WEDNESDAY, JUNE , 25 ,   2008

GJMM suspends bandh till July 5
Home Minister assures Gorkha leaders of tripartite talks
Bandh has been postponed because of the problems faced by the people of Sikkim: Gurung

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING/GANGTOK, June 24: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) has suspended its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling, which was to start from 6 pm today till July 5.
The announcement came this afternoon even as top leaders of the Morcha met Union Home Secretary, Shivraj Patil requesting him to explore ways of ending the crisis in Darjeeling Hills.
Reports say that the four-member delegation led by GJMM, general secretary Roshan Giri met the Union Home Minister to facilitate tripartite talks, involving the West Bengal Government.
Addressing a public gathering at Chowrasta in Darjeeling today, GJMM president, Bimal Gurung said that the Home Minister has assured for tripartite meeting between the Central Government, GJMM and West Bengal Government. “We are hopeful that the tripartite meeting will bring good news for the people of Darjeeling,” he said.
At the same time, the GJMM president specifically said that the bandh has been suspended keeping in mind the problems faced by the people of Sikkim and not by any kind of pressure tactics of West Bengal and the Central Government.
The present situation in the Centre as well as the exams slated for Hill students made us relax the bandh till July 5, he added.
On the other hand, Mr. Gurung expressed unhappiness over the Sikkim Chief Minister for not raising voice even when students of Sikkim were attacked recently in Siliguri.
From July 7, we will take up our demand in a different day, Mr Gurung said, adding, “all vehicles will write Gl on the number plates.”
He also announced that seven students each from different schools of Darjeeling Hills will take part in the relay hunger strike from June 26, 2008 to drum-up the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State.
A meeting for all the teachers of the schools is also scheduled on June 27 at Gymkhana Club, he said.
GJMM chief further criticized MP, Darjeeling, Dawa Narbula for remaining mum over the Darjeeling issue.
A four-member delegation led by GJMM, general secretary Roshan Giri, who is New Delhi is likely to meet LK Advani this evening. Gorkha leaders and supporters also held a protest rally at Jantar Mantar today. They are also tying to meet leaders of various political parties.
According to reports, the Gorkha leaders are in New Delhi to try and build a consensus. Gorkha leaders have said that Gorkhaland is not only for the Gorkhas because the area they are trying to explain to the government comprises of Darjeeling district, Siliguri and Dooars. “These areas have not only the Gorkhas but also people from all other communities. So what we are trying to tell them is that Gorkhaland is in favour of all the communities,” Morcha leaders said.
Another GJMM team led by central member Amar Lama is in Kolkata today for talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Mr Bhattacharjee earlier sent a letter to GJMM chief inviting him for a dialogue on the Darjeeling issue without any precondition.
GJMM had given 60-hour relaxation on Sunday after they called for indefinite bandh in Darjeeling demanding a separate Gorkhaland.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 24: The Union Defence Secretary, Vijay Singh and the Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta today said that Sikkim has been hit hard due to the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in their demand for separate Gorkhaland.
The five-member delegation of the Secretaries from Government of India, Madhukar Gupta, Union Home Secretary, Vijay Singh, Union Defence Secretary, Bimal Julka, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alok Sinha, Chief Managing Director, Food Corporation of India, and S Sundereshan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was here today to assess the situation in the State that has been on high alert following the Gorkhaland agitation.
“We acknowledge that the State is undergoing a lot of hardship and we will definitely pursue the matter with the West Bengal and Central Government,” Mr. Singh told reporters here today.
With the West Bengal government failing to tackle the blockade of National Highway 31-A that connects Sikkim with the rest of the country, the Centre has been forced to intervene keeping in view security concerns.
The move came after the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in the matter. The indefinite bandh called by the GJMM to demand a separate state has paralyzed life in Sikkim, Darjeeling and neighbouring areas. Blocking of NH 31-A since June 17 has plunged Sikkim into crisis, cutting off supplies like food, medicines, petrol etc.
“In our meeting with the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of West Bengal this evening at Sukna, we will discuss about Sikkim and make sure that the NH 31 A may be opened at any cost,” the Union Defence Secretary said.
A meeting was also held with the Chief Secretary ND Chingapa, Home Secretary, Jasbir Singh, Development Commissioner, GOC 17th Mountain Division, Director General of Police, Secretary, State Food and Civil Supplies Department, Sikkim Nationalized Transport and State Tourism Department here at Chintan Bhawan.
On the other hand, the Defence Secretary did not respond to queries raised over Chinese intrusion in North Sikkim.
The five member delegation also called on the Chief Minister at his official residence at Mintogang this morning.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister said that whenever there is agitation in the neighbouring state, the land-locked State is always sandwiched and, with no fault of Sikkim, the state is made to suffer and victimized due to blockage of NH 31 A, the life line of Sikkim, during frequent bandhs when the flow of essential commodities and movement of vehicles are completely paralyzed.
However, the saddest part, the Chief Minister said, is the lack of feeling on the part of both the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal which have been completely ignoring the plight of this sensitive border state during such bandhs for the last 22 years. The Chief Minister further told the Central team that apart from ensuring the flow of traffic in the NH 31-A, immediate arrangements should be made to ensure the smooth movement of students in different schools and colleges and also provide additional 10-seater helicopter.
The Chief Minister also informed that the NH 31 A is the only route connecting Sikkim to the rest of the country which passes through Darjeeling district in West Bengal which is the main supply route and there is no rail link and air link except five seater helicopter service. He further informed that the state is landlocked which is surrounded by foreign countries on three sides and have no any alternate exit and that the Government of India may take an appropriate step to resolve the problems of the state and its people with better solution.
The Union Home Secretary told the Chief Minister that the day the recent agitation began in the neighboring state, all level of Officers were seized of the problem being faced by Sikkim and the main objective of their visit to Sikkim just now is to asses the gravity of situation, to ensure that the blockade of road is removed and smooth flow of essential commodities and movement of traffic resumed. Informing the Chief Minister, he said that after this meeting there will be another meeting on the subject with the Chief Secretary of West Bengal in the evening at Bagdogra. He assured to resolve the situations through different approaches as soon as possible.
Similarly, the Defence Secretary told the Chief Minister that during their meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior State Government Officer they will try to assess the extent of the current problem and devise ways and means to neutralize the current impasse. He said that the bandh is not correct and Government of India does everything which is possible to ensure that the bandh do not affect the people of Sikkim.
The Union Home Secretary said that the centre is fully aware of the discomfort of the people of Sikkim and reassured the Chief Minister that they are fully committed to ensure that the free flow of traffic is not disrupted.
The Chief Minister further said that the state extends all co-operation and support to the centre and the centre also should look after this small, peaceful State of Sikkim where people are working as unpaid soldiers in this sensitive border state.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 24: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce has expressed their gratitude to Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) for the withdrawal of the bandh up to July 5, 2008.
In a press release issued today, SK Sarda, president, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce has congratulated the leadership of the Morcha for the appropriate decision taken to relax the bandh in the region including Sikkim.
The Chamber of Commerce has also congratulated the editorial team of the newspapers in Sikkim, which reflected on the problem and helped in easing the blockade.
They further hoped that good sense will prevail among all and the matter will be solved in the most democratic way.

Our Correspondent
PAKYONG, June 24: The Area MLA of Lossing-Pacheykhani, Manita Manger along with the Secretary of the State Public Welfare Department and Junior Engineer from the State Public Works Department, Pakyong sub-division visited Basilakha Busty of Lower Namcheybong, to inspect the condition of the newly constructed road from Lal turning to Basilakha Busty which was sanctioned by the PWD.
The road has been badly hit by frequent rains and landslides hindering the movement of vehicles.
During the visit, the Secretary assured that the road will be cleared within a week and that the order of the clearance of the roads will be sent to the Pakyong Sub-division office so that the work can be executed at the earliest.
Initially, the road leading up to Basilakha Primary school will be opened only for light vehicles.
The Secretary also informed that next year the road will be connected to National Highway 31-A for which a concrete Bridge will have to be made over Singtam Khola.
The compensation for the land of the said road construction has been received by the affected people, the Secretary said.
Meanwhile, the villagers are hopeful that the road condition will improve soon.

“Demand of Gorkhaland is an issue between West Bengal & Central Govt and Sikkim has nothing to say on the subject”

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 24: The Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, KT Gyaltsen yesterday said that the demand of Gorkhaland is an issue between West Bengal and the Central Government and that Sikkim has nothing to say on the subject.
Mr. Gyaltsen was speaking as one of the panelists in the hour-long programme in a live television show yesterday evening.
“We just want our people not to suffer due to the bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM),” he said.
In the panel discussion, the political secretary said that the State has undergone tremendous loss in terms of revenue and business during the past few days due to the bandh.
At the same time, he assured that Sikkim would remain unaffected by it henceforth.
Others in the panel discussion were members from organizations such as Restaurant and Hotel Associations, Travel Agents Associations of Sikkim, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce and the media.
Rajesh Lakhotia of Hotel and Restaurants Association said that all the hotels in the State have zero occupancy thus hampering the hotel business largely.
SK Sarda, the President of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce pointed out that the business in Sikkim has been affected due to the blockade of the National Highway 31-A.
“Tourism considered the backbone of Sikkim’s economy never witnessed such a drop in the business, said SK Pradhan, the President of TAAS.
Ashok Chaterjee, Editor, Sikkim Reporter and also one of the panelists in the show reminded about similar situation in the year 1986 when the indefinite strike for 40 days was called by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and how the people of Sikkim suffered.
All the panelists were of the opinion that the State, known for its peace and tranquility should not bear the brunt of the bandh called in the Darjeeling Hills.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 24: The State Rural Management and Development Department (RM&DD) is harnessing the potential of latest development in the field of Space Enabled Technologies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) jointly with the department of Science and Technology and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in setting up of Space Technology Enabled Village Resource Centres (VRC) in 16 newly created Block Administrative Centres (BAC), which is currently underway.
A press release issued by the RM&DD informs that the VRC programme will enable digital connectivity for video conferencing and information transfer.
It further informs that the VRC programme will disseminate the portfolio of service emanating from the space systems as well as other information Technology (IT) tools, directly down-the-line to the rural communities.
“The VRCs essential have digital connectivity (for videoconferencing and information transfer) with knowledge centres and specialty healthcare provides-enabled via INSAT satellite; spatial information on natural resources generated using IRS data; a host of information pertaining to management of nature resources and socio-economic relevance; and facilities for primary healthcare services and distance education. With involvement of the stakeholders, VCRs will catalyze rural entrepreneurship; and facilitate e-Governance and other services of social relevance,” the release informs.
Besides, an in-house study has been initiated by the Department using GIS to examine and illustrate the basic features of relative poverty in the state including its extent, distribution and locations of relative poverty hotspots depicted through poverty maps.
This will help to target the poorest Gram Panchayat Wards (GPW) in the development programs of the state. The source of information for this study was the State Household Socio-economic Census, DESME, 2005 and Census of India, 2001. Out of the 905 Gram Panchayat Wards having 19, 235 poor households, 11 Panchayat had 0% poverty incidence wards, 389 Panchayat wards had 0-20% poverty incidence, 383 Panchayat wards had 20-40% poverty incidence, 111 Panchayat wards had 40-60% poverty incidence (3854 poor households), and 11 panchayat wards had 60-80% poverty incidence (487 poor households). Of these 122 gram panchayat wards with greater than 40% poverty rate, 9 are in north district, , 15 in east district, 44 in south district and 54 in west district.
The Government has given the go ahead to lay special emphasis on these 122 Gram Panchayat Wards with more than 40% poverty rate in existing developmental programmes as well as to initiate special programmes to support these poorest Gram Panchayat Wards.
Sikkim has now become amongst the few states in the country to use scientific poverty mapping based in GIS to target the developmental programmes of the state, to bring about a more equitable and balanced development.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 24: The State Bank of India has added another feather to its cap by initiating a scheme for meritorious students. It has extended monetary assistance to ten deserving students from Tashi Namgyal Higher Secondary School for their brilliant performance in class XII CBSE Board examination. Three students from Science, Commerce and Humanities respectively were awarded certificates of merit along with a savings account and ATM Cards with an initial deposit of Rs 1001, which would prove helpful for further studies.
The students from Science stream are Trilok Bhattarai, Sagar Deep Rai, Sudipto Karangar and Govinda Dahal. From the commerce section Gaurav Agarwal, Bunty Sharma and Mukesh Gargh while Saroj Chettri, Vikram Pradhan and Hari Bahadur Chhetri were from Humanities stream.
This scheme has been launched under SBI Talent Awards 2008. The Bank has also announced interest free educational loans up to the sum of Rs 4 lakh.
PT Sherpa, Regional Manager of SIB stressed on the need for students to come out of their comfort zone and take a step towards a brighter future by hard work and dedication. TB Chettri, the Principal of TNHS School also congratulated and expressed gratitude to the authorities of SBI for selecting his school for the honour. The parents of the ten students were also felicitated by the Bank authorities.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 24: Former minister, KN Upreti has said that the recommendation and adoption of Prof BK Roy Burman Commission for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plan and Programme (CRESP) is erroneous and is against the special constitutional provisions as contained in Article 371(F) which guarantees the rights of ethnic Sikkimese.
Mr. Upreti, who is also the chief coordinator of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of opposition parties said that the CRESP report is confusing, an eyewash to the people and devoid of any sensible preposition except to divert people’s attention from the burning issue of providing seats to Limboo-Tamang community.
“Inclusion of Prof Roy Burman Commission dilutes the constitutional provisions of Article 371(F) and attempts to further erode the safeguards and identity of the ethnic Bhutia/Lepcha/Nepali of Sikkimese origin,” Mr. Upreti said in a press release.
He further said that to club the ethnic Sikkimese of Nepali origin in the Tribal category is a retrograde measure and is no solution to accommodate Limboo-Tamangs, who already stand notified as Tribals.
According to him, both the resolutions, Resolution No 9 & 4 placed in the recent Assembly session contradict each other. “In Resolution No 9, Prof. Roy Burman Commission’s Report proposes to bring all ethnic Sikkimese Nepalese into Tribal category while Resolution No. 4 seeks ST status for most backward communities (Gurung, Kirat, Khambu Rai, Mangar, Bhujel, Sunwar, Jogi and Thami, Yakha and Dewan),” the release adds.
The former minister has also demanded that the State Government should forward only the resolution that it is sincere about than fool the innocent people of Sikkim.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 24: A meeting of Sikkim Sub-ordinate Accounts Service Association was held under the presidentship of KB Gurung here today.
During the meeting, various grievances of the association were discussed to be placed government for consideration.
In a press release, the association has not only expressed happiness over the exemption of Central Income Tax to Sikkim Subject holders but has also thanked the Chief Minister for his efforts for the same.
The association has also wished the Chief Minister happiness and success in his life.

TUESDAY, JUNE , 24 ,   2008

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 23: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, called a meeting at his official residence in Mintokgang here today morning.
The meeting was called to review the stock position of essential commodities in the State and devise ways and means to replenish the depleted stock of various items resulting from the ongoing indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the Darjeeling Hills and the closure of the National Highway 31A.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary ND Chingapa, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Finance Secretary, Home Secretary, Development Commissioner, Food Secretary, Managing Director, STCS and the Principal Secretary and the Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister.
During the meeting, the concerned officers apprised the Chief Minister about the State’s storage capacity of Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel which are 255 KL and 875 KL respectively, enough to last only two days, 780 KL of Kerosene Oil to last only for 3 days and 10,700 MT of Wheat/Rice (including PDS & Open) in FCI Godown and almost equivalent capacity in the State Food Godowns, enough to last two months.
The Chief Minister has already discussed the latest situation arising out of the indefinite bandh called by the GJMM with the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patel over the phone on June 22 and 23 followed by an official letter. He directed the concerned officers to take advantage of the relaxation in the bandh and also arrange the stocks of essential commodities to its full capacity. He also asked the officers to work out the modalities to put the operational mechanism in ground to ensure continuous flow of essential commodities even after the resumption of the bandh.
In this connection, it may be noted that the Chief Minister had also requested the Union Home Minister to take all necessary steps at the earliest including issue of explicit, unambiguous and workable instructions to the Government of West Bengal and the Army to ensure regular flow of traffic along National Highway 31A so that the supply of essential commodities to the State is ensured and the people do not feel a sense of alienation, particularly in view of the recent developments in North Sikkim.
Meanwhile, a high level team of officials consisting of Union Home Secretary, Union Defence Secretary, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Managing Director, Indian Oil Corporation will be reaching Gangtok tomorrow and hold a meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior State Government Officers on the latest situation. The Central delegation will also call on the Chief Minister.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 23: The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party observed its 16th Kranti Diwas across the State as Vijay Diwas on June 22.
Candles were lit in all the places including Gangtok while candlelight rallies were carried out in the respective Panchayat wards yesterday evening. This was organised as a gesture to thank the Chief Minister for the exemption of Central Income Tax for the locals.
20 Pathing observed the day by hoisting 108 holy flags and lighting the butter lamps. The women party workers also thanked the Chief Minister for providing 40% seat reservation for women in the Panchayat and Municipal elections.
Similarly, Rhenock constituency observed Kranti Diwas by organizing rallies, which was participated by the people of the respective Panchayat wards. The rally was led by the Area MLA, Bhim Dhungel.
In all the meetings, the party workers vowed to work according to the principle and the ethics of the party, informs the press release issued from the party head office.
The day was also observed at Bering under the Linkey Tareythang Gram Panchayat Unit, Rhenock constituency in a grand manner where more than 500 people were present.
In the programme, general secretary of SDF, East District Committee, BB Subba was presented as the chief guest. Cultural programme and quiz competitions also featured on the day.
In his address, Mr. Subba explained the public about the Kranti Diwas. He highlighted on the present Government’s progressive activities undertaken for the benefit of the rural people. He also informed about the vision and the plans of the present government for the welfare of the people of Sikkim.
Also present were members of Zilla level committee, members of Zilla Panchayat, Gram Panchayats among others.

45, 000 depositors & 700 agents in Sikkim reportedly duped of Rs 12 crore

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 23: After Bharosa and Tina Finlease, Sidhee has come under public scanner.
At least 45, 000 depositors and 700 agents across the State are finding their ways to get back their money, which they had deposited in Sidhee, a financial agency running in the State since the past ten years.
The depositors and the agents feel they have been duped and cheated by the board of directors after collecting nearly Rs 12 crore from its shareholders.
In a press conference organised here today, hapless-looking depositors and agents informed that the entire documents and the articles of Sidhee were fake.
Troubled by the loss, the depositors and the agents have appealed the State Government to intervene into the matter.
Prem Chettri, the branch in charge of the company told the media that the Managing Director, Sher Bahadur Gurung has deceived them in every aspect and is presently absconding.
After an FIR lodged by one of the shareholders in Mangan on February, earlier this year, the Managing Director was arrested by the Police and was later released by the court on anticipatory bail, it is learnt.
The matter has also been reported to the heads of the State Home, Law and Land Revenue Departments and also to the Director General of Police, DGP, IG and DIG.
“As a tactic to build the trust, the agents after being briefed about the company were told to collect Sikkim Subjects before issuing the license by the MD,” said one of the agents.
Confused and troubled, the agents said they have no idea about the exact amount left in the company account at present.
It was also informed that Sidhee Company does not possess any documents from the Reserve
Bank of India as far as collecting public money is concerned.
It was also known that the company owns no movable or immovable property in its account.
Sidhee was formed in the year 1999 and has acquired its registration from the State Land Revenue Department.
At the same time, the depositors revealed that the Board of Directors had prepared two fake memorandums to deceive the people.
“We just want the transparency in the maintenance of the accounts. We also want to know as to how much asset the company has so far from the two nominated directors, Prakash Gurung and PS Subba,” demanded KB Rai, one of the depositors.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 23: All Sikkim Government Drivers Association has extended their gratitude to the Chief Minister for his efforts in exempting Central Income Tax for the Sikkim Subjects.
“With the exemption of the Central direct taxes to the Sikkim Subject holders, the Government employees are the ones who are hugely benefited,” a press release issued by CB Rai, the president of the association said.
The release further states that the people are reaping the benefits due to the dynamic leadership and vision of the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
The association has also wished him success and happiness for his future endeavours.

SILIGURI, June 23: A meeting with all the managers of banks in North Bengal and Sikkim including NABARD, on the progress of banks on waiving of loans under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for farmers in North Bengal and Sikkim was held today at NHPC Guest House, Siliguri.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.
During a press conference, the Minister informed that this is the second and final review meeting for the identification of farmers of North Bengal, Hill areas of Darjeeling and Sikkim to get benefit under this scheme. He said the Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme was announced during the budget speech for 2008-09 by the Finance Minister and the work is going on. He informed that 95% of the work is completed in plain area and Sikkim and work is pending in hill areas due to bandh etc.
However, the banks of Darjeeling hill areas are working to maintain the deadline on June 30, 2008. The Minister said he would approach the Prime Minister and Finance Minister in case the deadline is not feasible in the hill areas of Darjeeling district due to the present situation. He said, poultry farmers who are affected up to March 31, 2008 will come under this scheme. Land development bank and Self Help Group under agriculture development up to December 31, 2007 will get benefit under this scheme.
He emphasized all the eligible farmers will be covered under this scheme and list of the beneficiaries will be displayed on June 30, 2008 in all the banks to avoid intermediaries role.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the performance of banks in North Bengal and Sikkim and the Field Officers and extended congratulation to all the banks in West Bengal and Sikkim for completion of 95% survey. (PIB)

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 23: A three-day long training camp to train investigators in concepts and definitions for the forthcoming 65th National Sample Survey (NSS) for survey on ‘Domestic Tourism, Housing Condition and Urban Slums was inaugurated by SBS Bhaduria, State Tourism Secretary here today.
In his inaugural address, the Secretary urged the survey investigators at the regional training camp to find out how much has the tourism industry contributed to the local populace in terms of generation of employment opportunities and at the same time to explore the potential of the same industry as the highest revenue earning source in the State.
Citing examples of about 500 locals being presently employed in the tourism sector at famous tourist spots Like Tsomgo Lake and Baba Harbhajan Mandir, the State Tourism Secretary said Sikkim tourism has generated substantial employment opportunities for the people in the State.
He also briefed the gathering about an overwhelming increase in the annual tourist inflow from 1 lakh and 75 thousand in 2003 to 3 lakhs and 50 thousand last year in 2007. Mr. Bhaduria further informed that the month of May this year recorded a tourist inflow at 72,000 in comparison to 62,000 last year and added that the inflow of international tourists too has doubled since for the last five years.
“Owing to the fact that the prime focus of Sikkim tourism is chiefly on village tourism, adventure and eco-tourism, I would urge the survey investigators if they could find out whether or not people residing in rural hamlets across in the state has the potential to develop in the trio aspects of tourism, he further said.
Regardless of the fact that Sikkim can well boast of bountiful exotic and beautiful tourist destinations but it still lacks in terms of tourist amenities. The Tourism Department will however ensure that it will cater to adequate facilities for the tourists in particular in the coming five years from now, he added.
The hour-long inaugural function was also addressed by SD Tshering, Director, Directorate of Economic and Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Tshering stated that tourism industry affected the lives of people in the State in every possible and little ways. Referring to the recent indefinite strike in the Darjeeling Hills and along the 31 National Highway, he stated that Sikkim had to bear the brunt of the bandh with a revenue loss of Rs 7 crores each day.
The two most important sectors in tourism industry-transport and hotel lost Rs1 crore each on a daily basis during the course of the strike, he informed.
Referring to the rumour of the hotel industry in Sikkim employing greater number of non-locals for work, he termed all such rumours as baseless and untrue. According to him the initial survey carried out by DESME in this regard has found out those hotels in the state employed 50 % each from within and outside the state.
He was in all praise for the Tourism Department for having contributed immensely for the GDP growth of the state. We at DESME is looking forward to collection of quality and accurate data in the 65th round of NSS, ear-marked for survey on ‘Domestic Tourism, Housing Condition and Urban Slums, which would prove useful both to the Sikkim government and the common masses, he rounded off.
Earlier, D Mukhopadhyay, Director, NSSO (Field Operation Division), Gangtok in his welcome address highlighted that NSS, set up by the Indian Government in 1950 to collect socio-economic data employing scientific methods, which is all set to start its 65th round from July 1 this year. The survey will continue up to June 30, 2009.
The forthcoming round of survey which is ear-marked for survey especially on ‘Domestic Tourism’ will cover the various facets of domestic tourism in a comprehensive manner.
Mr. Mukhopadhyay also spoke in length about the importance of tourism in Indian economy in terms of generating employment in various industries like in hospitality, handicrafts and transport services to name a few. Besides it also uniquely serves the purpose of maintenance of familial and social bonds, which is a great Indian tradition.
It may be mentioned here that the data to be collected through the schedule designed to collect information on domestic tourism will provide a comprehensive assessment of household characteristics in relation to domestic tourism both in Sikkim and in India.
Provision has been made in the schedule to collect information from the selected households about some of the household characteristics such as household MPCE, social group, household type, number of overnight and same day trips made by the household during the last 30 years and last 365 days, whether any NRI visited the household during last year ( i.e. 365 days). Furthermore, information on some of the demographic particulars of the household members will also be collected, such as educational level, usual principal status, industry and occupation. Detailed information about the overnight trips and same day trips will be collected as well as expenditure made by the household members related to the trip.
In his address, the Director maintained that success of collection of a quality data depends highly on the understanding of various concepts and definitions of the terms used in the schedules to be canvassed in the 65th round.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 23: The Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the recommendation of Prof BK Roy Burman Commission for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plan and Programme (CRESP) as divisive, outside the preview of both Articles 371F and 332 of the Constitution of India and suppressing the legitimate right of Limboo-Tamang to contest from reserved seats of Scheduled Tribe in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
In a party press release, the general secretary CB Chettri has explained the ‘divisive’ feature of the report, particularly because of its recommendation to have two Assembly seats reserved for Sangha - one for Bhutia- Lepcha Buddhist monk and another for Tamang - Gurung Buddhist monk. “To carve out a constituency another for Tamang - Gurung Buddhist monk is to divide the Buddhists in two groups,” the release points out.
He further said that the recommendation of 12 seats for Bhutia-Lepcha, two seats for Sangha, two seats for Scheduled Castes, 20 seats for Scheduled Tribes and four for General making 40 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly is neither in conformity to the provision of Article 332 nor of Article 371F (f) of the Constitution of India nor the combination of both.
“It took nearly over 30 years for Limboo-Tamang to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribe. If one is to go by Prof BK Roy Burman Commission recommendation, they will have to wait for years or decade together to get their seats reserved as Scheduled Tribe in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly because the inclusion of Rai, Yakha, Sunuwar, Mangar, Gurung, Bhujel, Jogi, Chettri, Bahun Newar etc. may not be reality before the election of 2009 in view of the Commission’s own acceptance that the Government of India has taken a policy decision not to include any caste in the list of Scheduled Tribe,” the release adds.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 23: The Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRPP) has accused the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) of “forcing” the common people to participate in the party’s Kranti Diwas rally organised recently in the State.
In a press release issued today, the SHRPP has alleged that the main function of Kranti Diwas, which was attended by the party president in its head office failed to grab maximum party workers.
Terming the celebration a total failure, the opposition has alleged that the SDF party also forced the students, teachers and government employees to carry the party flags and to participate in the rally.
“The Chief Minister also made vague assurances to the people on the occasion of Kranti Diwas,” the release further alleges.

MONDAY, JUNE , 23 ,   2008

Our Correspondent
RANGPO, June 22: Petrol pumps in Rangpo are facing severe fuel crisis due to the bandh called in the Darjeeling hills by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM). Most of these petrol pumps have been putting up ‘no stock’ signs since yesterday.
The Petrol pump dealers say they are helpless, as there is no supply due to the Highway closure.
SNT tankers escorted by ITBP personals could not enter the border town as the GJMM picketers slept on the Highway and blocked the tankers’ passage twice today.
More then 500 women and youth morcha members cordoned the stretch on the West Bengal side beyond the Rangpo bridge shouting slogans in demand for a separate Gorkhaland State.
Although a senior officer of ITBP, Phurba Sherpa requested the Morcha supporters to allow them to go, Lokesh Chettri, GJMM Rangpo (West Bengal) in turn requested the SNT officials not to pressurize them with such requests.
A Sikkim Police vehicle plying up to Jorethang was also stopped by the picketers.
Mr. Chettri also requested the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling to initiate talks with the Centre on the Gorkhaland demand.

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 22: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) relaxed its indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills for 60 hours beginning 6 pm today.
The 60-hour breather, from 6 pm today till 6 am on Wednesday (June 25), was decided at the central committee meeting at the “request from different quarters including ministers and MPs and also considering the overall situation.”
Talking to reporters here today, Bimal Gurung, the president of GJMM said that the bandh has been relaxed after persistent request from the Union Ministers as well as because of several students, who have been stranded in hostels across the Darjeeling Hills even after the start of their summer vacation.
He further announced that all the schools, colleges and tea gardens, which were running despite the strike, would now be totally closed from Wednesday onwards.
A team headed by Roshan Giri, the General Secretary of the Morcha would be going to New Delhi for talks with the Central leaders on the issue of Gorkhaland, he informed.
Benoy Tamang, publicity secretary said the blockade of the National Highway 31A, linking Siliguri to Gangtok, would be lifted during the relaxation period enabling resumption of vital supply of essential commodities to Sikkim.
The indefinite bandh demanding for a separate Gorkhaland State had started on June 16 this month.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 22: The Central Government has finally responded to the SOS sent by the State Government over difficulties faced by Sikkim due to the indefinite bandh in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills and the closure of National Highway 31A.
In response to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s letter to the Prime Minister written on June 20, 2008 highlighting the State’s problems, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil has expressed his “deep concern over the situation.”
According to an IPR press communiqué, the Union Home Minister spoke to Mr. Chamling over the phone this morning during which he assured the Chief Minister full cooperation and assistance for the safe movement of essential commodities to Sikkim.
“Mr. Patil informed that he is taking up the matter immediately with the West Bengal Government for making arrangements for the movement of essential commodities in convoys under central para military forces/Army with magisterial support to Sikkim without any disruption to avoid any inconvenience to the people of Sikkim,” the press release reads.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 22: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that he will try and apply the Ladakh model for the exemption of Central Income Tax for other business communities residing in the State for a long time.
He was speaking on the occasion of the Sampoorna Kranti Diwas at the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Bhawan here today.
Illustrating that the Ladakh model is a provision through which the business communities of Ladakh have been exempted from the Central Tax, the Chief Minister said that he is trying to study its implementation by collecting all the relevant information. “Once the study gets over, I shall take the subject to the Central Government,” he said.
At the same time, the CM expressed his resentment over the low response of the State Government employees regarding exemption of Central Income Tax for the Sikkim Subjects.
He further reminded the business communities to prepare a cut-off year, which was long overdue and the State Government had been reminding them for a while now.
“The business communities in the State should show a sense of commitment towards their rights,” the CM said.
Speaking over the Professor Burman Report, Mr. Chamling said that the Report was in favour of all the Sikkimese people residing in the State.
Comparing the business communities of Sikkim with Darjeeling, the Chief Minister said that the businessmen in Sikkim enjoy more facilities than those from any other State of the country.
Speaking on Kranti Diwas, Mr. Chamling said the day marked his 16 years of going underground during the regime of former SSP government led by Nar Bahadur Bhandari during which he was persecuted and tortured.
“Kranti means revolution of good thoughts and the zeal to bring positive changes in the society. The Sikkimese people are today enjoying the fruit of that Kranti.”
Earlier, Menlom Lepcha, Minister, Sikkim Nationalized Transport, while addressing the gathering, said that the Income Tax exemption is the biggest gift from the SDF party to the people of Sikkim.
Later, the Chief Minister also released a book ‘Kranti Path’ written by Kiran Chettri.
Others to address the gathering were DB Thapa, NK Pradhan and Mohan Dhungmali.

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 22: The indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills called by Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) and the subsequent harassment to the people of Sikkim due the closure of the National Highway 31A has the Sikkimese people questioning about the rationale and logic behind this treatment against them.
A prominent GJMM leader, when contacted by SIKKIM EXPRESS get the records straight, said that they had “nothing personal” against Sikkim and its people but the fight was for a “greater common goal.”
“We are fighting for our cause within our own region. However, we want Sikkim to take up the issue with the Centre. At least, Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling can put pressure on the Centre on accepting our demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland,” he said.
“We have our sympathy for Sikkim and its people,” he added.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 22: The State Government has said that the concerned Departments have been working round the clock to maintain and ensure availability of essential commodities including petroleum products and strict vigilance is kept to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
According to a press release issued by the IPR department, the State Government has reacted to articles written by local writers in some local dailies expressing opinions based on their assessment of the current situation created in Sikkim due to the indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM). The State Food and Civil Supplies Department has responded to these allegations by saying that the writers have given a negative picture citing lack of concern shown by the concerned authorities in these unprecedented circumstances.
The release mentions that rationing of petroleum products are being enforced since June 10, 2008 as a result, most of the petrol pumps are still providing fuels to the public.
“The concerned authorities have been successful in persuading the political parties in the neighbouring Darjeeling District to allow LPG tankers to the State and there is no shortage of cooking gas in the State at present. In addition, strategic reserves of petroleum products are being maintained to meet unforeseen and emergency situations. Similarly, the stock of PDS foodgrains in the FCI Depots and Government Food Godowns are enough to meet the needs of the people falling under PDS for at least one month. Besides this, the authorities were able to persuade the Merchant Association to take advantage of the three day bandh relaxation by bring in maximum quantity of open market food grains and other provisions,” the release reads.
The State Government has further requested everyone concerned “not to panic and restrain from going to the Press without the knowledge of the exact situation.”

SUREN MOHRA
NAMCHI, June 22: The National Highway 31A blockade by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), spearheading an agitation for a separate Gorkhaland State has affected normal life here with the only petrol pump running dry.
The South District headquarter is facing severe shortage of petrol and diesel from today, since the only petrol pump situated at Jorethang is closed from today morning because of shortage of fuel in the pump thus resulting into a massive problem.
According to sources, the operator of the petrol pump here was allowed to provide the District Administration vehicles with more than 15 liters at a time while other vehicles, some even ambulances carrying serious patients out of Namchi received fuel only after the authorization from the District administration.
‘Driving is our means of livelihood and due to the shortage of fuel, we are not been able to provide for our family,” a group of local taxi drivers told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
They have further requested the District administration and the concerned department to work towards the restoration of NH 31A for the welfare of the people of the State.
Even the local taxi services were affected due to the shortage of fuel.
There were, however, no reports of shortage of food grains under the PDS till today. “The State Food and Civil Supplies Department is providing the necessary food grains and other essentail items to the public without any harassment,” a local customer said.
Officials said that there is enough stock of rice, flour, pulses, kerosene oil and mustard oil enough for the people of the District for the next few weeks. There is good stock of LPG as well, it is learnt.

Our Correspondent
NAMCHI, June 22: The Sampoorna Kranti Diwas was today celebrated in all the Gram Panchayat Units in the South District as per the direction and guidelines of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) high command.
All the shops and houses here were decorated with flowers, banana stumps and colourful lights.
In all the programmes held at various places, the message of the party president and Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling was read out.
After the Panchayat level and ward level celebrations, the public of Namchi (Singhithang Constituency) gathered here at the Baichung Stadium and conducted a mass rally from District Administrative Centre, Namchi bazaar before coming to the same venue.
The rally headed by Gagan Rai, president, district working committee was participated by Ravi Chandra Gurung, Zilla Adakshya, South, Himal Tamang, Zilla Upa Adakshya, South, youth president Deepak Rai, youth convener Raju Pakhrin, cheli convener, members of the youth and other party supporters.
In the evening, every household lighted candles in front of their houses, which was followed by a mass ‘Rakey Julus’ in the bazaar premises by the members of the District Level Committee members, Youths and the other party workers.
The day was also celebrated at different constituencies like Melli, Temi- Tarku, Joretheng, Ralong, Rateypani and Wok.

SATURDAY, JUNE , 21 ,   2008

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 20: Following incessant rains over the past two days, a portion of the newly constructed footpath, near 7th Mile near Ranipool along the National Highway 31A was washed away this morning.
The force of the flowing rain water almost hit the house of one Kala Chettri, which is located just below the footpath.
The Sub Divisional Magistrate, East AB Karki and other officials from the State Public Heath Engineering Department and Rural Management and Development Department today visited the site.
“After a thorough inspection, we have declared the zone as unsafe,” the SDM told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
A cow belonging to Ms Chettri was slight injured with the stones brought down by the slides.
No casualties were reported.
“We heard a loud sound as if the entire footpath was falling above our house,” the house owner said.
Likewise, the torrential rains also washed away the pedestrian footpath joining DPH and Hospital Dara last night.
“Heaps of garbage is dumped into the jhora by the residents in this stretch as a result of which the landslide had occurred,” the SDM said.

Our Correspondent
GANGTOK/RANGPO, June 20: Sikkim remained cut off from the rest of the country for the fifth consecutive day today due to the ongoing blockade on National Highway 31-A called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) to press for its demand for a separate Gorkhaland demand.
Except for ambulance, press, vehicles carrying students and vehicles carrying LPG cylinders, no other vehicles are permitted to ply from Rangpo, West Bengal side.
The State may not be affected with the shortage of LPG as more than 15 trucks carrying LPG cylinders entered in two days from Rangpo Checkpost.
Yesterday, an SNT tanker was not allowed to pass as the Morcha picketers slept on the Highway.
Meanwhile, a huge rally was organized today at Rangpo, West Bengal side where more then 500 youth and Nari Morcha members shouted slogans for the fulfillment of their demand for a separate State.
Morcha supporters today hinted that the indefinite bandh, which started from last Monday, is expected to continue for 45 days.

GANGTOK, June 20: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, in continuation to his letter dated June 12, 2008, has once again written a strong reminder to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh pointing out the difficult times the State is facing due to the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha and the closure of the National Highway 31A.
In his letter, the Chief Minister has informed about various problems faced by the people of Sikkim with no fault of the people of the State, especially the students seeking admissions in various colleges in different parts of the country and serious patients in need of urgent medical attention in metropolitan cities are experiencing untold difficulties.
The Chief Minister has further stated that apart from the extent of monetary loss on the economy of the State daily, the feeling of isolation of the State in a sensitive region is also immeasurable.
Mr. Chamling has also drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to this serious problem and requested his help to open the National Highway 31A, so that the transport of food and other essential commodities to Sikkim and movement of passengers, especially the students and patients, is not hindered. (IPR)

Bandh impact
State Govt condemns allegations of indifference; says it is taking adequate measures

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 20: The State Government has strongly refuted the news item published in some section of the local vernacular newspapers alleging that the State Government has failed to check hoarding, black-marketing of essential commodities like Rice, Sugar, Kerosene, LPG etc during the go-going indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
An IPR press release states that the State Government has taken adequate measures and is closely monitoring the supply of essential commodities as well as ensuring that there is no hoarding and black-marketing taking place.
Further, the State Government has also issued an order where a team of officials have been detailed for effective implementation of the rationing order. “They have been closely monitoring the supply of essential commodities on a day to day basis,” the release informs.

Burman Committee Report is in favour of Sikkimese people: PS Goley
“20 seats reserved for ST in the State Legislative Assembly means the reservation for LTs”

Staff Reporter
CHAKUNG, June 20: The State Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, PS Goley today said that the opposition parties and few social organizations are misleading the people of Sikkim by misinterpreting the contents of the Prof BK Roy Burman Committee report for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plans and Programmes (CRESP).
While addressing a meeting here today, Mr. Goley said that the CRESP report is the best solution to provide equal political rights for all the three ethnic communities in Sikkim.
The Minister also pointed out that the 20 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribe in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly means the reservation for Limboo and Tamangs. “Providing seat reservation for the two communities is a Parliament subject and once it reaches in the Parliament, it will definitely take a positive course,” he said.
“Regarding the seat reservation issue, few vested interests are trying to create communal tension in Sikkim,” he said.
He further said that the former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who rejected seat reservation for Limboo and Tamangs in 1987, does not have the right to speak over the matter.
The Sports Minister also lambasted on the Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders saying that they have less than ten members in the party and that they have no hold to call the Chief Minster a “bad leader”.
Earlier, the Sikkim State BJP had said that the CRESP Report was against LT reservation.
According to the BJP, the CRESP has recommended 20 seats for Scheduled Tribe comprising of Limboo, Tamang, Rai, Yakha, Sunuwar, Mangar, Gurung, Bhujel, Jogi, Chettri, Bahun Newar etc, 12 seats for Bhutia-Lepcha, two seats for Scheduled Caste, two seats for Sangha and four seats as General open making a total of 40 seats.
The Sikkim Limboo Tamang Tribal Forum has also strongly condemned the recent acceptance of the CRESP report stating that the Commission report does not stand for the welfare of the Limboo and Tamang Communities in Sikkim.
The Forum has said that the CRESP report has unjustified the demand of the Limboo and Tamang by mixing them with other communities, which are yet to get tribal status.
Pointing out that the Commission report has also proposed to provide all Sikkim Subjects with the Tribal status as well as to add 20 seats for the Tribals in the State Legislative Assembly apart from the 12 seats of Limboo and Tamang, the Forum said that the proposal is against Article 332 of the Indian Constitution.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 20: Following the footsteps of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) has today requested the authorities to keep the National Highway 31A away from the purview of the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills.
In a press conference held here this afternoon, taking into consideration the difficulties being faced by some 70-80 stranded domestic tourists here, TAAS president, SK Pradhan said that the Highway should be opened particularly for the benefit of the Sikkimese people.
Majority of the domestic tourists stationed in the Capital at present are from the States of West Bengal, Mumbai and Gujarat.
Addressing the mediapersons, he stated that there are tangible number of tourists who have been stranded in Gangtok owing to the indefinite bandh.
“In addition, our local people are facing the brunt of the strike in terms of shortfalls in essential commodities, medical supplies and in particular the large chunk of students’ community who are to travel down to Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities purportedly to seek admission into colleges there, he maintained.
“Infact, many of our students traveling back home to Sikkim are stranded at Siliguri after having availed of admissions in colleges and universities in various cities across the country, Mr. Pradhan added.
Likewise, Karma Bhutia, vice-president of TAAS also appealed to the GJMM supporters not to turn a deaf ear to the woes of the Sikkimese people but to rather look for some amicable relaxation so that the problems being faced by both the tourists and the locals are solved at the earliest.
Lukendra Rasaily, executive member of TAAS on his part stated that people living in the Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim are related some way or the other, the result of which the Morcha should try and understand the pathetic state of the people here and thereby implement the idea of keeping the Highway open at least for two days in a week or on alternative days for transportation of essential commodities and at the same time enable our students to have access along the 31 National Highway downhill up to Siliguri.
“The Sikkimese people at present are getting sandwiched with the latest Chinese intrusion along the Indo-China border and indefinite strike called in by the Morcha,” he said.
The TAAS members have already contacted the rightful authorities in Darjeeling to at least enable the stranded tourists and local passengers to travel along the highway downhill to Siliguri, TAAS members said.
During the course of the interaction with the press fraternity, TAAS president also highlighted that the concerned authorities have committed to provide West Bengal registered tourism buses at the Rangpo border to help the stranded tourists to commute downhill up to Siliguri.
“We have also informed the SP and DC in this regard and based on the fresh communiqué from the Morcha supporters, we will possibly be sending off the stranded tourists and passengers latest by today evening, Mr. Pradhan informed.
The TAAS has also urged the Sikkim Tourism Development Committee (STDC) to expedite the process of introducing a 26-seater chopper so as to help the tourists who get stranded at times of bandhs and strikes of such kind.
The association has also appealed the Central Government to speed up the process of opening up the Pakyong airport at the earliest and to ensure that the NH 31-A is kept open for Sikkim even at times of strikes and bandhs.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 20: The Satyagraha initiated by the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) against the implementation of hydel power projects in Dzongu reached 365th day today.
On completing one year, ACT commemorated the day with a meeting of all members from Dzongu here at the Bl House.
A press release informs that the function started with a prayer to the deities by the Lamas and propitiation of the deity of the Tholung monastery and other places.
A report on the activities post 200th day commemoration was read out by the ACT general secretary, which covered all the activities that have taken place till today.
ACT’s Vice President I, Chopel Lepcha and Vice President II, Tseten Lepcha while thanking all members for having stood the test of time in the moment, also spelled out further course of action and asked all gathered to keep up the spirit and fight on till the achievement of the final goal.
While welcoming the decision of the State Government on scraping the four projects in Dzongu, hopes were expressed that sanctity of Dzongu will be protected in true same.
In the regard, it was apprised to the gathering that dialogue with government will be taken up soon.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 20: The Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the State Government saying that the “Promotion of Local Employment Bill 2008” passed earlier and sent to the Governor is a mere eyewash as it involved Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
According to the recently issued press release, the “Promotion of Local Employment Bill” had proposed to make mandatory reservation of job to local persons in private commercial institutions, hotels, shops, factories, companies or manufacturing units or industry employing more than 10 persons
“The bill so rejected is now again passed as “Promotion of Local Employment Bill 2008” Bill No. 18 of 2008 by the State Assembly in the recently concluded Assembly session giving two justifications viz. Article 371F of the Constitution of India and Sikkim Government Service (Establishment) rule 1974,” the release reads.
It further says that the BJP does not feel satisfied by the ‘Statement of the Object and Reason’ given while placing the bill. “It does not explain how article 371F of the Constitution of India provides for the deviation from the provision of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and how it could be treated like Sikkim Government Service (Establishment) rule 1974 when this rule is a rule prior to Sikkim becoming a part of Indian Union or before insertion of Article 371F in the Constitution of India. Clause (k) of 371F of the Constitution of India gives protection of old laws of Sikkim,” the release further reads.
The release goes on to say that the Bill also does not give any reason why it proposes to reduce the earlier 95 % reservation to present 80%. It has also questioned the clarity of the rational of bifurcating the remaining 20% to two categories of 10% each.
In the release, the BJP has also believed that the Bill to be an Act will require ratification by the Parliament and insertion in Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India to overcome the provision of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. “If this be so, this is practically impossible without UPA Government bringing a bill and the support of BJP in the parliament,” the release adds.
The party has further expressed their apprehension that the Bill may not be an Act during the tenure of the Sikkim Democratic Front Government. “This is nothing more than a gimmick to divert the attention of unemployed youths whose unemployment problem the SDF Government have miserably failed to solve and even cheated them by promising to give unemployment allowance in their manifesto of 1994 (14 years back),: the released further adds.

FRIDAY, JUNE , 20  ,   2008

NIRMAL MANGAR
GANGTOK, June 19: The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills has severely affected the student community of the State.
It is mostly those students seeking admissions in various colleges across the country who have been most affected by the bandh forced upon the State by the GJMM.
Talking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, Ranjana Shilal from Central Pendam said: “I missed the entrance exam for BSc in Scottish College in Kolkata due to the bandh. The exam was scheduled on June 18.”
There are many students like Ranjana who either missed their examination or are running late for the last date of admission in the colleges across the country.
“I have applied for admissions in a few colleges in Bangalore and have to be there on different dates and have to leave soon. But I do not have any choice but to just wait till the bandh is called off,” lamented Karma Bhutia from Gangtok.
When KT Chankapa, the Secretary of the State Human Resources Development Department was contacted over the matter, he said that only few such cases were reported to the department.
According to him, the admissions in the colleges within Sikkim including the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences have not been affected by the bandh.
“It is sad to know that many students are missing their tests or are running late in joining their colleges, Mr. Chankapa added.
Every year, around 30% of students from Sikkim join various colleges and universities outside of the State for higher studies.
Several students have also been stranded in Siliguri. Amchu Bhutia of Tadong told SIKKIM EXPRESS that his daughter who has come home for the summer vacation from Kanpur is stranded in Siliguri since the last two days. “I am confused and worried as my daughter is staying in a hotel in Siliguri,” he added.
On the other hand, SDPO, Rangpo, Sonam Bhutia said that the administration has made certain provisions to students to ferry them across the bandh-enforced areas.
“Any student appearing for the entrance exams should procure a written permission from the Branch President of GJMM, Rangpo after showing the admit cards,” the SDPO said.
He further said that in case of medical references, the patients should be brought in ambulances as other vehicles are not permitted by the Morcha.
Earlier, as per media reports, the Siliguri administration had started a control room for Sikkim students pursuing academic courses after the outbreak of violence against hill students in various places in Siliguri last Friday.
The students of Sikkim, who are stranded in Siliguri and who have missed their entrance exams have felt the need of similar help from the State Government.

Sikkim Chamber of Commerce demand immediate reopening of National highway 31A
“Highway blockage severely affecting Sikkim economy”

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 19: The State Government has said that it has “already taken up” the issue of keeping National Highway 31A open with the West Bengal Government.
In a press release issued by the Department of Information & Public Relations here today, the State Government has said that apprised the West Bengal Chief Secretary and Home Secretary about the situation arising out of the on-going bandh in the Darjeeling Hills and the subsequent closure of NH31A for Sikkim as well.
The State Government has also apprised the Centre about the “problems being faced by the people of Sikkim because of the bandh and also sought the personal intervention of the Prime Minister for a long term solution,” the press release said.
“In addition to this, the District Collectors and Superintendents of Police of Sikkim are also in constant touch with their West Bengal counterparts for providing safety and protection for the vehicles ferrying essential commodities and passengers along the NH31A.” The Government is also “contemplating a comprehensive plan for the movement of essential commodities to Sikkim through NH 31A, which is the life-line of the State,” the press release read.
The State Government has also appealed to the people of Sikkim “not to panic and maintain peace and harmony.”
“The Government has also taken up adequate measures to stock essential commodities and strictly rationing and monitoring the supply and of distribution essential commodities like LPG, petrol and diesel on day to day basis,” the press release added.

Darjeeling indefinite bandh enters fourth day
GJMM to raise a 'volunteer force'

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 19: The indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills continued to affect normal life in all the three Sub-divisions of Darjelling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
The bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) entered its fourth day today, with no signs of any breakthrough or the party calling the bandh off. The situation in the Hills was peaceful today.
The GJMM has said that the party is yet to receive West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's letter of invitation for talks in Kolkata.
"The GJM will prefer talks with the Centre only on its demand for Gorkhaland and will have no objection if the state government joins in,” a GJMM leader said here today.
The possibility of the bandh being called off or relaxed will depend on the Centre's response, he said.
With life paralysed in Darjeeling hills by the indefinite bandh called a series of landslides hit Kurseong and Darjeeling sub-divisions. The landslides which took place last night are not severe and a disaster management unit is on standby, the Darjeeling Police said.
In another development, the GJMM has said that it would soon raise a 'volunteer force' to provide 'security' to the outfit's central committee members and tackle 'anti-social activities' in the Darjeeling hills.
"It will be modelled after the Rashtriya Swam Sevak Sangh, with unarmed volunteers trained in social work to be known as Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP). It will not be a parallel police force," GJM Publicity Secretary Binay Tamang said here today.
He said the main objective was to assist the administration "which does not have adequate forces for traffic control, fire fighting operations and other civil work."
They would also provide security to central committee members and tackle anti-social activities, besides crowd and traffic control during party meetings and rallies and for escorting tourists to safety during picketing, he said.

Our Correspondent
SINGTAM, June 19: The Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP) has supported the demand of separate state of Gorkhaland.
The president of the party, GM Rai announced this during the launching of a VCD on “Gorkha Mission” here today.
He appealed all Gorkhas residing in India to participate in the revolution of separate State Gorkhaland restarted by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in three sub-divisions of Darjeeling.
Criticizing those leaders, who have termed the Gorkhas as Nepalis, the leader of the SGPP said that the Gorkhas have been residing in India and serving the nation for centuries and are Indian Gorkhas.
“Anyone identifying the Indian Gorkhas as Nepalis are anti-Indian and are thinking for the making of Greater Nepal,” he said.
He went on to explain that the people residing in Nepal are called Nepalis and not others.
Mr Rai further urged the Gorkhas living in various part of the country to give their identity as Gorkhas and not Nepalis.
Talking on the newly launched VCD, he informed that it was made by the party to give proper guidelines and ideology for the mission of Gorkha Statehood.
“SGPP is formed not to make government in Sikkim but to raise the demand of the Gorkhas in India,” he said adding, “Sikkim is the only State in India where there is a Gorkha Government.”
Devi Prasad Dahal, an active member of SGPP in his address said that he had gone to Siliguri along with nine friends to “save the lives of Gorkha students studying in North Bengal and Siliguri.”
He also announced to fight for the separate state of Gorkhaland till the end of his life.

THURSDAY, JUNE , 19 ,   2008

SANJAY AGARWAL
RANGPO, June 18: The bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in support of Gorkhaland in the Darjeeling Hills has crippled Sikkim with the closure of National Highway 31A.
Except for those on emergency services, no vehicles plied between West Bengal and Sikkim on the third day today.
The GJMM Rangpo (West Bengal) Committee organized a massive rally at the West Bengal side of Rangpo, where hundreds of party youth and Nari Morcha members attended.
Lokesh Chettri, Party President of Rangpo (West Bengal) unit told the gathering not to accept anything in lieu of Gorkhaland. “We have a single point demand i.e. a separate State of Gorkhaland. We shall fight for the last moment for the separate State,” he told the gathering.
On the other hand, hoteliers, businessman, taxi drivers and fast food centre owners here are reeling under the impact of the bandh. Business in this border town, a popular place where vehicles stopped for refreshments, has been severely affected and most of the fast food stalls and restaurants have shut down. The once busy market wears a deserted look these days. The fast food owners are also facing difficulty to pay the loans taken from various financial companies and banks.
All the bookings made by tourists up to the month of July month have been cancelled, aggrieved hoteliers said.
The taxi owners and drivers are in a dilemma as how to pay the monthly installment of their vehicles taken on loan.
Besides, most of the industrial units have no raw materials to run their unit and are at the same time not in the position to send out their stock outside the State. Some units may have to stop work if the bandh continues for few days more, it is learnt.

YISHEY D.
GANGTOK, June 18: For the first time in 24 years, the Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organisation today observed Saga Dawa outside the Tsuglakhang Monastery minus sacred procession around Gangtok town.
Sources at the Tsuglakhang Monastery said that the Monastery administration has decided to observe the triple blessed day in their own way from this year. Recitations of the Prajnaparamita texts (Bum) completed yesterday at the royal chapel in a solemn note.
Today, the Rigdzin Sogdrub prayers were performed in the Monastery, after which, the monks of the Tsuglakhang Monastery lugged the sacred Kajur texts in about 103 volumes on their shoulders and made three rounds of the Monastery.
“Since it was raining in the morning, the procession around Gangtok town was cancelled,” sources in the monastery said.
So as to make the compensation, the Arithang Gyaltsen Tsogpo, for the first time, brought out a colourful procession, where both monks and students numbering to about 150 lugged the sacred Prajnaparamita texts and the statue of Lord Buddha seeking eternal merits across the town.
The Parikrama started from Arithang Mani Lhagang to STNM Hospital Point, National Highway and Byepass before coming back to the Mani Lhagang.
At the Mani Lhagang, tsog offerings and prayers were performed by about 30 monks headed by Bhod Tulku (Dekhung Gyalsey Rinpoche).
“Monks have been reciting 23 volumes of Prajnaparamita texts since yesterday thus making the ceremony a two-day affair,” SG Dokhangbo, president of the Tsogpa told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
He said that the Tsogpa, a social organisation has taken up the observance for the first day, particularly as a launch of the sacred texts bought for the Mani Lhagang.
To continue with the observance, the Duechen Organisation headed by Passong Namgyal today celebrated the day in a different note at the TNA school auditorium with discourses on Buddha Dharma and talks on the role of Buddhism in the present day context.
“We decided to observe this day in a different way, especially to brief the younger generation on the festival and to those who are eager to learn,” KM Tamang, the general secretary of the Duechen Organisation said.
Governor Sudarshan was present as the chief guest during the function, where he appreciated the speeches on “the role of Buddhism in the present day context” presented by the eight students of eight different schools in and around Gangtok.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said, “It is not a simple festival but a thrice blessed festival.” Reminding the younger generation to become fully aware of the significance of the triple blessed day, Governor Agarwal said that Buddha’s teachings are most relevant in these violent times.
“Sikkim is a land of Guru Padmasambhava. One is blessed to be born in this blessed valley. Therefore it is natural to practically apply the teachings of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava in one’s life as well as help others to follow,” the Governor opined.
Touched by the “refreshingly produced pieces” by the students, the Governor promised to bring the speeches in a book form along with their respective photographs with 1000 copies. “These books will be sold in the schools,” the Governor said.
Tseten Zamgmo of Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School was adjudged the winner in the talks on the role of Buddhism in the present day context, while Thinley Onmgu of Enchey Senior Secondary School and Tenzin Hwasey of Tashi Namgyal Academy bagged the second and third positions. They were presented with a trophy and a certificate each. Other students who participated in the talk were from the Tashi Namgyal Higher Sec School, Modern Sr Sec School, West Point Sr Sec School, Lower Syari School and Kye-de-Khang School.
Earlier, discourses on Buddha Dharma were given by Khenpo Chewang of the Higher Nyingmapa Institute, Deorali and Padmashri GS Lama.
Saga Dawa marks three important events in the life of Lord Buddha – his birth, enlightenment and the Mahaparinirvana.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 18: For Sudhizong Lucksom, his 21 long years of hardwork which made him travel to far flung corners of the State to undertake resourceful studies on orchids, photographing it and authenticating the availability of the species in the region has finally paid off in a form of a monumental book on orchids.
The book, “The Orchids of Sikkim and North East Himalaya” published more than 100 years after Sir George King and Robert Pantling’s book “The Orchids of Sikkim Himalaya” in 1898, was launched by State Forest Minister, Sher Bahadur Subedi at a function held at the conference hall of the Forest Department here today morning.
The 1200 page book contains 557 fully treated species, 541 hand drawn sketches and 351 colour photographs spread over 39 plates.
Out of 557 species described, 523 species are endemic to Sikkim. The author has confirmed many doubtful species which needed further field verification to establish it as distinct species of orchids and has also described as many as 12 new species, four sub-species and five new reports from within Sikkim.
The book has identified various locations which can well boast of many rare and endangered species. As claimed by the author, there are still good and potential locations which are yet to be explored to unfurl the rich orchid-diversity.
While Mrinal Nandi has designed the layout and printing of the book, Ramesh Chettri and Deepen Dewan on the other hand have worked on the typing of the script and type setting aspects.
During the launch function, the author also made a power point presentation highlighting the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate orchids of Sikkim, some of them rare and almost at the verge of extinction and others identified as common species of orchids.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the chief guest stated that the release of a resourceful book on orchids was a history in the making as it has come up as a documentation work on the rarest and exotic orchids of Sikkim and North East Himalaya.
The minister was in all praise for the author further describing Lucksom as a silent and sober intellectual.
KC Pradhan, an orchid specialist himself, who was present as the chief guest emphasized that the need of the hour is that one should not wait for people from Indonesia and America to instruct our local people to undertake research work and thorough documentation on a particular variety of these exquisite and brilliant flowers but our people themselves should develop the requisite eagerness and interest to carry out detailed scientific study on the existing myriad species of orchids in the State.
Mr. Pradhan also urged the State Education Department to introduce SZ Lucksom’s newly launched book in the school academics at the secondary and senior secondary level so as to generate awareness amongst the student community about the sheer beauty, brilliant myriad colours, fragrance and medicinal value of orchids and at the same time to showcase the rich orchid diversity of Sikkim.
He further urged the IPR Department to refer to SZ Lucksom’s book for the awe-inspiring photographs of orchids clearly authenticating the availability of the species in Sikkim rather than making use of some pictures of orchids found outside the State in neighbouring regions and countries, whenever the department publishes its annual colourful calendars.
Jubilant over the launch of his book, Mr. Lucksom said that the book is written with the sole objective not only to expose the rich bio-diversity of Sikkim but also to encourage the aspiring taxonomy researchers, botanists and scientists to carry out the detail inventorisation of orchid repository of Sikkim, horizontal and vertical trans boundary migration of the species and its limitations. The factors controlling the species speciation. Orchid species as an indicator plant for a particular forest type, he said.
A graduate in Botany, Mr. Lucksom was since his childhood days interested in exploring and studying the diverse species of plant kingdom. It was in the year 1986, when he was posted as a field director at Khangchendzonga National Park where he got an ample opportunity to acquaint himself with the rich bio-diversity of the park, particularly in exploring the diverse flora and vegetation.
It was here during his stint as a Divisional Forest Officer in the early 1990s when he started contributing articles and write-ups on orchid flora of Sikkim to journals and magazines published both in India and abroad. Majority of his articles have been published in Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Indian Journal of Forestry, Journal of Indian Botanical Society and others to name a few.
Mr. Lucksom, who presently heads the Parks and Zoos Division of the State Forest Department as a Director during the course of his deliberations also expressed his gratitude to the office staffs, forest guards, block officers, ranger officers and others including his wife and KC Pradhan who have contributed a lot and helped him author and publish the book.
The other dignitaries to address the gathering included Usha Lachungpa, Senior Research Officer, State Forest Department and Rudra Poudyal, Director, Human Resource Development Department.

http://www.himalayanorchid.com/

Darjeeling reels under indefinite shutdown
GJMM agrees for tripartite talks
WB leaders appeal to GJMM to spare Sikkim

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING: Normal life in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal as well as Sikkim was severely affected for the second day following the indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) to demand a separate state of Gorkhaland.
Sikkim was cut off from the rest of India for the second day in a row as the National Highway 31A remained closed for all traffic.
The West Bengal government today appealed to the GJMM to withdraw its shutdown and sit for talks. It has yesterday said that it had no objection to tri-partite discussions involving the GJMM and the Central government. The West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said yesterday that the all-party meeting held in Kolkata on Tuesday had passed a unanimous resolution seeking a political solution of the issue through sustained dialogue.
The GJMM activists have put up blockades on National Highway 31A, connecting Sikkim with the outside world, at the Bengal-Sikkim border of Rangpo.
''We removed the blockades from time to time to clear the highway, but the agitators reappeared,'' said a police official.
There were no reports of any untoward incident on the second day of the shutdown, but private and public vehicles did not ply and offices remained closed in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
The streets were deserted, with only police and army vehicles moving around as GJMM activists assembled at various points.
The GJMM also convened an ''all-party'' meeting here yesterday. The GJMM kept the state's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and its main local rival Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) out of its meeting. The GJM was not invited to the meeting called by the WB government in Kolkata.
''An all-party delegation, led by my party, will go to Delhi from Darjeeling soon,'' said GJMM chief Bimal Gurung.
Representatives of 13 parties including the hill units of the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Sikkim National front and Gorkha Rashtriya Congress took part in the meeting.
''All the parties, including the Congress representative, signed the resolution,'' GJMM general secretary Roshan Giri said. Copies of the resolution have been faxed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, he said.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has appealed to the GJMM to not to ''punish the people of Sikkim'' by blocking a key highway linking the Himalayan state to the outside world.
''Please don't punish the people of Sikkim. The National Highway 31 A is the lifeline of Sikkim. When it is blocked, the state suffers,'' Mr. Dasmunsi told reporters at joint media meet with Bhattacharjee in Kolkata.
Mr. Dasmunsi said the blockade was affecting supplies to Sikkim. ''Our soldiers, who are posted at the Nathu-La border for protecting the country, are also being affected,'' he said.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 18: In what could be a major blow to the NIT aspirants in the State, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has said that the seats in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) shall be filled up only after fulfilling certain criteria.
According to the Communication No F-23-12/2008 TS III dated June 9, 2008 and the subsequent Corrigendum No F-23-12/2008 TS III dated June 13, 2008, issued by the Ministry, 50% of the seats in an NIT shall be filled by the eligible candidates who have passed +2 examination from the State in which the NIT is situated. For example, in NIT Agartala, 50% seats shall be filled by the eligible candidates who passed their +2 examination from Tripura.
It has also said that admission in NITs for rest 50% seats would be on All India Merit basis. For these seats, candidates would be admitted from amongst All India rank holders in AIEEE.
Unfortunately, as Sikkim does not have a NIT in the State, one seat each has been reserved in BIT (Birla Institute of Technology), Deograh and Patna and two seats in BIT, Ranchi.
But 36 seats has been reserved in Assam University for all the eight Northeastern States including Sikkim, for which the students from Sikkim has to compete with the students from the other NE states to vie for a seat among the 36 seats.
As per sources, most of the students from Sikkim have been declared eligible for counseling on the basis of the results of All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by CBSE.
On the contrary, until this year, around 50 students including Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste and general from Sikkim were being admitted in the engineering colleges (National Institute of Technology colleges) all over India as per the norms and criteria of AIEEE.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 18: Sahara India Financial Corporation today got a fresh lease of life, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowing it to accept fresh deposits that mature in three years.
The residuary non-banking finance company (RNBC), can now accept deposits that mature on or before June 30, 2011. But, the RBI said, Sahara cannot accept new deposits that would mature after June 30, 2011, nor can it accept installments of existing deposits from that date.
“Sahara shall repay the deposits as and when they mature and bring the aggregate liability to depositors to zero on or before June 30, 2015,” the RBI said.
The RBI had in a June 4, 2008 order stopped Sahara from accepting public deposits including “installments under any running daily deposit or other recurring deposit schemes” citing violations regarding asset-liabilities management and know-your-customer norms.
The RBI had also mentioned violations like non-payment of minimum rate of interest on deposits and non-intimation of depositors at the maturity of their deposits.
The RBI’s decision had been challenged by Sahara in the Supreme Court and the apex court had directed the central bank to grant Sahara a special hearing for the case.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 18: A two-day conference on international leadership began at the Chintan Bhawan here today.
Titled “A new paradigm of leadership and good governance,” the conference was organized by the State Human Resource Development Department, State Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department along with the Universal Peace Federation of India (UPFI).
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director, Peace Education, UPF Asia highlighted on the functioning of UPF India since its inception and gave a comprehensive deliberation on the agenda and its operation in more than 40 countries.
This was followed by a speech deliberated by KV Rajan, Executive Vice chairman, UPF India who is also the executive chairman for peace council of Asia.
During the course of the event, a short documentary titled ‘Quest for Peace’ was also shown.
The Governor, Sudarshan Agarwal, who was present as the chief guest appreciated the efforts of the founder members of the UPF International.
The conference was also attended by GM Gurung, Minister HRDD, who is the brain child behind holding the seminar. He is also known to have worked selflessly supporting the local peace activities which has been imparting character building education to more than 1500 students throughout the State.
Also present were DIG Range, Akshay Sachdeva.
The afternoon session of the programme highlighted the need for spirituality in peace building presented by Ursula McLackland secretary general, UPF India.
Dr. RS Kittel also delivered speech on ‘Building National Prosperity: one family at a time”.
Dr. Sun Myung Moon along his wife Hak Ja Han Moon, the co founders of the UPF have successfully organized ILCs in 12 different states of India this year, the first one held in Sikkim.
The Universal Peace Federation is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to building a world peace in which every one can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and prosperity. The UPF also seeks to build strategic alliance among individuals, education institution religions corporations, the fourth estate and governments for the sake of peace.
Tracing the history and accomplishments of UPF India through its ambassadors for peace net work, UPF India has initiated effective character education programmes in over 100 schools and institution throughout the country and held classes for more than 1,5000 Sikkimese students.
In addition to this, 30 teachers attended a character education training programme in Kathmandu. Through its support for the south Asia peace initiative, UPF India is making significant contributions to peace building efforts in countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE , 18 ,   2008

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 17: In order minimize the impact of the strike called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills causing total blockade to Sikkim, the State Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has passed an order for rationing of petroleum products with immediate effect.
A team of officers have been deputed to ensure effective implementation of the order.
The department has also appealed all retail outlets, Government officials, drivers and general public to cooperative with the Department and not to panic.
In order to ration the distribution of petrol and diesel during the strike called by the Morcha with effect from 6 pm on June 16, restrictions have been imposed on its use per day. All petrol driven vehicles would be allowed to draw only 5 ltrs of fuel per day while all diesel driven vehicles will be restricted to draw only 10 ltrs of diesel per day. The restrictions will not apply on vehicles engaged in hospital duties and essential services.
It is also informed that the retail outlets will open at 6 am and close at 7 pm. The officials deputed by the department to see the implementation of these restrictions will take closing stock every evening and report the position to the Additional Controller, Weights & Measures Cell, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department in his Mobile No. 9434103729.
M/s. Kajla Fuels, 5th mile, Tadong shall remain open for 24 hours for supply of petroleum products for emergency requirements. This order will take immediate effect and remain in force until further order.

The officers deputed for implementing the above restriction order in the retail outlets mentioned against their names are as follows:
1. Himalaya Rai, Asst. Controller, 9434357984 assisted by Yongda Bhutia, LDC -M/s S& N Fuels, Bhojoghari.
2. CK Sharma, Dy. Controller, 9434109834 assisted by Krishna Deokata, LDC - M/s Ratiram Banshilal Petrol Pump, Gangtok.
3. BK Karkidoli, Dy. Secretary, 9434174684 assisted by Kiran Lama, ASI - M/s SNOD, Deorali.
4. Tara Gurung, DCSO(E), 9832389725 assisted by Anil Sikdel, SO –M/s. Khangri Petrol Pump, Tadong.
5. RG Pradhan, AD (PDS), 9474648251 assisted by Sandeep Mukhia, ASI-M/s. Maskey Fuel, Tadong.
6. Jigmee Kazi, Asst Controller, 9734141943 assisted by MB Tamang, Jr. Acctt-M/s. Kajla Fuels, 5th Mile, Taodng.
7. SD Karthak, Dy. Director, 9733029884 assisted by Tirtha Ram Sharma, Inspector-M/s. Bhaghirati & Sons, 6th Mile, Tadong.
8. KK Pradhan, DCSO (HQ), 983207884 assisted by Navin Tamang, ASI-M/s Vaishnodevi Fuels, 6th Mile, Tadong.
9. Dinesh Sharma, DCSO (Enf.), 9832017663 assisted by Bharat Sharma, ASI- M/s Tendong Fuels, Ranipool.

HELD AT RANSOM
Sikkim remains cut off due to bandh

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 17: Sikkim remained cut off from the rest of the country today due to the resumption of the bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) to press for its demand for a separate Gorkhaland State.
According to the Rangpo Police, the National Highway 31 A, the only road link to the State from the plains of West Bengal passing through the Kalimpong sub-division in the Darjeeling hills has been blocked for vehicles barring movement of army vehicles and ambulances.
In a meeting held yesterday at Tribeni in Melli, GJMM leaders clarified that they were blocking the NH 31 A “to use Sikkim to push the Centre into calling them for talks.”
GJMM president, Bimal Gurung also told the gathering that the Highway would be blocked until Sikkim spoke up on the Gorkhaland issue with the Centre.
The meeting also announced that GJMM cadres would picket near the Coronation Bridge at Sevoke, at Rambi and Rangpo on the NH 31A during the bandh thus affecting Sikkim.
Sikkim is dependent on supplies from Siliguri and other areas of North Bengal. About 120 lorry loads of food grains, vegetables and other essential commodities climb up to the State from Siliguri every day on an average.
Meanwhile, the Sikkim government has taken up the matter with the Centre and the Bengal government yesterday to ensure that NH 31 A is spared from the indefinite bandh. Till now, the GJMM has offered no relaxation for Sikkim.

The bane of bandhs
Caught in neighbourhood politics, Sikkim suffers

KARMA SAMTEN YANGZOM
GANGTOK, June 17: The tiny, landlocked Himalayan State of Sikkim has become a victim of neighbourhood politics it has little to do with.
The unrest in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills, punctuated with frequent and unpredictable bandh calls have left Sikkim not only completely cut off from the rest of the country but with a huge dent in its exchequer.
Sikkim is losing a staggering Rs 6 crore a day whenever the Darjeeling hills shut down and the National Highway 31A, the vital road link connecting Sikkim with West Bengal, is subjected to closure by the agitators. About 60 percent of the National Highway 31A connecting Sikkim runs through the Darjeeling District in West Bengal.
This figure is based on a survey conducted by the State department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation in February this year. The survey was carried out during a two-day bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in Darjeeling around the same time. It calculated the daily financial loss suffered by various sectors in Sikkim because of the shutdown.
This figure includes losses in terms of revenue loss in taxes and losses incurred by businesses, taxis, companies, losses in exports and imports; and losses incurred by hotels.
The per day loss is estimated to be around Rs. 7 Crores during the peak tourist season of April, May and June.
The highest loss is suffered by businesses - a huge Rs. 1.65 crores in lost profits in a single day; followed by the losses suffered by State government to revenue loss from VAT and Sales Tax - Rs. 1.54 crores. The State exchequer also loses Rs. 1.1 lakhs in excise duty on import and another Rs. 15,000 on tax on animal imports, taxis plying on the highway (Rs 75 lakh), goods carriers (12 lakh) and various industrial and manufacturing companies (Rs 64 lakh).
The per day loss suffered by the State’s economy every time National Highway 31A becomes out of bounds for Sikkim traffic, whenever some political outfit calls a bandh in the Darjeeling Hills or in Siliguri, is enough for the Sikkim Government to worry about.
As if landslides along the National Highway 31A during the Monsoons were not enough to paralysis normal life in the State, the bandhs have added to the problems the State has to face.
The closure of National Highway 31A means that the vital supply line to Sikkim is completely blocked. The supply of essential commodities, including foodgrains, fruits and vegetables, and petroleum products (petrol, diesel and LPG) is snapped as the State has to completely depend on the Siliguri market for the supplies.
With the supply line cut off, the prices of foodgrains and vegetables shoot up, with inflation in the State going up by almost 50 percent. It also means untold hardships to local residents travelling to outside of the State for personal works, medical treatment or securing admissions in Colleges across the country.
When the GJMM called the indefinite strike earlier this month, the State was forced to ration the distribution of LPG and fuel from various depots and petrol pumps. Sikkim remained cut off from the rest of the country for four days following the simultaneous bandh call by another outfit opposed to GJMM in Siliguri. The Highway remained closed which led to a mass exodus of tourists from the State.
The agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland has surfaced again, and the recent clashes between the GJMM and those opposed to the idea of a separate state of Gorkhaland have once brought to light the unnecessary hardship that Sikkim has to endure, caught in a struggle it has little to do with.
The strategy adopted by the GJMM is similar to the strategy its predecessor GNLF adopted 20 years ago when the Gorkhaland movement gathered momentum. Block the National Highway 31A and choke the vital lifeline of Sikkim. This may be seen as a tactic-pressure on Sikkim to perhaps support the Gorkhaland demand more openly than before or force the Centre to accept the demand for Gorkhaland keeping in mind the hardships Sikkim faced because of the unrest in its neighbourhood.
The hardships faced by Sikkim are manifold and as said by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on many occasions, the State cannot be held at ransom. Chief Minister Chamling has said time and again that National Highways belonged to the nation and to forcefully keep it closed on the pretext of some political agenda by anyone would be anti-national and anti-Constitutional. Last week, Mr. Chamling wrote to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informing him of the hardship the state is facing and asking for his personal intervention.
The GJMM has, in the past, always refused to relax its frequent bandhs for Sikkim, although the State and its people have emotional and social ties with the Darjeeling Hills and have supported the demand for Gorkhaland. The Sikkim Government has brought up this matter a number of times before the Centre as well as the West Bengal Government but this issue has largely been ignored.
This time around too, the GJMM has declared that the National Highway 31A will be blocked during the indefinite bandh call starting Monday. While the State administration has assured that there is adequate stock of essential commodities like food grains petrol, diesel and LPG in the State to last at least a week, it will all depend on how long the bandh will continue or whether the Highway is opened for Sikkim.
Taking into consideration that the Monsoons have begun, the State Government cannot effort to remain a silent spectator while the State is being held hostage. Analysts say that political intervention is needed to permanently solve this problem, which has to come from the Sikkim Government before the situation goes out of hand.

NIRMAL MANGAR
GANGTOK, June 17: If you cannot take the regular taxi, take the helicopter.
A new 26-seater Pawan Hans helicopter to Bagdogra will be shortly introduced in the State in view of the closure of National Highway 31A due to frequent bandhs in the Darjeeling Hills.
Of course, this service is for only to those who can afford it. One would have to shell out Rs. 3000 per head just to get out of the State.
The Secretary, Tourism Department, SBS Bhaduria said this while talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS here today.
According to him, the new Helicopter will replace the present five-seater helicopter, which has been in service in the State since past several years.
The move has been necessitated by the regular bandhs in the neighbouring West Bengal.
“Since there are many who want to reach Siliguri safely and promptly, the new helicopter service will cater to their demands,” the secretary said.
The bandh call in the Darjeeling Hills and the subsequent closure of NH31A has led to severe loss of revenue in the State and the nascent tourism industry has suffered the most.
“Up to June 9 this year, there more than 10, 000 tourists visiting Sikkim every day and now the numbers have decreased alarmingly,” Mr. Bhaduria informed.
Informing that the peak tourist season in Sikkim starts from April to June, the Secretary said that all hotels in the State are running empty in June.
Most of the places of tourist interest like Ban Jhakri falls, Tsomgo Lake, Tashi Viewpoint, wore a deserted looks with only few local people around.
“This is for the first time since the opening of the hotel that has zero percent occupancy,” said Pankaj Saxena, the General Manager of the Hotel Royal Plaza here.
He further informed that the hotel has incurred huge losses in terms of business with record cancellations since the past few days.
The taxi drivers have also been hugely affected by the bandh. Most of the drivers are unhappy with the closure of the Highway and said that the bandh have made their lives difficult.
“I have taken this taxi on loan. This is peak tourist season and I had planned to earn more to pay my loan instalment but now I am in a difficult situation,” said Ram Chettri, a taxi driver.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 17: An amendment has been made in the Income Tax Act, 1961 by the Finance Act, 2008 by incorporating provisions for exempting the ‘Sikkimese’ people from being assessed under the Indian Income Tax Act on any income which accrues or arises to him/her from any source in the State of Sikkim or by way of dividend or interest on securities.
According to a circular dated June 16, 2008 and signed by the Additional Chief Secretary cum Secretary, Finance, Revenue and Expenditure Department, consequently the Sikkim Income Tax Manual of 1948 shall not be acted upon any further in respect of any assesses within the State, with immediate effect.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 17: The State Government has categorically denied the statement of the Chief Secretary, which appeared in a national English daily under the heading “Sikim sends Highway SOS.”
A press release from the Information & Public Relations Department, the news reports implies that “the Chief Secretary has hinted that if the bandh continues and the situation became unmanageable, Sikkim would seek Army deployment to clear the blockades purportedly linking NH 31A.”
According to the IPR rejoinder, “such statement of a hint to this effect was made by the Chief Secretary to the Telegraph Correspondent when he called on him at his Office at Gangtok on June 16, 2008.”
The rejoinder also says that “the Telegraph Correspondent, on being contacted has stated that he had not attributed such comments to the Chief Secretary in his report filed with the Telegraph Head Office.” “It is unfortunate that the remarks have been mischievously attributed to the Chief Secretary, Sikkim,” the rejoinder reads.
The print media is also requested to ensure that press reports on sensitive matters are correctly reported.
Meanwhile, the State Government has said that the blockage of NH 31 A and other routes linking Sikkim to rest of the country in West Bengal and keeping it free of any blockage is under the jurisdiction of the Government of West Bengal.
“The State Government has already requested and is in regular touch with the Government of West Bengal and the Government of India for ensuring free movement of passengers and goods traffic along NH 31 A to avoid hardship to the people of Sikkim,” reads the IPR press release.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 17: The West Bengal government has suggested it was not averse to a tripartite meeting with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) and the Centre on the Darjeeling issue.
According to a PTI report, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also made an unconditional offer of talks with the GJMM.
The WB chief minister told reporters in Kolkata after an all-party meeting today that "in my earlier letter to GJM for talks, we did not set any condition. We still do not have any pre-condition."
Mr. Bhattacharjee said he would inform the Centre about the outcome of today’s meeting and ask the political parties which attended the meeting to make efforts in initiating dialogues with the GJMM for a solution.
In reply to a question, Bhattacharjee said that he did not have any objection to a bipartite or triparite meeting with the GJMM. "We want a solution to the problem, be it through a bipartite or tripartite meeting. But this requires preparation of the ground. For this, there is a greater need to exchange views with the Centre as also with the agitators," he said.
Appealing to GJMM to call off its indefinite bandh in Darjeeling Hills, he said "we will have to stand together and convince the leaders of GJMM that bandhs will not solve any problem. What we need is a political dialogue."
He said the meeting, attended by the Congress, BJP and Left Front partners, unanimously resolved to find a political solution to the impasse through dialogue "with patience and tolerance."

TUESDAY, JUNE , 17 ,   2008

Indefinite bandh begins in Darjeeling Hills
GJMM asks people to stock up on essential commodities for 45 days

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 16: The indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJMM), began here from today evening.
GJMM president, Bimal Gurung has asked the people of the Hills to stock up on food and essential supplies for 45 days.
Tea gardens, cinchona plantations and school and college examinations have been kept outside the purview of the shutdown that started at 6 pm today in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling district - Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
From early morning today, people rushed to stock up on supplies and truckloads with essential commodities reach the town. Long queues were seen outside shops as people tried to buy as much as possible in view of the indefinite bandh.
The GJMM is now putting pressure on the Centre. Mr. Gurung has criticised Union minister Pranab Mukherjee and West Bengal Congress committee chief Priyaranjan Dasmunsi accusing them of practicing vote bank politics and that they're working for a lobby in Bengal. Talking to mediapersons here, Mr. Gurung said that the party will put forward their demand at the Centre. "We won't go for talks with the state government since there is no talk for a separate state. We will go directly to the Centre,” he said.
The GJM will now lead a delegation to Delhi this weekend and meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to discuss their demand for a separate state.

Sikkim gears up for the indefinite bandh
Govt assures adequate stock of essential commodities

SAIMON PAUL RAI
GANGTOK, June 16: The tiny, landlocked Himalayan State of Sikkim has become a victim of neighbourhood politics it has little to do with.
The unrest in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills, punctuated with frequent and unpredictable bandh calls have left Sikkim not only completely cut off from the rest of the country but with a huge dent in its exchequer.
The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s (GJMM) indefinite shutdown which resumed in the Darjeeling Hills from 6 pm today and the closure of National Highway 31A will bring unnecessary hardships to the people of the State.
According to GJMM, the sole objective to block the only lifeline of Sikkim is to put pressure on the Centre Government through the Hill State for the former’s demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
The picketers of the Morcha will remain in large numbers in Rangpo, located in the Kalimpong sub-division and at the Coronation Bridge, blocking the two ends of the highway to Sikkim.
The indefinite shutdown would mean that there will be restrictions on transport wherein no supplies can come in from the plains unless there is some relaxation.
It is estimated that the shutdown will bring in huge losses to the tune of Rs 7 Crores a day to the State’s treasury and such other hardships to the people which are manifold.
According to CT Wangdi, Additional Secretary, State Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, the ration shops and godowns are well stocked up with essential items like rice, pulses, flour and sugar and that there is no reason for the local populace to panic.
When SIKKIM EXPRESS asked about the steps being taken by the State Government to keep the NH 31A open at times of bandhs, the Principal Secretary, State Home Department, Jasbir Singh stated that the State Government has taken up the case with both the West Bengal Government and the Central Government.
“We have received in requisite communiqué from the concerned authorities that they would try out every possible means to do the needful but it would all depend on how the situation would develop further,” he said.
The District Magistrate, East Vishal Chauhan is constantly in touch with his counterpart in Darjeeling and is taking stock of the recent developments there, the Principal Secretary said.
“As of now, the State Government is well stocked with essential commodities. However, if the local populace face scarcity of food during the course of the indefinite bandh, the Sikkim Government will make necessary arrangements in this regard,” Mr Singh added.
“As a precautionary measure to avoid scarcity of essential commodities in the form of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG Cylinders at times of bandhs in the near future, we are also working on to double the storage capacity especially in petroleum products and LPG cylinders by the mid of 2009,” he maintained.
He further said that the State Government will ensure that the student’s community of Sikkim who are presently out of station for admission to schools and colleges located in metro cities and others do not get stranded at Siliguri.
Keeping in mind the harassment from the anti-Gorkhaland protestors in Siliguri faced by the college students earlier, the Principal Secretary said that adequate security arrangements will be provided to the local students who get stranded travelling back home from Siliguri.
Meanwhile, the most affected by the indefinite shutdown would be the taxi drivers. The routine taxi services in the State has been hit badly by the strike for last few days with the dearth of petrol and diesel and on top of that with the hike in petrol by Rs 5 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.
Also, all the ten major gas stations in the State have been facing the scarcity with only Khangri petrol pump and the pump at Bhojoghari being able to meet the temporary demands at present.
The Bansilal petrol pump located in the heart of Gangtok had to be closed due to no stock, informed the manager. “It is most likely that the diesel worth 9000 liters will arrive by tomorrow,” the manager added.
“The taxi drivers conducting their daily business are the most affected group and as a result they have to call off their business,” rued a taxi driver.
Reports coming in from Namchi informs that the situation is worrying but under control.
Only yesterday, the petrol pumps in South District started to provide fresh fuel brought in the same day. Vehicle owners refilled full tanks fearing that the stock would not last long following the GJMM’s resumption of the indefinite bandh from this evening.
Similarly, the LPG distributor in South District provided filled cylinders to the consumers who produced a letter from the district administration. Most of the people are forced to cook their meal in kerosene and firewood, it is reported.
It is presumed that due to the shortage of fuel and the resultant decease in the number of service vehicles doing daily rounds, the farmers from the rural areas would face problems marketing their off- seasonal produce and face heavy losses. “If this continues for long, there will be big problem for the consumers as well as for the producers of the State especially in the rural areas,” said a local farmer.
(With inputs from Suren Mohra in Namchi and Pranil Subba in Gangtok)

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPEC) has asked the State Government to take up adequate measures to reduce hardship endured by the people of Sikkim in view of the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM) in the Darjeeling Hills from today.
Speaking at the block level meeting of was organized today at Turung under Namthang-Rateypani Constituency, South District, SPCC president, Nar Bahadur Bhandari cautioned the people to be prepared to face the hardships the bandh will bring in its wake. He advised the State Government to immediately initiate appropriate steps to mitigate the sufferings of the people on account of shortage of essential commodities, medicines and even necessary steps to provide safe passage to the patients needing immediate treatment outside Sikkim and also to the students seeking admissions in colleges outside Sikkim. He also stressed that the State Government should adopt measures to minimize or prevent any economic loss to the State during the period of bandh.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: The Sikkim Ornithological Society (SOS) conducted a two-day Bird Watching field training programme keeping in view the breeding season of resident birds in and around Gangtok spread across a 7 kms radius.
As informed in a press release, the field training, which started on June 14 with 25 participants culminated on June 15 with around 53 species of resident birds recorded.
Most birds were spotted during their mating season or with juveniles being fed and one nest of Rufous Bellied Niltava with four eggs about to hatch has been found which shall be kept a top secret till the eggs are hatched. SOS members have decided to monitor this nest every day for the protection.
The check list prepared during the field training include Lesser Cuckoo, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Eurasian Cuckoo, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Drongo Cuckoo, Plaintive cuckoo, Ashy Drongo, Black Drongo, Grey Winged Black Bird, Verditter Fly Catcher, Grey Headed Canary Fly Catcher, Little Pied Fly Catcher, Grey Bush Chat, Red Billed Leiotherix, Silver Eared Mesia, Scaly Breasted Wren Babler, Rufous Capped Babler, Chest Nut Crowned Bush Warbler, Brownish Flanked Bush Warbler, Streaked Breasted Scimitar babler, Red Tailed Minla, Chest Nut Tailed Minla, Blue Winged Minla, Black Throated Tit, Green Backed Tit, Great Barbet, Golden Throated Barbet, Wedged Tailed Green Pigeon, Fire Breasted Flower Pecker, Black Throated Sun Bird, Blue Whistling Thrush, Chest Crowned Laughing Thrush, Tickels Thrush, Long Tailed Shrike, Grey Hooded Warbler, Chest Nut Crowned Warbler, Golden Spectacled Warbler, Hill Prinia, Long Tailed Minivet, Whiskered Yuhina, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Large Niltava, Rufous Bellied Niltava, White Throated Fan Tail, Yellow Breasted Green finch, Brown Bullfinch, Red Vented Bulbul, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Common Myna, Rufous Sibia, Oriental White Eye.
According to the release, Raghav Lakhotia, 12, was the youngest participant. The trainers were Usha Lachungpa, Lukendra Rasaily, Madan Gurung, Chewang Bonpo, Chungda Sherpa, Arun Bhagat, Basant Parajule and Ganden Lachunga joined in the second day.
Trainees were given understanding of habitat, identification of birds, protection and conservation of species. Every day bird walk started at 6 am and completed at 12 Noon in which time a distance of around 14 kms was covered in 1500 meters to 2200 meters altitudinal change. Participants were drawn from travel agencies, students, guides, casual birders and two information assistants from the Tourism Department. Trainers came from Gangtok, Yuksom and Kewzing.
Despite heavy rains on the first day, trainees showed enthusiasm in searching for birds which helped SOS to declare the new found check list as resident or the breeding birds of Gangtok vicinity.
The release further informs that the check list of the birds prepared by the SOS shall be reference guide for the future as resident or the breeding birds of Gangtok vicinity.
Bird watching field training of breeding season was sponsored by the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim.

SHGG organises drawing competition on biodiversity conservation among students & local youth

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: Sikkim Himalayan Green Group (SHGG), an NGO based at Namcheybong, under Pakyong Sub Division organized ‘Drawing Competition’ on biodiversity conservation among the inter house students of Namcheybong Secondary School and local youths on June 14 at the club house at Namcheybong.
The programme was sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest under the National Environment Awareness Campaign, 2007-08.
As informed in a press release, the programme commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag and recitation of National Song.
Uttam Chettri, secretary, SHGG welcomed the guests and spoke on National Forest Act, 1927, National Forest Policy, 1952 and 1988, National Life Protection Act, 1972 and its Amendment of 1991 and 2002, Forest Conservation Act, 1980, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 and Amendment made thereto in 2000 and 2002, Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Rio Summit, 1992.
Mr. Chettri, who is also a National Youth Awardee explained that biodiversity refers to presence of different life forms consisting of animals plants and micro-organism, their genes and the ecosystems they form and this diversity is essential for human be it food, medicine, health, tourism potential or industrial process.
Laxmi Rai, a local lady and nature lover praised the effort of SHGG towards participating in the State Green Mission and appraised the gathering the role of State Government in creating “Smriti Vans”, establishment of Himalayan Zoological Park, State Biodiversity Park, State Pollution Control Board, setting up of eco-clubs, declaration of Harit Kranti year, and Harit Kranti Dasak, State Policy on Forest, Environment and Land Use, constitution of Committee for implementation of Compulsory Environmental Education in schools, banning the use of bio-non degradable materials like plastic, poly bags etc. banning of green felling in forest, banning grazing in reserve forest and finally notification on Joint Forests Management, Forest Development Agency and Eco Development Committee and its implementation in all four district of Sikkim.
She also recalled the bestowing of title “Greenest Chief Minister” to Sikkim Chief Minister.
Further, she requested the local participants not to treat State Green mission as a national day celebration but should routinely nurture the planted saplings throughout the year for total success of the Mission.
The programme was witnessed by Omanath Dangal, Panchayat Member of Namcheybong Gram Panchayat Unit, PT Lepcha, Range Officer, State Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department and teachers of local schools.
Meanwhile, the students and local youth drew their thought of biodiversity and explained them. The participants were presented certificates.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: A Public Relation Mission of the ruling Sikim Democratic Front (SDF) has begun at Temi, Namphing from yesterday.
Keeping in tune with the message of the Chief Minister to conduct social dialogue so as to create awareness among the people to be productive and progressive to cope with the competitive world, a massive drive has been started by the Zilla Adakshya (s) Rabi Chandra Gurung and DR Khatiwada along with the presence of the Panchayat president, secretary and all the Panchayat member of 11 Namphing Gram Panchayat Unit, Cheli Morcha and youth from the GPU.
According to a press release, the main motive behind such a drive is to sort out the problems and issues being faced by the people of Sikkim and to prepare strategies related to those issues.
During the Interaction with the senior citizens of Pabong, Daring and Namphing, the Zilla President (S) District RC Gurung, highlighted the “visionary dream of the Chief Minister” and the collective responsibilities from local self government. He also called for active participation from every section of the society to make Sikkim a paradise on Earth as emphasised by the Chief Minister.
To aware the fact of exemption of income tax to the Sikkim Subjects, the release says that the exemption reflects the welfare of Sikkimese people.
Focusing on the ‘Year of Responsibilities’, the Zilla Panchayat Adakshya also urged the gathering to focus on the vision of the party.
The mission to end on June 20 is also aimed to verify the developmental strategy inducted by government for the poor people in the State.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has expressed its deep regret and condolence on the passing away of His Eminence, the Cho Dorje Loben, Pema Ingrik of Enchey Monastery in Gangtok on June 14, 2008.
A press release informs that a condolence meeting was held here today, which was presided over by SIBLAC convener, Tseten Tashi Bhutia and attended by the dharma followers of the late Dorje Loben.
The release further says that the contribution of the Late Dorje Loben, an accomplished practitioner and follower of the Rigzin Sogdrub lineage of the Sikkimese tradition in upgrading the doctrine shall always remain afresh in the mind of the Sikkimese people.
It is further hoped that the glorious tradition of the Enchey Monastery shall be upheld by the incoming throne-holder of the Monastery.
The meeting also performed an hour long recitation of Dechen Moenlam prayer. The meeting further adopted a resolution conveying deep condolence and regret over the passing away of the late Dorje Loben to his family members and declared a three day long official mourning of the organization, starting from today, the release adds.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 16: In a meeting held today under the chairmanship of CT Lepcha, the Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum (Sikkim Lepcha Association) has expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for naming Lingdong Secondary School after Late Sonam Chyoda Lepcha, former minister to the Sikkim Government.
In a press release issued today, the association has also welcomed the withdrawal of indefinite hunger strike by two members of the Affected Citizens of Teesta, Dawa Tshering Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha.

MONDAY, JUNE , 16 ,   2008

CM lays foundation stone of 1200 MW Teesta Stage III power project in Chungthang
“Panan project will not be scrapped”

NIRMAL MANGAR
CHUNGTHANG, June 15: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, has welcomed and appreciated the decision of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) to withdraw their indefinite hunger strike.
He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 1200 MW Teesta Stage III hydro electric project here today.
While stating that the main aim of the State Government is to bring about economic and infrastructure development through hydel power plants, the Chief Minister said the Panan hydro electric power project in Dzongu would not be scrapped.
“The other four projects located in Dzongu, which was supposed to be implemented, stands scrapped,” he said.
Speaking on the Teesta Stage III project, Mr. Chamling said that a two-storied building would be constructed for those people whose land has been acquired by the government for the power project here.
“The project on completion would supply 12% free power to the State Government for the first 15 years and 15% free thereafter. Full ownership would be transferred to the government after 35 years, which would significantly contribute towards GDP revenues and overall development of the State,” Mr. Chamling said.
He further said that the power project will bring in economic boom for the people.
The Chief Minister also urged the promoters of Teesta Stage III to cater to all the demands of the local people, which include the construction of a Community Center, maintenance of roads, school repair, construction of monasteries, drinking water supply and the construction a statue of Guru Padmasambhava.
Stressing on the point that stopping on-going work at hydel projects even for a day means a loss Rs 500 crore, the CM said that the local people would get 80 % job placement facilities as per the guidelines given by the State Government.
On the occasion, Mr. Chamling also made an announcement to rename Lingdong Secondary School as Sonam Chyoda Secondary school in memory of the late MLA from Dzongu.
The 1200 MW project has been awarded to the consortium of promoters led by M/s Athena Projects Private Limited under the joint sector with the State Government under BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) basis for a period of 35 years. Athena Projects in turn formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)-Teesta Urja Ltd- for the implementation for this project. The Teesta III is the largest power project in the State.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Teesta Urja Private Limited, YN Apparao while placing the technical detail of the project. Stating the project as totally environment friendly, Mr. Apparao said there would be two underground desilting cambers of size 285X16mX21.2m each to exclude silt particles above 0.20 mm. “There will be 60m high concerted faced rock fill dam, two numbers, 11.0 m finished diameter tunnels, one intake tunnel, two desiliting chambers, headrace tunnel, two pressure shafts, underground power house complex, tailrace tunnel and pothead yard,” he informed. The project has received all the statutory clearances from the concerned authorities, he added.
At the end of the programme, the people of North Sikkim felicitated the Chief Minister.
The Area MLA, Lachen Mangshila, Hissey Lachungpa and MLA, Dzongu, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha also addressed the gathering.

GJMM to resume indefinite bandh from 6 pm today
National Highway 31A to remain close

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 15: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJMM) will resume the indefinite strike in Darjeeling Hills from Monday evening.
A decision to enforce the strike was taken today afternoon at a GJMM meeting in Siliguri chaired by president, Bimal Gurung.
GJMM General Secretary Roshan Giri said here that its central committee decided to enforce a shutdown in the hills from 6 pm Monday evening to press for statehood. The shutdown will resume in the three Hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. The National Highway 31A to Sikkim would be blocked during the strike.
Seven GJMM members will go on a relay hunger strike in Siliguri town, Terai and Dooars.
Dooars and Siliguri would be exempted from the bandh. .Also tea gardens, cinchona plantations and all schools and colleges would be kept out of the purview of the bandh.
The GJMM also accused the Left Front government of West Bengal of using the “state machinery” against the GJM and “inciting” violence. “We believe in the democratic process but the state and Central governments are not paying heed to the people’s aspirations,” Mr. Giri said.

Four hydel power projects in Dzongu scrapped
ACT withdraws indefinite hunger strike
Relay hunger strike to continue till “sanctity and rich biodiversity of Dzongu is fully protected”

YISHEY D
GANGTOK, June 15: Dawa Tshering Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha yesterday withdrew from the 96th day of the second phase of their indefinite hunger strike following the State Government’s move to scrap four mega hydro electric power projects in Dzongu in North Sikkim.
According to a letter dated June 12, 2008 addressed to the ACT (Affected Citizens of Teesta) president Athup Lepcha, the Principal Chief Engineer cum Secretary of the State Power and Energy Department, P Wangchen said that the four projects were scrapped by the State Government “taking into consideration the sentiment of the local people and the need to conserve the environment.”
The scrapped hydel power projects are Rangyong (141 MW), Lingza (120 MW), Ringpi (90 MW) and Rukel (33 MW), all located in Dzongu in North Sikkim.
The State Government has scrapped both the Rangyong and Lingzya hydel power projects, which they had initially signed MoUs with private developers while no definite proposals were made for Ringpi and Rukel power projects, both located inside the Khangchendzonga National Park in Dzongu. “The government took a conscious decision not to allot these projects to any developer to conserve the environment and ecology of the area,” the letter pointed out.
“This is the victory of the people of Sikkim. The scrapping of the four projects is a positive step towards protection of Sikkim, its nature and environment,” said ACT chief coordinator, Tseten Lepcha while addressing a press conference yesterday.
Referring to the initiative of the Chungthang Gram Panchayat committee for having taken just and bold step to establish an effective communication between the Government and the people, due to which this development has taken place, ACT chief coordinator expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for his personal intervention in considering the wishes of the people of Dzongu.
Panchayat president, Chungthang Gram Panchayat, Lhendup Lepcha said, “Since we thought bigger organizations would take up the step, we prolonged our move. But as things got prolonged further making some matters worse, we took up the task of meeting the Chief Minister.”
While assuring ACT to further request the CM for renewal of harmony and peace, Chungthang Panchayat sought a bit of sacrifice from both the parties.
Besides, ACT also thanked all the political parties, social organisations and friends both in the government and outside who sympathized with their cause and supported them throughout their struggle.
Talking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, Dawa and Tenzing, who seemed not so happy over the development said, “We should say we are happy at the moment. But our main concern is Panan hydel power project and Teesta Stage IV.”
The government in the letter to ACT president has clearly specified that the 280 MW Panan hydro electric project would be taken up for development purpose apart from Teesta Stage IV, which is also being developed by NHPC.
But Dawa Tenzing is hopeful that the Panan hydel power projects and Teesta Stage IV would be scrapped. “Teesta Stage III is itself a big project, which would be more than sufficient for the development of the State,” he said.
On the other hand, the State Government is confident that Panan project will bring direct benefits like employment, education, business and better infrastructure like roads, telephone, power, health besides indirect socio-economic gains.
The State Government believes that the scrapping pf Panan project would entail huge losses incurred towards survey and investigation, preparation of detailed project report, preparation of EMP reports, obtaining clearances, land acquisition etc. The Government also feel that the scrapping of Panan may also led to the creation of negative environment against the hydropower development in other parts of the State.
It also believes that the project is located in the downstream reach of Tholung Chu involving least interference with nature.
Meanwhile, ACT has said that the relay hunger strike of the Satyagraha would continue till the sanctity and the rich biodiversity of Dzongu is fully protected and Panan project also scrapped.
ACT led hunger strike has attained 361st day today, only four days to make a year.

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 15: A day after the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced that the Centre is not in favour of a separate State but ready for talks with Gorkha leaders without any pre-condition, Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) chief Bimal Gurung has expressed readiness to hold talks with the Centre.
Mr. Gurung said the GJMM is ready for a meeting with the central leaders. He said that GJMM is ready to take all measures to maintain law and order in Darjeeling hills if the Centre takes appropriate steps to solve the demand of Darjeeling hill people.
On June 14, the external affairs minister said that the Centre is ready to talk to GJMM but without any pre-condition.
In New Delhi, Mr. Mukherjee said, “There is no question of creating a separate state of Gorkhaland. The Centre doesn’t want further disintegration of Bengal.”
Roshan Giri, general secretary GJMM said: “We haven’t received any formal communication from the external affairs minister. But we have made our point clear. We are interested in a tripartite meeting and nothing else. We will go to Delhi for talks on one point agenda-Gorkhaland. We will go to Delhi to meet Central government leaders and tell them out grievances.”
The GJMM has been demanding for separate Gorkhaland comprising of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Doars, Terai and Siliguri. Earlier, the Morcha had stated that it was open to a tripartite talks involving the Centre and only if the matter in focus is Gorkhaland.
The Morcha had on June 10 called for an indefinite bandh, which was soon relaxed taking into consideration trouble faced by the tourists visiting Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and other surrounding areas.
Bandh took a different turn when GJMM supporters and anti-Gorkhaland supporters clashed in Siliguri.
Meanwhile, the CRPF has taken over the charge of security in the trouble torn areas in Siliguri which witnessed violence between the separate state demand supporters and those opposing it on Thursday.
On the other hand, Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has called for an all party-meet on June 17 to discuss the hill-crisis. GJMM has not been invited to the meet as it is not a registered political outfit. Bhattacharjee is believed to hold a separate meeting with the Morcha after the all party meet.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 15: The Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that the acceptance of the Executive Report of Prof. BK Roy Burman, Chairman, Commission for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plan and Programme (CRESP) in the Assembly is the indirect admission of the SDF Government that it is not in favour of reserving seats for Limboo-Tamang as Scheduled Tribes in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
In a recently issued press release, general secretary, BJP, CB Chettri has pointed out three reasons, proving that the State Government is against reserving seats for LTs.
According to the release, CRESP has recommended 20 seats for Scheduled Tribe comprising of Limboo, Tamang, Rai, Yakha, Sunuwar, Mangar, Gurung, Bhujel, Jogi, Chettri, Bahun Newar etc, 12 seats for Bhutia-Lepcha, two seats for Scheduled Caste, two seats for Sangha and four seats as General open making 40 seats.
While stating that there is no justification given to increase the seats to 40 in the CRESP report, BJP general secretary said that increasing 40 seats by Parliament is out of question as the SDF Government itself has already endorsed freezing of seats in the Assembly.
“There is no rational given to increase Sangha seat to two, which may raise a demand of one seat reserved for Pundits also besides the Gompas are to be re-notified. Presently all Gompas are not included in Sangha constituency,” the release reads.
The BJP general secretary further said that the recommendation of the CRESP to include all Nepalese as Scheduled Tribe is not easy as the CRESP itself has accepted that the Government of India has taken a policy decision normally not to entertain request for fresh inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
“A little hope could have been made on CRESP recommendation in getting the recommendation of the National Scheduled Tribe Commission (a must to be included in ST list) but this has been shattered by the Prof. AC Sinha committee report of May 2005 set up by SDF Government for preparing ethnographic account of Rai, Yakha, Sunuwar, Mangar, Gurung, Bhujel and Jogi leaving only Chettri, Bahun and Newar outside the preview. The question of including all Nepalese as ST before 2009 election seems next to impossible,’ the release adds.
The BJP has further questioned as to what necessitated the SDF Government accepting the executive report of CRESP and adopting in the Assembly other than depriving Limboo-Tamang of their seat in Assembly as Scheduled Tribe even before final CRESP report is printed.

Staff Reporter
RUMTEK, June 15: The Karma Shri Nalanda Institute (KSNI) for higher Buddhist studies, one of the biggest Buddhist learning centres at the Dharma Chakra centre in Rumtek, East Sikkim, today completed 25 years.
A two-day celebration to commemorate the event began this morning at the institute’s main shrine hall with recitation of prayers in Sanskrit and Tibetan by Rinpoches, Tulkus and monks.
The institute of higher Buddhist studies founded by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorji was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama on October 26, 1981, who also gave oral transmission of five teaching treatises of Maitreya Buddha, Arya Pranjnaparamita Samucayagatha Sutra and the Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa.
The institute is affiliated to the Sampuranand Sanskrit University, Varanasi.
The regent and caretaker of the monastery Goshir Gyaltshab Rimpoche and also the director of Nalanda Institute presided over the function along with the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, DN Thakarpa as special guest.
Messages of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorji, the cabinet minister in the Tibetan government in exile, spiritual head of Bhutan Government, Ven Thrangu Rinpoche, Ven Tenga Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa of Tibetan Government in Exile, were read out.
The message from Governor Sudarshan Agarwal, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Vice Chancellor, Sampurnand Sanskrit University were also read out.
Mr. Thakarpa also released books published by the Nalanda Institute including the annual magazine of the institute.
Most importantly, 30 students who passed out Acharya and Karamjampa (MA equivalent) Degree and 19 with Shastri (BA equivalent) degree were handed over certificated by Mr. Thakarpa.
In his speech, Mr. Thakarpa praised the achievement of the institute over the years and extended his congratulations to all the Rinpoches, Khenpos and monks of the institute. He also narrated on the birth of Buddhism in India and its journey to Tibet.
Discourses and teachings on Buddhist philosophy and religious debates will be featured in tomorrow’s programme.
Earlier, the Incharge of the Institute, Kalsang Nyima presented a brief introduction of the institute.
To upkeep the traditional practice of tantric Saddhana practices of the Kagyu Lineage, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, after constructing the new Rumtek Monastery laid down the foundation of building of an Institute separately in 1983.
In 1959 during the Cultural Revolution in Tibet, His Holiness escaped to India and was invited by the King of Sikkim to establish his seat in his country and was provided with the land and necessary materials for building it.
The institute was upgraded and a new annexe building was built in 1987 by Jamgon Kongtrul Rimpoche one of the four regents. The institute is located next to the famous Rumtek monastery, the seat of the Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism which has over 500 centres around the world. The present head of the Karma Kagyu lineage Orgyen Trinley has not been allowed to take his seat at the monastery. He has been residing at Gyuto monastery in Dharamshala ever since he fled Tibet as a young boy ten years ago.
Headed by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche as the resident Director of the Institute, the institute is run with the help of 20 Lecturers and Junior Lecturers, 20 faculty staffs and, 180 students, who are devoted towards the study of Buddha’s teachings.
Based on the complete knowledge and understanding of the Buddha path, the students are studying the precious teachings of the sutras, tantras and Buddhist sciences by listening, reflection and meditation.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 15: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all opposition parties and NGOs organised a street meeting at Rongli bazaar today.
JAC leaders gave speeches minus microphones. They also distributed pamphlets accsuing the State Government for “undeclared emergency in Sikkim”.
After Rongli, JAC team proceeded towards Rhenock bazaar followed by Rangpo Lall bazaar.
The street meeting and the distribution of pamphlets ended at Ranipool Lall bazaar, in which even the local people joined the rally carried out by JAC.
At least 20 vehicles carrying JAC leaders and supporters of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), BJP Sikkim Unit, CPI (M) Sikkim Unit, Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRP), Gorkha Prajatantik Party, Kranti Kari Yuwa Sangh today participated in the street meetings.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 15: Curtains came down on the three-day long Kharif Kisan Mela yesterday at Saramsa, about 18 km from here. The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who was present as the chief guest, said that the farmers of the State should become self-reliant and focus more on the cultivation of crops and vegetables rather than be dependable on others.
While hoping that the farmers had greatly benefited from the Mela and had acquired knowledge on better farming techniques and modern cultivation skills, the Chief Minister congratulated the State Agriculture Department and the farmers for making Mela a grand success.
“I have always had a vision of making Sikkim an organic State and this kind of programme would certainly help in carrying toward this vision,” the CM said. He further urged the younger generation to show interest in agriculture. Informing that more such programme benefiting the farmers would be held in the days to come, Mr. Chamling congratulated all the participants and the winners of the various competitions.
The Minister for the State Agriculture Department, Somnath Poudyal said that the State government is leaving no stone unturned in equipping and empowering the farmers with the introduction of new schemes and the innovative method of farming. All together 875 farmers from different places of Sikkim took part in the exhibition cum competition of the horticulture based produced in Kharif Kishan Mela while 116 progressive farmers from different fields of the State have been felicitated with the certificate and the cash prizes in the final day of the Mela by Agriculture and horticulture department.
For their commendable work in the field of agriculture, the CM felicitated many progressive farmers including Jamuna Prasad Sharma, Mulukey, East Sikkim, Dhan Bahadur Rai, Martam, Gyalshing, Gyan Ongdup Lepcha, Lower Dzongu, Ratna Singh Tamang, Palitam, Raj Bir Rai, Simkhara, South Sikkim, Mukta Bir Rai, Pathang, West Pandam, East Sikkim, Ram Maya Sharma, Gelling, West Sikkim and Prem Tshering Tamang, Melli -Pakyong, South Sikkim.
Certificate of appreciation were given to Pragati SHG, Dalapchen, Kalyan SHG, Parkha and Sakukhani Farmer’s Club, West Pendam from the East district. From the West District, Devendra Thapa, Omchung and Man Bahadur Limboo, Tharpu got the certificates of appreciation while Ishwari Majhi,Chisopani and Dhan Maya Gurung, Polok, Rabong were those awarded from the North District. Andheri Khola Watershed Committee and Bhuichaley Khola Watershed Committee also got the certificate of appreciation.
In the Agro- Service centre, Kumari Sharma,Tashiding West, Nari Jagriti Jundh (SHG), Chalisey, Rhenoch, East received the letter of appreciation.
From the State Horticulture & Cash Crop Development, Thendup Bhutia, Bhurung Pendam, East, Kharga Bahadur Tiwari, Tarku, South, Ram Bahadur Adhikari, Naku Chumbung, West and Hasta Man Rai, Chumbung, West were handed over the appreciation certificates.
The Chief Minister also handed away prizes to the farmers in various categories.
The farmers who bagged first prize in various categories are as follows:
1. Flowers
a. Rose: Lall Bdr. Chettri of Daramdin,
b. Gladiolus: Anjit Lepcha of Sumbuk
2. Fruits
a. Banana: Topden Lepcha,
b. Passion fruit: Amber Rai, Chumbong.
3. Spices
a. Arjun Rai of Rongli.
5. Honey production
PB Rai of Chumbong.
6. Vegetable
a. Tomato: Garja Man Rai
b. Cauliflower: Subash Gurung
c. Pea: Kunamg Lachungpa
d. Gourd: Prakash Dhamala of Singtam
e. Cherry Pepper: Mohan Singh of Raley
7. Medical Plants
a. Mangal Bir Subba, Yuksom.

SATURDAY, JUNE , 14 ,   2008

BUDDHA PROPOSES, MORCHA DISPOSES
West Bengal CM invites GJMM leader for talks on June 18
Bimal Gurung rejects invitation

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 13: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJMM) has turned down the West Bengal government's offer for talks on the Darjeeling issue on June 18.
The GJMM rejected the offer saying the agenda of development of the hills was "irrelevant" when the main issue was a separate state of Gorkhaland.
"The GJM central committee rejected the offer to sit for talks with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee because the agenda of the meeting was development of the Darjeeling hills," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said here today.
"The central committee felt the demand for Gorkhaland was a political one and the offer to discuss development of the Darjeeling hills was irrelevant," he added.
According to Mr. Giri, if the West government was "at all interested in settling the issue, it should take the initiative for tripartite talks with the Centre and GJM representatives with the agenda for talks being solely Gorkhaland".
The GJMM central committee also reviewed and discussed the incidents in the past two days at Siliguri and Dooars region which were "guided by the CPM and attempts made to give them a communal turn". The party wants West Bengal government to take action against those responsible for Thursday's violence in Silliguri during which anti-Gorkhaland supporters have blocked routes to Darjeeling cutting the hill station from the plains. If the state government wish to restore peace, then the police should arrest the perpetrators of the violence during the period of further relaxation of the indefinite bandh, Mr. Giri said.
The Trinamool Congress has backed the GJMM saying that it should be called for the all-party talks.
Meanwhile, the GJMM has decided to further relax its indefinite bandh till 6 am on Monday after an appeal for peace by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi.
The West Bengal Chief Minister had on Friday invited Mr. Gurung for talks on Darjeeling issue on June 18, a day after all party talks are to be held on the issue.
The GJMM had not been invited for the all-party meeting to be held on the June 17.
"Chief Minister has invited Bimal Gurung and his followers to meet him separately on June 18 at Writers Buildings to discuss the Darjeeling issue," Chief Minister's Secretariat in Kolkata had said.
Meanwhile, the situation in Siliguri was officially stated to be fast returning to normal with the police, administration and business organisations taking steps to maintain law and order.
Sashastra Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel were flag marching in the areas since morning, reports said. The Army is on standby there. The situation is considered calm for the moment.

Landowners oppose Teesta Stage IV project

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 13: The landowners of Lower Dzongu in North Sikkim, whose land come under the Teesta Stage IV project, have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, North opposing the project.
This was submitted yesterday at the DC’s office, during a meeting between the land owners and the DC to discuss the issue.
According to a press release issued by Dawa Tshering Lepcha, general secretary, Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), the land owners, in their memorandum have categorically mentioned that they are not going to part with their land under any circumstances.
The landowners have also mentioned in the memorandum that the issue/subject be not proposed or brought before them again in future.
The copy of the memorandum has been marked for all the concerned authorities both in the State and the Center Government, Governor, Ministry Commissions and NGOs.
Meanwhile, the Rangyong River in Dzongu has flooded again on the intervening night of June 12 and 13 washing away the drilling machines and equipment, further taking it towards the rock test drilling site at Lingzya.
“The flood level has not gone down and River Teesta remains in flooded mess,” the release adds.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 13: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) convened an emergency meeting today at the party head office here to discuss on the situation arising out of the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) and the counter strikes called by the Amra Bangali, Janjagran Manch and Janchetna Manch.
A press release issued by the party general secretary (Press and Media), Kunga Nima Lepcha informs that the meeting was chaired by the SPCC president, Nar Bahadur Bhandari and attended by senior members of the party.
As informed in the release, the members expressed deep concern on the “imminent disruption in the transportation of essential commodities like rice, wheat, petroleum products, medicines etc in the State.”
Deliberating seriously on the hardship being faced by the people of Sikkim, particularly the patients needing immediate medical treatment outside Sikkim and the students seeking admission in colleges in different parts of the country for higher studies, the party has also strongly condemned the State Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards tackling such burning issues having direct bearing on the life of the people of Sikkim.
“The Government cannot pass on the bug on the Prime Minister for his intervention to resolve the crisis through writing a letter on the same, which was broadcast in the local press and media. Such bandhs in the neighbouring State of West Bengal are a common phenomenon which should have been gauged by the State Government well in time and all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted safe passage of essential commodities, ferrying of passengers including the patients, students and the tourists in the public and private transports on the National Highway 31A should have been taken,” the release contends.
The release further says that the National Highway 31A is the lifeline of Sikkim and the same must be kept opened throughout.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 13: The Central Executive Committee meeting of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party was held today at the party head office here under the presidentship of the party president, Pawan Chamling.
According to a party communiqué, the meeting attended by all the CEC members discussed various issues amongst which the major were to provide health insurance to all the people living below poverty line by introducing mobile health checkup vans.
Placing his presidential speech, the party president urged the CEC members to be more committed towards taking the vision of the party to the masses.

SORENG, June 13: Fourteen new schools have been started under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in West District.
Addressing the session at Community Hall, Soreng Assistant Coordinator, SSA, BC Dahal said 13 monastic schools in the district have been provided with teachers under SSA for Mathematics, English and Environmental Studies. Computers have also been provided in ten schools in West district including five schools in Soreng sub division. With the implementation of SSA, the school drop out rate has decreased to 286 at present from 2651 in 2001 in West District.
The cooked Mid Day Meal is being provided to 18,012 students from Class I to V in government and monastic schools in West District. Assistant Education Officer, Iching Subba informed the gathering that the cooked meal is also being provided to 7200 students from Class VI to VIII from June 1, 2008 in the district. The flagship scheme aims to decrease the drop out rate and also provide a nutritious meal to the children. Mr. Subba said funds have been received from the centre to construct a kitchen shed to cook the mid day meal. He urged the Panchayat, parents and guardians to check the quality of the meal being provided in the school and the construction of kitchen sheds. (PIB)

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 13: A case was registered yesterday against Anupam Barua of Bye Pass, Krishna Subba of Arithang and Suraj Pradhan of Singtam on the complaint of Jyoti Subba of Arithang Gangtok at Sadar Police Station.
According to the complainant, a couple of weeks back, Krishna Subba had reportedly taken his driving license and voter ID card on the pretext to procure him a mobile sim card. But later through reliable source, the complainant came to know that those documents were used by Krishna Subba and his two accomplices Anupam Barua and Suraj Pradhan to obtain certificate of registration for one stolen vehicle (black Scorpio) by way of forging signature in all the requisite application forms submitted to the motor vehicle department.
The registration No-SK-02-A/5460 was fraudulently obtained by accused trio for the stolen black Scorpio.
A case has been register under section 468/471/34 of the IPC and is under investigation.
On June 9, this year, the co-accused Krishna Subba and Anupam Barua were booked under section 401/34 of the IPC in connection with selling stolen vehicles from one State to another.
The Sadar Police arrested both the accused on June 11 and are now in Police custody.

Our Correspondent
PAKYONG, June 13: This is the last chance for the people to get themsleves photographed for Voters Identity Cards in the Pakyong Sub-division.
All the voters of this area whose voter cards are not valid have been informed by the supervisors and the concerned wards Panchayats of the opportunity.
Purna B Yonzon, BDO of Pakyong Sub-division said that people are responding to the announcement.
Any person disabled, old and cannot travel to the proposed venue for getting themselves photographed should send their photographs for making their Voter cards, the BDO said.
This sub-division, which has a total population of 32,769 has only 112 people left to take their photographs, with the highest in Nathang.
The last date for taking the photographs is June 17.

FRIDAY, JUNE , 13 ,   2008

Army on a standby in Siliguri
Tension grips Darjeeling and Siliguri as clashes continue between GJMM supporters and anti-Gorkhaland groups

Our Correspondent
SILIGURI/DARJEELING, June 12: Army is on standby and Section 144 clamped in Siliguri in West Bengal as three organizations called a total bandh opposing the demand for creation of a separate Gorkhaland state.
Earlier, Police lathicharged and tear-gassed on protesters who went on a rampage stopping traffic, throwing stones and burning tyres. Some tourists were also injured in the clashes.
In the wake of fresh tension arising out of clashes between supporters of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha’s (GJMM) and anti-Gorkhaland factions in Siliguri and parts of Darjeeling, the West Bengal Government today called in the Army in Siliguri and adjacent areas.
According to reports, the Home Ministry has dispatched ten companies (about 1,000 personnel) of BSF, CRPF and SSB to West Bengal. The reinforcement was meant to deal with the situation in violence-hit North Bengal. The additional forces had been sent following a request from the West Bengal government.
To ease tension following the clashes, personnel of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) staged flag march in Siliguri.
The deployment of Army came after Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee discussed the situation in Siliguri and adjacent areas with Army authorities. The CM also appealed for maintaining peace and amity.
Further, he has called an all-party meeting on June 17 to discuss the Darjeeling crisis.
The development came after normal life was hit in Siliguri today as it observed a near total bandh called by three organisations opposing the demand for creation of a separate Gorkha state.
The two-day parallel bandh, called by Amra Bangali, Banglabhasha Bachao Samiti and Jana Jagaran Morcha, in Siliguri and Dooars in protest against the indefinite bandh called by the GJMM, initially began on a dull note, but picked up as the day progressed with all shops and business establishments remaining shut and vehicles off the roads.
Some educational institutions cancelled their scheduled examinations and majority of the banks remained closed.
GJMM press secretary Benoy Tamang alleged that the bandh at Siliguri and Dooars was purposely called to restrict movement of vehicles carrying food and essentials to Darjeeling.
Inspector General of Police (North Bengal), KL Tamta told reporters that the allegation of GJMM was not correct. Vehicles were very much moving towards the hills and sufficient security forces were deployed at all vulnerable points, particularly the entry points to the hills.
There was no repot of any major untoward incident either in Siliguri or Dooars, the IGP said.
The picture, however, was opposite in the hills after the GJMM announced a 60-hour breather in their indefinite bandh which began at 3 pm yesterday. Police said that there was no untoward incident reported in the hills.
On the other hands, the GJMM today said that there was no question of giving up its demand for Gorkhaland.
“We are yet to receive any invitation for the all party meeting and we will take a decision as and when it comes,” GJMM president Bimal Gurung told reporters from Darjeeling.
Meanwhile, the WB Governor has urged for calm in the region. “It is essential that leaders of the public opinion and civil society strive to maintain communal harmony, even as the administration performs its duties for maintaining law and order,” the West Bengal Governor said in a statement.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 12: The Sikkim Government has sought the Centre's intervention in finding a permanent solution to the problems faced by the State in view of the frequent bandhs called in the neighbouring West Bengal and the Darjeeling Hills.
The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, has brought to the notice of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh about the indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in Darjeeling hills and its subsequent effect on Sikkim with the closure of the National Highway 31A.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister has pointed out that these frequent bandhs have resulted in complete cessation of traffic of passengers and goods to and fro Sikkim along the National Highway 31A.
Asking the Prime Minister to personally intervene in the matter to solve the problem in Darjeeling Hills permanently so that the landlocked Sikkim, surrounded by three international borders, and its peaceful and law abiding people are not put to further difficulty and strain with no fault of their own.
Even though the State Government has introduced immediate rationing of essential commodities like Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Petrol Oil and Lubricants in the State, the bandhs have put a severe strain on the inadequate stock of these essential commodities in the State, which is expected to last only for a few days, Mr. Chamling told the PM.
The Chief Minister has also mentioned the plight of tourists and the students seeking admissions for higher studies in other parts of the country who are stranded here in the State due to the bandh. “Although the State Government is doing its best to evacuate these passengers, the continuous bandhs have put the State’s efforts to a naught including evacuation of serious patients requiring urgent medical treatment in Delhi,” Mr. Chamling said.
The Chief Minister has further stated in his letter that such strikes and bandhs, which have become a regular feature in the last 28 years, severely affect the tourism industry of Sikkim, resulting in loss of an estimated Rs. 10 crores per day which is a huge and irreparable blow for a small State like Sikkim.
The Chief Minister made it very clear in his letter that the State is “feeling choked and completely paralysed” by these frequent bandhs and counter bandhs and tremendous hardship is being faced by the people of Sikkim with no fault of their own. The State has taken up this grave issue with the Centre and the West Bengal Government on several occasions in the past.

Rangpo residents become good Samaritans
Stranded tourists provided shelter by residents of the border town

Our Correspondent
RANGPO, June 12: Most of the tourists from Sikkim, who safely reached Bagdogra and NJP have expressed their gratitude to the Sikkim Police for their safe passage.
Yesterday, when the indefinite bandh announced by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) was relaxed for 60 hours, the Rangpo Police provided more then 10 trucks to help the stranded tourists reach Siliguri as small vehicles were not permitted to ply.
Before the bandh was relaxed, stranded tourists, who were reportedly pushed back by GJMM picketers from the West Bengal side at the Rangpo border, were provided shelter by the residents of Rangpo in their houses free of cost.
“The halt at Rangpo will be the most memorable for us,” said Abhisek Day of Kolkata.
He further said that among the many places he visited, Sikkim was close to him.
All the Public, NGOs and Police are very helpful but some truck drivers were very rude.
“Not only did the truck drivers charge us Rs 500 more than the actual rate given by the government but also treated us badly”, a tourist from Kolkata told this correspondent.
We were treated like guests in Sikkim but in Siliguri, even the Police failed to help us,” he added.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 12: Governor Sudarshan Agarwal today inaugurated the three day long Kharif Kisan Mela at the Saramsa garden near Ranipool in East Sikkim.
Organized by the State Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, the main objective of the Mela is to disseminate the information about the new technology and the best farming practices as well as to demonstrate new farm implements and other agricultural inputs.
While placing his brief inaugural address, Governor Agarwal expressed his happiness over the State Government’s initiative to organize the mela for the farmers for the first time in the State.
“It would benefit farmers, particularly in making them aware about the latest technologies in farming and cultivation,” he said.
Stating that the farmers were the backbones of the society and vital in building a strong nation, the Governor urged them to go for more quality production and organic farming.
“I would love to see Sikkim as a garden state of India and this festival is the stepping-stone towards achieving this objective,” he said.
The Governor also promised to give four milch cows to four farmers from four Districts.
Likewise Somnath Poudyal, the Minister of the State Food Security and Agriculture Development Department said that the department was inspired to organsie the mela after the grand success of the recently held International Flower Festival.
Stating that 80 percent of the people in Sikkim earn their livelihood through farming, Mr. Poudyal said that Sikkim has been blessed with different climatic zones suitable for varied crops.
“Our target is to produce 15,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes this season, most of which will be exported,” he informed.
He further informed that the department has already started the process of marketing agricultural products outside the State by setting up outlets in metropolitan cities like Delhi and Kolkata.
“Our farmers are earning more than Rs 80, 000 per annum on average by selling their products,” Mr. Poudyal added.
Delivering his welcome address, TW Barphungpa, the secretary of the department said that the department is keen to aware the farmers about the central and state schemes.
Also present in the inaugural session were the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, DN Thakarpa, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, BB Gooroong, MP, Lok Sabha, Nakul Das Rai and other department officials.
Various types fruits and vegetables are displayed at the mela. The department has also kept prizes for the best growers, which will be handed over on the last day of the mela ie on June 14. The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is expected to visit the mela on the concluding day.
Today, the second session featured orientation on various schemes of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Departments.
Earlier, the Governor visited all the stalls and also attended the cultural function organized by the State Culture Department.
As per the departmental information, at least 860 participants including progressive farmers, representatives from Self Help Groups, NGOs and government bodies are participating in the Mela.
The three day long exhibition will also cover inputs on organic framing, integrated pest management, post harvest management, seed production technology, farm machineries etc. A crop competition and livestock show will also be held for the progressive farmers, officials informed.
According to the officials, the most interesting part of the exhibition would be the crop seminar cum conference for the farmers, Panchayat, members, NGOs, SHGs and field functionaries of the department.
Resource persons from ICAR, Spices Board and experts from Agricultural universities will be imparting their knowledge on technology farming.
Besides, an interactive session will be held during the seminar where in the queries and doubts of the farmers will be answered by the experts.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 12: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) called an urgent meeting here today to discuss the adoption of Resolution No. 9 of June 9, 2008 in the recent Sikkim Legislative Assembly session, endorsing the Prof BK Roy Burman Committee Report to the Central Government.
According to a press release, the Executive Report of the Commission for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plans and Programmes (CRESP) headed by Prof. BK Roy Burman as its Chairman is totally Anti-BL and Anti-Constitution while at the same time, the recommendation of this Report even goes contrary to the Supreme Court Verdict (RC Poudyal vs. Union of India & Others) and the sacred provisions of Article 371F of the Constitution.
It further states that the Sikkim Assembly’s endorsement of the said Report to the Central Government is against the wishes and aspiration of the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas (BLs).
“It is however very unfortunate and strange that despite this organization's enormous representations and appraisals to the authority and more particularly to the ruling 12 BL MLAs, to ensure the proportionate increase of the BL seats in the event the strength of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly is enhanced, the Prof BK Roy Burman Committee Report has only sought to uproot, castigate and degenerate the very political existence of the BLs in Sikkim,” reads the release.
SIBLAC convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia has appealed to all the fellow BLs to maintain peace and order keeping in view the creation of uproar and apprehensions amongst the BL people over the State Government’s move.
The organization has already taken up the matter as a matter of first magnitude and has already started concertedly working on it, the release adds.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 12: The State Urban Development and Housing Department has said that the trade licenses are being issued as per the provisions of the Sikkim Trade License and Miscellaneous Provisions Rules, 1985.
Reacting to the allegation made by the All Sikkim Youth Association (ASYA) that the UD&HD has been issuing trade licenses to non-Sikkimese traders without proper scrutiny of the documents, the Joint Secretary of the department has clarified that the trade licenses are being issued giving preference to SSC/ COI holders and on priority to the educated unemployed youth as per the policy of the Government.
“If the ASYA has any complaint on issue of trade license to any unauthorized persons and if any of the unemployed youth is facing problem in obtaining license from the Department, then they should submit specific complaint/report to the Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department,” reads a press release from the Department.

Our Correspondent
NAMCHI, June 12: The first day of the exhibition of logos, flags and motto of Sikkim University which began here at the indoor Gymnasium hall saw a low public participation.
Apart from few students and some interested people, the exhibition hall wore a deserted look.
A few students, who came from different schools, cast their votes for their favourite logos and flags, left the hall.
“As compared to Gangtok, the response here was bit low. We are hopeful that we may get better response tomorrow,” said an official from Sikkim University.
Talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS, some of the people said that the lack of reading habits among the people was the reason for the low response for the exhibition.
“Unless there is full public participation, the democratic way of choosing the logo, flags and motto would remain unfulfilled,” they said.

THURSDAY, JUNE , 12 ,   2008

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 11: Sikkim was totally cut off from the rest of the country for two days following the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills.
The second day of indefinite bandh was marked with more confusion amongst the stranded vacationers who waited haplessly at the Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) and Deorali Motor Stand here for vehicles to safely ferry them to Siliguri.
According to sources, SNT buses were allowed to ply towards Siliguri only after a telephonic conversation between the leaders of GJMM and the officials from the State Government.
However, there was some respite for the tourists as well as locals as the GJMM today relaxed the bandh for 72-hours till Saturday morning in order to facilitate them a safe passage back home.
The bandh was lifted from 1pm today. It will continue till Saturday 6am.
Talking with the media, LN Pradhan, General Manager, SNT said that ten buses were being used to ferry tourists to Siliguri this evening.
Even buses from Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Sikkim Jewels, State Jail and from other government departments were used to ferry the stranded tourists.
“We are accommodating a maximum of 35 passengers in one bus,” the GM said.
GJMM leaders had said that all the vehicles from Sikkim should cross Rangpo border by 4 pm.
The travel agencies, Main Line Taxi Drivers and SNT drivers have been actively involved in helping the stranded tourists get vehicles to Siliguri.
Talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS, Dinesh Tamang, president, Mainline Taxi Drivers’ Association said more than 60 vehicles carrying tourists headed towards Siliguri this afternoon.
“Since we are running short of vehicles, a large number of tourists are still waiting for the vehicles at the motor stand,” he added.
As per reports, 1700 tourists from Gangtok were evacuated since today afternoon.
“Almost all the tourists have been evacuated from the State,” the president of Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), SK Pradhan told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
“Fortunately, this is almost the fag end of tourist season here. If the bandh had been called during the peak season, then the tourism industry in Sikkim would have suffered tremendously,” he said.
Apart from the tourists, locals have expressed worry over the probable inflation and shortage of essential commodities following the closure of NH31A.
Reports coming in from Rangpo also inform that almost 3000 tourists from Sikkim stranded at Rangpo were ferried from the Rangpo border in 10 trucks, 10 buses and other small vehicles to Siliguri from 2.30 pm. More than 500 tourists were accommodated in trucks.
Some of the tourists also complained of being charged 30 percent more than the actual fare by taxi drivers.
“This is our last tour to the hills. We will never visit this part of the country in future and will tell our friends not to visit as well,” said a harassed tourist in Rangpo.

Our Correspondent
DARJEELING, June 11: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) today lifted the indefinite bandh for 72 hours from today evening till 6am Saturday.
This was announced by GJMM supremo Bimal Gurung in a public meeting held today at Chowrasta in Darjeeling.
Mr. Gurung said that the break was necessitated by the fact that hundreds of tourists were still stranded in Darjeeling and Siliguri. He has asked all the tourists still stranded in Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim to leave within this 72-hour respite in the bandh. He further directed the drivers not to charge more fares from the tourists but rather help them reach safely up to Siliguri.
It is also reported that the GJMM party workers today burnt the GNLF flag placed near the residence of GNLF party president Subash Ghising. GJMM party workers replaced it with GJMM flag.

CS calls meeting to take stock of bandh situation
Govt to ration Petrol, Diesel and LPG

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 11: The Chief Secretary ND Chingapa chaired an emergency meeting at Tashiling Secretariat yesterday evening to take stock of situation arising out the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling District.
The meeting focused mainly on the situation rising out of the closure of National Highway 31A due to the indefinite bandh and its subsequent effect on Sikkim.
The meeting was attended by the Heads of Departments of the concerned departments during which the Chief Secretary directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department, STCS and all District Collectors to take stock of and regulate supply of essential commodities including Petrol, Diesel and LPG.
He further requested the concerned officials to explore the possibility of arranging escort for vehicles to transport stranded tourist and other essential commodities in co-ordination with their counterpart in Darjeeling, West Bengal. The Chief Secretary also directed the Home Department to coordinate with the Army for using Army reserve pf Petroleum products in case of emergency and trucks, tankers for transport of Petrol, Diesel, LPG, and other essential commodities. He appealed to all the departments to coordinate and ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the State.
Meanwhile, the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has issued a notification dated June 10, 2008 informing the general public that rationing of essential commodities like, Petrol, Diesel and LPG are being enforced in the State in view of the indefinite bandh and closure of NH31A. The notification states that Petrol including extra-premium/speed will be rationed at 5 ltrs. per vehicle, diesel will be 10 ltr per vehicle, and LPG will be one cylinder per house hold strictly on the basis of the Blue Book.
However, heavy vehicles playing long distance with essential commodities will be issued as per the distance they cover subject to production of FCI/IOC challans. It is also notified to all the dealers to strictly adhere to the rationing of essential commodities and maintaining a record of the same. (IPR)

Our Correspondent
RANGPO, June 11: With many teachers transferred from the Government Junior High School, Rangpo, the future of more than 800 students of the school looks grim.
The school has the highest enrollment of students amongst the junior high schools in the State.
According to the school statistics, the primary section alone has 125 students in three sections and 132 in Class I.
Out of the 19 teachers in the school, eight primary teachers and one graduate teacher were recently transferred leaving the school management in a difficult situation.
“How is it possible to run 18 classes by 11 teachers”, complained some of the teachers.
Before the recent transfer, there were 19 teachers including two Graduate teachers deputed for the school.
It is informed that the 17 primary teachers and two graduate teachers were managing packed classrooms with great difficulty. The Graduate teachers were teaching all subjects from Class VI to VIII. Due to the scarcity of Graduate teachers, even the primary teachers were compelled to take higher classes like Class VI to VIII, sources inform.
According to a reliable source, the State Human Resource Development Department has transferred the teachers from the school citing reasons of excess teachers in the school.
Some of the students complained to this correspondent about the problems. According to them, most of the guardians are poor and cannot afford to look for new schools.
Earlier, the guardians have met the Area MLA cum Minister of the State Agriculture Department, Somnath Poudyal requesting him to solve the problem.

Old businessmen of Sikkim grateful to CM for assurance

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 11: The Association of Old Businessmen of Sikkim has expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for having assured the old business community of Sikkim that the State Government will take up the matter of seeking Income Tax exemption for the old established businessmen of Sikkim.
Mr. Chamling had said this in the State Assembly here on June 10.
According to a press release issued by the convener of the Association, SK Sarda, the Chief Minister’s assurance was a “matter of great satisfaction” for old business communities of Sikkim.
“Recognizing the contribution of the old business community of Sikkim, Mr. Chamling has further assured that he would be pursuing options available for the needful including the Ladakh Model to meet the aspirations of this deserving lot,” reads the press release.
The Association has also said they are “deeply touched” by the Chief Minister’s “heartfelt realization that not many from the old business community could avail the opportunity of being registered as Sikkim Subjects in 1961 due to lack of understanding, ignorance or under constraint of various political or social issues and they need to be protected and taken care of.”
It has further appreciated the concern and generosity of the Chief Minister while presenting the Sikkim Promotion of Local Employment Bill 2008 and providing 20% reservation therein to the wards of the business community residing in the State.
Most of the old business families in the State have been here for more than four decades, who were actively involved in the trade with Tibet during the 30s and 40s.

Everesters call on CM

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 11: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling today met the members of the successful Everest expedition from Sikkim.
The team of 11 mountaineers, who recently scaled Mount Everest, met the CM at his official residence in Mintokgang here today.
Mr. Chamling congratulated the whole team and expressed his profound happiness over the successful expedition.
After the long gap of 43 years, seven mountaineers of the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute (SGMI), Sikkim accomplished the glorious feat at 7.26 a.m. IST on May 22, this year.
Among them, Phul Maya Tamang and Yandhi Sherpa were women climbers. Nima Wangchuk Sherpa (60) from the same team made the record of being the oldest Indian Mt. Everest climber.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 11: The chief convener of Joint Action Committee of all the opposition parties, Nar Bahadur Bhandari has criticized the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Government of violating the freedom of speech and expression by not letting the opposition JAC to hold a public meeting scheduled to be held at Pakyong today.
JAC failed to get a written permission from the Office of the SP to hold their Jan Sampark Abhiyan at Pakyong.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Bhandari said that the JAC leaders carried out the Abhiyan at Pakyong Bazaar today but had to be stopped in between when they were interrupted by the Pakyong Police.
According to the JAC members, they had to face “unnecessary harassment” when the Police stopped their vehicles halfway.
Mr. Bhandari said that the Police in Sikkim were working under SDF government pressure further alleging the State Police of trying to “kill” democracy in Sikkim.
“Despite all odds, we were able to distribute the pamphlets, which reveals the real acts of the SDF government. The response from the people in Pakyong was overwhelming,” he said.
The chief convener further said that JAC will be continuing with their mission for “restoration of democracy against undeclared democracy in Sikkim” under any circumstances. To reach their target to meet the villagers during haat in all the markets in the State, JAC will be holding similar meetings at Singtam and Rongli shortly, Mr. Bhandari informed.
Mr. Bhandari also inaugurated the new office of JAC at Tadong today.
Also present during the ceremony were KN Upreti, the chief co-coordinator of JAC, HR Pradhan, President, Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party Tara Shrestha, General Secretary, Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRPP) and Anjan Upadhaya of Communist Party of India (Marxists).

WEDNESDAY, JUNE , 11 ,   2008

SE Report
GANGTOK/SILIGURI, June 10: The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) from today in the Darjeeling Hills has severely affected normal life in Sikkim.
Panic-stricken tourists, who were unable to leave the State yesterday, thronged the motor stands in the Capital today hoping for some respite.
The fact that the GJMM has not left the National Highway 31A connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country out of the purview of the bandh, has made matters worse for the tourists.
Hundreds of passengers heading towards Sikkim stranded at SNT bus stand in Siliguri as well. More than 300 hapless passengers had no choice but to wait for hours with the hope of getting some alternative way to head towards Sikkim.
Among the stranded passengers, majority of them were students who had come for admissions in Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences.
“I have been waiting since 8:30am and now it is nearly 12 hours but there is no sign of the situation changing,” said Arindam Bhardwraj, a student from Assam who had come to Sikkim to seek admission at SMIT.
“The National Highway 31 A should have been kept away from the bandh purview,” a group of stranded passengers said.
“We support the demand of GJMM but Sikkim should not have been affected by the bandh,” added Mahindra Gurung, a local businessman.
Frustrated passengers criticised the lackadaisical attitude of the State Police and the State administration in dealing with the crisis stating that some alternative steps should have been taken to overcome the difficulties faced by them.
In Gangtok, the confusion amongst the tourists prevailed for the second day today as stranded tourists continued to gather at the SNT bus stand hoping for some way out of the situation. “We have been waiting for the State Government to at least arrange some transportation for us to leave Gangtok. But nothing has been done so far,” S. Srivastava, a tourist from New Delhi said.
“We have been waiting for the past 45 minutes standing in the long queue at the SNT ticket counter in order to purchase the tickets till Siliguri but the there is no one in the counter,” added a tourist from Kolkata.
The bandh has also delayed the journey of many visitors. “We had already paid for the return tickets but we are stranded due to the strike,” complained Bijoy Gupta from Haryana, who is in Sikkim along with his family of six.
In the late afternoon today, relief came for some of the tourists when the GJMM lifted the strike for three hours. The GJMM lifted the bandh for tourists having air, train and bus tickets from Sikkim from 4 pm today. After this, no vehicles were permitted to ply on NH 31 A except in emergency cases, GJMM announced today.
Reeling under severe criticism for not being responsible enough towards the visitors during the time of crisis, the Secretary, State Tourism Department, SBS Bhadauria tried to pacify the situation by saying that the Department was doing everything it could. “We are making instant arrangements to transport the passengers with the help of Army and SNT buses and as well as by helicopters. We are fully aware of the situation and according to the availability of the vehicles, we had made arrangements for them, he added.
While talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS over the phone this evening, the District Collector, East, Vishal Chauhan said many SNT buses haven been sent with the tourists up to Siliguri. “The SNT buses will then accommodate some of the stranded passengers from Siliguri up to Gangtok,” he said.
More than 300 tourists in five SNT buses and 22 small vehicles left from Sikkim this evening. GJMM picketers were seen checking tickets from all the passengers at Rangpo, after which the tourists were authorized to ply towards Siliguri, informs our Rangpo Correspondent. The exodus continued till the wee hours of today morning.
The members of Sikkim Hoteliers and Restaurant Association (SHRA) evacuated nearly 300 tourists yesterday from various hotels in the Capital.
“The tourists were being sent back to Siliguri till midnight with the help of drivers and hoteliers,” informed Karma Yenten Chankapa of SHRA.
The association has also appealed all the hoteliers to give a discount for the tourists who will be staying in Gangtok until the bandh is called off.
Meanwhile, tourists are informed to contact Paljor Moktan at 9733005262 and Karma Yenten Chankapa at 9434031283 for all possible assistance and help.
Reports coming in from Rangpo also inform that the industrial units in the State, especially in Rangpo have also been badly hit by the strike. These industrial units have to depend on Siliguri for raw materials and marketing of its manufactured goods. Moreover, in the stretch from Sikkim to Siliguri, 70km road falls under Darjeeling region, which has aggravated the problem.
At the time of filing this report, news came in that all small vehicles including private buses from Sikkim were returned back from Lohapool in West Bengal. Only five SNT buses with Police escort were allowed to ply, which later reached Siliguri safely. One small vehicle managed to squeeze through the danger zone. In the event, two vehicles from Kalimpong were reportedly attacked at Lohapool.
The State Tourism industry is already feeling the pinch. “The bandh has been called by a political outfit which has nothing to do with Sikkim. Every time a bandh is called in the Darjeeling Hills, we inevitably get dragged into the situation. This is the peak tourist season. The losses we have suffered, both in terms of business and goodwill is enormous,” a tour operator from Gangtok told SIKKIM EXPRESS.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 10: Two Bills passed by the Sikkim Assembly today will have far-reaching consequences as far as women empowerment in the State is concerned.
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly today passed the Sikkim Municipalities Second Amendment Bill providing for an increased 40 percent reservation to women in the Municipal Bodies in the State.
The Sikkim Municipalities (Second Amendment) Bill, No. 13 of 2008, which was placed in the House yesterday, was unanimously passed today.
Presently, the Urban Local Bodies in the State have only one-third reservation for women.
The Bill was received with much cheer by the women members of the Legislative Assembly and members of the Women’s wing, Cheli Morcha of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front party.
"It is another feather in the cap for SDF party led by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling", former MLA Manita Pradhan said. Other women leaders of the SDF Cheli Morcha also welcomed the Bill and congratulated the Chief Minister and expressed the gratitude of Sikkimese women for empowering them with political and social protection.
The House also passed the Sikkim Succession Bill No. 22 of 2008 providing succession rights to women as well.
The Sikkim Succession Bill, tabled by social justice minister Hissey Lachungpa yesterday, provides legislation for equal property rights to daughters, wives and even divorced and abandoned wives having Sikkim subject holders.
Once the Act is notified, property (movable and immovable) of a male Sikkimese who dies will go to the surviving members of his family-wife, sons and daughters-by law in equal proportion.
However, a Sikkimese woman who has married a non-Sikkimese or has acquired foreign citizenship shall not be entitled to enjoy the benefits under this Act.
While introducing the bill yesterday, Mr. Lachungpa said that it has been considered expedient to enact a legislation for succession pertaining to movable and immovable properties of Sikkimese people as neither Hindu Succession Act, 1965 nor the Indian Succession Act, 1925 has been extended or enforced in Sikkim.
Twelve other bills were also passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly today which was the concluding day of the two day Assembly session.
A government resolution was also adopted by the House today to express its gratefulness to the Centre for granting Sikkim Subject holders and their descendents exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 10: Online gaming through electronic or non-electronic formats will be taxed in order to generate more revenue in the State.
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly today giving assent to a Bill putting this into affect.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling had tabled the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill yesterday in the Assembly that seeks to provide for the control and regulation of online gaming through electronic or non-electronic formats and to impose a tax on such games in the State.
The Bill will generate revenue when it becomes operational, said Chamling while introducing the Bill.
The Act shall come to force on the date of the notification in the Official Gazette.
The provisions of the Bill states that any person desiring to obtain a licence shall make an application in writing to the state government and the state government may grant or refuse the application. Licence Fees as prescribed must be paid to the state government.
Similarly, motor vehicles excluding Government ones plying in the roads of the State will also have to cough more money now.
The Sikkim Levy of Road Protection, Development and Maintenance Cess on Motor Vehicles Bill had been tabled by DT Lepcha, minister, roads and bridges, yesterday.
Cess will be collected on motor vehicles at such rate as may be prescribed once it becomes an Act and is notified.
The Bill is intended to generate fund for protection, development and maintenance of road in Sikkim and is expected to bring extra revenue to the fund for road protection, development and maintenance by way of cess per annum, Mr. Lepcha said while introducing the Bill yesterday.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 10: The exquisite documentary film on Sikkimese Buddhism, “Lama Dances of Sikkim” has bagged the Special Jury Award in the non-feature category today, the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced in New Delhi.
The film, directed by renowned documentary maker Manas Bhowmik and researched and scripted by former editor of the erstwhile Weekend Review¸ Sujit Chakraborty, has been given the Special Jury award for all documentaries made in the country in 2006.
Yishey D, currently working with SIKKIM EXPRESS was the assistant researcher in the award winning documentary film.
The producer, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, now headed by Anuradha Mookerjee, who herself commissioned the film, and the director, Bhowmik will receive Rs 50,000 each as cash reward for this.
The film was shot entirely in Sikkim on a paltry budget of less than Rs four lakh, and covers three dances: the Pang Lhabsol, the original Sikkimese dance festival to honour Mount Khangchendzonga; the Gutor Chaam, and the two-day masked dance festival Guru Dragmar. The film was shot in the Pemayangtse and Phodong monasteries.
Last year, the film had bagged the Best Documentary award from the Bengal Film Critics Association.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 10: More transparency will be now required to operate societies and organisations in the State.
Societies, associations and other voluntary organisations in the State will now be regulated by the State Government, with the Hosue today passing the Sikkim Regulation of Societies, Associations and other Voluntary Organizations Bill of 2008.
Law minister RB Subba had tabled the Bill yesterday.
The State Government has deemed it expedient to frame a comprehensive law to regulate the functioning of different associations, societies and other voluntary organization in the state as the existing rules under Notification no.2602 A/H dated March 25, 1960 appears to be inadequate, Mr. Subba said while introducing the Bill.
Once the Act is notified, all associations, clubs, societies and others such bodies operating in Sikkim should properly define its organization structure and constitution.
At least 50 percent of the members of the governing body or executive body should have Sikkim Subject Certificate or Certificate of Identification.
No objection certificates are required from concerned Panchayats/MLA and the related department.
All such bodies have to renew their registration and will be liable for cancellation of its registration upon failure to do so within three months from the date of expiry.
Utilization certificates of grants received from state or Central government must be submitted before renewal of the registration or at the time of the registration of the association.

Report recommends increase of Assembly seats to 40 and Scheduled Tribe status for entire indigenous Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali population of Sikkim

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 10: The Sikkim Assembly today passed a resolution seeking adoption of the executive report submitted by the Commission for Review of Social and Environmental Sector Policies, Plans and Programme (CRESP).
The Report has been prepared by Prof BK Roy Burman, chairman, CRESP.
The State Government had constituted a Commission to review the policies, plans and programme in respect of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward classes and other socially as well as economically backward communities and recommend measures. The Commission comprised of seven members, which includes ¬DN Takarpa, Speaker, SLA; KN Rai, Hon’ble Minister, RMDD; DT Lepcha, Minister, R&B; Prof. AK Danda, President, Indian Anthropological Society of India; CB Tripathi, former Coordinator, Tribal Studies Panel, Indian Council of Social Science Research and Ms. CK Cintury, IAS (Retd). The Principal Secretary, CMO is the Member Secretary of the Commission
The Commission in its interim report had already conceptualized the approach and measures and recommended the entire indigenous Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali population of Sikkim to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The Commission submitted the Executive Report on March 31, 2008 and recommended the entire Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepalese population of Sikkim to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes as well as increase in the number of seats in Legislative Assembly of the State from 32 to 40.
The Commission, in its report, has recommended that apart from the Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo and Tamang, other communities included in the Nepali constellations of communities may be considered for being included in the list of STs. The report says that the its “recommendation to treat Sikkimese as a unified territorial tribe as its parallel in the treating to Kinnaurs of Himachal and Jaunsars in Uttaranchal as multi-ethnic territorial scheduled tribe.” “Also we feel it necessary to re-emphasise the fact that the Sikkim situation is unique in political sociology. As Sikkim's transition from feudal monarchy to a democratic republican State has depth of hardly one generation, special treatments of the erstwhile subjects of feudacracy is a unique historical need of Sikkim and it should be treated as such.”
“Taking an overview of life situations of the communities who directly contacted us or about whose presence in Sikkim we came to know from various sources, we feel that apart from the Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo and Tamang (who are already in the list of STs) all the communities of Sikkim belonging to the Nepali constellation have (a) historical right to claim special treatment (b) social structured attribute: to be recognized as tribal people. Here we have taken note of an interesting fact. Each ethnos like Bahun, Chettri, Rai has a good number of persons who have been converted to Christianity. But they continue to be members of the original ethnos. We have come across cases of Bahun, Chettri or Rai who continue to be members of their respective ethnic associations. This clearly shows that these ethnic associations do not perceive themselves as caste organization which is a feature of Hindu caste system. President of the Rai ethnic association explained that they consider themselves as a multi-religious and cultural association and not as a caste.
“For the communities themselves and for the wider society of Sikkim comprising all sections of population to be brought at par with the more advantaged sections including particularly the Bhutia who were specially privileged by the treaty of 1973 between the feudal ruling establishment, three political parties and the Government of India.”
“The Bhutia (who are the more advantaged segments of the indigenous population of Sikkim) being already included in the list of the STs and the Lepcha, Limboo and Tamang also being included in the same category, the rest of indigenous population of Sikkim, who also have structural attributes associated with tribes and have historical rights and need rights as indicated have the justice right to be recognized as Scheduled Tribes.”
The Executive Report has discussed the Sikkim Subjects as a territorial tribe. “Here we have taken note of a theoretical development in Anthropology. Drawing upon evidences from different parts of the world, Morton Fried has pointed out that many tribes are secondary formations of recent origin in the context of functioning of the State as an institution. In the context of Sikkim, the Sikkim Citizenship Regulation of 1961 seems to have been the galvanizing factor. This is a unique situation which does not exist in any other part of India.”
On the reservation of seats for Limboo and Tamang Communities in Sikkim Legislative Assembly, the report said: “Limboo and Tamang Communities have been recognized as ST vide SC & ST Orders (Amendment) Act 2002 (No.10 of 2002), thereby making them entitled to reservation of seats in the State Legislative Assembly as envisaged under Article 332(1) of the Constitution of India.”
“We have already recommended that though the Bhutia and Lepcha are having benefit of reservation of certain number of seats (as distinct from certain percent of seats) the same number should continue even if the total number of seats in the State Assembly increase and also that as and when reservation of seats is provided for the STs of Sikkim, the Bhutia and the Lepcha should be eligible to contest against this category of reserved seats also. We also take note of the fact that segmented reservation of seats for a section of the STs is not provided for in the Constitution of India. Under the provision of the constitution there will have to be a single quota of reservation for the entire Scheduled Tribe population, without segmentation of the same in favour of any particular Scheduled Tribe community or constellation of Scheduled Tribe communities.”
The Executive Report has also discussed setting up of a Human Development Commission under the Commission of Enquiry Act to ensure the implementation of the recommendations made by the CRESP.
On the issue of increase in the number of seats in State Legislative Assembly to 40, the report said: “In our interim report we have recommended the entire Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali residents of Sikkim to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes. It is estimated that they constitute around 85 percent of the total population. If as stipulated in Article 332(3) of the Constitution the number of seats reserved in the State Assembly bears the same proportion as the ST population bears to the total population of the state, in the 32 seat assembly as many as 27 seats will have to be reserved in favour STs. We have also recommended that unencumbered by the entitlement to the reserved seats as ST, the Bhutia and Lepcha should continue to have the benefit of 12 reserved seats as per the political agreement related to the stabilisation of the pre-merger India-Sikkim relation. In that case the number of reserved seats goes up to 39 seats. And then provision will have to be made for the remaining 15 percent of the population. In this way the number of seats will go beyond 50. This in turn will make the size of the constituencies too small. It will therefore be necessary to realistically delineate the number of seats. After taking various aspects of the matter into consideration, we suggest that 40 elected member constituencies may be delineated as follows: Lepcha and Bhutia: 12 seats, Scheduled Caste: 2 seats, Scheduled Tribe: 20 seats, Sangha: 2 seats and General: 4 seats. It is to be noted that we have suggested that the number of seats representing Buddhist monasteries may be increased by one.
Break up of the proposed 40 seats in the State Legislative Assembly shall be as follows:¬
Bhutia- Lepcha - 12 (reserved)
Scheduled Caste - 2
Sangha - 2 (1 +1) (for all the monks including Tamang & Gurung monks)
Scheduled Tribe- 20
General open- 04
40
The State Cabinet has already considered and approved the Report submitted by the Commission in its meeting held on April 24, 2008.

SORENG, June 10: Hundred days employment is not the only objective of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act but creating durable asset and working for the development of one's village.
Addressing the technical session on the second day of Bharat Nirman Campaign at Soreng, Field Facilitator, Kaluk PM Sherpa said NREGA aims to lift people to above the poverty line and also help to sustain their lives. Stressing the importance of job cards, Mr. Sherpa said the photographs of all the adult members of the family who seek jobs under NREGA should be included with their names, age, community, gender and employment is for those living under the poverty line. The family is taken as a unit. The job cards should be distributed in the Gram Sabhas not individually and a copy should be kept in the Gram Prashasan Kendra. All jobs undertaken under NREGA should be entered in their job cards. He also highlighted that 1/3 of the job should be kept for women. Out of the total project cost of jobs under NREGA 40% will be kept as material cost and 60% as wages.
Mr. Sherpa stressed on the fact that there is not contract system for jobs undertaken under NREGA. Sikkim has received Rs 13.22 crores as Central Assistance for NREGA from the Ministry of Rural Development during 2006-08. 452 works have been taken up under NREGA out of which 154 have been completed and 298 is in progress. (PIB)

TUESDAY, JUNE , 10 ,   2008

TOURISTS FLEE SIKKIM, DARJEELING AS GJMM CALL FOR INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM TODAY
National Highway 31A to remain close for traffic; Sikkim not exempted

SE Report
GANGTOK/DARJEELING, June 09: The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) from tomorrow in the Darjeeling Hills has once again put Sikkim in a difficult situation.
Panic-stricken tourists thronged the motor stands in the Capital since the afternoon as the news of the indefinite strike called by the GJMM spread.
The fact that the GJMM has not left the National Highway 31A connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country out of the purview of the bandh, has made matters worse for the tourists.
Desperate tourists, in an attempt to get out of the State before the bandh tomorrow were seen at the motor stand in Deorali and the SNT Bus stand, looking for vehicles to take them to Siliguri. They were even willing to pay whatever the money the drivers demanded just to get out of the situation poised by the indefinite bandh call.
“I arrived just two days ago and had hotel reservations till Wednesday. But I have been forced to cut short my visit and rush out,” said Sudipta Dutta, a tourist from Calcutta, even as he searched for vehicles leaving the Capital for Siliguri around 5 pm today with four other members of his family in tow.
The scene at the Mainline Taxi Stand at Deorali was chaotic. Harassed tourists were seen pleading with drivers to take them to Siliguri immediately. “The situation is very bad. There are hardly enough vehicles to ferry the stranded tourists. We are doing the best we can,” a visibly troubled tour operator told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
Some tourists had also reached the SNT bus stand, hoping that the Government would press emergency bus service to take the tourists to Siliguri.
The Sikkim Police tried to assist the tourists in getting vehicles although the drivers were charging double the actual fare. According to the drivers, the reason for the double rates is because they have to return back from Siliguri tonight itself.
Earlier, in a meeting held in Darjeeling today, GJMM leaders told the Police to leave the hills by this evening. They also told the tourists to leave the hills. The situation was similar in Darjeeling today, where hundreds of tourists attempted leave the town. “It is utter chaos here. We’ve already have had 80 percent cancellations and most of our guests have already checked out. This is not good for the tourism industry,” Sandeep, a manager in a local hotel in Darjeeling told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
Cautioning that the indefinite strike this time would be quite serious, GJMM central committee member from Dooars, Madhukar Thapa told SIKKIM EXPRESS that the meeting also announced to stop Delhi, Kolkata and Patna bound trains.
There are chances that inflation may rise, not to mention serious affect on students looking for schools and colleges outside the State.
“We have told the tourists to leave. Though we allowed vehicles to run on Monday, transport will not be allowed from Tuesday," GJMM president Bimal Gurung told news reporters in Darjeeling.
Tourists, who were unable to leave today, could be assisted by the GJM to leave Darjeeling, he said.
“We have also told tourist operators in Kolkata not to send tourists from Tuesday because of the indefinite bandh which will inconvenience them," Mr Gurung said.
The bandh was called by GJMM to protest the police lathicharge on its supporters on Sunday after a clash with supporters of two organisations Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetna which Gurung alleges were backed by the State’s ruling CPI (M).
"The Jana Jagaran and Jana Chetna have been propped up by CPI (M) which they are using against us and attacking our supporters and also those on hunger strike to demand permission for holding a rally at Naxalbari, which the administration has turned down," he said.
The GJMM president has further demanded the Centre's intervention adding “our movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland is democratic, which is sought to be suppressed.”

Opposition JAC leaders begin Jan Jagaran Aviyan
“Undeclared Emergency in Sikkim”

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 09: Leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of opposition parties in the State began their public awareness campaign from today by distributing pamphlets among the masses, beginning from the MG Marg here in the Capital.
The pamphlet, titled “Undeclared Emergency in Sikkim,” was released by the JAC leaders here yesterday by its chief convener and president of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) NB Bhandari.
The JAC members, that included leaders from the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRPP), Sikkim State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sikkim State Communist Party of India (Marxists), Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP) arrived at the Secretariat here today to kick-start the programme by personally handing over the pamphlets to the government employees.
Calling the campaign “Jan Jagaran Aviyan”, the contents of the pamphlet alleges the suppression of democracy in the State by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front party.
At the same time, JAC had written to the Superintendent of Police, East seeking permission for the use of a microphone in a public meeting to be held at Pakyong on June 11, Singtam on June 13 and Rongli on June 15 from 10am to 5pm.
“The permission from the SP is sill waited for as he was not in his office today due to the ongoing Assembly session. We will pursue the request with the SP tomorrow,” JAC members said.
In a press conference held yesterday, Mr. Bhandari said that they will begin their Jan Jagaran Aviyan for undeclared democracy from June 9 onwards.
“If the concerned authorities do not permit us to carry out the distribution of the pamphlets or prevent us from holding public meetings, then it is a right away evidence that that there is undeclared emergency and suppression of democracy in the State,” Mr. Bhandari said.
The JAC chief convener also raised serious concerns over the recent collapse of protection walls at Teesta Stage V by Teesta River and at the same time opined for immediate shifting of the affected people to safer places.
It further demanded the State Government to take the benefit of being a member of the UPA Government by cutting down the hike made by the Centre on petrol, diesel and LPG.
The JAC chief convener further accused the Sikkim Police in not booking the culprits of the many incidences like torching of vehicles belonging to leaders of the opposition parties and torching a local printing unit to road accident at Rabongla.
Terming the promotion of the State Government employees as adhoc and a means to garner votes for the next elections, Mr. Bhandari stated that such action of the Government has totally denied promotions to deserving and senior employees.

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 9: The Sikkim government today withdrew the legislation seeking 95 per cent employment to the locals in the private sector in the State but tabled another one proposing 80 per cent reservations for them.
The Sikkim Promotion of Local Employment Bill, 2008 was placed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, which began here from today, for reconsideration by the House after the Bill was returned by the Governor.
The Bill had been passed by the House on March 10, earlier this year.
The Speaker, DN Takarpa, read out the message of the Governor, Sudarshan Agarwal for reconsideration of the Bill. In the message, the Governor said that the proposed Bill was violative of the provisions of the Constitution of India.
The Governor was of the view that the proposed bill providing 95 per cent employment for local people having Sikkim Subject Certificate was violative of Article 14, 15 and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution. He had returned the proposed legislation to the Assembly on May 20 this year for reconsideration.
After the Speaker read out the Governor’s message, the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling made an announcement on the floor of the House for withdrawal of the Sikkim Promotion of Local Employment Bill, 2008 but tabled another one proposing 80 per cent reservations for them. Mr. Chamling introduced the Sikkim Promotion of Local Employment Bill, Bill No. 18 of 2008, which proposed giving 80 per cent employment to local people carrying the Sikkim Subject Certificate, 10 per cent to local people whose names figured in the voters' list and the remaining 10 per cent to ordinary residents of the State.

Sikkim University to exhibit entries and garner votes for University logo, flag and motto

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 09: The exhibition and voting of entries of original logo and flag designs and motto of Sikkim University is scheduled to start from June 11.
The University has received over 80 entries from all over India including that from Sikkim and the neighbouring States.
According to a press release, the response to the University’s call for entries for University logo, flag and motto has been overwhelming.
The best entry under these different categories will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each.
An exhibition of these entries will be held in the four District Headquarters. The purpose of this exhibition is to involve the general public and garner their opinion towards selecting the best entries, the release informs.
The exhibition will start at 10:15 am at various venues. Arrangement has been made for the visitors to give their opinion on these entries.
This exhibition is being held at White Hall in Gangtok on June 11 and 12 from 10:15am to 5pm, Community Hall in Gyalshing on June 12 and 13, Gymnasium Table Tennis Hall in Namchi on June 12 and 13, Mangan Tourism Development Committee Office in Mangan on June 13 and 14.
The University has also invited the people and the media to participate in the unique exhibition-cum selection process.
For any enquires, people are requested to contact SK Pradhan (080) – 9932352646, Sharmistha Rai (9474523427) and Sangeeta M Rasaily ( 9734193542).

SORENG, June 09: Panchayats, administrators and the public should come together and utilise the Bharat Nirman Campaign to discuss ways to further develop the State. Addressing the inaugural session of the 6th Bharat Nirman Campaign at Soreng Community Hall, Rajya Sabha MP, OT Lepcha said, Sikkim is far ahead of other states where providing rural power, drinking water, roads and education is concerned.
There is still a need to develop further so that the state can become self-reliant and per capita income may increase, he said.
Addressing a packed community hall, Mr. Lepcha said, under the present leadership in the State, there is far sighted vision and there can be all round development in the State. He said that he receives tremendous response from people who visit Sikkim praising the leadership, discipline among the people of the state. The MP also urged people to utilise their own resources to increase their income instead of being dependent on others. He called upon students to utilise the facilities given by the government such as free text books, uniforms properly and think of their future and work to make their own dreams come true.
Director General, Directorate of Field Publicity, Dipankar Mukhopadhya said that the response in Soreng has been tremendous though he has been travelling all over the country attending various PICs. Saying that it is the job as communicators to bring awareness among the people, he informed that the Public Information Campaign is being held to inform people about their rights and various central government flagship programmes.
SDM, Soreng, ST Tamang highlighted the importance of responsibility of each individual.
The five-day Public Information Campaign is being organised by the Press Information Bureau along with DFP, DAVP, Song & Drama Division, Doordarshan, All India Radio of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting with the State Government and West District Administration as partners.
The technical session on NREGA, PMGSY, SGSY, Total Sanitation, ARWSP which is implemented by the Rural Development and Management Department, Government of Sikkim will be held tomorrow. (PIB)

Assembly session begins
13 new Bills introduced

Staff Reporter
GANGTOK, June 9: The second sitting of the Budget Session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly began here from today.
13 Bills were placed in the Assembly today for consideration by the House.
DT Lepcha, Minister for PWD, Roads & Bridges Department introduced the Sikkim District based Entrepreneurs and Professionals Incentive, Development and Promotional Bill No. 10 of 2008. He also introduced the Sikkim Levy of Road Protection Development and Maintenance Cess on Motor Vehicles Bill, Bill No. 14 of 2008.
The Vinayaka Missions Sikkim University Bill No .11 of 2008 was moved by GM Gurung, minister for Human Resource Development Department, while SB Subedi, Minister for Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department introduced the Sikkim (Constitution of Special Eco-Task Forest Guards) Bill No. 12 of 2008. The Sikkim Reservation of Seats in Private Educational Institution Bill No. 19 of 2008 was also placed by Mr. Gurung.
DD Bhutia, Minister for Urban Development & Housing Department introduced the Sikkim Municipalities (Second Amendment) Bill, No. 13 of 2008, along with the Sikkim Land Tenancy Bill No 21 of 2008.
Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister also the Minister-in-Charge of Home Department introduced the Sikkim Police Bill No. 15 of 2008. He also introduced the Sikkim Excise (Amendment) Bill No. 17 of 2008 and the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill No. 23 of 2008.
Similarly, RB Subba, Minister for Commerce & Industries Department introduced the Sikkim Khadi and Village Industries Board (Amendment) Bill. He introduced the Sikkim Regulation of Societies, Associations and Other Voluntary Organizations Bill No. 20 of 2008.
Hishey Lachungpa, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department introduced the Sikkim succession Bill No. 22 of 2008.

SE Report
GANGTOK, June 09: The Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRPP) has condemned the statements given to the Press by the Sikkim Police through the Superintendent of Police and also the political advisor to the Chief Minister, BB Gooroong pertaining to the issue of the under-construction bridge collapse at Chenzey village on May 29.
It has also condemned the statements, targeting the contractor of the bridge project, T Lachungpa, liable for the mismanagement of the proposed project, which left four migrant labourers dead and several injured.
In a press conference held on June 8, the SHRPP spokesperson Biraj Adhikari said that the party has also rejected the statement made by BB Gooroong, who has allegedly distorted Mr. Adhikari by calling him “deshdrohi”. He further expressed his desire to “reiterate that all the members of the SHRPP along with himself are infact proud patriotic electorates of India.”
While stating that Mr. Gooroong’s statements is in retaliation to SHRPP’s comments on the example being set by the then MP, Bhim Dahal of SDF party, Mr. Adhikari has said that Mr Gooroong has painted his own members of Parliament in particular and the SDF party as ‘deshdrohis’.
Mr. Gooroong should have been aware of the letter before commenting, SHRPP spokesperson said adding that “the party feels that it was this ort of leadership in the past as represented by BB Gooroong, which has led Sikkim to such a legal limbo.”
Referring to the letter written by the then MP Bhim Dahal to the Central Government under Vajpayee government in 2001 insinuating the India Service Officers, the party has called it an unfortunate decision of the then Chief Minister of Sikkim LD Kazi to invite IAS officers in the State hitherto has started creating an anti IAS attitudes among the larger section of the society particularly towards the educated unemployed youths. “This decision should have been avoided on the merger agreement,” the party spokesperson said. “These IAS/IPS officers do not care for Sikkim and merely acts as the perverted agents of an imperialistic culture and have made Sikkim a launching pad,” reads a SHRPP press release.
The opposition SHRPP has also criticized the Police for leading a big team led by senior IPS officers to Central Referral Hospital to arrest Mr. Lachungpa “when it was not necessary by law to produce the accused physically.”
“As for the clarifications given by the SP via the press, we believe he has not understood our apprehensions as our thrust was to enquire into the neutrality in the application of the law to all regardless of their party affiliations,” the release further reads.
The party has further questioned the motive of undertaking such a huge operation when it was not even required by law.

SORENG, June 09: The Director General, Directorate of Field Publicity, Dipankar Mukhopadhya flagged off the Bharat Nirman Rally from the venue of the Public Information Campaign at Soreng early this morning. SDM, Soreng, ST Tamang, BDO, Soreng, Mahendra Basnet were also present on the occasion.
Around 250 school children from Government Sr Secondary School, Soreng and members of the public took part in the rally which covered a distance of about 1.5 km around Soreng. The rally was organised by the Directorate of Field Publicity, North Bengal and Sikkim Region to kick off the Bharat Nirman Campaign. (PIB)