Kiwis for Raj Bhavan

GANGTOK, 07 Feb [IPR]: A  Kiwi plantation drive was organized under the aegis of the Governor at the Raj Bhavan complex today.

Frozen at Muguthang

A NOW! fileFoto of a Dokpa and his yaks in North Sikkim

Snow might have imperiled the Dokpas and their yaks now, but their way of life has been on the brink for a while…

Muguthang in Spring [foto: Karchoong Diyali]

Muguthang this winter [foto: Hill Media Network]

Dokpas, the yak herders, are hardy folk. They need to be, living as they do beyond the tree-line in the cold desert of North Sikkim. They live in near isolation and are a dwindling tribe who rarely call out for help, knowing full well that when a situation is too difficult even for them, assistance from those who do not know their life is a bit too much to expect. So, when they send out an SOS, it demands attention because they are clearly flagging a dire emergency. And they have sounded an SOS now. 

Even though they number only a handful, in fact because they are so few, Sikkim should pay heed and deliver what is actually very little that they are seeking. 

For the immediate future, the Dokpas [of Muguthang in North Sikkim] want fodder to be airdropped for their yaks, next, they want telecom connectivity, and for the long term, they want one of their more educated younger ones to be trained as a paramedic and posted among them with at least some basic medical supplies. 

Why they are making these demands will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs, but what cannot be ignored is that the demands are very basic and can be met through the corporate social responsibility kitty of even a mid-sized company. Some proactive engagement from the administration [which was on welcome display in the latest instance] and more civil society concern [still awaited] should power through the political engagement required to iron out the situational kinks which could obstacle delivery of even these simple demands.

Borders versus Border People

Geopolitical realities have no respect for traditional linkages, but people should

The news report about how the Dokpas of Muguthang in North Sikkim have been snowed in this winter is about much more than just a seasonal hardship. Read about their situation and it becomes clear that they are being imperiled not so much by the snow, as by the march of time which is fast pushing their lifestyles to extinction and by changed political situations which have conspired to deny them survival practices which had evolved over centuries of living in the cold desert. The Dokpas themselves give their traditional lifestyles just another decade. A unique way of life is in the final flickers of being extinguished, and while even the Dokpas will not want artificial life support, it is important for Sikkim, and in fact the world at large, to understand what conditions are playing the villains in conspiracy here.

EIILM wants govt to take over

VISHNU NEOPANEY
The Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management [EIILM], a private state university  based out of Malbasey in West Sikkim, has almost always since its inception in 2006 been in the news for the wrong reasons. Matters for the institute came to a head towards the end of last year when the Enforcement Directorate attached all its bank accounts in end-October 2014. The institute is facing several charges, some of which have reached the courts, and now, with even its bank accounts frozen, its sponsoring body, Malvika Foundation, has written to the Chief Minister seeking that the State Government take over the university. This letter is dated 01 January 2015 and the institute and its sponsoring body have since then also approached the High Court with an appeal to make the Sikkim Government take over the university.

The employment/ unemployment conundrum

SUBASH RAI
Sikkim, used to awards and all round appreciation, ended the year 2014 with the rather disconcerting broadcast that it has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Needless to add, this created quite a flutter, much embarrassment, quick denials and strong criticism.
This statistic is also in contradiction with other socioeconomic indicators of the State since Sikkim does boast a very high per capita income and has registered growth of a faster clip than most other states of the country. While in eyes of the lay people, employment and unemployment are clear cut identifiers, in the hands of data crunchers, it becomes a complicated status update. This leads to contradicting reports and widely different projections by different agencies. The unemployment rate in Sikkim also appears caught in a similar conundrum.

Rising to the top and still dreaming high!

Urban Inc brings hip-hop back on the scene

TSHERING EDEN
Trailblazing their way through the swarm of pop and rock, Sikkim’s first hip-hop crew, ‘Urban Inc’, marks the beginning of a resurgence of hip-hop in the State. While Sikkim rode the hip hop wave in the 90s along with the rest of the world, it extended only to hoarding Tupac albums, oversized clothing, loud accessories and hip hop slang. It could not go much beyond that. Now, two-albums-old [their second album was released in September last year], Urban Inc symbolizes the coming of age of hip hop in Sikkim.
The last few years have seen a growing trend in terms of the number of youngsters taking to hip hop not just as a ‘look’ to sport but as a medium to express themselves. ‘Breaking’ and ‘b-boying’, hip hop dance crews like BRSTP and others are also an emerging trend while graffiti art, long associated with the hip hop culture, has popped up in certain corners of the capital. Although too early to say that this popular culture has taken over Sikkim, there is definitely a whiff of it spreading across this hill state.

STDC to manage Kailash Mansarovar luxury Yatra through Nathula

With India and China having exchanged notes on modalities for opening Nathula as a second route for pilgrims undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, the state nodal department, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, has handed over the responsibilities for the entire management and coordination with Ministry of External Affairs for pilgrims to Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation [STDC]. The Yatra through Sikkim is scheduled to begin from June. This is the first luxury route to Kailash Mansarovar from India and pilgrims, after crossing over from Nathula, will travel on to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, from where they will take the Kailash-Mansarovar highway. Thus far, from India, the only route to Kailash involved an arduous and dangerous trek through Uttarakhand. The only vehicular travel option was via Nepal.

Starting on a startup?

STPI to host workshop series for aspiring entrepreneurs

TotalStart Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Developers along with Software Technology Parks of India [STPI] has announced plans to organize a series of workshops themed, ‘How to Start Up a Start Up’, starting with the first workshop scheduled for 05 March 2015 here in the capital. TotalStart Sikkim Innovation & Incubation Center will also be inaugurated at STPI Tadong on the day.

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CM condoles GNLF founder Subhash Ghisingh's demise

HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS YEOMAN SERVICE TO INDIAN GORKHAS - CM
GANGTOK, 30 Jan: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has expressed deep sadness on the demise of Subhash Ghisingh on 29 January at New Delhi. Late Ghisingh was the founder of Gorkha National Liberation Front.
In his condolence message posted on Facebook, the CM has said, "I have been deeply saddened on hearing the passing away of Shri Subhash Ghisingh, the Founder of Gorkha National Liberation Front on 29th January at New Delhi. My prayers and condolences are with the bereaved family. 

CABINET SANCTIONS

The following proposals were approved and sanctioned by the Cabinet which met at Samman Bhawan on 27th January 2015.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT
1. The proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs 1800.37 lakhs for the project “Extension of Central Park, Namchi, South Sikkim (CSS).
ENERGY AND POWER DEPARTMENT
2. The proposal seeking approval and sanction of Rs 615.94 lakhs for the implementation of 10 Micro Hydro Electric projects (MHPs). Administrative approval is also solicited to drop three projects v.i.z. Bala, Buthang & Sawa and to utilize the saving of Rs 146.07 lakhs on account of these projects to cover the shortfall.

CM condoles Justice RK Patra's demise

GANGTOK, 28 Jan [IPR]: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Mrs. Tika Maya Chamling have expressed their deep, profound and heart-felt condolence on the sudden demise of Justice Radha Krushna Patra, the former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, and presently the Chairman Law Commission.
He was 72 years old and was under treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack since 24 January 2015. He was admitted in the hospital after he complained of chest pain and was diagnosed with pneumonia and respiratory problems.
He breathed his last on the morning of 28 January at 9:30 am and is survived by his wife Madam Laxmi Patra and daughter.

Trials for SAIL football academy

GANGTOK, 28 Jan: Steel Authority of India Limited [SAIL] will be organizing a two-day selection trial for its football academy on 30 and 31 January here at Paljor Stadium. As per the requirement of the organizers, the candidate should have been born after 1 January 1999 with minimum height of 5 feet 6 inches and should not have more than 28 teeth. The candidate should bring the supporting documents for age verification and no TA and DA will be given.

Lepcha youth organize quiz competition on R-Day

GANGTOK, 29 Jan: Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association organized a Quiz Competition on the theme of Republic Day on 26 January 2015 at T.N.S.S. School auditorium. The programme was part of the ongoing Winter Coaching Class 2014-15 session organized by SLYA and was attended by Sonam Dupden Lepcha (Chairman, Primitive Tribe Welfare Board) as the chief guest.

Sikkim Chamber of Commerce thanks CM for directive extending govt benefits to old settlers

GANGTOK, 23 Jan: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, in a press communiqué issued on behalf of all the traders and businessmen of the State, has welcomed and expressed “heartfelt gratitude” towards Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for acknowledging and issuing directives to Local Bodies to ensure that Government Benefits are availed by Sikkim Subject Holder, COI Holder, Old Residential Certificate holders, Trade License Holders and persons having Residential Houses in Bazaar areas. The CM made this announcement at a meeting held on 17 January at Manan Kendra, Gangtok. “The said decision will create an atmosphere of belongingness and responsibility for traders to contribute positively towards development of Sikkim,” the press release issued by the SCC president Ashok Sarda puts on record.

Jorethang to host national Muay Thai championship

JORETHANG, 23 Jan [IPR]: The 5th Muay Thai India PRO-AM National Muay Thai Championship 2015, organized by the Muay Thai Association of Sikkim and sanctioned by the Muay Thai India National Federation, is going to be held from 28 January to 05 February in Jorethang. The contest is being organized with an objective to motivate the youth from refraining or indulging in anti-social activities while also promoting the tourism industry of Sikkim.  

Saras Fair concludes on a high note in Jorethang

Self Help Groups notch up sales of close to Rs. 50 lakhs

JORETHANG, 23 Jan [IPR]: The valedictory function of the SARAS Fair 2015, organized by the Sikkim Rural Development Agency (SRDA), was held at SIRD Karfectar, Jorethang today. Area MLA cum Minister of Health and IPR Department, AK Ghatani, attended the function as the chief guest accompanied by Chief Administrator-SICB cum General Secretary of the Jorethang Maghey Mela Committee, SD Dhakal; Project Director (SRDA) Namrata Thapa; Director (SIRD) Suchitra Rasaily; Additional Director (SIRD) Bishal; President Jorethang Nagar Panchayat Purosuttam Agrawal alongside the officials from NEDFi Namchi, participants from the SARAS fair and the SRDA officials.

CM lays foundation stone of Rai Khim

GANGTOK, 22 Jan [IPR]: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling laid the foundation stone of Rai Khim, a multi-purpose traditional centre of the Rai community, here at Lumsey in Tadong today.
The programme, organised by the Sikkim Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, was also attended by Speaker KN Rai, Ministers, senior Government officers, members of the organising committee and local gentry. The ceremony included the Ridhum Mundhum, the traditional ritual of the community.

National Voters Day on 25 Jan

GANGTOK, 22 Jan [IPR]: The State-Level programme of the 5th National Voters’ Day is being organized at 11 a.m. on 25 January at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. The newly enrolled voters of Gangtok, Arithang, Upper Tadong, Upper Burtuk and Shayri assembly constituencies have been invited to participate.

Dr. Bhandari conferred Fellowship of European Society of Cardiology

Gangtok, 22 Jan [IPR]: Dr. K. Bhandari, the Director General-cum-Secretary, Health Care, Human Services & FW Department, who also happens to be the a first Super Specialist in the Northeast Region and Sikkim, was awarded the Fellowship of European Society of Cardiology at a function held in Mumbai on 18 January 2015 for his qualification, experience and contribution in the field of Cardiology.
The European Society of Cardiology is the largest academic body for Cardiologists worldwide having the membership of more than 90,000. Among the 90,000, a few are awarded Fellowship on the basis of their qualification, years of experience and contributions in the field of Cardiology. The convocation function was presided by the President of European Society of Cardiology, Dr. Prof. Fausto Pinto among other Association members from Europe and USA.

First Law Secretary of Sikkim passes away

GANGTOK, 21 Jan: Bhim Raj Pradhan, son of Late Kashi Raj Pradhan and Late Laxmi Devi Pradhan, who served Sikkim as the first and longest serving Law Secretary, passed away at Paramount Hospital in Siliguri at 8.35 PM on 20 January. He is survived by his wife Bindumati Pradhan, two sons and their families. The funeral is scheduled to be held in Gangtok on 22 January.

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment comes into force in Sikkim

Buildings & Housing Deptt to ensure GRIHA compliance by govt buildings

GANGTOK, 20 Jan: The State Government has notified the distribution of subjects among Departments under the Government of Sikkim (Allocation of Business) Rules, 2004 and entrusted the Buildings & Housing Department to act as the nodal agency to ensure compliance to GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment).

When Maghey Mela tries too hard to be hep and happening :-(

This year’s Maghey Mela celebrations, at least at some of the venues, were among the longest ever celebrated in the recent history of Sikkim. At some venues, the mela is still going on, touching nearly a fortnight of Mela. But sadly, this longest-ever celebrated festival was not the ‘funnest’ one as visitors rued that ‘there was no charm’ and also that the melas were ‘boring’.
It was also seen that besides old venues, some new locations with new organizers were added and it was obvious that expectations were high on the part of the mela lovers to experience some new forms of entertainment. While visitors were attracted to such new additions, they also missed the old staples which used to especially entertain the low budget visitors.

Sikkim’s Rakesh Gurung wins chess tourney in New Delhi, bags Rs. 1.5 lakh prize money

GANGTOK, 20 Jan: Rakesh Gurung has returned home as the champion of the 13th Parsvnath Delhi International Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2015 held in New Delhi from 09 to 12 January. He emerged as the champion in category B [for Below 2000 FIDE Rated players] winning 9 points from 10 rounds and was awarded with cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh. Likewise, another promising player Rahul Gurung finished fourth with 8 points from 10 rounds and won cash prize of Rs 75,000.

Governor and CM greet Sikkim on Sonam Lochar

GANGTOK, 20 Jan: Governor Shriniwas Patil and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling have extended greetings to the people of Sikkim on the occasion of Sonam Lochar, the Tamang New Year, which falls on 21 January, Wednesday.

Chamling spells out govt's commitment to effective administration

CM interacts with more than 3,000 officers to discuss ways and means to ensure Good Governance

GANGTOK, 19 Jan: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today directed the bureaucracy to ensure that the state administration delivered in an “effective, transparent and time bound manner” and urged officers to adopt e-governance tools while proceeding towards this revitalized system of governance. The CM was addressing an interaction with state government officials themed, “Towards Effective Administration and Good Governance,” here at Saramsa Garden near Ranipool. In attendance were bureaucrats, technocrats and Sikkim

Police top-brass [all above the rank of Under Secretary]. As per official estimates, more than 3,000 gazetted officers attended the interaction today.

Mr. Chamling reiterated that the State administration needs to have a stronger sense of purpose and “reorient the public services into a dynamic, efficient, and accountable apparatus for public service delivery built on the ethos and values of integrity, impartially and neutrality.”

Do not fall prey to unsolicited offers of funds from abroad!

by ANIL KUMAR YADAV

“Greed does not rest until it is satisfied”- Sam EastlandIn the modern era of smart phones, e-mail, internet and Facebook, fraudsters have become much smarter than the users of these technologies. They befriend people on social media platforms like Facebook making starry promises and one fine day they rob you of your hard earned money. Many a times, we receive SMSes out of the blue with messages of winning lotteries, from national and international companies. We are awestruck with such amounts of Dollars and Pounds but hardly reason out how any one on this planet can give you so much wealth for free. Similarly our e-mail boxes are flooded with so many enticing offers that it becomes hard to resist. But at the end of the day our greed overrides all our judgment and we are waylaid by these fraudsters and lose lakhs of rupees in the process.

710 homes constructed on govt funding inaugurated across Sikkim on 18 Jan

GANGTOK, 19 Jan [IPR]: A total of 710 rural houses comprising of 497 houses under the Reconstruction of Earthquake Damage Rural Houses (REDRH) Project, 195 houses of the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission (CMRHM) and 18 houses funded under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund were inaugurated on Sunday throughout the state.

Development will be the one and only agenda: CM

All other issues which hinder growth to be left aside, Chamling informs meeting with Panchayats and urban body reps

GANGTOK, 17 Jan [IPR]: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling addressed the state-level meeting of panchayats and representatives of urban local bodies here at Manan Kendra today. The meeting, which saw a huge turnout of public representatives and senior government officers, focused primarily on the role of panchayats in spearheading the implementation of ongoing programmes and policies of the Government at the grass root level. “Development will be the one and only agenda of the Government. All other issues which hinder growth will be left aside,” stated the Chief Minister.

Status: Unemployed

“Kay chaina, ek din regular huncha hola ni,” is what an elderly relative once said on learning that I work with a local newspaper. And that pretty much sums up what employment has come to mean in our state. The prized and ever elusive “regular” “government” job is employment and everything else is...err...coca cola, campa cola, coco cola? You choose.
The struggle to get a regular job is something every soul here understands, and sympathy, coupled with never-say-die encouragements, flow freely. A friend once related an incident about this time she had gone to renew her unemployment card at the concerned office.

Four airlifted to medical aid from snowbound Muguthang

GANGTOK, 16 Jan [IPR]: According to a report received from Sub Divisional Magistrate, Chungthang Sub Division, North Sikkim, Muguthang village, located under Lachen Dzumsa in the cold desert area of North District, was rendered inaccessible due to heavy snowfall in the second week of January, 2015. Upon being informed by the people of Muguthang [through the land line at the area 13th Battalion Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Post] of four sick civilians who needed immediate evacuation, the Chungthang SDM immediately brought the matter to the notice of District Collector, North.

Sikkim students at Asian Rotary Youth Conference

GANGTOK, 16 Jan: Interactors from Paljor Namgyal Girls’ school and Enchey Sr Sec school along with Rotarians from Rotary Club of Gangtok-South attended the “First Actasia – 2014” ( First Asian Rotary Youth Conference and South Asian Rotary Festival) held at Khulna Bangladesh from 19-22 December 2014. The students and the Rotarians represented Rotary District- 3240.

Aita Raj Subba will march for Sikkim in R-Day parade

GANGTOK, 16 Jan: Aita Raj Subba, a class IX student and NCC Cadet of Biraspati Parsai Senior Secondary School, Ranipool has been selected to represent Sikkim in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi this year. He is being escorted by Nima Tshering Bhutia, ANO, NCC of BPSSS [alongside Aitaraj in accompanying photograph], who informs that Aitaraj is the only NCC Cadet from a government school in Sikkim selected to represent the State in the Republic Day Parade.
[SAGAR CHHETRI]

Refresher course begins for frontline foresters

GANGTOK, 16 Jan: A two-week general refresher course for the front-line staff of the Forest Department started today here at the Forest Department conference hall. The refresher course is being organised by Working Plan Circle of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department and sponsored by Directorate of Forest Education of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Winter sports camp a hit with kids and parents in Namchi

NAMCHI, 15 Jan: Winter Sports Coaching cum Children and Adolescent Development Programme being undertaken here by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs is proving a hit with children with enrollments going up every day and having reached a handsome 285 children as on the tenth day of the camp on Thursday. The Department’s South district office had started this camp looking to engage children during their winter holidays in sports, adventure courses and recreational programmes. The camp had begun on 05 January with 247 children. The number now stands at 285.