Sensitization programme on Business Registration Number and Address Information System

GANGTOK, 14 May: A sensitization programme on Business Registration Number [BRN] and Address Information System [House Number] was organized by the Department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation [DESME] at Chintan Bhawan today. The programme had DR Nepal [Secretary, RMDD] as the chief guest accompanied by PT Ethenpa [Secretary, Commerce & Industries] as the guest of honour and was attended by Gram Vikas Adhikaris, Panchayats, BDOs, Panchayat Assistants, Councillors and officers from the line department.
In his address, the chief guest DR Nepal [Secretary, RMDD] stated that the Business Registration Number [BRN] is one of the works given to the Panchayats under the decentralization programme at the ground level and so the Panchayats should be aware of all the rules, guidelines and notifications necessary before issuing any certificates for authentication. This is the time of RTI Acts so everyone has to be very careful and the certificates should be given to genuine people, he added.
The post of Panchayat Development Assistant will be created after the formation of the new government for which the necessary decisions have already been taken, he said and added that this was a very important programme and so it was necessary for the people and officials attending the programme to make the most of it.
In his key note address, the Director General cum Secretary, DESME, SD Tshering explained the need of Business Registration Number [BRN] and House Number in the state. He added that the government had directed DESME to take forward three programmes, two of them are the above named and the third is the UID seeding programme.
Business Registration Number [BRN] is related to Gross Domestic Product [GDP], which in simple English can be stated as goods and services produced in a year in a specified market. Through the GDP [of at least past 3 to 4 years] one can make out how developed or underdeveloped the area is, so GDP is very important for the state of Sikkim, which stands at Rs. 5,490 crores, he stated. The Planning Commission will release funds for other programmes only after looking at the GDP of the state and if your GDP is low then you cannot take loans either, he added.

Even the growth rate of the GDP of Sikkim which is 7.3% is better compared to that of all India which is 4.07%. If the GDP of the state is good then the per capita income of the people also reflects on the higher side like Sikkim’s which is at Rs. 88,137, he informed.

Earlier trade, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing units were not added in the GDP of the state, thus the GDP was low and so the Central Government asked the state governments to provide Business Registration Number [BRN] to everyone and on the basis of this a census was conducted by DESME. The census showed that the highest number of enterprises [shops] were in the East and the lowest in the North districts, while the social group owners was broken down as ST: 23%; SC: 02%; OBC: 15%; MBC: 09%; others: 23%, he further informed.

Under decentralization the Panchayats will be given the power to issue the Business Registration Number [BRN] to people in the rural areas, said Mr Tshering. DESME will conduct checking on a yearly basis to see whether the enterprises are running or have closed down, he added.

It is very important to issue this number as this will show the contribution of the enterprise to the state’s GDP and to understand this training will be given to the Gram Vikas Adhikaris in the coming days, he informed.

Speaking on the issue of Address Information System [House Number], he stated that the address system of the state was not very good as compared to other states and people were facing lot of problems because of the lack of house numbers. Two years ago a proposal was put forth to the government regarding the same where UD&HD would provide house numbers in urban areas and RMDD would provide the same in rural areas, but due to crunch of funds this did not materialize. So the government asked DESME to go ahead with the programme to provide permanent house numbers to the people of Sikkim, he added.

Therefore the departments related to house numbers have been invited for this programme such as Food, PHED, Power, election, etc, he said and added that the Panchayats will issue house numbers to people in the rural areas while DESME will issue the number in the urban areas. A socio-economic census will also be conducted during the issuing of house numbers, he stated. According to the 2011 census a total of 1,28,131 [1,30,000 approximately] households will be provided with house numbers by DESME, he added.

He further informed about the status of Aadhar in Sikkim where he stated that a total of 5,78,999 people have enrolled for Aadhar of which 5,66,339 has been generated.

Sensitization prog held on HIV, AIDS, drugs and blood donation

NAMCHI, 31 Oct: A sensitization programme on HIV, AIDS, substance abuse and voluntary blood donation was conducted for Nehru Yuva Kendra [NYK] volunteers and youth club members at Phodong [North Sikkim], Marchak [East Sikkim] and Namchi [South Sikkim] from 26 to 31 October.
A press release informs that District Youth Coordinator, NYK from North and South district, doctors from STNM Hospital and Namchi District Hospital, consultant (youth) SSACS, Counselor (ICTC) Namchi District Hospital and Coordinator Red Ribbon Clubs were the resource persons.
The main objective for conducting this sensitization programme was to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS to the rural masses for ‘early prevention’ and encouraging youth towards regular voluntary blood donation, it is mentioned.
Participants were encouraged to be active agents who can bring change in the society by educating others on HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse and Behavioral Change.
Interactive session was conducted after the programme followed by on-the-spot HIV Testing which was taken by 26 participants at Namchi, the release adds.

Sensitization held on Rural Godown Scheme

GANGTOK, 25 Sept: A district-level sensitization programme on Rural Godown Scheme organized by NABCONS (a subsidiary of NABARD) was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gyaba, West Sikkim.
The programme was attended by Programme Coordinator, KVK West Sikkim, Dr. Laxuman Sharma, Bankers of West district, officials from Agriculture department, officials from NGOs functioning in West Sikkim, Officials of KVK and members of Farmers Clubs.
General Manager (IOC), NABARD, Gangtok, RP Bhargava inaugurated the programme and briefed the participants on the Scheme and apprised the house that Bankers and Agencies can play a very important role in popularizing the Rural Godown Scheme and its benefit of credit linked back-ended subsidy, informs a press release.
The major objectives of the scheme is to create scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and agriculture inputs; promotion of grading, standardization and quality control of agricultural produce to improve their marketability; prevention of distress sale immediately after harvest by providing the facility of pledge financing and market credit; strengthen agricultural marketing infrastructure in the country by paving the way for introduction of national system of warehouse receipts of agricultural commodities stored in such godowns and reverse the declining trend of investment in agriculture sector by encouraging private and cooperative sectors to invest in the creation of storage infrastructure in the country.
AGM, NABARD, V Savardekar detailed that the scheme assistance is available to individuals, farmers, group of farmers/growers, partnership/proprietary firms, NGOs, SHGs, companies, Federation, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees, Marketing Boards and Agro processing corporations in the entire country. Under the scheme subsidy at 33.33 % for Northeastern states, hilly area, women farmers, SHG, cooperatives and SC/ST entrepreneurs and their groups/cooperatives subject to maximum ceiling of Rs 62.50 lakh is available. Whereas, 25 % subsidy can be availed by the agriculture graduates, farmers other than SC/ST, cooperatives, State/Central warehousing corporation subject to maximum limit ceiling of Rs 46.87 lakh. NABARD will be administering the subsidy and monitoring the progress of the scheme.
 

Sensitization on marketing Agri products for South farmers

GANGTOK, 09 Feb: A sensitization programme on Marketing of Agriculture/Horticulture produce of farmers of South Sikkim was organized by Indrakeel Farmers Club Federation S/W Sikkim, sponsored by NABARD Regional Office Gangtok on 06 February at SIRD Karfectar.
A press release informs that the programme was inaugurated by Addl. Director SIRD, HK Sharma while the president of the Federation, Meghraj Sharma, in his introductory speech informed that the programme was first of its kind after the inception of the Federation.
The District Development Manager, NABARD S/W Sikkim, JC Biswas in his keynote address highlighted the objective of the programme and also handled the ice-breaking session. The General Manager NABARD, PC Chaudhari trained the participants on production management and marketing through forward market, market analysis, on-line marketing system, cluster approach etc, the release informs.
The chairperson of the programme, Mr Sharma in his inaugural address asked the participants to put their thought into right action adding that theory is not valid unless it is put into positive action. He informed that SIRD can help farmers to store their perishable agro. /horti produce in their cold storage against nominal electric charges.
The technical session was handled by Field Facilitator of SIRD and General Secretary to Lakshya Organization, Roshan Kaushik who informed the participants about the significance of organic farming, online forward marketing, adopting focus group discussion method to make the programme participatory and fruitful.
During the group discussion the participants presented various relevant points in line with production and marketing and concluded that more focus should be given towards adopting organic farming and Indrakeel Farmers Club Federation should come forward in undertaking bulk marketing of agri. /horti. products. The Government should keep MSP on other products like dalle [chilly], broccoli, potato and azola farming (algae used as fertilizer and fodder) should be emphasized, it was mentioned. State level and regional level marketing federations should come forward to auction multiple products to ensure appropriate price and avoid brokers and black marketing it was further suggested.
According to the release, in the absence of representation of Denzong Cooperative Society and lack of response from SIMFED personnel who were invited to take sessions on marketing, the programme concluded after the focus group discussion and presentation before the DDM NABARD. The programme was attended by more than 35 participants representing more than 28 Farmers Clubs, NGOs and KVKs.

CJ underlines need for people to acknowledge and abide by Act for it to be meaningful

SLSA HOLDS SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME ON JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT 
GANGTOK, l6 Dec: “All declarations and laws are meaningless unless every person decides to acknowledge and abide by them,” expressed the recently appointed Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, Justice Permod Kohli, while addressing the first day of a sensitization programme on “Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Child) Act, 2000” organized by the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority at Chintan Bhawan.

SLSA to conduct sensitization on Juvenile Justice Act

GANGTOK, 14 Dec: Sikkim State Legal Services Authority [SSLSA] is organizing a sensitizing programme on ‘The Juvenile Justice [Care and Protection of Children] Act, 2000’ on 16 and 17 December at Chintan Bhawan.
The programme is scheduled to be inaugurated by the Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim, Justice Permod Kohli, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of SSLSA, and will be attended by High Court Judge SP Wangdi, who is also the Executive Chairman of SSLSA.

RBI organises awareness programme on MSME Schemes for young entrepreneurs

GANGTOK, 05 Dec: Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Gangtok Office organised a sensitisation cum awareness programme on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Schemes for the young entrepreneurs of Sikkim on 02 Dec at the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan, Gangtok.

Sensitization programme on Saakshar Bharat Mission held in Mangan

MANGAN, 02 Dec: A training, orientation cum sensitization programme for AD's, AEO's, coordinators, Preraks, PEA's & VT's and  panchayats of Chungthang, Mangan, Passingdang and Kabi BAC along with district level officers was organized by the State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA) and State Resource Centre, West Bengal at Mangan Zilla Bhawan on 01 Dec.

Sensitisation programme prepares officials for integrated district planning for BRGF

GANGTOK, 28 Nov: As Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), a centrally funded Rural Development programme, enters its sixth year, preparation of Perspective Plans for the 12th Five Year Plan Period (2012- 2017) set off with a sensitization workshop for all the line department officials, District Programme Officers, Project Officer (BRGF) and the Field Facilitators.

UID sensitization programme in Yuksam and Duga

GANGTOK, 13 Nov: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Yuksam BAC of West District and and Duga BAC of East district on 10 November, informs a press release.

ICAR imparts knowledge on upland paddy to around 40 farmers

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Krishi Vigyan Kendra under ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong organized a programme on “Field day on upland paddy cultivation” under the project NICRA at ICAR Tadong Farm today, with the objective to impart knowledge about upland paddy cultivation on the principle of ‘learning by doing’ and ‘seeing is believing’, informs a press release.
More than forty rice farmers selected from six different villages participated in this programme.

Councillors and officials sensitised on RAY and SJSRY

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: A Programme on Sensitization of the 2 Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty  Alleviation, namely Rajiv Awaz Yojana (RAY) and Swarna Jayanti Sahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) was conducted on 1 November 2011 in the Conference Hall of GMC Office in Deorali.

IDFC Foundation to conduct Sensitization Programme for municipal representatives

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: As part of a national capacity building programme of the Ministry of Urban Development, IDFC Foundation is conducting a one-day sensitization programme for the elected municipal representatives of Sikkim in Gangtok, on 04 November, informs a press release.

UID Sensitization workshop held at Pakyong

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Pakyong Block Administration Center on 02 Nov, informs a press release.

UID sensitization workshop held in Parakha BAC

GANGTOK, 30 Oct: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Parakha Block Administration Center on 18 October, informs a press release.

IDIA organises seminar on legal education

GANGTOK, 23 Oct: Students from different schools and Government Law College participated in the sensitization and career-counseling programme organized by Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education [IDIA] yesterday, here at the Paljor Stadium Indoor gymnasium hall.

IDIA to hold career counseling prog on legal education

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education [IDIA], a national NGO, has announced a sensitization and career-counseling programme for interested students from in and around Gangtok at Paljor Stadium indoor gymnasium hall on 22 October at 11 a.m.

Human Trafficking issues discussed in Namchi meet

NAMCHI, 03 July: A daylong sensitization programme and training on Human Trafficking was held here at the conference hall of Hotel Mayal today.
The training, sponsored by the Community Health Action Network (CHAN), an NGO run under the Salvation Army Church, India Eastern Territory, was jointly organized by the Purano Namchi Anti Human Trafficking Local Team and the Salvation Army Church of Purano Namchi.
Prabhat Pathak, a member of the Kanchanjunga Udhdhar Kendra (KUK) from Pradhan Nagar [Siliguri], assisted by Joel Gurung from CHAN was the main resource person of the programme.