Sikkim this week

Anil Yadav enters record books with 14 PG degrees!
Anil Kumar Yadav of Gangtok, currently posted here as Deputy GM, Reserve Bank of India, is now, officially, the most diversely educated person in the country. He possesses 14 Post Graduate degrees [and counting] from nine different universities, all earned between 1995 and 2014, a feat which has earned him entry in the India Book of Records for the most post graduate degree honoured by different universities.

Sangha MLA condoles passing away of Prince JT Namgyal
GANGTOK: Kushyo JT Namgyal, the youngest son of the late Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal, passed away here on Thursday, 30 October. Sangha MLA, Sonam Lama, in a condolence message issued on Thursday evening, has remembered the Lat JT Namgyal as a “unique personality” marked by his shy nature and who shall be “remembered and loved by his Sikkimese people as the youngest son of His Majesty, the 11th Miwang Denjong Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal”. The MLA has conveyed his condolences to the royal family.

24 undergo training in basic welding 
GANGTOK: A six-week long workshop-based “Modular Entrepreneurship & Skill Development Programme on Basic Welding” was organized by MSME Development Institute, Gangtok at  Bardang here in East Sikkim. The programme was organized in association with the Advanced Technical Training Centre, Bardang, for 24 participants. The training was held from 15 Sept to 29 Oct. The course material was provided by MSME-DI and the technical training addressed by the faculty at ATTC. The basics of arc welding, gas welding, TIG and MIG welding and crafting of small iron products like benches, tables etc. were covered in the training, a communiqué from the Press Information Bureau informs.

Stress & Time Management training for govt officers
GANGTOK: A three-day training on “Stress and Time Management” for school heads, police and other government officials concluded here on 30 Oct here at the Accounts and Administrative Training Institute (AATI). Addressing the valedictory function, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Raj Bhawan, R. Thelang, advised trainees to take more keenly to meditation, learning new things, practicing techniques and changing oneself, an IPR press release informs. Dr. Deepika Tiwari, Associate Professor SMIT and Dr. A. Jha, HoD, SMIT, were present as resource persons for the training.

Sikkim this week

Workshop for I.O’s
GANGTOK: A two-day workshop on “Investigation and Appreciation of Evidence” for Investigating Officers of the Police was organized by the Sikkim Judicial Academy, High Court of Sikkim, here on 22 and 23 September. The workshop was inaugurated by Registrar General, High Court of Sikkim, K.C Barfungpa, who is also the Director, Sikkim Judicial Academy. Debaditya Roy and Arjun Chettri were present as resource persons.

Dedicate Eye Wing inaugurated at Singtam Hospital
SINGTAM:  Governor Shriniwas Patil inaugurated the “Dedicated Eye Wing & Free Squint Operation Camp” at the District Hospital, Singtam, on 22 September. In a special gesture, the Governor dedicated the camp to the Chief Minister with whose birthday the inauguration coincided. In his address, he urged health officials to henceforth observe “eye promoting programmes” on 22 September every year. He also suggested that a free Squint camp be held soon in North Sikkim as well. The Health Minister, AK Ghatani, in turn informed that around 170 patients were screened across the State of whom 21 will undergo the “free SQUINT” operation during the three-day camp.

Poultry Farm School opened at Rey-Mindu
GANGTOK: The Agriculture Technology Management Agency, East, under the Agriculture Department, in coordination with Animal Husbandry Department, opened a Farm School on Poultry Farming (Banaraja Chickens) at Rey-Mindu, Tympin, East Sikkim on 22 Sept, an official press release informs. The inaugural programme was attended by around 25 poultry farmers of Rey-Mindu and surrounding areas and had Rinchen Lepcha, Ward Panchayat, Tympin, as the chief guest. The 25 will form the first batch of the Farm School and will be provided training and assistance.

Bikers petition Governor on Viswa Bharati issue
Gangtok: Executive members of Dirty Angels Motorcycle Club called on the Governor earlier this week and submitted a memorandum on the Viswa Bharati University issue. The bikers were led by their president Kinchok T. Bhutia, and the visit was in follow-up to the signature campaign organized by DAMC in Gangtok on the issue last week. 2,242 signatures were received by the club in its pursuit of seeking support and justice for the Sikkim girl harassed at VBU. In the memorandum submitted to the Governor, the Club sought proper health check up of the Sikkim student in well equipped rehabilitation centre, financial assistance to the family for the treatment ; immediate arrest and expulsion of the staff involved in hiding the cover-up at VBU; State government to be proactive in responding to such situations; HRDD to maintain proper data on all the students from Sikkim studying outside the state; and counseling sessions once a year for Sikkim students studying outside the state [to be organized by HRDD in coordination with their counterparts in the destination states]; financial assistance to associations formed by Sikkim students studying outside.

Founding Principal of Harkamaya College of Education passes away

Dr. PKS Ray, the Founding Principal of the Harkamaya College of Education, passed away on 21 September, 2014. He was 74 years old. The college faculty and students are in mourning and have conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.
Dr. Ray had joined Harkamaya College of Education on 01 August, 2003 and continued as its principal till 31 March, 2007. He had completed his M.Sc. (Mathematics), B.Ed., M.Ed. from Regional College of Education, Bhubabeswar and Ph.D (Education) from M.S University, Baroda. He was a respected academician and taught for more than 39 years in various capacities at institution like Regional College of Education, Dept of Teacher Education (NCERT). It was on his initiative that, for the first time in Sikkim and North Bengal, Harkamaya College introduced M.Ed. Degree from 2006 onwards. He was a noted scholar who produced more than 10 Ph.D. scholars and has authored text books for schools, undergraduate and post graduate courses.

Sikkim this week.

Laptops for EMRS-Gangyap students 
Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department, Tulshi Devi Rai distributed laptops to fifty six Class XII students of Eklavya Model Residential School Gangyap under Yuksam Tashiding constituency on 13 September. Ms Rai announced pre and post matric scholarship for students of the school. The Minister also informed about the Rs 50 lakh funds sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India to be released before Dussehra and urged SMC members and Teachers for the proper utilization of the funds.

Land for NIELIT centre at Pakyong
Principal Director-cum-Secretary, Information and Technology Department, Rajesh Verma informed on 15 September that the 9 acres (approx.) of land at Pakyong, East Sikkim has been allotted for setting up of a full-fledged National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology [NIELIT] centre. The land, recently mutated in the name of the IT Department, would be transferred to NIELIT, a body of Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

STNM Hospital to increase number of beds in Emergency ward
Health Minister, AK Ghatani issued directions to increase number of beds in emergency ward of STNM hospital to at least 50 in a meeting held on 15 September. It was decided in the meeting that the emergency ward would be extended by constructing new building in the area adjacent to the present emergency ward to house more than 20 patients.
The Administration section including office of the Medical Superintendent, Additional MS, Nursing Superintendent, Accounts Section would be converted to an Emergency ward wherein 20 – 25 beds are expected to be accommodated. The Administration section would be shifted to the National Health Mission (NHM) Building (European Commission Hall Building), STNM Complex. The NHM office would be accommodated at the present Health Secretariat which is undergoing repair works. The District Tuberculosis center will also be extended to the Accounts section.  

Sikkim Senior Citizen's Society elects new body
Sikkim Senior Citizen's Society [SSCS] elected its new body on 13 September. The new body has KC Pradhan as president, TR Poudyal as general secretary and Dr Bela Cintury as treasurer. Twelve executive members were also nominated along with nine Advisors, one Vice President and one Assistant General Secretary.

Tika Maya Subba Meritorious Award instituted
“Tika Maya Subba Meritorious Award Trust” was formed on 17 September at Kitam, South Sikkim. Class X and XII toppers of Government Senior Secondary School Kitam will be awarded cash prize of Rs 2000 each along with a certificate of appreciation every year. The award has been instituted by Suresh Kumar Subba in memory of his mother Late Tika Maya Subba.

Woman cheated of Rs 2.5 lakh
A lady was cheated of Rs. 2,50,000 by one Pankaj Baraho, proprietor of Hill View Real Estate Builder and Developer having its office at 5th Mile, Tadong, East Sikkim. The victim had paid the money to the accused as an advance amount to purchase a plot of land at Jogivitta, Matigara, Siliguri (WB) on 26 September 2013. However, the accused without providing the land registration certificate or a refund absconded from Sikkim. A case U/S 420 IPC has been registered against the accused at Sadar Police Station and is under investigation.

First Co-operatives Conclave held 
Minister for RMDD & Cooperation Department, SB Subedi chaired the first co-operative conclave of Apex Co-operatives of Sikkim on 18 September. Organised by Sikkim State Cooperative Union the conclave was attended by the apex cooperatives from all round the state. The Minister assured to take up the matter of exemption of SNT supervision tax for the cooperative input products to the government.

Disaster preparedness at Kabi
Familiarization Exercise and Community Awareness Programme (FAMEX) organised by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) under District Disaster Management Authority, North District was held at Kabi BAC North Sikkim on 16 September. A mock drill of disaster like situation was conducted by the NDRF team along with the participation of students of the area.