying students and their parents, first hit a taxi [Alto] opposite the IPR office and then hit another taxi [Maruti van] at the Y-junction just before the Axis bank ATM at around 1:30 PM. The Alto which was hit by the Ecco also damaged one Tendol Bhutia’s shop opposite the IPR office.
The driver of the Ecco, Sukman Rai [40] of DPH along with students of TNA, Siddharth Sarda [14] of Lall Bazaar, Prasi Agarwal [12] of Tibet Road, Neha Agarwal [9], Anish Agarwal of Tibet Road and one of the parents, S Agarwal [38] of Tibet Road sustained minor injuries.
39-year-old, Tshering Bhutia who was in the Alto and one pedestrian, Md Mustak, a tailor from Darjeeling Store also sustained injuries in the accident. All victims and drivers were sent for medical treatment immediately.
The driver was arrested by the Sadar Police and booked under sections 279, 336, 337 and 427 of the IPC and sections 177 and 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

A REJOINDER TO MR BARDEWA AND MR PD RAI

Letter:
Over the last couple of years the tourism industry has suffered due to the political unrest in the neighboring state of W Bengal. Lately Mr. Satish Bardewa, president of Travel Agents of Association of Sikkim, and Mr. P.D.Rai honorable member of Parliament have expressed his concern about the negative impact the recent confrontation between SDF and Golay supporters at Namthang, will have on the tourism industry of Sikkim and particularly with respect to West and South Sikkim. However we being concerned citizens and tourism stakeholders of Sikkim would like to ask the following questions to Mr. Bardewa and Mr. P.D.Rai
1. In most trade fairs and in major advertisement brochures the Tourism department advertises and markets Sikkim with the slogan “Switzerland of the East”. Now many people without having visited Switzerland do have a fair idea of what the country looks like, courtesy Bollywood. Do you feel that the roads in Sikkim make us feel proud to say that yes Sikkim is indeed the Switzerland of the East? You might say that the maintenance of NH.31A is the responsibility of Border Roads Organization but then what about the road to Pelling, Ravangla. Do you even know that these places fall in the South and West District?
2. With respect to infrastructure did you know that the hoteliers in Pelling, Rincheypong and Ravangla have to purchase truckloads of water every tourist season? And by the way please remember these places are in West and South Sikkim.
3. Even after the hydel NHPC project in West Sikkim becoming operational a long time ago yet every tourist season Pelling and Ravangla suffers severe power shortage with the tourist having to spend holiday time in their rooms with the light provided from a burning candle. Is it another means of reinforcing that we are an eco destination or is it not quite ironical that even the tourists who come to visit Sikkim, have to find their way in the darkness with the light provided by a burning candle. They face a situation quite similar to what the ordinary folks of the state have been experiencing for the last 18 years courtesy of the democracy that has been ushered in by our Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, when he a lit a candle in the state assembly.
4. Recently all tourism stake holders of Sikkim have come under the purview of the Service Tax of the central govt. of India. Almost all major tour operators and hoteliers protested the levying of such taxes as it would have made our destination more expensive to a visitor in comparison to other destinations. We made our presentation to the Tourism Minister and Chief Minister yet apart from assurances that they will look into our problems nothing has come about and we are now being forced to pay taxes. This one act of the govt. has done more harm to the tourism industry then what the Namthang incident has done.
5. In the recent past all vehicle owners of Sikkim including vehicles owned by Tour Operators had to convert their old vehicle registration numbers to new high security numbers. The charges that we had to pay for the new high security number were four times higher than the average rate paid by people in other parts of the country. Did it not occur to you then that something was not right in our state or did you feel that the citizens of Sikkim could afford to pay such exorbitant rates. Does it mean that you have whole heartedly accepted that Sikkim has in fact reached the same living and income standard as that of Switzerland?
6. In Ranka, Smt. Pratibha Sinha had inaugurated the Ranka Tourist Centre built at a cost of Rs. 50 crores approximately. We would like to thank the Govt. of India for setting up the Ranka Tourist Centre. However could you please ask the Govt. of Sikkim and the Chief Minister, who also happens to hold the portfolio of Finance, as to what is the total amount of revenues earned from the operation of the Ranka Tourist Centre, the no. of locals employed and in how many years they expect to break even? The only person who we presume had the foresightedness to expect the Ranka Tourist Centre to contribute immensely to the Tourism of Sikkim was Mr. Jhunjhunwala.
7. In April 2011 the ruling SDF party had called a two-day strike to protest labour issues in the various Pharmaceutical Companies. It was peak tourist season and many people in the tourism industry lost an opportunity to earn their livelihood due to the bandh. When the president of Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association made an appeal to keep the tourism industry outside the purview of the bandh he was threatened and scolded in various political meetings. Did it not occur to you then to raise your voice against such bandhs.
Arthur S. Targain, Bhanu Rasaily, Roshan Pradhan, Roshan Silal, Navraj Gurung, Samrat Pradhan, Basudev Upreti, T.Wangyal [recvd on email]

Editorial: Happy Dasain

Next week is a march of reds on the almanac as the State shuts down for the Dasain break. All festivals are about the family, and Dasain even more so because this is the one festival for which extended families have traditionally come together for grand celebrations. How special this festival is for a majority of the people in the region is borne out by the empty streets and understaffed hotels and restaurants despite this also being peak tourist season. And when family takes primacy, hopefully, the incendiary divisions of party politics will take a backseat at least through the course of the next week. This hiatus in tensions will serve Sikkim well because at the end of the day no one wants violence on the streets, and secretly, everyone will be hoping that their party affiliations are not required to be displayed too often from here-on because with Dasain starts the festive season in Sikkim when work traditionally slows down and the lulling effect of Dasain ko Ghaam kicks in. These are not months which lend themselves too well to political activity, the Rolu Picnic experience notwithstanding. The days leading up to Teohar will be spent in its preparation and then the children will need preparing for their final examinations and it’s the winter break after that then its Losoong, Christmas and New Year- a busy schedule of family responsibilities, celebrations and holidays. That said, the panchayat elections will be upon rural Sikkim even before the Dasain hangover has worn out, and hopefully, the Namthang adrenaline will wear out over the next week and the days of campaigning left will remain peaceful. This, the people should insist upon. Beyond that, the Sikkim Police advisory on how to keep homes safe [this is also burglary season given the number of empty homes around town as people empty to the bastis] is already out and should be heeded by the urban folk. Festivals are also about indulging, but here’s hoping that Sikkim will do so responsibly and this festive season brings only good and positive tidings...

CS unveils curtain raiser of 2013 International Flower Show

25 INTL PARTICIPANTS EXPECTED IN THE FIVE-DAY EVENT AT SARAMSA GARDEN
CHEMCHEY, 18 Oct [IPR]: In a floral and colourful function organized in the courtyard of Indian Himalayan Center for Adventure & Eco Tourism, Chemchey, the Chief Secretary, Karma Gyatso today unveiled the hoarding of International Flower Show Sikkim 2013, as the curtain raiser, for the main event which will be held at Saramsa Garden in East Sikkim from 23 to 27 February 2013.
During the function the Chief Secretary, Mr. Gyatso also released posters of the mega event, which are being designed and developed by the Department of Information and Public Relations and also launched the official website of International Flower Show Sikkim 2013, designed and developed by Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department.
He also launched the social media campaign, from Facebook to Youtube all social networking sites will have information on this mega event. Further he also released a brochure of the International Flower Show Sikkim 2013 on the occasion.
Addressing media persons and the gathering during the function the Chief Secretary highlighted on the objectives of the International flower show and urged everyone involved in this mega project to cooperate and coordinate to make this show a grand success.
Earlier Secretary, Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department who is also the Chairperson of the International Flower Show 2013 Committee, S K Pradhan in his welcome address highlighted on this mega event, which will be held early next year and informed the gathering about how this event is likely to put Sikkim on the world map in the Floriculture sector and at the same time provide a massive impetus in the felid of tourism.
Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department also gave a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on the Floriculture Scenario of Sikkim with special reference to the mega event during the function.
During this presentation it was informed that about 25 international participants from worldwide are being expected with 30 national participants and 190 participants from the host state. This five-day mega event will not only showcase and exhibit different types of flowers, but will also include conferences, buyer-seller meet and workshops.
It may be recalled that the International Flower Show in the year 2008 had attracted about 1 lakh visitors during the 3 days, and this year the department is expecting it to double in the 5-day event.
Later during the press conference questions and queries about this mega event were answered by the officials of the organizing department. Secretary Information and Public Relations, K.S Topgay during this press meet also appealed and requested both, local and national, print and electronic media to kindly give wide publicity and help Sikkim in making this event a grand success.
The function was neatly punctuated by a cultural show by the students of Namchi Girls Senior Secondary School.
The International Flower Show 2013 is the second of its kind being held in the state after the 2008 show. The main objectives behind organizing the show are to showcase the floral potential and to promote Floriculture industry in Sikkim. It also intends to provide Flower growers of Sikkim international exposure for understanding the global trend of Floriculture Development and Flori-business and to keep pace with the advancement of World Floriculture. The show has also been organized to highlight Sikkim as a Floriculture State / destination and to promote Tourism in Sikkim.

MP urges people to consider why political violence is manifesting only now in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 18 Oct: Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai, in a statement issued yesterday as the spokesperson of the Sikkim Democratic Front, invited people to consider why political violence was manifesting with such unprecedented fury in Sikkim only now even though there have been several opposition parties here all along. His obvious reference is to the 14 Oct incident at Namthang in South Sikkim when a clash between SDF and its dissident MLA PS Tamang supporters left many injured, vehicles damaged, shops vandalised and several supporters from both sides booked for rioting and under provisions of the Arms Act. They are all out on bail at present but the episode is being kept alive with continuing allegations, claims and counter allegations by both sides.
The SDF spokesperson highlights that Sikkim has never witnessed such violence during a politically charged atmosphere and stresses that the situation is especially worrisome because even panchayat elections are eliciting such violence from the new entrant to the political mix in the State.
Reiterating the party’s contention that the Namthang violence was instigated and unleashed by the “Golay camp”, Mr. Rai holds up the episode as a “watershed and a new normal for the political violence that was unleashed in an otherwise quiet town of Namthang”.
“The only thing that has changed is that a marginalised political actor has surfaced with his brand of politics which only he knows. That we call as politics of violence. That is his trademark and signature,” Mr. Rai offers by way explanation of why such political violence is visiting Sikkim only now even though three panchayat elections, all on party basis, have been held peacefully in the past.
Responding to statements issued by former SDF MLA [since expelled] Bhojraj Rai on the Namthang incident, his aggressive rhetoric and reference to having “broken the barricade”, the SDF spokesperson states that such comments were a tacit admission of the said leader’s supporters having resorted to “single-minded” violence at Namthang on Sunday.
The MP has also taken exception to mention of the party vice-president, former Minister GM Gurung, as an absconder. Mr. Gurung, it may be recalled, has been named as an accused by the Golay supporters in their FIR on the Namthang incident.
“He [Mr. GM Gurung], was himself a victim and we condemn the call for his arrest as also calling him an absconder. An absconder will not come to the Party office and give a press conference,” Mr. Rai points out in the press statement.
Comments attributed to SPCC president, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, in media reports which have him speculating that the SDF Government will be brought down by 2013, Mr. Rai reminds him of his previous predictions, dating as far back as 12 December 1994 when he announced that he would bring down the SDF government – first, in three months, then six, then a year, then five; “Now it is already 18 years”. “He ought to be sympathising with the victims rather than making another wild statement,” the statement concludes.

Documentary on Tibetan struggle and music to be screened in Gangtok

MUSICIAN FILMMAKER TO PRESENT “JOURNEY OF A DREAM,” A POLITICAL ROCK-U-MENTARY, AT B.R.E.W
GANGTOK, 18 Oct: A Tibetan political rock-u-mentary, a first for the exiled community, titled ‘Journey of a Dream’ will be screened at B.R.E.W, Sichey on 27 October at 6 PM.
“After touring international film festivals, the Tibetan activist, filmmaker and musician Shenpenn Khymsar, who grew up in Darjeeling and now lives in Vancouver, Canada, finally brings his documentary back to the Himalayas, from where he set off on his journey,” a press communiqué announcing the screening informs.
The film begins with a personal narrative, but then goes on to become a powerful and unconventional documentary on the struggle of the Tibetan people. It combines political filmmaking with an ethno-musical study and places its focus on rock music as an outlet for frustration and a means of expression for an entire young generation in these hills and around the globe.
The director Shenpenn Khymsar will be present at B.R.E.W for the screening to answer all questions and inquiries about the feature documentary, the release informs. He will also talk about his new film projects and on ‘Why Tibet matters? And what is our role?’
The event will be rounded off with acoustic live music.

Dog fatalities in Dikchu due to canine distemper

INSPECTION AND TREATMENT CARRIED OUT BY SARAH TEAM
MANGAN, 18 Oct: Increase in the number of dog fatalities in the Dikchu area in the past couple of weeks had got residents here worried that the disease that was causing these deaths might spread to humans as well. However, it has been found that canine distemper is to be blamed.
On 17 October, a team from SARAH headed by Dr. Thinlay N Bhutia who is the programme coordinator of SARAH Division inspected the villages in-and-around Dikchu. The team found that an outbreak of canine distemper was causing the deaths.
All the infected dogs here were treated by the SARAH team with antibiotics and the dogs will be kept under observation for up to 36 to 48 hours.
The team visited all the affected places of Jang, Aapdara, Dikchu Bazar and Dikchu New Market from where dog deaths have been reported. The SARAH team also held an awareness camp for the general public regarding the prevention and control measures of Canine Distemper where Dr. Thinlay gave some important information on the disease.  
While highlighting on the prevention measures, Dr. Thinlay stressed that the dog should be kept in an isolated place and that the food/water bowls, blanket, bedding etc. used for an infected animal should not be reused in general as it is highly contagious. He further informed that proper disposal of carcass either through deep burial or burning should be ensured.  
In case a dog succumbs to the disease, the owners should make sure that the place of death should be thoroughly sanitized and the carcass disposed off properly and no new dogs should be introduced for at least 3 months.
He further informed that it is mandatory to register all pet dogs at the nearest Veterinary Centre.
The residents of Dikchu and surrounding areas extended their gratitude to the concerned department especially Animal Husbandry (SARAH-Division) for undertaking timely action.
Dr. Thinlay while speaking to NOW! informed that Canine Distemper out-break is common especially during the winter seasons and it has been found that a majority of the pet dogs in Sikkim do not get vaccinated against CD, Parvo virus, Influenza, Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis etc with the people opting only for vaccination against rabies.
“We have treated the disease with antibiotics and our team will conduct a camp for five days at Dikchu for proper treatment”, he added.
It may be mentioned here that the common symptoms of Canine Distemper are mild depression, fever, oculonasal discharge, dry cough which may become productive, general malaise, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Prof TB Subba takes charge as new VC of Sikkim University

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 18 Oct: The Induction Programme for Sikkim University’s new Vice Chancellor Professor Tanka B Subba and the annual awards ceremony was held today here at Chintan Bhawan.
The new VC, Prof Subba, was a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and former Dean of North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and is an honorary Director of Indian Council of Social Sciences North East zone. Prof Subba is a respected academic, well known for his work on sociology and anthropology of the ethnic communities of the Eastern Himalaya.
Addressing the faculty and students at the close of the programme which stretched the whole day, Prof Subba kept his address very brief and outlined the his priorities and approach to the responsibility he now shoulders.
Keeping his address short and witty, Prof Subba thanked the SU faculty and students and the Sikkimese and congratulated his predecessor for the achievements he has secured for the new university, admitting that “the bar” has been set high for his tenure here. However, he added, the evolution will continue and pointed out that everything, systems and institutions, should continue evolving... changing and improving.
He commented that there were some programmes at the SU which were definitely good and will be retained, adding that some schemes/ programmes were not so good and will be reconsidered and rounded up by stressing that some practises/ programmes were unacceptable and will be “discontinued and abandoned”.
Concluding his address with the admission that the process of evolution will require support from all quarters, he qualified his comment by stressing that support will be called in not just from the employees and students of the university, but also the Sikkimese at large, the media and the ruling government.
Earlier, Registrar, Sikkim University, Prof Jyoti Prakash Tamang, presented the achievements of the former Vice Chancellor. “Today is a historical day for Sikkim University since this is the last official address by the founding Vice Chancellor Prof MP Lama, who has faced many hurdles in establishing this university”, Mr Tamang said.
Prof Lama, who also addressed the induction programme, spoke at length about all the university has achieved under his stewardship and delved at length how the university has been denied its campus land at Yangang thus far.
In his a presentation on “Ethos, Vision and Orientations and Achievements of Sikkim University”, he said that “Sikkim University is truly a national university with local ethos”.
“Our mission is to make Sikkim University known for academic and research excellence. Earlier, our colleges did not have proper teachers or even basic infrastructure. You will find a huge difference in the colleges today”, said Prof Lama.
“People say that this university is against the local people which is not at all true, in fact, 58% of the non-teaching staff are from the state itself,” he added. On transparency, he contended that this has been consistently maintained and stated that SU is the only University that has used 94% of development grants; except for the land, he stressed.
Land allocation for the university has been a hotly contested issue between the university, the land owners and the State Government.
On the land issue, he said that many people thought it would not be possible for the university to function without a dedicated campus, “but we showed that without land also we can do everything”.
“We don’t destroy the identity of the people who give their land. In fact we conserve it, as they are giving land for a constructive purpose and not for a destructive purpose. In the next few months the University will definitely get the land as I am now leaving,” he added.
He thanked the visitors, HRDD Government of India, University Grants Commission for their “unstinted support, unflinching loyalty and warm fellow feeling”.
A film on Sikkim University by the Films and Television Institute of India [FTII] was also screened on the day. A book titled “Climate Change and Sustainability in the Mountain Areas: Scope and challenges for regional cooperation and integration” was released by Prof Subba and Prof Lama.
Awards were given to the best teachers, best students, best photography awards while students who have spent the most time in the library and people who have done selfless service till date were also awarded.

EXCLUSION OF TRIBAL LANGUAGES IN SPSC EXAMS NOT FAIR

Letter:
This is in reference to letter to the Editor, “SPSC: SOME SAME, SOME COPY?” published in NOW! issue dated 18 Oct 2012. We are also equally aspirants for the upcoming SPSC examination for the post of Under Secretary which is supposed to be the superior service and the top most entry to the bureaucratic setup of the state. As alleged, the pattern of the examination and the format were inspired by UPSC examination. The Department of Personnel which is the parent department looking after the appointment of any level of Government employees of the state has quite conveniently ignored the inclusion of Optional Subjects viz; Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo this time. As a result hundreds of aspiring tribal candidates were coerced to opt for another subject as Optional Subject in which they have the least knowledge compared to the above subjects. These tribal state languages were included as Optional Subject for State Civil Service examination for the selection to the post of Under Secretary held during 2008. These languages are recognized state languages of Sikkim and are at a developing stage which needs love and care of all sections of the Sikkimese society irrespective of caste and creed which in turn will contribute in maintaining a strong social fabric.
Hence, we, on behalf of the concerned and deprived applicants, appeal to the SPSC and the DoP to reconsider and postpone the last date for the receipt of the application and re-notify the proposal to include Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo, (the mother language Lho-Men-Tsong -sum ) in the State Civil Service examination, 2012  in the interest of the above deprived tribal applicants.
G. Lepcha & groups on behalf of the deprived students, Rhenock, East Sikkim [recvd on email]

Editorial:There is also a Panchayat Poll Campaign underway

It used to be emotive issues at one time, but now even an incident will do. Political posturing can be expected to get nastier as the political space receives something more immediate and current in the form of the Sunday violence which has attracted more notoriety on the small town of Namthang in South Sikkim than its residents will be comfortable with. The camps still loyal to the ruling party and the group expelled from or disaffected with it had, for at least two years now, been snapping at each other with allegations and counter allegations which were neither new nor different from the exchanges between the ruling and Opposition camps in the past. The dissidence of a sitting MLA leading the anti-party activities added some excitement to the confrontation, but the debate, although more aggressively argued, offered no new insights. But then the patience snapped on Sunday and words turned to blows. The incident happened late in the night so only the parties involved know exactly what happened, but given the scale of the clash, even individuals involved experienced only isolated episodes of the rampage which played out through the town. It can thus be safely vouched that the actual sequence of events will never be reliably known, at least not in the very near future. That said, what becomes worrying is that blood has been let. Some people have been hurt, but none, thankfully, so grievously so as to make a tragedy out of this irresponsible lapse of reason. What is also annoying is that the incident is now being played out as an issue. It was a law and order breakdown, and it was only because it transpired late enough in the night for no innocent bystanders to get caught in the scuffle, that only the involved parties traded blows. Even a couple of hours earlier, and lay people who detest violence would have definitely joined the list of injured. Two police cases, one by each side, have been registered and even though the officials are yet to make, well, an official statement on the episode, both sides have been keeping busy repeating allegation, every day. It would be one thing if these regular relay of statements, claims and counter claims helped in explaining what transpired at Namthang and why, but it is obvious from the tone and approach of the press conferences and press releases that the incident is being leveraged to ridicule, embarrass and challenge. The material arriving in the public domain is only offering more confusing signals than convincing arguments. Also, since the Namthang incident has become the focus of all attention, the panchayat elections have been sidelined, not just by the parties involved, but admittedly, also by the media. Although the ruling party has secured a comfortable number of seats at the ward and Zilla level uncontested, the polling set for 03 November will be the largest panchayat election exercise in Sikkim thus far because never before have so many wards and zilla seats gone to poll in the past. And yet, the poll process has stayed off the news for the entire week now. Although even the campaign trail is essentially a litter of rants instead of reasoning and self-indulgent stances instead of humble lobbying, at least the springboard would have been issues of rural Sikkim. Now, even that attention has been shifted away.

ITBP personnel allegedly rough up Chinese trader at Nathula

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: Should the Indo Tibetan Police Force continue in the fashion that they seem to have adopted in patrolling the international border at Nathula, it will not be too much of an exaggeration to assume that the future of border trade is in serious peril.
Following close on the arrest of a trade from Tibet, Liangki Jiancen, at Sherathang trade mart last week by the ITBP [which handed him over to the Sikkim Police], comes the incredible report of ITBP personnel allegedly manhandling and beating up a Chinese trader at Nathula today.
Soon after the incident there was an adamant and stubborn standoff between the ITBP on one side and Indian and Chinese traders on the other side; the traders threatened to completely shut down trade indefinitely and it was only a written apology forwarded by the ITBP which soothed passions, sources inform.
With the written apology, which is a first of its kind for a paramilitary agency, trade was resumed but is not the same. In fact it only helped strain relations between the two countries and their respective authorities at the border which has been strained already due to several incidents at the border.
What led to the aggression of the ITBP was reportedly a slight delay on the part of the Chinese trader in question to proceed towards the trade mart at Sherathang from Nathula. Traders from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China who come in vehicles are lined up at the Nathula border once they cross immigration. From here they are to proceed in a supervised [by ITBP] convoy to the trade mart at Sherathang near Tsomgo.
What happened this morning was that as the Chinese were lining up in their vehicles there was a hold up as a particular Chinese trader was in conversation with an Indian trader who was getting ready to cross over into Tibet. Both were in the vehicles and the talk between the two was around trade, accounts and stocks etc.
The delay seemed to irritate the ITBP personnel who then caught the Chinese trader by the scruff of his neck, dragged him out of his vehicle and allegedly began beating him up. Even official from other agencies at the border, both from India and China, were reportedly speechless and could only look on stunned. Soon, traders from both sides gathered and threatened to stop trade altogether should the ITBP continue behaving in this way.
The Chinese trader who was beaten suffered some minor injuries and turned back. It is informed that senior ITBP officials soon arrived and offered a written apology and assurances that this would not happen again. After this, trade is reported to have resumed but traders from Sikkim are now apprehensive of being proffered similar treatment on the other side should the Chinese decide to replicate ITBP attitudes.

Ten Action to cover USFC vs Pailan Arrows I-League match live

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: Sikkim and its passion for football is set to go national when the 04 November I-League match between Uro United Sikkim and Pailan Arrows here at Paljor Stadium is broadcasted live by premier sports channel Ten Action.
As per a press release, Ten Action, the official broadcaster of I-League 2012-13 season matches, is committed to telecast at least two I-League matches played by United Sikkim at its home ground. The red-letter date for Sikkim Football has been set for 04 November.
According to United Sikkim co-owner Bhaichung Bhutia, television crew members of Ten Action will start arriving in Gangtok from 01 November and by the match day, the entire crew would have arrived. The kick off time of the match is at 2 PM.
“It would arguably be for the first time in Sikkim that any sports event is being broadcasted live in national television. Sikkim’s image as an eco-tourism destination and football loving State will be introduced to many viewers who don’t know the hilly state as yet. The feed from Ten Action is also available in neighbouring countries and select European nations”, the release states.
United Sikkim was to play against Pailan Arrows on 03 November but with voting for Panchayat elections falling on the same day, the match was rescheduled to 04 November, it is mentioned.  Pailan Arrows, based in Kolkata, is the junior Indian football team and its players represent the country in different age categories in international football tournaments. Pailan Arrows has won both its first two I-League matches.
The team owned by AIFF and sponsored by Pailan Group does not get relegated even if it languishes in the bottom of the I-League heap. However, before taking on Pailan Arrows, United Sikkim has to face five time I-League winners Dempo SC of Goa at Paljor Stadium on 28 October.

Governor’s Gold Cup back after a year’s gap

16 TEAMS INCLUDING 3 FROM SIKKIM TO FIGHT IT OUT FROM 30 OCT -10 NOV
GANGTOK, 17 Oct: Sikkim Football Association [SFA] has announced that the 33rd edition of All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament 2012 will be held from 30 October to 10 November here at Paljor Stadium.
A total of 16 teams from different parts of the country and Nepal including 3 from Sikkim are scheduled to take part in the tournament. The participating teams are Three Star and one more club from Nepal, Pune FC [U-19], Techno Aryans [Kolkata], Eastern Railways [Kolkata], Langshing SC [Shillong], Mohan Bagan Sail, Dodsal FC [Mumbai], Bhawanipur FC [Kolkata], Calcutta Customs, BSF [Jalandhar], Dimapur XI [Nagaland, Arhima FC [Meghalaya] and Sikkim’s own I-League team, United Sikkim Football Club, Siniolchu SC Namchi and State Sports Academy.
Simultaneously, SFA is also organizing All Sikkim Women’s Football Championship along with the Governor’s Gold Cup, which will have two women’s team each from four districts.
This was announced in a SFA press conference today at Football House, which was addressed by the president, BK Roka, general secretary, Menla Ethenpa and other executive members of the SFA.
Mr Roka mentioned that inspite of having all preparations in place the SFA could not organize the tournament last year due to the 18 September earthquake. However, he added that this time the association has decided to organize this year’s tournament in a grand manner with good clubs of the country participating in it.
Speaking about the participating teams, the president informed that due to norms and conditions of the AIFF the association could not touch first division I-League teams. He further added that the tournament has second division I-League teams and other reputed clubs of the country and the tournament will also have two clubs from Nepal.
It is informed that the SFA has given an opportunity to three local clubs of Sikkim to participate in the tournament which includes Sikkim-League champion, Siniolchu Club Namchi and this year’s Independent Day Cup champion, State Sports Academy and the I-League team, the United Sikkim Football Club.
Mr Ethenpa stated that to encourage women footballers of Sikkim, the SFA has also decided to organize a state-level women’s football simultaneously with the tournament and two teams from each district will participate in this tourney. These women’s teams will be constituted by the AFC C licensed coaches of Sikkim and matches in the women’s football will be played before the match of the Governor’s gold cup every day, he informed and added that the fixture for the tournament is being prepared.
Speaking on the gate fee for the tournament, SFA treasurer, Nanga Tshering Bhutia informed that Rs 50 for hill side gallery, Rs 100 for northern and southern galleries, Rs 200 for western galleries, Rs 300 for VIP gallery and Rs 10 for students in uniform will be charged.  Likewise, SFA is also offering 30% discount on ticket prices for those willing to buy tickets for the whole tournament in advance.
Speaking on the future plans of SFA, the vice-president, Dr Sonam T Ethenpa mentioned that the SFA plans to carry out various activities for the overall development and promotion of football in the state. He informed that SFA’s district bodies will start functioning immediately to carry out its activities in the districts.
A total of 32 teams participated in the second division Sikkim-league but if there is no follow-up on these clubs then the state could lose some good local players so SFA plans to make some arrangements in the near future so that good local footballers could find place in the country’s best clubs, he mentioned.
Dr Ethenpa further spoke on plans to encourage club culture in the state by approaching corporate houses for sponsorships, initiating inter-school football, assist in provision of infrastructure, etc.
The press conference was also addressed by the joint secretary [publicity], Lerap Bhutia.

Couple accuses CRH of incompetence and carelessness

FOETUS STILL ALIVE EVEN AFTER ABORTION
GANGTOK, 17 Oct: A serious allegation has come forward concerning the Central Referral Hospital which is regarded as the premier hospital in the State.
It has been alleged that, Pratima Devi, who had gone to the hospital and was operated upon for induced abortion, following medical complications in her pregnancy, or so she was informed, was in for a rude shock when she was informed by a doctor at the hospital itself, a few days later, that the foetus was still alive!
After having made a payment of Rs. 5,000 and having been admitted at the hospital for 3 days, Pratima Devi had to go to the hospital again as she developed complications only to be told that her child was alive. Her husband, Raj Nandan, says that he is utterly confused as well as angry and has refused the hospital’s “advice” to get his wife operated upon again.
“I will not let them operate upon her again, they cannot be trusted so I have decided to take her to our hometown for the surgery”, he said while speaking to NOW!
Initially Pratima Devi was admitted at the hospital in the Gynecology department on 25 September after she complained of heavy bleeding. She was already 2 months pregnant at the time. Tests were conducted and the very next day she was operated upon.
Doctors informed her that her abortion was successful and in fact asked her to return after 6 weeks to examine why she was having repeated miscarriages. As her husband informed, this is her second miscarriage.
On being discharged on 27 September she soon started experiencing complications and started vomiting and experiencing pain as well. Initially it was thought to be the after effects of the operation but soon these became serious and on 16 October she was again taken to the CRH.
It left her and her husband bewildered when the lady doctor there informed them that their child was actually still alive. An ultrasound conducted on the wife showed heartbeats and movement of the foetus.  Other doctors were called in and the husband demanded to meet with the head of the particular department.
However doctors attempted to sooth emotions saying that what was done was done and that the woman should be admitted again. But according to the husband, the condition of the foetus had become complicated which was also due to the medication his wife was taking. Furthermore there was no telling as to what further complications may arise due to this and such could not be left to the hands of the doctors at CRH.
Doctors of the CRH need to exercise more responsibility as well as professionalism when handling lives of patients, stated Mr Nandan and has decided to take his wife to a more ‘competent’ hospital, as he terms it.

Three Bangladesh nationals arrested for illegally entering Sikkim

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: The Sadar police has taken three Bangladeshi nationals into custody for having entered Sikkim without valid documents and allegedly on “dubious purposes”. While one of the accused was apprehended near the taxi-stand outside the Police headquarters the other two were picked up at Rangpo as they were trying to leave.
It is learnt that the police had gone to ‘examine’ them at the hotel they had checked into at MG Marg here. However by the time the police arrived all three had ‘fled’, leaving most of their belongings behind.
It is informed that they had checked into the hotel on 15 October at around 7:30 PM and booked two rooms. The very next day, the police moved in but they had already absconded. A massive manhunt was then launched and messages flashed to all police stations and checkposts. Confiscated from their hotel rooms were 2 laptops, an ipod, flashdrives, phones and modems.
Not only have the three been booked under the Foreigners Act but also charged under section 420 of the IPC. It is informed that the three managed to get into Sikkim through the Rangpo checkpost with the help of the PAN card of one of the Bangladeshis, Md. Atik Rahman.
It is further informed that the section 420 IPC of cheating has been invoked as the three pretended to be Indians and the PAN card had also been fraudulently obtained.
None of the three have valid documents or Inner Line Permits which is required by any foreign national to enter Sikkim. As per the orders of the central government, foreigners cannot enter or stay in restricted areas without obtaining permits.
Sources inform that the three had initially given false addresses but broke down under interrogation and revealed their original addresses. Sources claim that while Md Islam is from Mohammadpur in Dhaka, Md Atik Rahman from village Charadi in district Barisal and Mir Ali is from village Badra police station Shakira in Bangladesh.

Two-day training for Presiding and Polling Officers concludes at Chintan Bhawan

GANGTOK, 17 Oct [IPR]: Two-day training for the Presiding and Polling Officers of East district concluded here at Chintan Bhawan today.
On the first day training was imparted by Additional Chief Electoral Officer, CP Dhakal and on the second day the District Collector, East imparted the training.
The training elaborated on the basic details of the upcoming Zilla and Gram Panchayat Election 2012. The Presiding and Polling Officers were informed that polling will be held on 03 November and will be conducted from 8 AM to 4 PM. The counting will take place on 05 November.
It was further informed that the polling materials will have to be collected on 02 November from TNA Auditorium hall. The Presiding Officers were asked to report at 8 AM at the material collection centre to collect EVMs and other polling materials and emphasised on checking the materials properly to avoid confusion.
The materials collected are to be returned to the centre after the completion of polling. The DC informed that there are 260 Polling Stations in East district which consists of a Presiding Officer and four Polling Officers for each Polling Station. He also apprised about the final training scheduled to be held on 30 October at TNA School wherein names of the Polling Stations to the polling party will be notified accordingly.
During the training, the District Collector, East spoke in detail on the roles and responsibilities of the Presiding and Polling Officers during the entire polling process. He also asked them to make sure to attend all trainings and be thorough with handbook for Presiding Officers which will be of immense help during the polling process.
The District Collector while imparting the training also asked the Presiding and Polling Officers to be very clear on the aspect of single and simultaneous elections. He also elaborated on the technical aspects of Electronic Voting Machines and proper use of it.
Hands-on training was also imparted to the officers to ensure that the officers are well versed with the EVMs. The officers were also appraised about the importance of mock poll to be conducted before the start of the poll on the polling day in the presence of the candidates or the agents of the contesting candidates in order to maintain transparency and to ensure the proper functioning of the EVMs.
They were also given hands-on training on the proper labelling of the voting compartments in case of simultaneous as well as single election, process of sealing of EVMs in presence of candidates, maintenance of peace and discipline inside the Polling Stations etc.
The vote of thanks was proposed by the SDM East, Dr A B Karki.