Public joins hands with Army and Fire Brigade in controlling forest fire in West Pendam

SINGTAM, 25 Apr: The public of different villages under West Pendam GPU in East Sikkim were busy the whole day on Thursday trying to beat down a forest fire nearby. Forest fires in the jungles of Sawney, Upper Bardang, Tachiney, Lower Bardang, Lower Singlebong and Salingey under West Pendam GPU created panic among the local people.
The forest fire, it is suspected, started from Sawney forest, spreading to Upper Bardang, Tachiney, Lower Bardang, Lower Singlebong and reached upto the forest at Salingey.
The joint operation undertaken by the Army in Bardang and the locals saved the house of one Suk Bahadur Sunar but the bamboo grove of a farmer from Singlebong Suk Bahadur Basnet was completely razed to the ground. Fortunately another house of Shankar Chettri of Singlebong was also saved from the fire.
It is informed that the fire started at around 10 AM on Thursday morning and Forest guards, Nursery Mali of Bhaghey Khola, Army stationed at Bardang, Fire Brigade Singtam and local people had to struggle for almost the entire day to bring the fire under control. The Forest Department has estimated that around 15 hectares area was affected in this forest fire from Sawney to Salingey.
Bhakta Bahadur Chettri and Lok Bahadur Chettri of Singlebong did a tremendous job along with the Mali of Bagheykhola Nursery and other local people. However, Bhakta Bahadur Chettri and his 13-year-old son Milan Chettri did a commendable job working till 1 AM today. The department has also appreciated the work of class V student, Milan Chettri.
Singtam RO Manzil Kharel and Rangpo BO, Om Gurung have urged local people, social organizations and everyone to stay alert and to support the department to avoid such incidents. [from NANDU DUTRAJ]

Display and sale of handloom products at Mamjey

GANGTOK, 20 Feb: District level event for display and sale of handloom products sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner [Handlooms], Ministry of Textiles, is being organized by the Sikkim Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation from 20 to 24 February at Mamjey, West Pendam.
A press release informs that the event was inaugurated by Zilla member of West Pendam, Sunita Rai. A total of 15 stalls are put up at the exhibition-cum-sale by different Self Help Groups from within and outside the state. Among the 15 stalls five have been sponsored by NABARD for product display, the release mentions.
Live demonstration of handloom weaving on frame looms and items produced during Integrated Handloom Development Scheme [IHDS] training were also kept for display. The inaugural function was also attended by all Gram Panchayat members of West Pendam, AGM [NABARD], Om Prakash, Asst Director [East] DHH, Jigme Pinstso Bhutia, Asst Director [IHDS] DHH, BB Gurung, RDW [SRDA] under RMDD, TR Sharma, local gentry and members of NGOs and SHGs.

Pendam BGP convenes annual meeting

GANGTOK, 29 Jan: The annual meeting of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh [BGP] Pendam was convened at West Pendam Sakukhani School in East Sikkim on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by BGP Pendam branch president, Surendra Kumar Dhungel and was attended by the executive and other members of BGP.
A BGP press release informs that in his presidential address, Mr Dhungel stated that the main objective of the meeting was to encourage integration and brotherhood for the development of the Gorkha community at the national and state level. He also mentioned about the various activities of Pendam branch for the development of the Gorkha community.
BGP state president, Dr Kamal Gurung stressed that everyone should first be aware of BGP’s national programme for the upliftment of the Gorkha community in order to contribute and support the BGP programmes. He stated that overall development of the community is not possible until there is development from every side. In this regard, Dr Gurung added that for the development of the Sikkim Gorkha society everyone should work sincerely with regard to the language, politics, economic aspects, education, etc.
The meeting was also addressed by former DGP and BGP advisor, CP Giri, BGP state working president, Narayan Bhattarai, BGP general secretary, S Pandey and BGP Pendam secretary, Deepak Kumar Khatiwara.

Training on bee farming at West Pendam

GANGTOK, 02 Dec: With the objective of increasing honey production and encouraging bee farming, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency, East District, of the Agriculture Department conducted a training-cum-demonstration programme on bee keeping at West Pendam Farm School on 26 Nov.

Constituency level career counseling for students launched from West Pendam

AREA MLA HOPES THAT INITIATIVE WILL BE TAKEN TO ALL CONSTITUENCIES OF THE STATE
CENTRAL PENDAM, 01 Dec: A two-day Constituency Level Career Counseling Programme for students of Classes IX to XII of West Pendam constituency was inaugurated by the area MLA, Industries Minister Neeru Sewa, at the Central Pendam Senior Secondary School today.