HRDD Minister assures ASDASG to take matter up with CM

GANGTOK, 10 Feb: All Sikkim Departmental Adhoc Staff Group [ASDASG] Spokesperson, Devyani Subedi, along with four other ASDASG members met with the Minister for Human Resource Development Department, NK Pradhan today.
“We went to meet the HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan, today to place our demands and ask him to look into the matter with urgency as there is a lot at stake for us,” said Ms Subedi [ASDASG spokesperson], while speaking to NOW! today. “After giving us a patient hearing, the Minister has given us his assurance that he will look inot the matter personally,” she added.
She further stated that the Minister has asked us to be patient and after consultation with departmental officials regarding the issue, he will meet the Chief Minister as soon as possible and put forth their proposal to get an outcome. The Minister will meet the Chief Minister regarding our issue in the next two to three days to sort out this problem, she added.
We are very positive after meeting the Minister and hopeful that by next week there will be an outcome to our plight and our fight for social justice will bear fruit, she added.
It has now been 13 days since the ASDASG president, Sonam Sherpa has been on an indefinite hunger strike, which began in the evening of 29 January. While, the president, along with other members of ASDASG, teaching and non teaching staff of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan [SSA] and HRDD have been sitting on a dharna here at the District Administrative Centre [DAC] premises situated at Sichey since 27 January.
Freedom of expression under attack in Kalimpong; Sikkim media fraternity express concern
GANGTOK, 10 Feb: The Press Club of Sikkim [PCS] and Journalists Club of Sikkim [JCS] have both expressed sadness on news reports of the closing of five news channels in Kalimpong since yesterday.
Separate press releases issued both by PCS and JCS today state that the attack on the freedom of expression provided under the Indian Constitution has saddened the entire media fraternity in the state. Both the clubs have extended their support to the journalists in Kalimpong and demanded the concerned district authority to create environment conducive to free and fair journalism in the area.
The Sikkim Federation of Working Journalists (SFWJ) has also expressed concern over the growing fear psychosis that has compelled the electronic news channels in Kalimpong to shutdown. Media reports of 10 February on the shutdown episode indicate unfavorable conditions developing in and around Kalimpong for a safe working environment of the Fourth Estate, states a press release issued by the Federation.
SFWJ has also sought the immediate attention of the district administration to ensure the fundamental freedom of the Press and the people at large. “We express solidarity with the aggrieved Press circle in Kalimpong and bring the state of affairs at present in Kalimpong to the notice of the Press Council of India”, the release further states.