Gyalshing Sanskrit College wins 195th Bhanu Jayanti debate competition

GANGTOK, July 8: Gyalshing Sanskrit College bagged the 195th Bhanu Jayanti debate competition beating seven other colleges from different parts of the State held at Deorali Girls Senior Secondary School here today.
The inter college debate competition organised by Sikkim Bhanu Jayamti Committee on the occasion of 195th Bhanu Jayanti was taken part by a total of eight colleges from different parts of the State.
Gyalshing Sanskrit College outplayed Sikkim Institute of Higher Nyingma Studies, Deorali to reach the second round.
The topic for today’s debate was ‘Bhoutic Sukh ko kamana lei Adhuniki bhawanalai Masindei cha’ (Lust for materialistic gain destroying spiritual value). The judges for the competition were Sikkim Bureau chief, Himalayan Darpan Ratan Gurung, News Reader/Translator, Akashwani Gangtok Anita Nirola, reputed poet Padam Chetri and social worker Dr Sonam Bhutia.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of School education cum general secretary of Bhanu Jayanti Community SD Dhakal highlighted on the spiritual and materialistic profits are two sides of same coin. Citing the proverb ‘Life is the struggle of opposites’, he referred the example of DDT which was once regarded as vital fertilizer but banned today.

Source: Sikkim Express

Angora Shawls All Set For A Make Over

Moving ahead of the traditional designs like Buddha eight lucky sign and endless knot, the State handloom in Sikkim is getting some make over. Well, the very popular Angora Shawls , which marks its origin from Sikkim, is getting renovated.

Now, the handicrafts and handloom department of the state is adopting new designs and techniques to enhance its popularity. Their focus now is more to incorporate the use of other motifs and embroidery in shawls, giving the hand made shawls an all new look.

This comes after a bunch of local girls, experts on the field, were sent to Himachal Prdesh to learn new techniques to enhance the quality of the shawl-making. On this, Chozang Lepcha, Deputy Director of Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom of Sikkim says, “Recently, we sent our girls to Kullu in Himachal Pradesh for graph training. Now we are incorporating all known motifs and designs in Sikkim to our shawls.”

Lepcha further explains, “We have also tried to incorporate embroidery to our shawls. We are witnessing a good market for our new designs.” The department now plans to utilize information technology for developing modern designs. “Recently, in our institute, the Computer Aided Design (CAD) facility has been established. Now we want to include modern design in our shawls with the help of CAD,” Lepcha informed.

With 32 centres across the state, the handloom department intents to preserve traditional arts and crafts while training and employing the local youth.

Originally available in grey, brown and white colours, Angora shawls are definitely a thing to look at for those who plan to have a peep into the small state of Sikkim. These shawls are made from Angora wool, which are obtained from Angora rabbit breed locally. Of late, there has been a high demand for these shawls among people.

Source:-ANI

Total solar eclipse visible from Sikkim for two hours on July 22

GANGTOK, July 8: Come July 22 and the people of Sikkim and North Bengal will witness the longest total solar eclipse of this century.
A similar eclipse will take place only after 115 years in 2114.
Since Sikkim falls in the path of totality, the celestial event will be visible from 5 am to 8 am on July 22 from some identified spot.
Despite the fact the weather conditions are likely to be far from ideal over the Indian sub-continent, the fact still remains that there is always a chance of seeing the eclipse. The experience of totality may not be as spectacular as 1980 and 1995 since the eclipse would take place soon after the sun rise. It should still be possible to have a grand view of the solar corona, say officials from Sikkim State Science and Technology.
It may be noted that the path of totality of the forthcoming solar eclipse starts from Surat in western India and passes through the central India namely, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna and approaches North Eastern Region including North Bengal Sikkim. The totality also touches south eastern part of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and crossing through Dibrugarh and Arunachal Pradesh & Burma, it goes to southern China & Japan’s Ryuku Island and finally ends in the Pacific Ocean.
In accordance to the event, the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology which is the nodal agency in the state today organised a training cum workshop for State Master Resource Persons on “Total Solar Eclipse 2009” at Sikkim Science Centre, Marchak where Minister Science & Technology Bhim Dhungel was present as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said that science and technology is the key driver, enabler and a radical culture necessary for development of social transformation. In this new knowledge based society, application of Science & Technology for the younger generation and masses is the key to development. Mr. Dhungel further said that the people must ensure that the knowledge and benefit of science percolate to the younger generation and also to the different strata of the society. “We should try to use this event as an opportunity to chalk out various innovative programmes so that there it can lead to mainstreaming of scientific temper, innovation & Technological temper and ultimately engaging the diverse section of society with science, Technology & development issues,” he said.
The Secretary, Science & Technology ML Arrawatia spoke in detail about the path of totality, precautions to be taken during the eclipse viewing, timing of the eclipse and various programmes chalked out by the department for this programme.
The master resource persons Dr. Robin Chettri, HOD, Physics Department, Sikkim Government College made a presentation on an overview of the total solar eclipse. It also covered the science & dynamics of the solar eclipse followed by interactive discussion with the trainees. Lecturer, Chemistry Department Satyadeep Chettri discussed about the myth associated with this phenomenon and also discussed about the safe ways of viewing the eclipse while PGT, Physics, PN Girls Sr. Sec School Ivan D. Lepcha made presentation and demonstration of the available astronomical kits developed by Vigyan Prasar & NCSTC, GOI for safe viewing.
This national level programme is catalyzed and supported by National Council of Science & Technology Communication, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
The Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology which is the nodal agency in the state has initiated a massive awareness programme starting with State Level Resource Persons Training on 8th July 2009 in which about thirty five Physics PGT & GT teachers were trained to organize similar programme in their schools & locality covering feeder schools. This would be followed by awareness lectures & demonstrations by Master Resource Persons at different identified schools covering all four districts of the state. A panel discussion in the All India Radio is also planned for the benefit of the listeners, it is informed.

Source:Sikkim Express

Darjeeling MLAs raise Gorkhaland issue in Assembly

DARJEELING, July 08: The two MLAs from Darjeeling hills, Pranay Rai and Gaulan Lepcha today raised the demand for separate State of Gorkhaland in the West Bengal legislative Assembly at Kolkata which attracted protests from the members of the ruling party.
“We faced protest in the House when we raised the demand for separate State of Gorkhaland”, said Mr. Rai over phone from Kolkata.
Informing that the Darjeeling MLAs had demanded minority community status for the Gorkha community, Mr. Rai questioned why the one crore population of Gorkha community in the country has not been given the minority community status. We must be given the minority community status, he said.
Regarding the Gorkhaland demand, Mr. Rai said that the separate State of Gorkhaland must be given for the constitutional rights of the Gorkha community in the nation.
“Today whenever an Indian is discriminated it becomes a global issue. But we, the Nepali speaking people are discriminated in our land on basis on our colour and shape. This I had placed in the House today”, said Mr. Rai. I also raised the plight of Chattrey Subba and the lack of any facilities for hill students studying in Kolkata, he added.

Source:Sikkim Express

Subba falls ill, in hospital

JALPAIGURI, 8 JULY: The Gorkha Liberation Organisation chief and the prime accused in the GNLF chief, Mr Subhas Ghisingh’s assassination attempt in 2001, Mr Chattre Subba along with five others who were on a hunger strike in Jalpaiguri jail, fell ill and have been admitted in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
Informing this Mr Subba’s lawyer, Mr Akhil Biswas today said that Mr Subba is suffering from cardiac problem and malnutrition.
“Mr Subba and the five others were on hunger strike for the past five days at Jalpaiguri jail. Mr Subba fell ill on 4 July and the jail authority shifted him to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
The others were shifted on 6 July,” Mr Biswas said.
Pointing out that Mr Subba was in jail for the past eight years, the lawyer added: “He is over 70 and has a cardiac problem. He had been hospitalised in the past due to the ailment but this time his condition is quite serious. Moreover, he is suffering from malnutrition, which has aggravated the problem,” Mr Biswas said.
Lamenting Chattre Subba’s condition, his brother Mr Santosh Subba, said: “We are apprehensive about his health.”
The SP Jalpaiguri, Mr Anand Kumar and the ADM (General), Mr NG Hira, both acknowledged Mr Subba’s hospitalisation information.
“We are monitoring the situation but can do little as it is a judicial matter,” they said.

Source: The Statesman

Repairs and family shift for landslide-hit villages

Nimbong village dotted with landslides that occurred on the intervening night of July 2 and 3.

Kalimpong, July 8: The DGHC today announced a host of relief measures for the landslide-hit villages under Nimbong, Pabringtar and Singey gram panchayats.

The landslides occurred in the villages under the Kalimpong subdivision on the intervening night of July 2 and 3, killing one person, damaging roads, destroying houses and snapping power and water supply.

The measures include restoration of road links, repair of power lines and relocation of affected families. DGHC administrator B.L. Meena, who toured the affected villages today, told The Telegraph that some of the works had already begun and more would be started this week.

Officials of the DGHC’s Kalimpong Engineering Division (KED), public health engineering department, irrigation department and rural electricity department were with Meena. “Four landslides occurred in Nimbong and seven at Borbat in Pabringtar. In all, 15-16 major and minor landslides took place in both the panchayats,” said Meena.

He added that 12 landslides had hit villages under Singey gram panchayat.

The restoration of road links is moving fast with the Nimbong-Bakrakote route being all but cleared of debris till Cfuikhim. “Only a short stretch of about 200 metres near Borbat has to be restored and that work will be over tomorrow,” said Meena. However, the forest road that begins from Cfuikhim is still in a shambles and he made no mention of that route.

As a big landslide made many houses completely unsafe at Nimbong, families living there will have to be shifted elsewhere. “Seventy-eight families at Centre Gaon, Paila Line and Chhetri Jhora in Nimbong will have to be relocated. They cannot approach the road and they are almost cut off from the outside world,” said the administrator.

In Nimbong and Suruk under Samtar gram panchayat, the irrigation department will carry out jhora protection work to streamline the flow of water. The estimate, Meena said, had already been prepared and the work would begin this week.

Work on restoring water and power supply will also be taken up this week in all affected areas. “The villages of Longrap and Yelbong will be electrified as the people there demanded it,” said Meena.

Meena also instructed the KED to prepare an estimate for constructing buildings for 11 primary schools under Pabringtar, Nimbong, Samtar and Yangmakum panchayats.

Asked about the overall quantum of loss suffered, Meena said the Darjeeling district magistrate was on the job. The district magistrate, he said, had already submitted a report to the state government regarding the damage to the houses and would be preparing similar assessments of the loss of arable land and livestock.

Source: The Telegraph

7 jumbos hurt in Nepal firing

Siliguri, July 8: An NGO in Nepal has said at least seven elephants suffered injuries when police in the Himalayan country opened fire on a herd that was approaching the border on July 5.

The incident took place when a group of around 120 elephants had tried to enter Nepal from the Kalabari forests in Naxalbari subdivision, located 35km from here.

The forest department had on July 6 refused to confirm if the firing had taken place or if any animal had been injured. However, a letter sent by Biodiversity Conservation Society in Nepal said its representatives had witnessed the firing.

The letter, signed by Manoj Thapa, the secretary of the NGO based in Jhapa, has been addressed to the wildlife range warden of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. “The Nepal police fired several rounds at an elephant herd roaming in Bamandangi. The members of our NGO were present at the spot and they suspect that at least seven elephants were injured in the firing, following which the animals returned to India,” reads the letter.

Bamandangi is in Nepal and on the bank of the Mechi that divides India and Nepal.

Thapa also requested the Bengal forest officers to take up the matter with their counterparts in Nepal and ensure that such practises were stopped.

This year, there were two incidents of Nepal police targeting elephants moving from the Indian side. On June 9, the forest guards from the Indian side, who had been engaged to steer back the animals, had to fall to the ground to escape the bullets fired by the Nepal police.

“Firing bullets has become a common trend to scare away elephants,” Thapa told The Telegraph over the phone from Jhapa this afternoon. “If the governments do not come forward and thrash out a solution, we fear, firing at elephants will become frequent.”

The missive prompted the foresters to intensify their search for any injured elephants. “Contents of the letter have been ventilated to senior officers and we are still scouring the jungle for any injured animal. We will treat them if we find them,” said a guard. “There are chances that the injured elephants will go on a rampage in the villages. As such incidents had taken place in the past, we are on alert.”

On the other hand, Wildlife Conservation Nepal, an NGO based in Kathmandu, is organising a workshop at Biratnagar in eastern Nepal on July 17 to impart awareness on the need to conserve elephants.

The wildlife activists in Siliguri today came down heavily on the state forest department for its lackadaisical attitude towards the protection of elephants.

“We have failed to understand why a section of foresters is sitting idle and not taking any action to stop the firing by the Nepal police,” said Animesh Bose, the founder-coordinator of Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation.

Source: The Telegraph

12-hour bandh in Kurseong

Kurseong, July 8: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has called a 12-hour general strike in the Kurseong subdivision tomorrow, demanding the immediate release of its three supporters arrested for alleged assault on some GNLF workers yesterday.

The Morcha supporters have been also accused of ransacking the house of a Panighata-based GNLF leader Rajen Mukhia. The arrests were made after Mukhia filed an FIR. Posters came up in Mirik Bazar today demanding the “immediate and unconditional release” of those arrested.

“We have called a 12-hour strike tomorrow to protest against the arrest. If they are not freed immediately, we will extend the bandh till the time they are let off,” said Pradeep Pradhan, a Morcha vice-president.

Source:The Telegraph

Indian in dialogue with Nepal for flood control measures

New Delhi, July 8:India is in constant dialogue with the government of Nepal to build up reservoir schemes to find a long-term solution to the recurrent floods from rivers flowing from the neigbouring country, Lok Sabha was informed today.
“In order to find a long-term solution to the recurrent floods from rivers coming from Nepal, the government of India is in constant dialogue with the government of Nepal to build reservoir schemes on Mahakali (Sarada), Karnali (Ghagra), Kamal, Bagmati and Kosi rivers,” Union Minister of State for water Resources Vincent H Pala stated in a written reply to a question in Lower House.
He was asked about the steps taken by the government to tackle flood related problems in the country arising every year from the rivers originating from the Himalayan nation.
Pala said that since water is a state subject, flood management schemes are planned, funded and executed by the state governments as per their own priority.
The role of the Cental government is technical, catalytic and promotional in nature, he added.
“However, to provide Central assistance to the flood prone states, a state sector scheme, namely, Flood Management Programme (FMP), an amount of Rs 8,000 crore was approved in principal by the Cabinet in its meeting held in November 2, 2007 for Eleventh Plan,” he stated in his written reply.
“A number of schemes from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been included under the aforesaid Plan scheme,” he added.

Source: Central Chronicle

Indian held in Nepal for recruiting kids for monastery

Kathmandu : A 40-year-old Indian has been detained by police for trying to recruit nearly a dozen children from a remote village in northernmost Nepal, touching the border with Tibet.

Lodoe Singhe, who was arrested Monday in Sankhuwasabha district, told police he was a resident of Dehradun city in India’s Uttarakhand state.

Singhe, a lama or Buddhist priest, had been working in the Shakya Monastery in Kalimpong town.

He had visited two remote and underdeveloped villages – Hatiagola and Chepuwa – which have no roads and electricity and require five days walking from the district headquarters.

The villagers are mostly Sherpas, people of Tibetan origin, who are extremely poor and virtually illiterate.

Police said the yellow-robed Singhe had promised the villagers that their children would be educated in the Kalimpong monastery and returned home.

“There were 13 children with him,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Kosh Raj Pokhrel told IANS.

“We found the parents had little knowledge about where the children were being taken or what would happen to them. We also found Singhe did not have any document to prove his claim.”

The police official said Singhe came under suspicion due to his companion, a 17-year-old boy called Yunduk Bhote.

“Three years ago, some children were taken away from Chepuwa village and their parents were told they would receive education in the Shakya Monastery,” Pokhrel said. Yunduk was one of them.

“However, after his return three years later with Singhe, he did not show any sign of having received any education. He can speak a smattering of Hindi and English but he can’t either read or write.”

Both Singhe and the teenager have been kept under police surveillance in Sankhuwasabha.

Nepal’s Maoists allege that followers of exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama are luring away children from Nepal’s northern villages with the promise of educating them in India.

But they are in reality being `brainwashed’ to be the Tibetan leader’s followers, Maoist daily Janadisha said, an allegation that was rejected by the Dalai Lama’s government in exile.

The Indian’s detention comes even as a 42-year-old from India’s Darjeeling town, Biren Pradhan, is under trial in Nepal for the kidnap and brutal murder of an 18-year-old high school student.

Currently, there is mass hysteria in Nepal about child lifters.

On Wednesday, students blocked part of the Araniko highway linking Nepal with China in a violent protest after locals in Thimi town lynched four teenaged students, suspecting them to be child abductors.

Two of the students died in the assault Tuesday while two more have been seriously injured.

Source: IANS

ACT writes to Ramesh on hydel projects in north Sikkim

Gangtok, July 8: The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) – a forum spearheading agitation against hydel projects in Sikkim – has written to Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for not granting environment clearance to hydel projects located around the ‘ecologically-fragile’ region of Chungthang in North Sikkim.

In pursuance to the report of the Centre for Inter-disciplinary Studies of Mountains and hill Environment (CISME), New Delhi, which had expressed reservation about more power projects along the course of the main river, the minister should reject the applications for the environment clearance to at least six hydel projects in North Sikkim, ACT Vice-President Tseten Lepcha said in a letter sent to him yesterday.

– (Agencies)