Sikkim Science Centre gets digital planetarium, 3D theatre and other facilities

Smart TVs for govt school students on Nov 26: CM
DICHENONGMU
GANGTOK: Chief Minister P.S. Golay on Friday announced that all government school students from class 8 to 11 would be receiving a smart TV each from the State government on November 26 for digital education. He was speaking at the inauguration of additional facilities at Sikkim Science Centre, Marchak, about 16 km away from Gangtok.
Around 36,374 students of studying from class 8 to 11 in government schools would be covered under this new digital education initiative of the State government. They would also be receiving a satellite disk set-top box along with one month’s free subscription.
The State cabinet, in its last sitting, had approved Rs. 107.30 crore for procurement of smart TVs for distribution to government school students through Education department under e-Vidya scheme.
Addressing the inaugural function, the Chief Minister mentioned that the smart TVs would enable the students to take their recorded or online lessons in a pen drive and study at the convenience of their homes. It will also promote digital education in the State, he said.
At the Sikkim Science Centre, the Chief Minister inaugurated the additional facilities of a digital planetarium, a 52-seater 3D theatre, a biodiversity gallery and an innovation hub.
The additional facilities were developed by State Science & Technology department with assistance from Ministry of Culture, in an area of 5577sqft making to Rs 150.51 lakhs as the total cost.
The Chief Minister urged the students to make full utilisation of the centre and its facilities. “If the students are committed in their creations and goals, we assure full support to them. The students can Whatsapp me or write to me whenever they need any sort of assistance from the government”, he added.
Golay shared that the State government is focusing towards digital education and IT in the State.
“We are promoting digital education in the State and even in this Covid situation we worked dedicatedly in the fields of education and health. We did face internet glitches at large and now the Centre has approved of issuing an independent BSNL administrative centre in Sikkim”, he informed. He also announced that once the Covid vaccine is made available in the market, it will be provided free of cost to the people of Sikkim.
In his address, Science & Technology minister Karma Loday Bhutia said the inauguration of additional facilities at the Sikkim Science Centre would be immensely helpful for the students. I would like to urge generous support from the students and academic community of our State to take this opportunity of informal learning through these facilities, he said.
M.L. Srivastava, additional chief secretary, Science & Technology department, highlighted the functioning, plans and achievements of the department in his welcome address.
National Council of Science Mission director general Subashish Das presented a technical report on the newly commissioned facilities. He said the digital planetarium with 60 seats in Sikkim Science Centre is unique as compared to other bigger planetariums of the nation. The biodiversity gallery here has 48 panels which illustrates the rich biodiversity of Sikkim and other States, he said.
Scientific films, projects and events can be displayed at the 3D theatre here for the students and visitors, said Das.