Bar Assc to sponsor 7 earthquake affected children till PG level

Vishnu Neopaney
GANGTOK, July 29: The Bar Association of Sikkim (BAS) is sponsoring the education of seven students till the Post Graduation level from this academic session 2012-13.
The 7 students are from underprivileged families affected by the 18 September 2011 earthquake and had been taken into shelter by social activist Keepu Tshering Lepcha at Chandmari Chongey Raod, Gangtok under Children’s Village. At present, the students are studying at Human Development Foundation School at Rongyek.
BAS resolved in its general body meeting to contribute sponsorship from their ‘18 September, 2011 Earthquake victim Relief Fund’ in which they raised a total of Rs. 16.36 lakh.
BAS president DR Thapa informed NOW! that the children were identified through a process of selection from different places of Sikkim. A Trust has been created to operate the funds which would be kept in a fixed deposit and the yearly interest utilized for the children’s up keep.
Various people and organizations have contributed towards the fund including many from outside the state informed Mr. Thapa. These include various Bar Associations of India and also the Supreme Court.
The decision to sponsor the education of the seven students was unanimously welcomed and appreciated by the members of the Bar Association of Sikkim and also applauded by High Court of Sikkim and Supreme Court Judges.  
The BAS had reached out to the victims of devastating earthquake to aid and help them and had travelled the length and breadth of Sikkim including places totally cut-off by the earthquake and had delivered the relief materials to the victims.