More than 100 scientists and scholars to participate in 2nd NE Biotech Meet on 19-20 April

MEET TO DISCUSS PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION WORK ON BIODIVERSITY
GANGTOK, 17 April: The 2nd North East Biotech Hub Coordinators Meet [19-20 April] will be held at Chintan Bhawan and will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on 19 April, informed Minister for Science and Technology & Climate Change, Bhim Dhungel today, while addressing a press conference regarding the same at Hotel Sonam Phalgey.
The meet is organised by Biotech Hub Centre, Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, Gangtok, Department of Science & Technology & Climate Change, Government of Sikkim and supported by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
The meet will have more than 100 scientists and research scholars participating where they will discuss protection, conservation, monitoring and evaluation work on biodiversity, the Minister informed and added that the progress report of individual centres and other R&D activities of each centre will also be presented in the meet to foster exchange of ideas to promote Biotechnology in the NE region.
The Minister [who is also the Minister for Forest, Environment & Wildlife Management Department] spoke on various programmes of the department and the State government taken for the protection and conservation of biodiversity in Sikkim. He further stated that Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation & Forest Management Project [SBFP] has given more than Rs. 320 crore to be utilised by the department for biodiversity conservation programmes in the state.
A German technical and another financial corporation, the Rural Management Development Department [RMDD], the Forest Department and the Science & Technology Department will also be taking up biodiversity conservation programmes in the State, he further informed. He added that eight department officials will be going to Japan for training under Biodiversity Conservation next month. The team will be headed by Anil Minera [Principal Director, SBFP].
He further stated that the Eco Tourism Policy had also been framed for Sikkim and this was the first of its kind in the country. The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment have asked other states of the country to follow the Eco Tourism policy of Sikkim, he added.
He informed the gathering about the department’s initiative towards patenting the traditional Lepcha Hat made from cane in Dzongu and about the identification of more than 150 mother trees to be declared as heritage trees following the process of measuring their girth and age, which is going on. The Namchi-Damthang-Ravangla Road would also be declared as an Eco-Highway, he added.
He also informed of the ongoing projects and other programmes of the department on the anvil or which are going to be launched soon.
Also present for the meeting were PCCF-cum Additional Chief Secretary, Manjeet Singh and officials from the Science & Technology & Climate Change Department.

SSLSA trains Rongyek inmates as Para Legal Volunteers

GANGTOK, 17 April: The Sikkim State Legal Services Authority [SSLSA] as per the guidelines of National Legal Services Authority organised a three-day para legal training programme in the State Central Prison at Rongyek from 12 to 14 April, informs an SSLSA press release.
Two convicts Rajesh Rai and Mani Kumar Thapa were identified and trained as Para Legal Volunteers, the release informs. Professor of Law College, Government of Sikkim, Dr Dilip Pandey Trained Trainer on Para Legal Volunteers and Panel Advocate of SSLSA, SS Hamal imparted the training as Resource Persons.

Fire Prevention Week underway across the state

GANGTOK, 17 April: The Sikkim Fire and Emergency Service [SF&ES] under the Police Department has been observing the ‘Fire Prevention Week’ across the state since 14 April. The said week will continue till 20 April and is being celebrated on the theme ‘Smoke Management Saves lives’.
Addressing media persons, Deputy Chief Fire Officer [DCFO], East, Prakash Rai stated that the fire prevention week is being observed across the nation since 1963 as recognized by the Central government and during the week, fire stations across the nation conduct numerous fire safety programmes with an aim of generating awareness amongst the masses.
Informing about this year’s weeklong celebration, he mentioned that during this week all the fire station in-charges across the state carry out bazaar inspection with respect to fire safety along with generating awareness on fire safety, teaching the public how to use fire fighting equipments during an emergency and other safety measures related to fire or natural calamities like earthquakes, lightning strikes, landslides and more.
Likewise, the department in order to make the fire prevention week interesting is even organising a painting competition for the first and second grade school students in selected schools of all the four districts. The painting competition is on the theme ‘Fire Safety in Government Schools’ and the winners of the competition will be rewarded by the department, added Mr Rai.
Four schools namely Tashiding Government School [West], Mangan Government School [North], Kitam Government School [South] and Thamidara JHS [East] have been selected for the competition. Mr Rai added that since 2009 till 2011 almost 75% to 80% schools, Panchayats, Block Administrative Centers and Bazaars across the state have been covered under the fire safety awareness campaign along with the local public. The objective of holding such a week is to educate the general mass on utilizing the installed fire extinguishers during fire breakouts, informed Mr Rai.
With respect to forest fires he went on to add that this year there have been scanty reports on forest fires across the state as compared to earlier years and the SF&ES wants to continue the same efforts in minimizing fire incidents in the state in the days ahead too.

Forest Minister hands out cash awards to top 5 Green Schools of the state

GANGTOK, 17 April: Minister for Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department [FE&WMD] Bhim Dhungel released the balance amount of the enhanced cash awards to the top 05 schools under the Green School Programme-2011 here in the Capital in a small function today.
The heads of the top 5 schools were handed the enhanced cash award by the Minister.
The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling during his address on the occasion of the World Environment Day celebration on 05 June, 2011 at Chintan Bhawan had announced enhancements in the cash award from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh for the first position and from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh each for second to fifth position. The awards scheme with the most prestigious Chief Minister Green School Rolling Trophy was also launched on the same day and the award scheme has been notified vide official gazette No. 627 dated 2/12/2011.
Likewise, the meritorious schools for 2010-11 session to receive the enhanced cash awards are Middle Camp Secondary School [first], Reshi SS [second], Lower Samdong SS [third], Lingchom SS [fourth] and Linkey SS [fifth] respectively.
The said award scheme has been introduced to encourage more schools to participate in the environment management programmes.
The Minister apart from handing over the enhanced cash amount to the top 5 schools under Green School Programme-2011 even honored the heads of Dentam SSS, Deorali Girls SSS and Tingley SS who bagged the first, second and fourth Gobar Times Green Schools National Award 2011-12, recently.

Editorial: Centre Should Respect States More

Centre-State relations are making headlines with Chief Ministers not directly dependent on the Congress high command in isolated Delhi for survival, standing up against the Centre’s aggressive attempts to intrude upon one more aspect underlining the federal make-up of the country. The latest point of divergence strikes off from the Centre’s attempts to purloin more powers away from the States by claiming more say in matters of law and order. National security is being invoked to push through the latest intrusion. Unfortunately, in the process, National Interest is being sidelined. National security is not the Centre’s responsibility alone and it is offensive to even suggest that State Government’s are not motivated enough to deliver on this count. The manner in which security agencies not required by law to work in coordination with State governments bulldoze local interests and refuse to take anyone into confidence is understood well enough by all border people to distrust any moves to have forces with their masters in distant Delhi posted among them. While the voices from the margins are easily drowned out because of their miniscule presence in Parliament, now that larger states are at the receiving end of such overtures, the issue has made the news. This is not an attempt to underplay the importance national security, but instead, an effort to highlight the heightened levels of suspicion with which every arm of our democracy is now engaging each other. The judiciary is growing increasingly dismissive of the executive and the legislative, the Centre distrustful of the States and vice versa, the executive scoffs at the legislative and the legislative blames the executive for non-delivery of policy initiatives. And then there is the Fourth Estate which censures everyone. At a very shallow level, each attitude wins applause [not so much for a correct stand as for running some other agency down], but scratch deeper and very quickly the damage being wreaked on the country at large stands exposed. When the arms empowered by the Constitution keep busy pushing and pulling at each other, clichéd as it may sound, the task of nation-building suffers.
There is enough being written about the latest spat between the states and the Centre with regard to the NCTC, so we will stay away from that debate here. What we will highlight here is a growing fixation at the Centre to direct other aspects of State affairs like development, and the pitfalls that remain unaddressed. Finance, generating revenue and deciding expenditure, is rested in the control of individual states by the Constitution which saw India strongest as a federal structure. And yet, increasingly, especially when it comes to the affairs of smaller states like Sikkim, the Centre is exerting more control. At one level, this comes by way of centrally sponsored schemes. While many sees these as ‘good’ initiatives, most CSS efforts stumble the moment they leave the doors of babus in Delhi who scheme them. This is not because of ‘rampant corruption’ alone, but more so because of an overbearing set of conditions which come attached to such schemes. These one size fits all conditions decided in Delhi are not only impractical, but also impossible to ensure across the board. When the start itself poses a challenge, making compromises and taking short-cuts follows easily. For example, the cost analysis for a road cannot follow the same percentage break-ups in hills states as they would in the plains. Even in hilly terrains, the cost analysis will differ depending on aspects like remoteness, weather conditions and access to labour and materials. And yet, a copy-paste model is extended everywhere with the controls held by the Centre which does not understand ground situations. It is important for States to demand that funds, even when tied to specific goals, be released with the processes and priorities left in the control of individual states. The MG-NREGA for instance could be made more effective if it was kept open to course corrections and adjustments which would ensure that the final aim of financial security for rural households was delivered. In its present structure, it forces implementating agencies to settle for tokenism or undertake superfluous projects just so that the wages can be dispensed. To drive home the point, sample this: Included in the Rs. 1,400 crore plan outlay announced for Sikkim for the last financial year 2011-12, Rs. 161.55 crore was for JNNURM projects and Rs. 117 crore for something that goes by the acronym AIBP. Through the year, Sikkim received a miniscule Rs. 37 crore under JNNURM and nothing through AIBP. For a long while one has blamed bureaucrats for having failed the State by not preparing good enough DPRs to receive the earmarked funds. On closer enquiry, it becomes clear that this is only part of the problem and a larger contributor to such cosmetic offers not materialising is Delhi’s refusal to either release the funds or understand how pricing and projections work in States like Sikkim. We are witnessing the same with the red-tape tying up earthquake restoration funds. Irrespective of what one may think of Sikkim’s bureaucrats or politicians, the idea that a whirlwind visit by Central Government officers can decide whether Sikkim’s claims are genuine or not should offend everyone here. There is definitely a trust deficit at play across the country, and there are also very valid reasons for this general lack of faith, but that still does not justify the supercilious attitudes which lace the Centre’s engagements with the States. Smaller states like Sikkim have had to suck it all in and play subservient, but now, with the federal structure gaining strength with the rise of regional parties in larger states, the colonial carryovers are getting challenged. Once Delhi learns to work with the States instead of constantly trying to bypass them, maybe things will work better, until then the larger issues facing the nation will be lost in the din of posturing and muscle flexing.

Govt works towards regularizing Taungya settlements in forest reserves

GANGTOK, 16 April: At long last the State government has taken up the case of Taungyadars [forest plantation labourers] in the state and explore the possibilities of regularization of their land-holdings in forest reserves. There are numerous reserve forest areas in the state which have been settled down the years by individuals, however, for the purpose of regularization, the State government is only examining those cases and encroachments which took place before the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Taungyadars had been engaged by the Forest Department to carry out plantation works in the reserve forests during the pre-Merger [pre-1975] times, much before the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 were extended to Sikkim.
The Taungyadars were settled inside the reserve forest areas and are now seen as encroachers as per the new rules in place. Now, the Forest Department has decided to invoke the guidelines under the Forest Conservation Act which provide for the regularization of the forest land occupied by the Taungyadars after fulfillment of certain conditions. For this purpose, committees have been set up in each district to examine and recommend the cases of the Taungyadars and other encroachers of Forest Land who have been staying continuously in the forest lands prior to the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The committees consist of the DFO (Territorial) of the respective districts, Social Welfare Officer and the SDM.
For the purpose of examination of the cases of the Taungyadars and encroachers the committees will conduct joint inspections of the forest land occupied by them. Before seeking alternatives in terms of relocation, the committees will first ascertain and make sure that the occupants or the Taungya or encroachers of the forest land were settled prior to the date of the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 which is 25 October, 1980. In the event that the Taungya or encroacher village is located in the middle of the reserve forest, the possibility of re-location of the village to the periphery of the forest area is to be explored as well.
Joint surveys are also to be conducted on forest lands to ascertain which of the lands were encroached by individuals within the district other than the Taungyadars prior to the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and following this a proposal for their regularization is to be submitted.
On completion of the inspections and the cases a complete proposal is to be put up to the Secretary, Forest Department for examination and further action.

BRO to construct 11 road tunnels, two in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 16 April: The Central Government is planning to construct a set of 11 tunnels to improve road reliability along the China and Pakistan borders, reports suggest. Two of these tunnels, the reports inform, are proposed in Sikkim. These tunnels are to be built in ‘strategically important’ road stretches close to the China border. As per reports these are to be all-weather tunnels to be constructed by the Border Roads Organisation and are planned and intended to help rapid mobilization of troops and equipment besides providing better connectivity to local residents.
It is reported that the BRO is likely to undertake the feasibility study of the proposed tunnels in Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. The road network along the border with China has been left largely under-developed, a policy which has its roots in the belief that better road network could help the Chinese forces to spread in case of an invasion. In fact, at a recently held meeting both at the central and state levels, this was expressed on the part of the army establishment as a reason why road networks along the border regions in Sikkim had not been developed, inform sources.
However, now it is informed that this doctrine has been changed and several road development works are being undertaken by the BRO, which is funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). In fact, it is funds from this Ministry which has enabled the BRO to undertake the black-topping works currently underway along the NH 31A. As regards this, BRO officials inform that the black-topping works are expected to be completed by July this year. This work was actually scheduled to be undertaken in 2013.
As for tunnels, 2 all-weather tunnels are planned for Sikkim, reportedly located 19.3 and 24.6 kms from the border with China. As per reports, an 800 metre long tunnel is also expected to be constructed at Rangpo.
A BRO presentation made to the highways ministry earlier this year shows that the completion of strategic roads has so far been unsatisfactory. Out of the 18 strategic roads totaling 1,693km, only four (102km) have been completed so far. Work on about 1,096 km remains in progress. The BRO faces hardship in mobilization of men and material and they execute the projects under tough conditions.
At a review meeting on the progress or road projects under BRO earlier this year, the road construction wing of the Army told the highways ministry officials that the feasibility studies of projects are under progress. Two of them - the 12km Zojila and the 6.5km Z Morh tunnels - fall in Jammu and Kashmir and are crucial for connectivity between Srinagar and Leh. These two regions often remain cut off during winter as snow covers the highway connecting the regions. The third project has been planned near Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand.
The BRO is also to take up construction of two tunnels, totaling 25.4km on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road that would improve connectivity to Tawang region throughout the year.

Martial artist Ugen Gurung to undergo two-week training in Seoul

IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING 1ST JUNIOR AND 2ND SENIOR ASIAN CHAMP
GANGTOK, 16 April: Ugen Gurung of Sikkim Amateur Taekwondo Association [SATA] is among five martial artists from the country to be sponsored by the Taekwondo Federation of India [TFI] to undergo a two-week training at Seoul, South Korea in preparation for the upcoming 1st Junior and 2nd Senior Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championship scheduled to be held at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on 04 and 05 May.
Four martial artists from Sikkim had qualified in the 30-member Indian team to represent the country in the championship but only Ugen was able to get the TFI sponsorship for the coaching camp. Other three were Trilok Subba, Rajen Subba and Sabitri Pradhan wherein it is confirmed that Ms Pradhan will participate in the championship and is undergoing a coaching camp under SATA chief coach, Trilok Subba at MCM Dozang at White Hall Complex. Ugen is leaving tomorrow for his coaching camp at Seoul, while Ms Pradhan will go later along with the Indian contingent to the championship at Vietnam.
In a small function held at MCM Dozang this afternoon, SATA members expressed their best wishes to Ugen Gurung and Sabitri Pradhan.
The Chief Coach said that Ugen and Ms Pradhan both are confident and outstanding martial artists who have already played in the national and international championships winning medals and bringing laurel. Ms Pradhan said that to represent the country in the Asian championship was her target and she hopes to win medals and laurel for the country. She encouraged her juniors to continue with their hardwork and training to achieve their goals in the future.
18-year-old Ugen stated that he will be taking part in the Asian championship for the first time and it is also his first time participating in the senior category. He expressed his full confidence to give his best in the championship by making full use of his Seoul training. He gave credit to support from his family, coach and others for his achievements till date.

USFC to take on Mohammedan Sporting today for only spot left in first division I-League

GANGTOK, 16 April: Bhaichung’s United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] will take on Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata in the last match of the final round of the second division I-League Football at Paljor Stadium on Tuesday.
A win is crucial for both teams to qualify into first division I-League Football. As only two teams will be promoted for the first division I-league and one place has already been occupied by ONGC [Mumbai], it is now a do or die situation for both USFC and Mohammedan Sporting.
The odds are however slightly in USFC’s favour since it will go through to the first division even with a draw. Mohammedan Sporting however needs to win to get promoted. After playing 11 matches each in the final round of the second division at Siliguri and Gangtok, USFC has 21 points and Mohammedan SC 20 points so far.
Speaking to media persons at Paljor Stadium today, USFC coach, Philippe De Ridder, mentioned that the players have assured to give their best to win the match. Stating that each player needs to defend and each needs to attack to score in the match, he added that the players were extremely motivated for the Tuesday match.
The coach mentioned that the team is all set for the match but added that some good players are suffering from injuries. Mohammedan Sporting is a good team and the match will be a competitive one, he said. Mr Ridder urged the fans and general public to fully support the home club through its good and bad times as the club was battling hard to qualify for the first division.

Two new titles from Sikkim hit the bookstores

TAKE YOUR PICK – A BOOK ON YUMAISM OR A COLLECTION OF ‘FLORID HAIKU’

GANGTOK, 16 April: Two new titles by Sikkim writers with as divergent contents as religion and poetry were released recently. “Yumaism, the Limboo Way of Life” by JR Subba and “Florid Haiku and Pseudo-Haiku” by the Late Kunga Gyatso Bhutia are now available at bookstores here.


YUMAISM, THE LIMBOO WAY OF LIFE – A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS
The preface of the book describes it as an attempt “to explore the conceptual beliefs – ethnic ideas, elementary ideas or folk ideas, including supernatural powers such as the Great Goddess Tagera Ningwaphuma, other supernatural powers and spirituality, the Eight Souls tradition [Yetchham Thim], the eighteen stages of life and other spiritual practices of Yumaism.”
Yumaism is the way of life or religious beliefs held by people of the Limboo tribe and the book attempts to study this ancient belief system from a philosophical point of view. This effort is also aimed at strengthening the social and religious institutions under Yumaism which are “not effectively functioning in the society because of their insignificant relevance to the administration of the multi-ethnic society on the one hand, and lack of knowledgeable members on the other.”
The author, JR Subba, a Post Graduate in Agriculture Science from Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi joined the State Agriculture Department as Plant Protection Officer in 1975. He retired as Principal Director, Agriculture in 2007. Mr Subba has authored over two dozen books on various subjects.
Published by Yakthung Mundhum Saplappa, Gangtok, Sikkim the book is priced at Rs 240.

FLORID HAIKU AND PSEUDO-HAIKU
The book is a collection of poems written in the Japanese poetic form ‘haiku’ and in the author’s words are mostly “light, didactic, narrative, idyllic and satiric”. The three-line verses are inspired by persons, objects and occurrences. The book is divided into three sections namely Persons and Objects, Aspects and Happenings and Perceptions and Contemplations. The poems are accompanied by photographs of flowers mostly orchids found in Sikkim.
The Late Kunga Gyatso Bhutia, retired as a Secretary to the Government of Sikkim, passed away in February. His latest collection was released posthumously.
Published by UBS Publishers’ Distributors Pvt Ltd, New Delhi the book is priced at Rs 225.

Editorial: Build Pressure to Make Delhi Safer for Women

A recent sting operation by Tehelka exposed what can only be called the misogyny that manifests in Khakhi in Delhi-National Capital Region. In a two-week long investigation, Abhishek Bhalla and G Vishnu of Tehelka spoke to more than 30 senior cops in the Delhi-NCR region. As the magazine itself flagged, “More than half had shockingly ugly views on rape victims. This is the face of law exposed. How can the system effect justice through men like these?” While prejudice, nepotism [most of the perpetrators of rape are well-heeled and well connected] and rank apathy among the police in Delhi does not come as a surprise, what is shocking is that the attitude proliferates through the ranks and no attempts appear to be in the offing to ensure more effective sensitisation. It did not require a sting operation and hidden cams to expose how the police thinks in Delhi when it comes to rapes; the men in Khakhi have been ugly enough on national TV and at press conferences already, as was proven at a press briefing some months back about the gang rape of a minor. The media briefing by an SP not only released all details of the victim, but even cast aspersions on her “character”. She was a minor, remember. What the hidden cam fleshed out was the ugliness of mindsets which are expected to investigate rape cases. Speaking on the incidents of rape, apart from their offensively narrow-minded comments on non-local [to Delhi] victims, senior Delhi cops were caught on tape saying things like, “She asked for it; It’s all about money; They have made it a business; It is consensual most of the time”...
Inexcusable as such comments are, they are dangerous for more than the small-mindedness they expose. Such attitudes are dangerous because they also infect the investigation. When officials investigating a rape are themselves convinced that the violation was somehow “invited” by the victim herself, it will lead to a shoddy charge-sheet, ineffectual investigation, influenced compromises... all of which will collaborate to secure an acquittal for the accused. When more than 65% of the rape accused walk away free, it emboldens more to target women with sexual violence. The latest data for Delhi reveals that conviction rates for rape cases is a dismal 34.6%. What this means is for every 35 men convicted for rape, 65 accused escape punishment, almost always due to procedural lapses by the cops. It is worrying that the procedural lapses are not just because Delhi cops, like those in the rest of the country, are poorly trained, but more so because they approach rape investigations with a warped belief that the victim is working an entrapment. The victims obviously know this, which is why against the 414 rape cases reported in Delhi NCR in 2010, there must actually have been 20,700 incidents of rape in the national capital, a staggering 20,286 victims preferring not to even report their rape! Studies by women’s groups have revealed that for every reported case of rape, 50 go unreported. For a long time, people have been fed the myth that social stigma holds victims back; it is obvious that it is lack of faith in the keepers of law that convinces women not to become victims all over again. As aspect left unaddressed in the Tehelka sting is the possible reason why cops in Delhi can afford to be so inconsiderate. Apart from the fact that they are expressing prejudices common on the streets, what cannot be ignored is that the victims are almost either not originally from Delhi or utterly underprivileged while the perpetrators are ‘local’ and, as mentioned earlier, ‘connected’.
Given this situation, Delhi NCR cannot be expected to undertake any effective course corrections, which is why State Governments and lay people from other states need to exert pressure on Delhi to mend its ways. The North East support centre with a helpline and website was a welcome development, but what is required is for political and social pressure from the region to be stepped-up in Delhi to build an aggressive lobby that demands, in a stronger voice, more diligent and effective persecution of rape accused. They will find allies in groups working on human and women’s rights issues, and with such a collaboration they can invade TV news studios more often to shame the Delhi Government and its police more publicly and by doing so, build enough pressure on them to facilitate the delivery of justice more effectively. If that is achieved, the higher conviction rate of perpetrators of rape will work as an effective deterrent to keep more women safe in Delhi. Given the number of daughters and sisters from these parts, as also other parts of the country, who go to Delhi to work and study, ensuring this safety becomes a collective responsibility of all.

Road mishap on NH 31A near Melli claims 5 lives

SANJAY AGARWAL
RANGPO, 16 April: Five people were killed and another five critically injured when taxi vehicle [SK 01 J-0578] skidded off the road and crashed into the gorge at Lapchey Jhora on National Highway 31A near Melli under Kalimpong Police Station in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal today at around 3:35 pm. The vehicle is reported to have been travelling to Gangtok from Darjeeling. All the injured persons were administered first-aid at Melli PHC and referred on to nursing homes in Kalimpong and Siliguri it is learnt.

Sikkim writer to debut with David Davidar’s Aleph Book Company

CHETAN RAJ SHRETHA’S ‘A SONG AND TWO SEASONS’ TO ARRIVE IN OCTOBER 2012
GANGTOK, 15 April: Chetan Raj Shrestha, a conservation architect by training and an elegant writer by passion, will make his literary debut in October 2012 with Aleph Book Company, a new venture which has the publishing scene breathless in anticipation as it marries the respected editing and publishing skills of Indian publishing’s poster boy David Davidar with the established sales and distribution network of Rupa Publications. Aleph announced its first list of titles last week. Chetan is among the 25 books handpicked by Aleph for release over the year, to be published across the five seasons. Chetan’s “A Song and Two Seasons” is slated for an October [autumn] release.
Readers in the region are familiar with Chetan’s work, given that his fiction and reportage has featured extensively in publications not just in Sikkim, but even national and international periodicals. Come October, readers will have in their hands, Chetan’s debut book, “A Song and Two Seasons”, a set of three linked novellas set in Sikkim.
For a taste of what the book promises, check out alephbookcompany.com and download the ‘Book of Aleph’, a catalogue of the 25 titles Aleph has announced for the year ahead. The catalogue includes a lengthy excerpt from the first of three linked novellas.
The catalogue introduces the excerpted story as one “which is visceral in its immediacy and power, a shocking act of violence on New Year’s Eve destroys the family of Puran, a small-time Sikkimese policeman”.
Aleph Book Company, as mentioned, is a new venture [its first title was released on 09 April to mark the Spring releases] set up by Mr. Davidar in partnership with Rupa Publications India.
Mr. Davidar, one would recall, took Penguin India to new height and returned last year after leaving his job as CEO Penguin Canada. As a publisher [for over a quarter century], he has edited and worked some of world's most renowned authors, including, Kiran Desai, Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth, Vikram Chandra, Rohinton Mistry, Salman Rushdie, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Khushwant Singh, RK Narayan, Shobhaa De, Romila Thapar, Shashi Tharoor, Suketu Mehta, William Dalrymple, Mohsin Hamid and Ramachandra Guha. As an author, his “The House of Blue Mangoes”, published in 2002, has been translated into 16 languages and was a New York Times Notable Book and a Book Sense Pick. His second novel, The Solitude of Emperors, was published in 2007 and was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize.
The Letter from the Publishers introducing the Aleph catalogue, has David Davidar and Ravi Singh explaining: “When Aleph Book Company was set up last year to publish fine writing by South Asian authors (and international authors writing about the subcontinent), there were some things we knew we wanted to do. We knew that we wanted to keep our list exclusive and manageable, so that we could lavish on our books the sort of hands-on editorial care and attention to design and production quality that we are obsessive about.”
In a series of interviews leading up to the release of Aleph’s first list, Mr. Davidar explained the rationale behind Aleph thus: “...We wanted to marry the strengths of large publishers to that of the small publishers. The large publishers have obvious positives, scale, penetration, resource etc. However, there is also a downside - when you are publishing 150-200 books in a year, you do not have enough resources to concentrate on everything that is involved in promoting a book the right way. By resources, I mean marketing. With so many books, you don't have the manpower or the resources to give each of the books the marketing or the attention it deserves. Small publishers give each book the attention that they deserve, but they just don't have the resources to distribute the book broadly enough and market it enough, as it deserves to be.”
The publishers also admit: “What we didn’t know was whether we would be able to find enough books to publish that possessed the literary and artistic excellence, originality and style that we were looking for: books that we would truly love, as opposed to those that were merely products occupying slots in sales catalogues, production schedules, warehouses and balance sheets.”
As for the quality of Chetan’s writing, as endorsed by his being selected among the first 25 to be published by Aleph, sample how the publishers narrate the begging of Aleph: “Over the past year, the doubt, uncertainty and nervousness have all fallen away. Not only have the ambitious goals we set ourselves (we wanted to launch with twelve books) been exceeded by the sheer number of brilliant and original writers who have chosen to publish with Aleph, the books themselves have turned out to be wondrously alluring creations.”
“We cherish each of the twenty-five books that we are launching Aleph with for their brilliance, insight, style, panache and sheer readability. Judge for yourselves,” David Davidar and Ravi Singh sign off their Letter from the Publishers in the catalogue.
It is obvious that Mr. Davidar is pouring in his entire experience in and passion for publishing into establishing Aleph as a “premium publishing brand” [his words] and it would have been exciting enough just to receive the range of books they publish over the year, a wait made even more so because among the list will be featured a writer whose oeuvre, although enjoyed for some time by readers here, was crying for a wider readership and earnest publishing it deserved.
Chetan was born in Gangtok in 1978. He is a trained architect (his specialization being conservation architecture). He has lived in Darjeeling, Bangalore, Mumbai and Sydney, and is currently working in a collaborative architectural practice in Gangtok.

The Challenge of Being a ‘Chinki’ in Dilli

TSERING EDEN
“Chingles Hotline [Call me. I know you want to.]”
These words appear in bold against a bright yellow background accompanied by a smiling “Oriental-looking” girl staring right at the reader. The phone number in a larger font is placed at the centre of this advert published in a leading national daily’s New Delhi edition a few weeks ago. There is no mention of what this “hotline” is about or other such details leaving everything to the reader’s imagination.
Prejudice, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is ‘a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience’, and can therefore be said to be an imagined idea of what a people, place, profession etc., is like. The advertisement in question aptly plays with this mix of prejudice and imagination to achieve what it wants to. The ad ran just for a day, but it signifies what has been happening for the past many years and is still happening in the National Capital Region of New Delhi. People from the North East Region of the country, women in particular, fight not just the heat, dust and everyday pains but the deep prejudices held against them by the people of the so-called ‘mainland’.
Seemingly harmless, this sort of warped representation in the popular media actually perpetuates and deepens the already existing prejudice, if not in the conscious then definitely the subconscious minds, of its consumers. The fragmented but in-your-face association of the word “Chingles” [ref chinki], the model used, the underlying [or perhaps obvious] meaning of a ‘hotline’, all come together in the readers mind to form an idea that later turns into opinion that is miles away from reality.
In reality, this kind of off-handed misrepresentation leads to numerous rapes, attempted rapes and molestation cases going unreported. The North East Support Centre and Helpline [Delhi] website [www.nehelpline.net] carries records of some cases that came to them and in most of these cases, no FIRs were lodged with the police. The denial of even lodging an FIR or First Information Report which is the first step and plays a vital role in the successful investigation of a case, obliterates any hope for justice.
Why this denial?
News magazine Tehelka’s latest expose on what the policemen of the national capital think of rape, especially the victims, explains this. In a Gurgaon policeman’s words, interviewed during Tehelka’s two week sting operation, “Yahan pe Darjeeling aur Nepal tak ki ladkiyan business purpose se aye hai… wo jaate bhade pe hain. Baad mein paisa nahi mila to rape case bata diya jata hai (Girls from Darjeeling and Nepal have come here for business purposes. They go with men for money. Later, when the money is not sufficient, it becomes a rape).”
The Tehelka story focuses on the callous, insensitive and debasing attitude of policemen which translates into “flawed first information reports [FIRs], erroneous procedures in collating medical evidence and shoddy investigation”.
Prejudice comes in the way of fair delivery of justice as proven by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) records cited in the story which shows a dismal 34.6 percent conviction rate in rape cases in the capital. When you belong to the North East, Darjeeling, Ladakh or even Nepal, this general prejudice, accentuated by racial discrimination, elevates the problem to a whole new level.
This racial discrimination is a larger problem that prevails in the capital and remains unaddressed to this day. The recent racial profiling that took place during the anti-China protests in the city which saw a large number of ‘Tibetan-looking’ persons getting arrested or detained holds proof. A Shahrukh Khan gets detained at the New York airport for a few hours and it makes national news but the scores of North-Easterns who wound up in police stations across the capital about a month back created no stir as it rightly should have. This writer, on a visit to Delhi at the time, was lucky not to face any unpleasant situation, but was advised by friends to hide the religious threads and pendant [typically Buddhist, therefore running the risk of being mistaken for a Tibetan] around her neck to avoid rousing the suspicions of the Delhi police. Avoid and ignore are some of the keywords that North-Easterns are quite familiar with in the city.
To conclude, Chingles is a mouth freshener/chewing gum by the makers of Rajni Gandha pan masala and the advert ran for one day i.e 01 April. A call to the printed phone number was met by an automated reply which had a woman telling you, in a flirtatious tone, that it was an April Fool’s Day prank, that you had been fooled and finally that you should try their newest product - Chingles. Make any sense?

ENOUGH!

Stop Discriminating People from the North-East India is a group that began two years ago on popular social networking site Facebook and seeks to spread awareness about the region via “constructive engagement with the government, national institutions and the conscious citizens of India”. An update posted on the page on Sunday reads:

“Delhi police known for racial profiling: Yesterday I got harassed by two Delhi cops (lead by Senior Police Constable Naresh Kumar) who frisked me and my young DU student friend William without any reason at a grocery market nearby Ber Sarai flyover around 8 pm. 

When I asked why? They abused back by saying “Chup (Shut up)” and questioned why I was carrying a Rs.500 note and said to each other “Lena ke liye gaya (They went for buying that)”. What’s that supposed to mean? Can’t I go to buy vegetables or food? Or do they think north-eastern people are habitual offenders? 

Earlier I used to ignore such ill-treatment by the Delhi cops, but lately I’ve realized that it was partially our fault for not reacting to such situations, which has further increased their wrong perceptions. 

Anyway, it is not too late, let us set this as an example to our fellow brothers and sisters to raise their voice against such discriminatory attitude of Delhi police. Keeping quiet will only alienate us further more. 

RAISE your voice and let justice triumph!” 

Click here to view the page.

Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum forms new executive body

AGM ALSO FORMS BONGTHING ACADEMY COMMITTEE 
MANGAN, 15 April: The Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarzum (RMRT) central body, in coordination with RMRT North district, convened the annual general meeting at Mayal Hotel, Pentok, Mangan on 14 April.  The RMRT (N) formed a new executive body cum Bongthing Academy Committee.
The new RMRT committee comprises of Advisors, Chumki Saring of Mangan, TW Lepcha of Sentam, Khamsoom Lepcha of Chungthang and Choden Lepcha of Dzongu.  NT Lepcha as president, Lobzang Lepcha as vice president, Samten Lepcha & Lakching Lepcha as general secretaries, TT Lepcha & Samdup Lepcha as treasurer, Tenzor Lepcha, PT Lepcha & KT Lepcha as joint secretaries and Norden Lepcha, Laymu Lepcha & Kessang Saring as publicity secretaries. For the Boongthing Academy committee, Sonam Rinchen Lepcha, Kacho Lepcha, Namgyal Lepcha, Dr.OT Lepcha, NT Lepcha and Ton Tsh Lepcha have been nominated from all the districts.
The programme was chaired by Zilla Adhyaksha (N), Khamsoom Lepcha, president (RMRT) centre body, SD Lepcha, general secretary, Dr OT Lepcha, president (RMRT) North, NT Lepcha and members.
The president, RMRT (N), in his address spoke on establishing a unique Boongthing school with all language academy facilities which will preserve the Lepcha culture and identity of the community, for which we all have to approach the government, he  said.
The chief guest in his address said that the idea of starting a Boongthing school is very innovative and added that unity amongst all communities is important.
The general secretary, RMRT, centre body in his address said that, the meeting was supposed to be held last year in September but due to the earthquake it could not be possible. The centre body has been working for the progress of the community in coordination with the government but RMRT works have been delayed due to lack of finance, he shared. So now we have to start monthly membership collection drive for our own security and progress, he added. The Government has sanctioned Rs.16 crore for the construction of 'Fat Fuetyok' at Daramdin to preserve historical artefacts of the tribe and a statue of Munsolong is to be constructed in Upper Dzongu has also been sanctioned, he further informed.
The president (RMRT), centre body, said that the Government has already notified the Lepcha tribe as a backward community and defined as a Primitive tribe under 3(54) Parliamentary Affairs/518 on 18 November 2008 but we have never tried out to find out the benefits of the given status and that is our own weakness.
The house also highlighted on Public hearing of Teesta stage IV of NHPC held on 29 March 2012 which did not take into concern the general affected people and area MLA of Dzongu. DM (N) the chairman of the public hearing panel will be approached for conducting another public hearing for the affected public and place full details of the project and R&R plan.
In conclusion, the house also focused on shortage of teachers in Dzongu suggesting that the department should only appoint local candidates as most teachers are appointed from outside the district and after serving 2 to 3 months obtain transfer orders to other districts.

Lower Rakdong residents complain of erratic power supply

PLAN TO APPROACH POWER MINISTER WITH GRIEVANCES
MANGAN, 15 April: Residents of Lower Rakdong, irked by the erratic power supply in the area, have demanded why the Power Department has not been able to solve this problem which has plagued the area for the past many months.
The people, especially those from the villages of Sokpay, Raidang and 3rd Mile, are tired of the irregular power supply in their villages and allege negligence on the part of the concerned officers at the Power Department for not addressing the problem despite repeated requests.
“The power supply to these villages has not exceeded 8 to 10 days in a month and is sometimes even lower than this,” complained YB Manger while speaking to NOW!
The past week as well, the villages lived in the dark as there has been no supply for the past five days. “We have approached the concerned officials many times regarding the matter but no permanent solution has emerged,” rue the villagers.
The residents here also complain that the department issues the electricity bills on a yearly basis which poses a problem as they have to shell out a large sum in one go.
“We are already spending money on kerosene and when the department sends us the bill at the end of a year that too through our children, it is difficult for us to make the lump-sum payment. The department should send the bill on a monthly basis and we have not even seen the meter reader till now,” adds Besh Lall Sharma.
The only option left for us is to approach the Power Minister with our grievances, informed local residents. It is learnt that the electricity to these villages is supplied from Topakhani.

ON THE PASSING AWAY OF TSHERING RIGZING

Letter:
It was really a touching moment to be able pay my last respect to my late friend Tshering Ringzing who was killed in the USA by a young-man who was driven by negative forces on April 2 2012. An accomplished personality who would have been a significant asset to all of us in Sikkim, express my satisfaction to His Holiness the present Shamarpa Rinpoche who happened to be close by on that fateful day to have personally come and performed Phowa, Transference of mind for the deceased as required under our Sikkimese traditions as soon as one dies. It so happened that when His Holiness first tried see the corpse, he could not do so because of some formalities going on there at the hospital. However, he somehow managed a photo of the deceased and offered some prayers. Not before too long, and driven by the karma of both the deceased and the lama, Rinpoche could make it to his dead body where he elaborately performed Phowa and instructed his resident monks and students to perform necessary prayers and rites. Kudos to the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee and its team to have quickly corresponded and exerting maximum pressure with the US authority as did the Governments of India and Sikkim for immediate handing over of the mortal remain of the deceased for performing necessary prayers and funeral as per Buddhist tradition in Sikkim. Courteous enough on the part of the US administration for sending its two senior official representatives to see off the dead body, nicely put up in a nicely placed casket at the Airport.
May the deceased, driven by his own merit and virtues, conveniently find bliss in one of the pure realms of the lotus family.
Chewang Pintso, Gangtok

Jhora near Dikchu PHC poses threat to health staff and locals

MANGAN, 15 April:  A second night of heavy shower on 12 April forced the residents of Dikchu New Market and Dikchu PHC staff to spend a sleepless night. As the water flow between the PHC and staff quarters began to flood towards the PHC, the staff had to leave their quarters at night and seek shelter elsewhere. Heavy flow of water towards the Dikchu New Market also scared the people residing in the area into keeping awake all night.
Medical Officer, Dikchu PHC, Dr. Mohan Thapa while speaking to NOW! Informed that it is inconvenient to walk through this jhora for the health staff which is very risky when it rains and there is no alternate foothpath to cross over.  He also informed that the nearby jhora should be trained immediately as there is further risk during the coming rainy season. A view, that the local residents agree with and demand at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the ward panchayat, Kado Lepcha visited the spot and informed that he will submit a report to the District Administration immediately requesting for the needful to be carried out under the NC fund.  The representatives from District Hospital Mangan also visited the spot.

Apex Court sets final deadline for HSRP coverage

GANGTOK, 15 April: The Supreme Court of India has directed that all states fully implement the scheme of fixing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) by 30 April, 2012. The State government here is also comply with this order. Earlier, the State government had submitted to the apex court that the HSRP scheme would be completed by 31 March and had also been reported by this paper. However, all vehicles in the state could not be covered and the therefore the time limit has been extended by the Supreme Court.
“All states, therefore, are mandated to fully implement the scheme of fixation of HSRP in their entire state, positively by 30th April, 2012, in relation to new vehicles and 15th June, 2012 for old vehicles,” the Supreme Court order directs.
While extending the time limit, the apex court has made clear that no further extension shall be allowed and added that the directions of the Supreme Court are to be implemented without default. The apex court further ruled that in the event of default, the concerned Secretary (Transport) /Commissioner, State Transport Authority and/or any other person or authority responsible for such default “shall be liable to be proceeded against under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.”
The cost of fixing HSRPs in Sikkim, as has often been complained by vehicle owners, is much higher compared to other states. Here, it costs a little over Rs. 2,000 [for 4-wheelers] while in other states the cost is less than half this amount. In this context, it may also be highlighted here that the Supreme Court, had in 2010, dismissed appeals by foreign multinational backed Indian firms - Shmnit Utsch India Private Ltd and Tonnjes Eastern Security Technologies Pvt Ltd (the firm which bagged the contract in Sikkim as well)- claiming that state governments had no right to change the conditions laid down in the Central law proposed notice inviting tenders for HSRPs. Indian HSRP manufacturers had protested against the experience and certain minimum turnover clauses attached to the NITs and alleged that this was tailor-made for foreign multinationals to bag the contracts for supply of HSRPs.
West Bengal and Orissa had effected changes in the NITs, doing away with the clause requiring previous experience in manufacturing of HSRPs to qualify for submitting tenders. The changes were challenged unsuccessfully by Shhimnit and Tonnjes in the Calcutta and Orissa High Courts respectively. Both had moved the apex court against the decisions of the High Courts, and lost there as well.

Editorial: News is Information

Never has the debate over what constitutes proper journalism been as frenetic as it is nowadays with the multitude of 24-hour news channels addressing diverse audiences with their own spin on reportage. Of late, starting from the Anna phenomenon to the recent Centre-Army situation, this debate has become even more frenzied. Grand debates have been held over which channel [newspapers not so much] provided balanced reports and which has been too sensational or which news broadcast exposed a lack of journalistic ethics. The debates will never resolve because journalistic ethics are not codified enough to throw absolute answers on what is right and what wrong. In fact, journalism is, at its core, essentially concerned with reportage and not with the greater disputes of rights and wrongs. These are concerns which require application of serious thought and journalists, by virtue of their job-description, not expected to be experts with all the solutions, but expected to be equipped with the right tools to convey the story. That does not go to say that reporters cannot help in resolving issues. In fact, this is what a good journalist should be committed to. They do not resolve conflicts by suggesting remedies, they do so by providing information since conflict is born from communication gaps. Once all sides have access to information, they are also equipped to work out solutions.
This is also where journalists differ from politicians. Politicians, given the paranoia that comes with the post, hold their cards very close to their chests. They also thrive on misinformation and this is where a committed journalist could play a constructive role - by disbursing authentic information. To disburse information, however, a journalist is required to procure it first and on this path are the most pitfalls. Since information has to be sourced, there is always the danger of a plant. People with personal vendettas on their agenda are known to dish out selective information and many journalists stumble. While the general argument goes to say that information is information irrespective of where it came from, a journalist is expected to glean through it carefully. If at all someone needs to let off a shot, why should it be from the shoulders of a reporter straight into public domain. Whenever journalists speak of “self-censorship,” this is what they mean. Information, at the end of the day should serve the needs of the public and not individuals. The self-censorship mentioned here deals only with deciding on what needs to be thrown in the public domain and not whether it is palatable or not. Any news, good or bad, which needs to be broken, should be. As for the audience, they should understand that news is about information first and not all information can be sensational. Information is supposed to tease the senses into engaging...

ASGTBA felicitates Paschim Sikkim Sahitya Sansthan founder Kedar Gurung

PADAMSHREE GURUNG IS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL, SAYS MINISTER TILU GURUNG
GANGTOK, 15 April: All Sikkim Gurung [Tamu] Buddhist Association [ASGTBA], today felicitated PadmaShree awardee Kedar Gurung and eight other achievers from the community at a special function held at Sikkim Government College auditorium here at Tadong today chaired by Buildings Minister Tilu Gurung accompanied by former Minister GM Gurung.
Along with Padmashree Kedar Gurung, Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, Naren Gurung, Padamlal Gurung, Snehalata Gurung, Mani Kumar Gurung, Chandrapal Gurung and HL Gurung were felicitated today in recognition of their contributions in their respective fields.
Addressing the gathering, Padmashree Kedar Gurung talked about his journey towards the completion of fifteen books till date and that his plans to continue publishing. He said, “It is such a sad state of affairs today  that we have few readers in Nepali society in comparison to other community.”
He also shared his experiences in the early days of his life. From a teacher to a bookseller, Mr. Gurung has come a long way with some sweet memories and bitter experiences.
Kedar Gurung, along with like-minded friends had established ‘Paschim Sikkim Sahitya Sansthan’, [an organization to serve literature] in West Sikkim. The organization has a rich history of paving the way for many newcomers.
“I am happy at being able to remain active and creative to this date, a journey that began in the early 70’s”, expressed the writer who could not hide his emotions.
Mr. Gurung gave up his teaching profession for his love for Nepali literature and started a book shop. He has so far published 15 collections. “I had the experience of running a book shop in a society that does not read books. Our society has been on the back foot only because of the tendency of earning easy money which has made us idle,” he commented.
Mr Gurung informed that the Prakashan has been working on an ambitious project of bringing out a book detailing the lives of great personalities of Indian Gorkha/ Nepali community who have made great contributions to the country.
Minister, Housing and Buildings, Tilu Gurung, who presided over the programme today, urged the people of the community to think and work for the community. She appealed to the youth to follow the path shown by Kedar Gurung. “He is a role model and an idol for all,” she said.
The association also felicitated former Minister Padam Lall Gurung, Ganesh Bahadur Gurung [teacher], Naren Gurung [musician], National youth Award winner Mani Kumar Gurung, Snehalata Gurung [teacher], HL Gurung [teacher] and Chandra Pal Gurung [policeman].
Earlier, president of the association, HB Gurung, general secretary Dev Gurung, Goverdhan Gurung and others addressed the occasion
A litterateur of repute, Padamshree Kedar Gurung was born on 09 July 1948 in Sardong village of West Sikkim. He was recently conferred the Padmashree in literature. He received his primary education from Lingchom school, finishing his matriculation from Turnbull High School, Darjeeling in 1960 and going on to graduate from Government College, Darjeeling.
Padamlal Gurung was born on 11 November 1942 in Sardong basti Geyzing, West Sikkim. A politician now, he became noticed first during his stint as a police officer. After joining politics, he served as a Minister from 1985 to 1989.
Naren Gurung was born on 21 January 1957 in Chakhung, West Sikkim and has made his mark in the field of music. His credentials as a creative artist include a diploma in Sashtriya Sangeet and Sangeet Natak Akademy Award in 2004.
81 years old Ganesh Bahadur Gurung is a retired teacher who received a National award in 1990.
Chandrapal Gurung was born on 18 September 1955 in Tallo Sukrabarey, South Sikkim and had joined Sikkim Police in 1974. He received president’s police medal award from the president  on 26th January 2011.
HL Gurung born in 1935 in Lower Sadam received National Education Award from former President R. Venkataraman. Sikkim government too felicitated him in the field of education.
Snehalata Gurung was born on 20 December, 1950 in West district. She received National level award on March 2010 from Delhi in the field of education.
Mani Kumar Gurung was born on 12 December 1978 in Lower Dalapchand. He was actively involved in Nehru Yuva Kendra who received national level award in 2004 from Sports and Youths Affairs department, Government of India for his service to the sports field.

Two more booked under SADA

GANGTOK, 15 April: Following on the heels of the Friday drug bust in which two alleged peddlers were arrested, the Sadar police carried out another drug raid in the capital and made two more arrests. Acting on a tip off, the Sadar police personnel raided the rented room of Rudra Adhikari, 37 and Bhim Chettri, 34, both originally from Kalchini, Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and presently residing at Manbir Colony here. In the course of the raid, the police uncovered a cache of drugs which included 1,796 tablets of spasmo proxyvon and another 90 tablets of N10, both, much abused prescription drugs
The raid was conducted late on the evening of 13 April at around 7 pm and both, Bhim Chettri and Rudra Adhikari, have been taken into custody and booked under the Sikkim Anti Drugs Act. It is further informed that the duo were earlier running a garage at Sukhapool which was damaged and eventually collapsed in a landslide following which it is reported that they took to peddling drugs. They operated from their rented premises.

Sikkim annual plan fixed at Rs. 1,500 crore

MONTEK SINGH COMMENDS STATE GOVT’S DEVELOPMENTAL EFFORTS
GANGTOK, 13 April: Sikkim’s annual plan for the year 2012-13 was fixed at Rs. 1,500 crore today, informs a press communiqué received from the Principal Resident Commissioner, Sikkim House, New Delhi. The plan size was finalised at a meeting between Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, held at Yojana Bhawan. The Plan size grows up to Rs. 1,877 crore with the addition of Rs. 377 crore which the Planning Commission informed today it would be releasing for Sikkim from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund [against the total announcement of Rs. 1,000 crore] to assist earthquake restoration works here. The Chief Minister informed the meeting that the entire Rs. 1,000 crore package announced by the Prime Minister for undertaking various earthquake repair activities will be utilised in the state in next two years .
The Chief Minister, the press release from Delhi informs, highlighted that the plan size [not including the earthquake relief funds] is Rs. 100 crore higher than the current plan size.
Meanwhile, an update from the Press Information Bureau informs that in his comments on the performance of the State, the Deputy Chairman appreciated the “development efforts” and pointed that the human development indicators of Sikkim were among the best in the country. He said the growth in agriculture during eleventh plan was better than the national average and also made positive mention of the priority being given to organic farming, horticulture and floriculture.
As per Planning Commission data, Sikkim has achieved a growth rate of 8.95% during the 11th plan which is higher than national average.
On plan performance, it was pointed that the GSDP at Constant Prices rose from Rs. 1,73,932 in 2004-05 to Rs. 3,34,311 in 2009-10 and was likely to increase to Rs. 3,64,218 in 2010-11 showing an annual growth of 8.95 percent. Likewise the Per Capita GSDP at constant prices rose from Rs. 30,730 in 2004-05 to Rs. 55,441 in 2009-10 and likely to increase to the level of Rs. 59,806 in 2010-11 showing an annual growth of 7.87 percent.
Mr. Ahluwalia, during the plan finalisation deliberations, also commented that tourism being the largest service sector in Sikkim, had high growth potential and has attained the top priority sector due to its vast spinoff effects contributing to the overall development through sustained fiscal receipts and employment generation.
“Sikkim endowed with unparalleled natural beauty, clean environment and picturesque location is one of the most potential State for tourism sector to flourish. In Sikkim, tourism has attained a consistent growth. The proactive tourism vision of the State Government, insurgency free environment and friendly people has been one of the major factors in upsurge of tourism in the state,” the PIB release quotes the Deputy Chairman as commenting.
Mr. Ahluwalia, also recognised that the general trends in rural development over the last two decades indicated that human development indicators like literacy, life expectancy, infant mortality, access to health, sanitation and rural infrastructure like roads, bridges, electricity, water, toilets, houses, school, hospitals, telecommunication etc. has been increasingly universalized. However, there was a declining trend in terms of relative contribution of agricultural sector to the economy and also as an employer, he pointed out.
Briefing the Commission, the Chief Minister is reported to have detailed that over the past two decades, the State has adopted the path of sustainable development, working in pursuit of developing the rural areas at par with the towns by providing all basic and modern amenities and sustainable employment opportunities in rural areas. The aim, he said, was to develop Sikkim as an “eco-city State”.
He also highlighted that the September 2011 earthquake had caused extensive damage to the infrastructure and setback the development process here. The developmental programmes, he stressed, can only be successful with liberal financial assistance from the Government of India in the 12th Five Year Plan and particularly in the Annual Plan 2012-13.
On the various schemes launched in recent years by the State, the CM highlighted the CM’s Free Scholarship programme under which the state was offering full scholarship to Sikkim students enrolled in the top-20 international universities of the world. On similar lines, Sikkim has launched a unique scheme called the Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme under which students enrolled in government schools in rural Sikkim, upon selection on merit, were being funded to study at prestigious public and convent schools like Scindia School, Springdales School [Dehradun] and Pinegrove School [HP] etc. A budget of around Rs. 7 crore has been provided in current financial year and target has been fixed to sponsor 1,000 Sikkim students to reputed schools in the country by the year.
Detailing the various initiatives undertaken by the State Government like the CATCH programme and the Mission Kutcha House Free Sikkim, the CM briefed the Commission that State was confident of generating an annual revenue of Rs. 1,500 crore from the hydel sector in three years time. Tourism too was receiving special focus in the State and showing good results with 10 lakh tourists having visited Sikkim in 2011, having doubled from the 4.9 lakh visitors recorded in 2006. The target now is to attract 5 million tourist by the year 2015, the CM said, stressing that this would happen with better planning , aggressive publicity and world class tourism infrastructure.

Public aggrieved with Teesta Urja’s disinterest in settling compensation due for land damaged by tower installations

MANGAN, 13 April: Affected landowners of the 1,200MW Teesta Stage III being developed in North Sikkim are aggrieved with their demand of compensation for property damaged by the project developer, Teesta Urja, remains unaddressed. The complainants are those whose land was acquired for erection of towers to carry high tension power transmission lines. They are upset that their land, approach roads and footpaths were damaged in the tower installation process, but now compensation entertained thus far.
Landowners from the villages of Pathuk, Chandey, Kokaley, Ralap, singbel, Tibuk and Lower Mangshilla, contend that they could not sow seasonal crops on the plots of land near the tower sites since it was under construction. They rue that now that some towers have been completed, they find the surrounding fields left in extensively damaged condition.
“Our cardamom and other plantations have been damaged by the muck taken out from the foundation and even the road and CC footpath have been badly damaged while transporting the machines and other materials,” informed some landowners while speaking to NOW!
“Now we have heard that the Teesta Urja had commissioned the work to some other company,” informed another landowner, underlining that they do not know whom to approach for du compensation.
“The company had assured that we would be paid for damage to our land before they started the installation of tower and that we would also be paid rent. We have been paid only for the land measuring 30X30 feet where the towers have been installed. We were not aware at that time that our agricultural land surrounding the construction sites would be damaged like this,” they add.
“For the last six months no representative from the company has visited the area and the monsoon could prove dangerous for the houses situated below the towers. We will not allow further work to be carried out unless we are paid the damage compensation for our land,” said Kewal Das Chettri of Takjer basti under Pathuk ward.
Similarly, Purna Bahadur Chettri, another landowner, informed that he had earlier approached the company officials regarding the matter but was told that another company would be paying the compensation.
“The irrigation channel in my land, along with other tracts, has been damaged by the movement of excavators,” claims Jit Bahadur Rai.
The landowners have demanded that the representatives of the company should meet the landowners and solve the problem as soon as possible.

USFC rides on Quinton’s hat-trick to down Aizwal FC 4-2

GANGTOK, 13 April: Requiring to win every one of its remaining three games, Bhaichung’s USFC stayed on course towards getting promoted to the first division by downing Aizwal FC 4-2 at a keenly contested and excessively aggressive match here at Paljor Stadium today.
The USFC win rode on the shoulders of a flawless hat-trick by captain, midfielder Quinton Jacobs who led from the front today. The victory, required as it was, is also significant because it was with a draw against Aizwal in the Siliguri leg that hiccups began for the USFC, a stumble it corrected only on 11 April here when it beat the pool toppers, ONGC Mumbai. With today’s win, USFC is back on the top of the pool with 21 points, one point ahead of ONGC. Only the top-2 teams from the Gangtok leg will get promoted to first division I-League. This position, USFC will, in all probability, hold only for one day because on Saturday, ONGC takes on Mohammedan Sporting. Should either of the teams win [there can also be a draw which case they share a point each] , they will move past USFC [ONGC stands at 20 pts and Mohammedan Sporting at 19 and each win earns 3 points].
At Paljor Stadium today, both teams put it all on the line, and this included all the rough tricks they had in their bags. A staggering 6 cautions were flashed in the match today, four to USFC players and two to Aizwal FC. In fact, two of USFC’s four goals came by way of penalty kicks, and this after the first penalty hit the woodwork.
For USFC, Daniel Bidemi Ayeni won the lead with a goal in the 38th minute, and the second half belonged to captain Quinton N Jacobs who scored in the 60th, 65th and 81st minute.
The match had its see-saw moment with David Lalrinmuana, the Aizwal captain, levelling the score in the 49th minute. It was shortly after this that Quinton was unleashed on the Aizwal defence and completed his hattrick. Towards the close of the match, Michael Lalremruata pulled one back for Aizwal, but the game had already run away from them by then and when the final whistle blew, USFC was home 4-2.
Earlier, in the first match of the day, Kalighat MS outplayed Royal Wahingdoh 2-0, both goals scored by Waheed Adekunle.

Jhora near Dikchu PHC poses threat during monsoon

MANGAN, 13 April:  The heavy shower of last night put the staff of Dikchu PHC at risk as the flow of water between the PHC and the staff quarters raged out of control and started overflowing towards the PHC. The Primary Health Centre at Dikchu New Market, North Sikkim is situated at the bottom of the Tanek Bhir where the 18 September earthquake had triggered a landslide which had also damaged some portion of the PHC.
Dr. Mohan Thapa, Medical Officer, Dikchu PHC, while speaking to NOW! informed that the jhora should be trained immediately and also informed that there is further risk during the coming rainy season.

Awareness on organic farming held at Duga

AAMIR KHAN’S “SATYAMEV JAYATE” TV CREW SHOOTS SESSION
GANGTOK, 13 April: An awareness-cum-training programme on Organic Farming its benefits and certification process was organized on 12 April by International Panaacaa Limited (Service provider Agency for ICS) in association with Sikkim Organic Mission Food Security & Agriculture Development Department at Duga, East Sikkim. A press release informs that farmers from 8 wards were present in this awareness-cum-training programme.
State Project Coordinator, International Panaacea Limited, Hoshiar Singh Vashishtha highlighting the key issues of Organic farming and its Certification process explained the process, documentation and demonstration aspects.
Land and Soil, Water, Human health, Forest & Environment, Wild life and livestock details are vital issues for Internal Control System. Before accepting the Organic farming there are many documentation process which have to be maintained by all of us, he informed.
He emphasized that before getting the Scope Certificate for Organic products, there are various documentation process and practices which have to be maintained by the farmer community. Land documentation (checking of Parcha) to verify the land and its area, Farmers diary, Internal checklists, field map, detail of live stock, soil fertility, water test, detail of manure etc.
The process for organic farming and its certification process is very tough. After completion of the documentation process all important information data will be entered in a website called “TRACENET” to trace out the information of each farmer. Once this is done Agricultural & Processed Food Products Expert Development Authority (APEDA) will check and verify then they will issue  Registration or Identification Number (ID No.) to each farmer. After wards Certification Agencies will carry out their activities, inspection of documentation as well as field verification then only the  process will begin for Scope Certificate, he informed.
State Project In-charge, Vimal Prakash in his address emphasized on farm input management. He described about the soil health and its recommendations which was collected from the field of the farmers.
Additional Executive Director, Sikkim Organic Mission, K.K. Pradhan spoke on soil fertility management and the importance of DOLOMITE which enhance the fertility of soil in organic farming.
Convener, Farmer Cell, DN Sapkota spoke on the policy and programme made by the Government for the benefit for our famer community. CEO, Onecert Asia Agri. Certification Agency, Sandeep Bhargav highlighted the issues regarding certification and inspection methods. He urged the farmers to understand and follow the process of documentation which are provided by the Service provider Agency as after 2015 it has to be continued and there will be no such Service Provider Agency, in this case farmers themselves have to do all documentation work.
At the end of the programme, a television crew visited the site and recorded all the activities of the programme, the release informs. The crew was from Aamir Khan’s film production unit which is coming up with a new show ‘Satyamev Jayate’ on Star Plus highlighting various social issues. Khan who was in the state last month was briefed about the organic farming mission in the state during his visit and so he was interested in the highlighting the subject on his show, the release further mentions.

Controlled rock blasting at Pakyong Airport site

GANGTOK, 13 April: Huge mass of earth cutting and filling is underway at the Pakyong airport site. A press release informs that to speed up the progress at the site, the commissioned agency, Punj Lloyd, has arranged for controlled rock blasting after obtaining necessary clearances from all the regulatory authorities and further following the codal procedures.
Even though the rock breakers/ heavy excavating machineries were already deployed but it was felt necessary to go ahead simultaneously for blasting operations, the release explains. The process has been underway since 05 April and till date approximately 75 kg of gelatin has been utilized at the site. SDM & SDPO, Pakyong were also present during the process of blasting on 10 April, the release adds.

Husband booked for abetting suicide

GANGTOK, 13 April: A case under section 306 [abetment of suicide] of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against one Sonam Tshering Lepcha at the Melli police station. According to a report received from SI BB Lama [Melli police station], on the intervening night of 17 March, Sukmit Lepcha [30], wife of Sonam Tshering Lepcha, resident of upper Suntaley had committed suicide by setting herself on fire.
Further investigation revealed a troubled relationship between the deceased and her husband. The deceased had been mentally harassed which led to her committing suicide, it is now being suspected. The post mortem report received yesterday indicates that the cause of death was due to Hypondoenic Cardiogenic Shock as a result of suicidal anti morters burn injury [80-90 per cent]. No arrest has been made so far and the case is under investigation.

Two suicides

GANGTOK, 13 April: Two suicides were reported/ detected in the State on 12 April. In Gyalshing, a 31-year-old man, a resident of lower Chongrang, committed suicide by hanging, while under the Ravangla police station, a 15-year- old boy who had been missing for the past few days, was found to have committed suicide by hanging at Rangla Khasmal on 12 April.

Landslide near source disrupts water supply to capital

SUPPLY EXPECTED TO BE RESTORED BY SATURDAY
GANGTOK, 12 April: Additional Chief Secretary, R Ongmu, chaired a meeting at the Secretariat today to discuss the water supply problem being faced by the people here due to a major slide at 12th km along the Ratey Chu [source] to Selep axis on the night of 10 April damaging and disrupting the raw water transmission lines towards Selep tank water reservoir.
The Additional Chief Secretary took stock of the situation and has directed the concerned department and district administration to gear up to ensure that the people of Gangtok and adjoining areas
who are supplied with water from the Selep tank water reservoir are supplied with safe drinking water. The meeting was also attended by Mayor [Gangtok Municipal Corporation], Councilors, District Collector [East], Superintendent of Police [East] and officers from Water Security and Public Health Engineering Department [WS&PHED].
Thereafter, immediately another meeting to deal with the modalities for the supply of water to Gangtok and adjoining areas was held at the District Control Room situated at MG Marg, Gangtok which was Chaired by KN Topgay [Mayor, GMC]  and attended by the DC [East], SP [East] and the officials of the PHE Department. The officials of the PHE informed about the vehicles already hired by the department for the supply of water to the affected areas. The distribution plan for immediate supply of water to the affected areas was prepared by the officials.
The meeting decided to distribute water Ward wise under monitoring by the respective Councilors and support of the line department of PHE, Police and district administration. These include Arithang [Opposite Rai Cottage], DPH [taxi stand], Upper Sichey [above DC office], Tibet Road [opposite BL house], Syari [beside Cooperative society], Tathangchen [Guards ground], Kazi Road [above Assembly], Baluwakhani [Forest Colony Road], Lower Sichey [below MB Thapa’s house], Lall Bazaar [besides Denzong Cinema Hall], Development Area [Super Market], Burtuk [besides Vajra Cinema Hall], Chandmari [Taxi Stand], Deorali [opposite Forest Secretariat], Daragoan [Convey Ground], Tadong [opposite Sikkim Manipal] and Gangtok Bazaar at MG Marg and New Market. Total number of 21 vehicles has been deployed for the supply of water including 04 from the Army and 02 from Airport Authority of India [AAI], Pakyong, it was informed.
Addressing the press after the meeting the officials informed that the restoration of the pipe line started since the morning of 11 April and the work is still going on. At the present pace the restoration work is likely to be restored by the evening of 13 April whereas the normal supply of water is expected to begin only by the evening of 14 April.
It was also informed that the distribution of water through trucks and tanks will be continued till the normal distribution of water from the PHE pipeline is restored and additional trucks and tanks will be requisitioned in case of requirement. The District Administration has requested the consumers to make judicious use of water and to properly boil the water for drinking purpose. It has also asked the consumers to contact the Control Room on its number 03592-204995 to ensure adequate supply of water in their locality.
Additional Chief Engineer, WS&PHE Department, TT Bhutia speaking to NOW! stated that adequate men and machinery has been already deployed in the slide area to restore the damaged raw water
mains.
The slide that took place on the night of 10 April at Charcharay Khola has damaged a total of six raw water pipelines and currently to suffice the immediate need of the people the department is using flexible pipes which were procured last year during the earthquake for temporary supply of water.
The department considering the health of the people has also used chlorine liquid in the water being temporarily distributed through trucks, in the meanwhile the department has requested the general
public to boil the water before consuming it for their own safety.

Shortage of teachers plagues North Sikkim schools

PUBLIC AND PANCHAYAT BLAME INDISCRIMINATE TRANSFERS FOR PRESENT PREDICAMENT
MANGAN, 12 April: Several schools in North District are facing acute shortage of teachers which is affecting the timely coverage of the school syllabus. The Secondary and JHS schools which are located in remote areas are struggling to provide quality education. The public and panchayat from different GPUs expressed their dissatisfaction with the HRDD for not being able to provide teaching staff as per the requirement. Some schools have still not been able to start the syllabus in some subjects owing to the shortage of teaching staff.
The problem, people here contend, stems from teachers opting for transfers to urban areas to suit their convenience. The SMC, public and the panchayats express that the Department should at least check the status and teacher strength at the school and consult the SMC before granting such transfers. They further expressed that there should be some provision of replacing the outgoing teacher with a substitute before the transfer orders are issued. As of now the SMC or panchayats have no say in all of this as the transfers are issued by the head office, they added.
“The teachers who come from outside North District do not want to render their services in the village and always opt for transfer in some urban area as per their convenience,” rued one panchayat member while speaking to NOW! The department should give preference to candidates from these areas itself while appointing teachers, expressed some SMC and Panchayats.
This correspondent having met with different panchayats, SMC, Zilla and heads of the schools collected the data for the shortage of teachers. Most of the schools like Tingvong SS, Namprik JHS, Lachen SS, Gor SS, Gnon-Sangdong SS, Mangshilla SS, Ralak JHS do not have enough Math teachers. Mangshila School has large number of students in some of the classes and need to be rearranged into different sections but this is not possible due to lack of teaching staff.
Tingvong SS requires one Math and one Arts teacher, Lachen SS requires Math, Nepali and Hindi teachers, Namprik JHS needs Math and Science teachers, Ralak JHS needs Math and Arts teachers, Mangshila SS need Math, Computer and PET while Sangdong SS and Hee-Gyathang SSS requires an Arts teacher each.
The Gor Secondary School still has only one teacher in the Secondary level when the school actually requires at least seven.

Sikkim’s Dhara Vikas effort bags national award for WWF

GANGTOK, 12 April: The Ground Water Augmentation award of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India was awarded to the Dhara Vikas programme of the state in the NGO category. Minister for Water Resources, Pawan Kumar Bansal presented the award to Priyadarshinee Shrestha, Landscape Coordinator of WWF – India’s Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme based in Gangtok, in a function organized during the World Water Week celebrations at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi today.
A press release informs that WWF-India received this award for their work in supporting the State Government for providing technical support to this programme. Conceptualized in 2008, the Dhara Vikas programme of the Rural Management and Development Department has shown successful results in the revival of dying springs, streams and lakes. WWF – India was nominated by the Government of Sikkim for this award, the release informs.
WWF-India, with the support of People’s Science Institute and SIRD, Karfectaar had facilitated the training component of the programme by providing training to field level functionaries consisting of field facilitators, barefoot engineers and ACFs leading to the development of five master trainers in the state. A total of 45 trainings were organized during a span of 2 years, which enabled successful implementation of the programme at the field level. WWF acknowledges the support of the field facilitators for this programme, who were the main driving force at the implementation level, the release mentions.
This is the 5th national award for MGNREGA programme in the state over recent years.

Addl CS calls emergency meeting to discuss infrastructure status in North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 12 April [IPR]: An emergency meeting was convened by Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary today in the Conference Hall, New Secretariat.
The meeting which focused on the North district issue was attended by the representatives of Border Roads Organization, Reserved Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Food & Civil Supplies Department, STCS and D.C. (North).
The Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary specifically issued directions keeping in mind the oncoming monsoon and that North Sikkim has been shaken by the earth quake of 18th September, 2011. She directed all the officers present in the meeting to ensure on emergency basis to cater to the public of North Sikkim that the necessary services with regard to telecommunication, road networking essential commodities including the supply of LPG and banking facilities should be restored and made available to the public of North Sikkim immediately.
D.C. (North) was specifically directed to tie up with the Officers of Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, Border Road Organization and Food & Civil Supplies Department and to ensure that all essential services are made available to the public of North Sikkim. She also directed Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies to tour North Sikkim and ensure the Buffer Stock of essential commodities are provided in respective godowns.
Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary noted the various problems of BSNL and banking facilities and that of Food & Civil Supplies Department and ensured that their problems would be brought to the notice of the State Government and whatever assistance and support that is required will be taken up through the State Government.

Editorial: Add Border Trade to Tourism Bouquet

If things follow their due course, Border Trade over Nathula will resume in little over a fortnight. The trade has not [even remotely] lived up to its projected glory, but has been vibrant at the local level, with goods keeping shops here well stocked with popular-among-tourist goods. The last few years have seen Tibet in turmoil and that has dampened spirits at the trade marts a bit, but business, whether in the ‘official’ exports from here or the casual imports from the other side, has found its commercial balance. This balance is however very low. And as the State begins the paper work to issue trade passes for local traders to join a new season of border trade, it is necessary that a frank appraisal is undertaken of the whole development. The resumption of trade over Nathula was a big moment for Sikkim, as also Asia’s largest neighbours, but the promise that this trade is pregnant with, remains stillborn.
It is important for Sikkim to go over the pre-reopening projections once again, sift the practical from the hyperbole, study the figures [both, the official ones and the unofficial estimates], sit with the traders, from both sides, and see how this trading can be taken to the next level working within the cramped guidelines of the trade modalities. Coming up is the border trade’s seventh outing and it is about time that everyone concerned accepted that while funding for infrastructure might keep coming for trade-related works, Delhi does not appear too excited about enhancing the items officially allowed for border trade over Nathula. After all, the demand for expanding the list was made on the first year itself and since then, all that Sikkim and its traders have received, are assurances that the request was being considered. On ground, some fast-moving items have even been struck off the tradeable list. It is perhaps time that Sikkim started thinking more outside the box while working within the insensitive list and modalities appended to its border trade. Say for example tourism. Nathula is a big hit with tourists and the Sherathang trade mart is along that route. While this trade mart might not behave like a trading hub, it still has appeal among tourists, offering them a chance for photo-ops with foreigners or bargaining with traders from Tibet. And really, ever since the huge gate replaced the natural pass at Nathula, the place is not really appealing anymore. Surely, some coordination with traders from the other side and involvement of tourism stakeholders from here can make the whole Sherathang experience more than just about bargaining over a Chicago Bulls embossed ‘cowboy’ hat. No rules will be broken if cultural troupes perform there while the trading hours are open. With adequate promotion, this could prove a big hit and earn substantial revenue for everyone allowed. A little prodding, and surely the authorities will allow even foreign tourists to travel up to at least the trade mart at Sherathang. Unfortunately, it is being sidelined with rushed share-jeep tours to Nathula not even stopping over at Sherathang anymore! The tourism potential of Sherathang is an aspect of the border trade that can surely be explored a bit more.
Definitely, if more thought is applied to it, more ways of making the border trade more meaningful for Sikkim can be worked out.