40 more hectares brought under Baby Corn cultivation

TIE-UPS REAFFIRMED WITH SIMFED AND GFPF TO ENSURE GOOD PRICE AND ASSURED OFF-TAKE

GANGTOK, 01 May: The Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, under the 100-days programme of the State Government has completed plantation of baby corn across 40 hectares of area in the current season, a press release informs. 
The clusters selected for the cultivation are Lower Martam, Lower Rumbuk, Sombaria, Tharpu and Chumbong in West Sikkim, Chisopani, Samatar and Chalamthang in South Sikkim and Rumtek, Sajong, Changey, Marchak, Saramsa and Namcheybong in East Sikkim.
Two hundred farmers from the selected area were imparted training on Baby Corn cultivation and encouraged to expand its plantation, informs a department press release.

CM RESUMES SIKKIM BHRAMAN

“Poverty Trap dismantled, now for the people to seize the day”
SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 31 May: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling resumed his village-to-village Sikkim Bhraman with a tour of Ravangla sub-division in South Sikkim. In his interactions during halts at four villages today, the CM highlighted that in his 18 years in office, the State Government has created requisite infrastructure and opportunities to free Sikkim from the “poverty trap” which has held the Sikkimese people back for generations. To break free into self-reliance, the people will have to utilise the infrastructure and seize the opportunities created.
Limited access to credit, corrupt governance, capital flight, poor education systems, lack of public health care and poor infrastructure, factors which imposed the “poverty trap” as a “self-reinforcing mechanism which causes poverty to persist” have been corrected, he highlighted, while adding that is poverty still persists, it was at the personal level and because of individual failure to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities provided by the government.

Awareness and tourism promotion peddle into Syari constituency

GANGTOK, 31 May: Parts of Syari constituency spread from Chandmari to Pabyuk-Naitam greeted a rally of 20 mountain bikers who peddled its off-roads accompanied by a motorcade lead by the area MLA, Speaker KT Gyaltsen. The main agenda of the initiative was to initiate direct interaction between the youth in village schools and representatives of different associations to promote tourism initiatives in the area through the message of a Healthy Sikkim.

Tourist arrivals 2011 – 2.5 lakh without counting peak month of May!

GANGTOK, 31 May: The tourist season is underway full swing. And as is expected, long queues waiting taxis can be seen at the taxi stops, especially during office hours. People are complaining against the non-availability of taxis and also the service of SNT city runners which are either not regular or not enough.
The official data of Tourism Department as on 30 April 2011 shows that the State has already received 2,44,642 domestic and 7,539 foreign tourists in the first four months of the year. Comparing figures for last year, show the inflow of domestic tourists at 2,36,312. But the data shows decline in the inflow of foreign tourists as the number was 7,945 last year, which is higher by 406.

Namchi prepares for monsoons as well

NAMCHI, 31 May: In preparation for the approaching monsoons, the South District administration convened a Pre-Monsoon Preparedness meeting yesterday at the District Administrative Centre conference hall here chaired by the DC [South], AK Singh, and attended by officials and representatives from almost all the line departments.
The meeting started with power-point presentation by Training Officer DRR, Disaster Risk Management Cell, Namchi, Abishek Kharel, wherein he highlighted the different types of natural disasters, its prevention and management.

3 Sikkim lads selected to play for India at 21st Arsenal Intl Soccer Fest in London

GANGTOK, 31 May: Sikkim has a strong representation in the 16-member team selected to represent India at the 21st Arsenal International Soccer Festival scheduled to be held in London in July 2011. Three boys, two from Namchi Senior Secondary School and one from Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School [Gangtok], have been selected in the final team after a gruelling one-month long coaching camp held in Kolkata under coaches from Arsenal FC.

Butterfly researcher underlines need to conserve forest fragments

GANGTOK, 30 May: “There are more than 650 species of butterflies in Sikkim and Dzongu is one area where one will be able to find most of the species and hopefully make new discoveries,” said Dr Krushnamegh Kunte, president of Indian Foundation for Butterflies and a scientist of Harvard University, here today. He is in Sikkim as part of a 3-year research study on butterflies of Sikkim and has finished a 10-day tour of East, West and North Sikkim. This was his third trip to the state, while the first was made in April, 2008.

2,000 fish released into Tingchim lake to boost fish farming

MANGAN, 30 May: District Collector (North), TN Kazi, accompanied by officers of the Department of Fisheries, Asst. Director Nagendra Dhakal, RO Namgay Bhutia, Resource Assistant [Kabi], Baldev Sharma, coordinated by Zilla member, Zomin Limboo, TVDC general secretary, Karma Dawa Bhutia visited Tingchim village in Dzongu and inspected the lake there while also interacting with farmers in the BPL category.
On the occasion, the Department of Fisheries handed over 2,000 live fish for release into the lake with the suggestion that the villagers opt for fish farming in the area.
The DC also informed families in the BPL category still living in kutcha houses of the CM’s Housing scheme underway and of how more fisher-farm tanks will be provided to farmers here. The villagers of Tingchim are also the caretakers of the lake.

Mayfair adopts Darap Village Homestays

GANGTOK, 30 May: Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, through the Sikkim Hotel & Restaurant Association (SHRA) has become the first tourism corporate house to adopt a village for the promotion of village and rural tourism in the State thus envisioning to create a bridge between the “super luxury” of the Mayfair Resorts and grassroots level tourism stakeholders, informs a press release.
The village of Darap in West Sikkim, a short drive from Pelling, was chosen for such a tie-up by Mayfair since “they have shown a tremendous amount of dedication, persistence and growth over the past few years since the inception of the Darap Eco-Tourism Committee”, informs the Director of Mayfair Gangtok, Sanjna Ray DeNiese.

Minor dies after consuming poisonous mushroom, family hospitalised

NAMCHI, 30 May: With the rains having arrived, mushrooms too are popping up along the forest floor. Unfortunately, people are losing touch with the land they live in and incidents of consumption of poisonous varieties of this fungus are becoming common. In the first such incident of the season, reported from West Sikkim, an eight-year-old succumbed to the poisoning and passed away in hospital.
The serving of mushrooms for dinner inflicted a fatality in a family at Upper Suldung in West Sikkim. Dhan Bdr. Rai of Upper Suldung lost his 8 year old daughter while he along with the rest of the family had to be hospitalized.

SIKKIM UNIVERSITY HOSTS SPRING LECTURE AND BOOK DISCUSSION SESSION

MJ Akbar introduces youth to the challenge of their generation – the eradication of poverty

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 30 May: Senior journalist, MJ Akbar, speaking directly to a young audience of university students, stressed that the challenge for the present generation was to eliminate poverty and establish economic equality in the country. This, he stressed, will “complete the idea of Modern India”.
Editorial Director of India Today, Mr. Akbar, was delivering the Sikkim University’s second Spring Lecture at Chintan Bhawan today, speaking on the topic, “The Idea of a Modern India”. The session was chaired by the ex-Member of Parliament and Planning Commission, Som Pal. 

Now Showing at Star Cinema Hall: Sikkim Then and Now

GANGTOK, 30 May [IPR]: The “Sikkim Then and Now” photo exhibition organized by the Information & Public Relations Department was inaugurated by Gangtok MLA, Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia, at Old Star Cinema Hall in the capital today. Gangtok Mayor, KN Topgay, was present as a special guest.
The exhibition has photographs from pre-Merger Sikkim [starting from 1934] to present-day Sikkim and is themed on the various developmental achievements of the State and also features vignettes from the village-to-village tour of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
The aim of the exhibition is to give a glimpse of the past and the present to the people especially the younger generation and tourists. The exhibition will be continue till 14 June.

Maruti Suzuki recruits 12 engineers from ATTC

GANGTOK, 29 May: Campus interview was conducted by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. on 23 and 24 May at ATTC Bardang and 12 final year Diploma Engineers were selected.
The selected candidates are Arpan Sharma , Bhola Bhagat , Suman Dahal , Biswajit Sarkar , Riwaz Guragai , Sekhar Adhikari , Vivek Kumar , Sudarshan Gurung , Dinesh Bhattarai ,Sonu Kumar ,Tika Pd. Koirala and Bikash Adhikari, informs a press release. The monthly salary offered is about Rs.15,000/- along with other company benefits.      

Research scholar addresses Limboo Department at Namchi college on Constitutional provisions for mother tongues

GANGTOK, 29 May: Bhim Subba, a research scholar at Delhi University, delivered a lecture on “Constitutional Provision of Mother Tongue, with reference to Article 29, 30, 350A, 350B  (ii & iii) and Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution” at the Limboo Department, Namchi Government College, yesterday, a press release informs.
The main objective behind organising the programme was to make the students aware about the importance of native languages and various provisions provided for mother tongues under the Constitution of India and the challenges that lie ahead, the release explains.

CHIEF MINISTER DEDICATES ASTROTURF-EQUIPPED PALJOR STADIUM TO THE YOUTH

Paljor Stadium rolls out Astroturf access to all
SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 29 May: The artificial turf laid out at Paljor Stadium was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Saturday and dedicated to the youth of the state for the promotion of the sports. Paljor Stadium, kept out-of-bounds for lay people for many years since its last make-over, is now open to all since Astroturf is more resilient than natural grass. While the facility is open to all, access requires an entry pass to be acquired from the Department.
Spread across 93,000+ sq feet, Paljor Stadium is now the largest Astroturf in the SAARC region.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by the Sports Minister, NK Pradhan and Secretary, Karma P Bhutia, also inspected the Astroturf.

Health workers trained on new WHO standards to measure child growth

GANGTOK, 27 May: A training on introduction of the new WHO Child Growth Standards in Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was held here at Pakyong PHC for health functionaries on Thursday.
The daylong programme was organised by the Pakyong Rural ICDS Project (East) of the Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department’s Women & Child Development Division.
World Health Organisation, based on the results of an intensive study initiated in 1997 in six countries including India, developed the New International Standards for assessing the physical growth and nutritional status of children from birth to 5yrs of age for monitoring the growth of children through ICDS and NRHM.
The points discussed at the daylong training by CDPO, Pakyong Rural ICDS Project, YP Pradhan, were:
i) The 'weight for age'- WHO standards adopted in ICDS has revised the Growth Monitoring Chart which describes “how children should grow” rather than “how the child is growing”.
ii) The new chart has three coloured tracks viz: Green, Yellow and Orange instead of the earlier classification lines of Normal, Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and grade IV

TMI completes seasonal discharge measurement of springs in Soreong

WATER SOURCES COMPROMISED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND USE SHIFTS
GANGTOK, 27 May: Under the Spring project funded by Arghyam, Bangalore, TMI-India has been carrying out “seasonal discharge level measurements/ monitoring of springs”.
In the Gram Panchayat Units of Soreng block - Soreng, Timberbong, Buriakhop, Malbasey, Tharpu, Zoom, Samsing-Gelling, Chumbong, Chakhung, Singling-Gumpadara, Chota Samdong-Arubotay, Khanisherbung, Mabong-Segeng and Suldung Kamling, this seasonal measurement has been completed, informs a press release.
According to the release, the Soreng block in West Sikkim is one of the drought prone areas of West Sikkim. Ironically, while some areas in the block have sufficient and underutilized water resources, some areas are reeling under acute drinking water scarcity.

Inter-Dojang Taekwondo championship on Sunday

GANGTOK, 27 May: Sikkim Amateur Taekwondo Association (SATA) is organizing an Inter Dojang Taekwondo championship on 29 May at Paljor Indoor Gymnasium here, informs a press release.
Taekwondo players from all over Sikkim have been invited. The championship will start from 9.30 a.m. and go on till 3 p.m,, the release informs. There will be Sub-juniors, Juniors, Seniors and Masters categories for both male and female.
“SATA is pleased to welcome to all Taekwondo lovers to witness the championship,” the release mentions.

SICB inks MoU with ACE for training and placement in Speciality Restaurants chain

GANGTOK, 27 May: The State Institute of Capacity Building and Amos Chhetri Enterprise signed a Memorandum of Understanding today, paving the way for an “Integrated Industrial Workshop on Food and Beverage Services” to be held at the SICB campus at Karfectar [15 days] and Kolkata [30 days].
The SICB, its Chief Administrator, SD Dhakal, informs, has already selected 50 trainees from South Sikkim for this training.
The trainees will subsequently be placed at Specialty Restaurants Limited in the metros across India and abroad on a minimum earning of Rs. 6,500 per month with Insurance, Medi-claim, and Provision Fund provisions along with meals during working hours, an SICB press release informs.

Coordination meet held for Duga schools

GANGTOK, 27 May: A coordination meeting with the head of institutions and members of Zilla Panchayat under the jurisdiction of Duga BAC East Sikkim was organised at the conference hall of Duga BAC under the leadership of Assistant Director of Human Resources Development department, Basant Kumar Sharma.
Addressing the heads of 30 schools and other dignitaries, AD, Mr. Sharma shared the instructions given by the department. Under the RTE Act 2009, diploma in education should be acquired by every untrained primary school through a distance course or at DIET. Similarly every untrained graduate teacher should acquire B.ED degree from Loyola or Harkamaya college or through IGNOU, he informed.
Mr Sharma also said that no teacher is permitted to visit BAC or district office without a proper deputation letter from the head of the institution. In the absence of the head of institution such deputation letters can be obtained from the competent authority.

Recovering users want SADA cleansed of insensitive and counter-productive clauses

GANGTOK, 27 May: While conceding that the Sikkim Anti-Drugs ACT [SADA] 2006 was a progressive law, a number of recovering, or “willing to be reformed”, individuals are also critical of certain provisions of the Act.
At a press conference held here at a local hotel this afternoon, members of the Recovering Users Network [RUN] highlighted what they see as discrepancies and pointed out that provisions providing for arrest of substance abusers as well as imprisonment, fine and dismissal from regular service or black- listing them from government jobs if found guilty of drug abuse was a violation of the Constitution.
According to RUN, doing so goes against the concerned individual’s right to live with dignity, guaranteed under our Constitution.
Recovering Users’ Network, an umbrella organization of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics with over 300 members, ten social organisations and six rehabilitation and detoxification centers came forward today with their suggestions on how SADA should be amended to make it more holistic and humane.

IHM Principal receives Bharat Jyoti Award

GANGTOK, 27 May: Principal, Institute of Hotel Management, JT Gyaltsen was presented with the Bharat Jyoti Award by the former Governor of Assam and Tamil Nadu, Dr. Bhishma Narain Singh for meritorious service, outstanding performance and remarkable role in the respective field.
He was honoured with the award at a seminar organized by the Indian International Friendship Society on Global Participation in India’s Economic Development at Constitution Club, New Delhi on 10 May, informs an official press release.

Phidang Bridge ready for inauguration, finally

MANGAN, 27 May:  The Phidang Bridge in Lower Dzongu, connecting Dzongu with the rest of the State, is all set for inauguration. The 123 metre long, Multi Span Steel Bridge has been constructed across the Teesta by the Roads & Bridges Department. The bridge is 99% complete now and is expected to be inaugurated next month.
The old bridge here had a capacity of only 5 tonnes load due to which trucks were not allowed to enter Dzongu from here. This was a severe inconvenience since when other roads are blocked, this also becomes the only access to North Sikkim.
The new bridge with its capacity of 40 tonnes will now also allow trucks to enter Dzongu. The people of Dzongu have expressed appreciation towards the department for constructing this bridge.

Press Club calls in IPR Secy, seeks enhancement of ad-rates

GANGTOK, 27 May: The executive committee members of the Press Club of Sikkim, led by their president, Paras Mani Dangal, today submitted a memorandum to Information & Public Relations Secretary, KS Tobgay, seeking enhancement of government advertisement rates and increase in the number of display advertisements released by the department.
The PCS team included the working president Amit Patro, general secretary Bhim Rawat, vice president Rajen Pradhan, treasurer Babboo Tamang, assistant treasurer DR Dulal and publicity secretary Bijoy Gurung.
With the memorandum submitted earlier to IPR Minister CB Karki by the PCS, Mr. Tobgay assured the PCS delegation that the government was seized of the matter and assured to look into the demands in a positive manner. He was also briefed about the pending release of Rs. 5 lakh which had been announced by the Chief Minister in 2009 for the journalists’ welfare fund set up by the PCS.

Namchi Councillors complete year in office with open discussion

Namchi, 27 May: Namchi Municipal Council today organized its first Annual Day meeting here at Namchi Central Park with the Namchi Singithang MLA Binod Rai present as chief guest accompanied by South Zilla Upadakshya Himal Tamang as Special Guest.
The meeting featured the airing of grievances and sharing of suggestions.
On the occasion, representatives from all seven wards of Namchi Municipal Council placed their demands and suggestions with the Municipal body. These were later discussed in detail.

SIMFED opens Agro-Inputs Retail shop in Namchi

NAMCHI, 27 May: The State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (SIMFED) has set up its first Agro Inputs Retailer Shop in the state at Jorethang Road here to provide better service and support for farmers of South district. The unit was inaugurated today by SIMFED chairman, Girish Chandra Rai.
During the inaugural function, Deputy General Manager, Jewan Sharma informed that SIMFED was framed with the main objective of providing support to farmers and good quality farm inputs, at reasonable prices and according to their seasonal needs to increase the production scale. This also includes marketing their products and with this Agro Inputs Retailer Shop the farmer will be supported and facilitated with their timely needs. He further informed that within one month SIMFED will open similar shops in Melli-Manpur highway and at Singtam-Rangpo highway.

Mo Kasari Bhanu released

GANGTOK, 27 May: “I congratulate Mr. CP Giri and the entire team of the film on having made such a film,” said chief guest, Speaker KT Gyaltsen, during the premier screening of Nepali feature film ‘Mo Kasari Bhannu’, at Denzong Cinema Hall last evening.
“To take any language forward, we need such mediums and through this movie, the Nepali language will surely move forward,” he said and added that “in the 21st century we can learn a lot from films.”
Speaking to the youth present for the movie, he said that the youth should have a positive mindset.
The cast and the crew were also felicitated along with Kapil Thapa [runners up of Indian Idol IV] and a local girl artist from Daramdin, who has played roles in Balika Vadhu in Colours and another serial in Star Plus.
Dorjee Namgyal [MLA, Gangtok], Menlom Lepcha [MLA, Martam-Rumtek], Justice AP Subba [retd. Judge, High Court of Sikkim] and CP Giri [retd. ADGP, Nagaland] were also present on the dais for the screening of the film.

Nainital Summit brings mountain-specific issues to the fore

GANGTOK, 27 May: A two-day “Sustainable Mountain Development Summit” of the Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI) concluded on 22 May in Nainital (Uttarakhand) India. The summit was an attempt to bring together the 11 mountain states of India on a common platform and put mountain specific issues in the forefront including incorporating these into the planning process.
The summit was inaugurated by the Uttarakhand Governor, Margaret Alva, who, in her inaugural address, said that in coming years there will be increased dependence on mountain resources like water, biodiversity and recreation, while with growing population they are becoming scarce posing problems to sustainable mountain development [SMD]. The inaugural session was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Nagaland, Alemtemshi Jamir, and Principal Secretary, Planning, Government of Meghalaya, KS Kropha.

Committee to explore prospect of medicinal plant farms

GANGTOK, 27 May: With a view to oversee the exploration of medicinal plants in Sikkim, its usages, further development of plantation etc, the State Government has constituted a committee headed by the Chief Secretary as its chairman.
A Health Department Notification published on 12 May, also directs the committee to identify experts to identify the medicinal plants, plantation of these medicinal plants at different altitudes and climate in various parts of Sikkim and also to guide the experts for harvesting the seeds of these medicinal plants etc.
The Notification appoints the Health Department Secretary as its member secretary followed by Secretary, Agriculture/ Horticulture, Secretary, IT Department and Secretary, Forest Department as members.

Committee formed to address local employment in private sector

GANGTOK, 27 May: The State Government has constituted a committee led by the Chief Secretary as its chairman to address the issues regarding employment of locals directly by the hotel industry and other private sector units in the State.
A Home Department Notification dated 25 May, also directed the committee to submit a report regarding the same to the State Government within a period of three months from the date of publication of the Notification.
Other members of the committee are Secretaries, Health, Urban Development and Housing, Tourism and Civil Aviation, with the Secretary, Labour Department, as the member secretary.

Karmapa Reception Committee AGM to be held at Phodong Gumpa on Sunday

MANGAN, 26 May: The head monk of Phodong Gumpa, Wongdi Lama, informed today that the Annual General Meeting of the North District Karmapa Reception Committee (KRC) is scheduled to be convened at Phodong Gumpa on 29 May. This will also mark the completion of one year since the North district’s KRC was formed and the Karmapa to Rumtek movement re-energised.
And KRC [North] general secretary, Karma Tshering Bhutia, adds that the extension of the working committee will also be taken up at the AGM.

Workshop unveils new learning technologies for visually impaired

GANGTOK, 27 May [IPR]: Saksham Trust, a non-profit organization, closely associated with National Association for the Blind (NAB), New Delhi, in association with NAB-Sikkim branch organized a workshop on development of new technologies for the visually challenged at the conference hall of the Forest Secretariat, Deorali on 27 May.  The objective of the workshop was to make the end users, educational institutions and government policy maker’s aware of the various options for reading and writing for persons with blindness or low vision.

Forest and HRDD collaborate to deliver environment-conscious citizens by 2020

CHIEF MINISTER’S GREEN SCHOOL ROLLING TROPHY TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT SUNDAY
GANGTOK, 27 May: The departments of Forest, Environment & Wildlife Management and Human Resource Development are collaborating in an initiative aimed at developing “100 percent environment conscious citizens” in Sikkim by 2020. The mission is being launched with focus on children and will seek to develop instinctive environmental consciousness among them through special activities in schools and Chief Minister’s Green School Rolling Trophy scheduled to be launched on World Environment Day, 05 June.
“We all know that we are part of the environment we live in. Solution to many environmental problems lie in our attitude towards environment. Be it awareness to keep our surroundings clean or the realization to conserve natural resources by re-using and recycling wherever possible, they all are attitudinal. On the surface it looks simple. But changing the attitudes of such huge population is not going to happen overnight. The best way to attempt to bring about a change in the attitudes in the society is through children. They are impressionable and have no vested interests, they are our future. They are the single most important influence in any family. With this realization the Government of Sikkim under the visionary leadership of Shri Pawan Chamling envisages to achieve 100 percent environment conscious citizen in Sikkim by the year 2020,” explains the Forest Secretary, ST Lachungpa, in a press release issued today.

Govt issues clear guidelines on compassionate employment

GANGTOK, 27 May: The Sate Government has issued clear guidelines on giving employment on compassionate grounds to the widow, son or daughter of a Government servant who dies in harness.
An official notification of the Department of Personnel dated 05 May highlights that the Notification is in supression of all the earlier notification/ Office Memorandum on the subject.
As per the Notification, the compassionate appointments will be applicable to widow/ natural son/ natural daughter of deceased employees of Group C and D category who die-in-harness. It further clarifies that the appointment shall be made only up to the post carrying the Pay Band of Rs. 5200-20200 and Grade Pay of Rs. 3400 and in the case of Teachers, carrying the Pay Band of Rs. 9300-34000 and Grade Pay of Rs. 4200.

BJP claims success of on-day hunger strike in Kaluk

DISTRICT AUTHORITIES GIVEN ONE MONTH TO INVESTIGATE MISAPPROPRIATION ALLEGATIONS
GANGTOK, 27 May: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Sikkim-unit has claimed that its one-day hunger strike at Kaluk in West Sikkim in protest against misappropriation of government fund in the execution of various schemes in the area on Thursday as a ‘huge success’ which received a positive and encouraging response from the people of the area”.
Following the hunger strike, the party submitted a memorandum to the District Collector [West] to “either black list the contractors of six incomplete projects or to immediately complete the incomplete works with its actual sanctioned cost today”.
The memorandum has also given an ultimatum of 30 days to the District authorities to do so failing which the BJP will launch an indefinite hunger strike and use ‘other democratic weapons”.