Election-specific OBC certificates to be issued to interested candidates

A specific format has reportedly been finalized for issuance of “Caste Certificates” to prospective candidates in the categories of Central and State lists of Other Backward Classes, informs a press communiqué issued by the District Magistrate [East], Prabhakar Verma, who is also the designated municipal returning officer for the district. These OBC certificates will be for exclusive use of candidates for the purpose of filing nominations from wards reserved for the state and central list OBCs.

Opposition Forum thumbs down State Election Commission… again

VISHNU NEOPANEY

The United Forum for Democracy in Sikkim, an alliance of five opposition parties formed recently, has rejected the State Election Commission as a “rubber stamp” of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, alleging that the SEC was working on the directions of ruling party even at the cost of subverting prescribed procedures and established norms. A three and a half hour long meeting between representatives of the Forum and the State Election Commissioner to discuss municipal election related issues flagged by the group only reinforced the suspicions harboured by the opposition parties.

SKM legislators rue Governor’s refusal to meet them

Sangh MLA Sonam Lama of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, in a press release issued today on behalf of the six SKM MLAs, has expressed “shock” over what he terms the “passive approach” of the Raj Bhawan in discussing important issues proposed to be raised by the MLAs whose request for a meeting with the Governor remains allegedly ignored.

SDF picks its 53 for the municipal polls

Sikkim Democratic Front has released its list of 53 candidates selected to contest the municipal elections slated for 09 October at seven towns across the State. The list was declared on Sunday

CANDIDATES OF SIKKIM DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR THE URBAN LOCAL BODIES ELECTIONS 2015 

GANGTOK MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

WARDS                                                                 CANDIDATES

Oppn parties unite; SKM to contest municipal polls under protest

VISHNU NEOPANEY

Opposition parties of the State today formalized ‘United Forum for Democracy in Sikkim’ [UFDS], a coalition which they state will collaborate on issues of importance to Sikkim. The Forum is made up of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, Bharatiya Janta Party, Sikkim National People’s Party and Sikkim Sangram Parishad.

First arrests since possession of chemical fertilizers was made a criminal offence in Sikkim

VISHNU NEOPANEY

On Wednesday evening, 09 Sept, Sikkim Police made the first arrests under the Sikkim Agricultural, Horticultural Input and Livestock Feed Regulatory Act of 2014 which made the import, sale and use of chemical fertilizers a criminal offence in Sikkim when it came into effect in November last year.
Superintendent of Police, South, Tashi Wangyal, confirmed that the Melli Check Post personnel intercepted a vehicle [bearing registration number SK02D/0559] which was carrying 10 bags of Urea [50 kg each] and 10 bags of DAP [Diammoniun Phosphate] into Sikkim from Siliguri, West Bengal. The vehicle was heading towards Sombaria. Both chemicals are banned in Sikkim in pursuance of its Organic State aspirations.

The Smart City Primer

The Smart Cities project of the Modi government has been in the buzz of late especially after its shortlist of 98 potential smart cities was announced. The South Sikkim town of Namchi has also made it to this list. The shortlisted cities are now tasked with preparing proposals that can get them into the final list of winners. Designed like an all India competition, the Smart Cities project has garnered considerable interest amongst the public but much of the process remains unclear. So, here is an attempt to explain exactly what the project is about.
To begin with, what is a Smart City?

Blood donation

A daylong blood donation camp was organized by Club Mahindra today at Demazong Resort, Chongyek, East Sikkim. Around 40 people, including Club Mahindra staff, participated in the camp.
A crew of seven technicians as well as volunteers from Central Blood Bank, STNM Hospital, led by Senior Consultant of Blood Bank, STNM Hospital, Dr. Chintamani Sharma conducted the blood donation camp.
[REBYNA RANA]

Mindful Meditation

There are two methods of developing mindful meditation one is active meditation and the other is seated meditation.
Active meditation involves silent walking where one observes any sensation associated with walking in a quiet place. Sensation can be in physical or mental level example the heaviness in the legs, sound of your shoes against the ground or just your breath. With regular practice this activity can bring a profound bliss, feeling of complete relaxation, decrease any tension related problem like ulcer, insomnia, joint problems etc.

SKM warms up for municipal elections

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has announced that it is fully prepared for the municipal elections called for 09 October in Sikkim. An SKM press release informs that the party advisor Taraman Rai chaired a meeting yesterday, 09 Sept, to discuss the upcoming elections. The meeting resolved to announce the list of its candidates soon. The official notification calling the municipal elections was also issued yesterday by the State Election Commission.

Upset with state election commission, Cong will not contest municipal elections

The Congress party will not contest Municipal elections scheduled for 09 October in Sikkim. This, as a sign of protest against the State Election Commission ignoring opposition parties while proceeding with delimitation of Municipal wards and in deciding reservation of posts in Municipal bodies.

Team behind Red Panda Day calls on Governor

A group of six entrepreneurs led by Sonam Tshering Tamang, MD, Kokkivo Clothing and founder Pakyong  Jankalyan Sangh, and  Bhupendra Gurung, CEO and Chief Editor of The Accelerator, called on Governor Shriniwas Patil at Raj Bhavan on 09 September. An official press communiqué from Raj Bhawan informs that the team briefed the Governor about the Red Panda Day scheduled to be held on 19 September at Pakyong.

Election Commissioner meets HoDs, delegates roles to ensure smooth municipal elections

Gangtok, 09 Sept [IPR]: Regarding the forth coming Municipal elections which are scheduled to take place on 09 October in the state of Sikkim, and to ensure that it is conducted smoothly, Sikkim State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam, today held a meeting with Heads of Departments and Secretaries of various departments including officers from Police department, All India Radio, and BSNL.

Detox Drink

You have to try it to believe it!
Apple and cinnamon water is one of the best detox drinks to not only flush out your LDL (bad cholesterol), boost energy, encourage weight loss but also is a zero-calorie flavourful replacement for your sugary juices and fizzy drinks.
This very simple Detox water recipe can change your life. Here's how:
You will need:
-    2 Apples thinly sliced (Don't peel the skin if it is organic)
-    2 Cinnamon sticks
-    A large glass pitcher (never use a metal one)
Drop the sliced Apples and Cinnamon sticks in a pitcher full of water (2 litres)
And let the water sit overnight in the refrigerator so that the water absorbs all the nutrients from the cinnamon and apples.
Remove it the next morning and drink the water throughout the day.
[Karma Chookela Bhutia hails from Rabongla, South Sikkim and is currently living in Belgium. She teaches different styles of yoga, breathing techniques and meditation in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. She has been working in collaboration with a Dutch organisation which specializes in reeducation program for people suffering from chronic ailments. She has undergone yoga training in three prestigious Indian yoga schools - Rishikesh Yoga Peeth, Shiva Yoga Peeth and Asana Andiappan college of Yoga and Research Centre in Chennai].

Municipal polls set for 09 Oct

Municipal elections in the State will be held on 09 October and all election procedures will be completed by 14 October. This was announced by Sikkim State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam today during a press briefing. The official notification to this effect is scheduled to be published on 09 Sept, Wednesday, and with that, the model code of conduct will also kick into place in the towns going to polls.
The politics and politicking aside, the municipal polls in Sikkim involve very few voters. All the seven urban bodies together muster up barely 71,534 voters [37,178 male and 34,356 female]. Gangtok Municipal Corporation is the biggest with 47,432 voters in its 17 wards. Mangan Nagar Panchayat has the lowest number of voters at 1,522.

Referee Referrals

Sikkim has two big hospitals - STNM Government Hospital and Manipal Central Referral Hospital - but as far as treatment for patients ailing from critical diseases or serious accidents is concerned, both fail to deliver on expectations. Meanwhile, the district hospitals and primary health centres are only equipped to treat minor ailments like flu or to dress wounds.
The STNM Hospital, which is still the more trusted institution for most here in Sikkim and is also a referral hospital, is facing acute shortage of beds. If a patient in critical condition is taken to the emergency ward of the hospital, he or she will immediately be forwarded [not referred, mind you] to the CRH with a note on the hospital card that says “patient sent to CRH due to unavailability of bed”.  The patient is then required to be taken to the CRH.

Yoga to improve eyesight

Lot of people has eyesight problems these days and many resort to lenses, glasses and laser surgery to clear or improve their vision. But as time passes, the glasses and lenses make the eyes worse than what they were and laser surgeries are risky.
Excluding disease such as glaucoma, trachoma and cataract caused by bacterial infection, the common eye disorders nowadays are short and long sightedness, squint and presbyopia caused by functional defects in the ocular muscles due to mental and emotional tension. Other small factors that contribute to poor eyesight are prolonged TV and computer use, poor diet, aging, bad lighting etc.

Suren Chettri attends AIFF “D” Licence Course

Sikkim Football Association nominated Suren Kumar Chettri, the only AFC "B" License certified football coach in Sikkim, to attend the AIFF "D" License Course in Goa from 01 to 05 Sept 2015. Anthony Lobo conducted the course as Course Director at Fatorda Stadium, Goa, a press communiqué from SFA general secretary Menla Ethenpa informs.
As of 01 Jan 2015, AIFF has made it mandatory for all aspiring coaches to successfully pass the AIFF "D" License Certificate Course in order to appear for the AFC "C" Certificate Course.

Sandalwood bust stinks up border trade

The confiscated sandalwood

VISHNU NEOPANEY

For the second time in ten seasons of border trade over Nathula, Sikkim Police has confiscated a sandalwood consignment from Gangtok suspected of being readied for smuggling into Tibetan Autonomous Region over Nathula under the cover of border trade. The bust was made in the wee hours of 07 September, Monday, from Manbir Colony on Indira Byepass. As per Sadar Thana officials, the consignment was scheduled for transport to TAR later in the day via Rhenock in East Sikkim. The police raid was carried out at 5:30 a.m. and led to the seizure of 745 kgs of sandalwood in 125 logs valued at Rs. 24 lakh.
Red sandalwood is in huge demand in China and commands a high price of Rs 10 crore per tonne in China while in India, as per Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials quoted in several media reports, red sanders cost something between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 per kg. Its export is banned and movement within the country requires special permits and documents. It is unlikely that the consignment seized today had such paperwork in place. It is also suspected that Nepal and Bhutan are extensively used as conduits to smuggle red sanders from South India into China via Tibet.

Rights of the Elderly underlined and discussed

VISHNU NEOPANEY

A sensitization programme on “Rights of Elderly vis-à-vis Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007” was organized by the Legal Aid Clinic, Department of Law, Sikkim University in collaboration with Sikkim State Legal Services Authority here in Gangtok on 05 September.

All prepped, Sikkim awaits announcement of dates for municipal elections

VISHNU NEOPANEY

The State Election Commission, Sikkim, has completed preparations for urban body elections across the State and the final announcement of dates could happen over the next few days, informed Secretary, SEC, Ambika Pradhan, while speaking to NOW! over the phone recently. The State Election Commission, it may be mentioned here, has called a media briefing for 08 September. The election schedule for the municipal elections is expected to be announced at that briefing.

Tibetology quizzes students on Buddhism and Sikkim

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology organised an Inter-School Quiz Competition on “Buddhism and Sikkim” at the NIT premises on 28 August, 2015. The quiz was held on the eve of Pang Lhabsol as part of the celebrations.
Seven schools from in and around Gangtok participated in the quiz competition: Tashi Namgyal Academy, Enchey Senior School, Modern SSS, West Point SSS, Tashi Namgyal SSS, Paljor Namgyal Girls School, and Deorali Girls SSS.

Adieu dear friend Ameet Oberoi

We lost a dear colleague and close friend in Ameet Oberoi [1971-2015] when he passed away on 24 August 2015. He will be sorely missed and is deeply mourned. It is difficult to express the sorrow one feels at such times, but even the process of sharing some memories helps as much to heal as it does to celebrate a friendship. SUBASH RAI musters the courage to say good bye...

Early on the morning of 24 August, I was surprised to receive a call from Pema [our editor] enquiring whether I had any details on Ameet. He had apparently received a call that Ameet had been admitted into the Central Referral Hospital with some severe complications. He checked with me because my father-in-law had also been admitted there and thought I would know more details about Ameet’s condition. But I didn’t have any information to pass on since my father-in-law had been discharged a day earlier. I informed Pema about the same and assured to try and find out about Ameet.

Sikkim Milk continues its profitable ways

After 28 years of losses, Sikkim Milk posts eight straight years of profits!

In these times of depressed economies and failing public sector undertakings, Sikkim Milk Union continues to impress. A loss-making unit for the first 28 years of its existence till the year 2006-07, Sikkim Milk has now posted profits for eight consecutive years! At the 19th Annual General Body Meeting of the Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd held yesterday, it was announced that the turnover of Sikkim Milk Union has grown from Rs. 3,733 lakhs in the year 2013-14 to Rs. 4,417 lakhs in the year 2014-15, an 18.32 % growth. The profit before depreciation was Rs. 65.23 lakhs. The depreciation claimed was 9.51 Lakhs and the tax payable is Rs. 16.91 Lakhs. The net profit after depreciation and tax stands at Rs. 38.82 lakhs which is 27.7% higher than the previous year.

Rs. 1.42 cr for creation of barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities

The Sikkim Cabinet, during its 22 August sitting, approved and sanctioned Rs.1,42,44,000 proposed by the Social Welfare Department for the creation of “barrier free environment for persons with disabilities under the implementation of Disabilities Act,1995”.

ASHA honorarium dues for six months sanctioned

The honorarium due to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) has been delayed for a while and the same for the two quarters – from April to September 2015 – was sanctioned and approved by the Cabinet in its recent sitting of 22 August. The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs. 119.88 lakhs towards paying the monthly honorarium of ASHAs for the two quarters, it is learnt.
Other proposals of the Health Department sanctioned and approved by the Cabinet on the day were:

Documentary film on Pang Lhabsol to premiere on Wednesday

Pang Lhanbsol, a festival unique to Sikkim held in worship of its guardian deity Dzonga and Sikkim's other land guardian deities, falls on Saturday, 29 August, this year. Making the celebrations even more special this time will be the release of a documentary film on the festival, “Pang Lhabsol: Sikkim’s National Ritual of the Land and its Guardian Deities”, on Wednesday, 26 August. Produced by the Namgyal Instituted of Tibetology and helmed by Dr. Anna Balikci Denjongpa as Anthropologist and Project Coordinator, the 1:06 hour long documentary features cinematography by Phurba T. Bhutia [who has also edited the feature], Birendra Rai and Dawa T. Lepcha. Filmed at location across Sikkim over the past decade or so, the documentary, in keeping with other NIT productions, promises to be exhaustive and authoritative. The premiere is scheduled for 26 August, 2 p.m. at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and is open to all.

No Plastic Bhaijaans, please

text & Combo scene by TSERING TASHI

BAN THE BANE: Children all over the world are taught to abstain from using plastic shopping bags and plastic disposable products because of their adverse effect on ambient environment and ecology. Our children go hammer and tongs at every opportunity to support the ban of plastic products in our daily life. However, our film stars and the film industry appear unaware of the earnest appeal of conscious children. Stopping use of plastics in any form is next to impossible but acceptable containment and/or reuse can be achieved comfortably with appropriate techno-legal frameworks in place. The images, as seen in the latest hit film called “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” and street scene created by children indicate clear divisions between reel and mundane real world. Cigarette smoking scenes in movies need to carry warnings and disclaimers in India now. The Censor Board should do the same thing with plastic product usage in cinematic scenes.

Dance, Sikkim Dance!

Robin Mukhia has Talent, Passion and also Enterprise

SAGAR CHHETRI

Dancing is fun, dancing is an art form and dancing can be more than just a hobby. 24-year-old Robin Mukhia of Tadong has proved just this. Starting out as a hobby to participating in dance competitions, he has now set up his own dance institute.

Yuksom Breweries helps Nepal rebuild

Sikkimese enterprise constructs classrooms and shelter homes in earthquake ravaged villages

Yuksom Breweries Ltd., the promoters of which have had a long association with Nepal, further reinforced its relationship with the country by assisting the rebuilding process there. The Yuksom family has constructed 10 classrooms for Surya Primary School at Khani village, ward no 4, Riyale Village Development Committee, Kavre district and Chapakharka Primary School, Triveni-Chapakharka, ward no 6, Bishankhu Narayan VDC, Lalitpur district, a press communiqué from Yuksom Breweries informs.
An additional 52 shelter homes have been built in the village of Dungkharkh, Kavre Palanchok.

The Rey Khola dilemma

The killer eddy of Rey Khola

Rey Khola

SUBASH RAI

Once crowded with paddy fields and surrounded by thick jungles, Rey Khola below Gangtok is now packed with parked vehicles and picnicking groups, the farmlands pushed away from the khola, the stream used for washing vehicles, quarrying and swimming. It was always popular with students playing truant from school, and now more people have discovered it. The sudden infrastructural development with huge parking spaces and a reasonably clean stream can be regarded as factors which attract substantial numbers of people here especially during summers.

Aisa bhi hota hain :-o

Right in the middle of watching a documentary that mocks most things religious [Religulous by Borat director, Larry Charles] I get a call from a friend who is not in station.
“Hey, I hear it has been raining continuously there for the past few days but it is not raining today, right?” she asks.
I am a little baffled about why she is so interested in the weather; but she is right, it didn't rain on Sunday. At least, not during the day.
There will be no rain on Monday either she continues.

Sharchhopas be careful!

Sharchho, 1998

Sharchho, 2011

 text & pictures by TSERING TASHI

A view of Sharchho from Phakha, Lachung village, North Sikkim.
Sharchho, as confirmed by the photograph of the area from 1998, is built up on debris brought down by a past glacier lake outburst flood. The landform is unchanged in the 2011 photograph but the Army and the civil residents have started settling down within the flood plain. This is dangerous because there are reportedly three or four unstable glacial lakes upslope of Sharchho. The Dzumsa and Pipons should consult glaciology experts at the Sikkim State Science & Technology Department for a reality check.

SKM MLAs petition High Court with challenge on appointment of Lokayukta

The Division Bench of Sikkim High Court comprising of Justice SP Wangdi and Justice Meenakshi M Rai on 21 August admitted a writ petition filed by two Sikkim Krantikari Morcha MLAs, Kunga Nima Lepcha and Ugen Nedup Bhutia, challenging the appointment of Lokayukta Chairman for Sikkim, Justice [retd.] Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta. The SKM duo has argued that the State government has not followed the statutory law while constituting the selection committee to appoint the Lokayukta.

Sikkim Govt to assist GTA’s capacity building initiative

VISHNU NEOPANEY

Sikkim will support the Gorkha Territorial Administration of Darjeeling in its developmental activities by providing intellectual support and providing technical inputs for Capacity Building activities, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said while addressing a joint press conference with the GTA chief Bimal Gurung here in Gangtok today.
He said that Sikkim will provide the human resource to train GTA officials on improving capacity building measures to provide job security in the Hills.