VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 25: Bimal Gurung today hinted that a possible solution to end the impasse surrounding the territorial dispute of the interim set-up could lie in forming a joint verification committee.
The committee, comprising representatives of the Centre, state and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, will survey the areas that can be tagged along with the three hill subdivisions in Darjeeling district as part of the new set-up in the days to come, he said.
The Morcha president today held a meeting with the representatives of the party’s units in the Dooars and Terai to discuss “both the positive and negatives” of the negotiations that are on.
About the “positives”, Gurung said: “Those (issues) that have not been finalised like the territory, tauzi and the transfer of legislative powers will be negotiated at the political-level talks. The Centre and the state are trying to bargain and I will never let down the people of Dooars and Terai.” He said the people should not listen to rumours that the Dooars and Terai have been excluded from the interim set-up.
But Gurung also made it clear that it was not easy to instantly incorporate all areas. “During the meeting (political level talks), a decision might also be reached to form a joint verification committee that will survey the areas of Dooars and Terai and submit a report by 2011. In such a situation, the government has to agree to include the Nepali-dominated areas in the administrative arrangement that will be in force till 2012,” said Gurung.
The interim set-up, which is presently being negotiated, is supposed to be in force only till 2012.
The Morcha president said the “negatives” constituted the present political situation in Bengal. “The Congress, Trinamul Congress and the CPM may not agree to let go of the territories (to be included in the set-up) until the Assembly elections, fearing that they might lose the state elections. This is why this (formation of joint verification committee) is also being pursued,” he told the gathering in Darjeeling adding that the state was hatching a conspiracy to ensure that the plains are never administratively tagged with the hills. “We must not allow the state to succeed.”
The Telegraph had reported in today’s edition that a backstage negotiation was probably on given the fact that Gurung sounded confident of inking a settlement in the very next round of the political-level talks.
Given the fact that territory is a touchy issue, Gurung, did not clearly maintain that the Morcha has agreed to the joint verification committee proposal. “You must not think that this is finalised. I am merely talking about the pros and cons,” he said.
In fact, The Telegraph had reported on July 24 that the Morcha was not averse to an idea of a joint committee to conduct surveys for inclusion of the areas in Dooars and Terai as had been done when the Bodo Territorial Council was formed.
Gurung added that the people of Dooars and Terai must intensify the agitation to be included in the interim set-up. “Soon after Diwali we will hold a massive meeting in Terai to intensify the movement. The inclusion demand must now come strongly from the plains people,” said Gurung.
Property attachment of 11 completed
KalimNews, kalimpongonlinenews.blogspot.com: So far Darjeeling Police have attached properties of 11 accused in the Madan Tamang assassination case. Police reported this to the CJM of Darjeeling on Monday. Why the attachment of 12 other accused could not be completed is yet to be answered by the police. The next hearing is on November 8.
Property attachment of 11 completed
KalimNews, kalimpongonlinenews.blogspot.com: So far Darjeeling Police have attached properties of 11 accused in the Madan Tamang assassination case. Police reported this to the CJM of Darjeeling on Monday. Why the attachment of 12 other accused could not be completed is yet to be answered by the police. The next hearing is on November 8.
Tribal rider for election support
TT, Oct. 25: The regional committee of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today said it would to support any party, barring the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, in the next year’s Assembly polls if it gave an undertaking to work for development of the tribal population in the Dooars.
The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the Dooars Terai regional unit of the Parishad held in Banarhat, Jalpaiguri. Tribal leaders and over 500 workers attended the meet.
“We have decided not to field any candidate in the seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the Dooars and Terai. Similarly, we will not contest from seats which are either reserved for the Scheduled Castes or unreserved even if we have a substantial population there. We have identified 12 such constituencies in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur districts,” said Tez Kumar Toppo, the state general secretary of the Parishad.
“It has been found that the tribal MLAs from these seats are guided by their respective parties, and even if they want to do something for the tribals, they cannot do anything. So, we will support a candidate of any political party, even from the CPM or Independents, if they give us a written undertaking to work for the development of the backward and deprived tribal population.”
John Barla, the president of the regional unit, said the Morcha would be an exception. “We will, however, never support any candidate pitted by the Morcha or an Independent backed by the hill party. There is no question of entering into any adjustment, formal or informal, with the Morcha before, during or after the polls.”
The Parishad decision has sent ripples across political circles, considering the fact that almost the entire tribal population in the Dooars and Terai is being controlled by the outfit. “Tribals have always been block vote banks for political parties. Candidates able to win the tribals’ support will emerge as winners,” a political observer said.
The seats where tribal votes would matter most are Phansidewa and Matigara-Naxalbari, Malbazar, Nagrakata, Birpara-Madarihat, Kalchini and Kumargram. The other five seats where the tribal population can also swing in a candidate’s favour are Jalpaiguri, Falakata, Mainaguri, Dhupguri and Alipurduar.
Mangal Mahotsav in Kalimpong
KalimNews: On the second day of Mangal Mahostav that started from 24th October and will continue till 30th Bhim Dhungel Forest, Wild Life and Environment was present as the Chief guest. Dhungel was present in the Children's Conference arranged during the Mahostav at Mangal Dham of Kalimpong. Religious talks, bhajans and dramas are being delivered and staged by the Pranami Gurus and delegates gathered from all over India and neighboruing countries. On October 29 Pawan Chamling Chief Minister of Sikkim will attend the celebration.Demand for animal hospital
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| In need of A vet? |
Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, Oct. 25: The demand for setting up a full-fledged hospital in the region for captive and wild animals has been revived ahead of the wildlife week that begins from November 9.
The programme co-ordinator of Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, Animesh Bose, said the demand for the hospital is a long-standing demand. “In 2007 chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during his visit to Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary was first apprised of the need to set up the facility. The chief minister, also the chairperson of the state board for wildlife, had agreed and it had been decided that the unit would be set up at the Jaldapara-Madarihat belt in Jalpaiguri district,” said Bose, also a member of the state board for wildlife. “However, since then not an inch has progressed.”
“We have decided to place our demand before the chief minister again when he visits the sanctuary on November 9 to inaugurate the state wildlife week. We will also request him to establish mobile medical units, sophisticated cranes to lift animals and ancillary facilities,” Bose added.
The NGOs here have also demanded the establishment of a forensic science lab for animals. “Given the frequent incidents of animal deaths in north Bengal, it is necessary to set up a forensic lab in the region. Whenever an animal death is reported, foresters send the samples to Calcutta to know the cause of its death. Often the reports are not received on time that is needed to ensure that appropriate intervention can be made to avoid deaths because of similar reasons in the future,” Bose said.
Sujit Das, secretary of Nature and Adventure Society of Odlabari in the Dooars, said: “If a medical unit with modern facilities is provided for the treatment of animals, then some deaths can be avoided.”
Forest minister Ananta Roy said the proposal to set up the veterinary unit has been placed before the Union ministry of environment and forests. “I have already requested Union minister Jairam Ramesh to take necessary steps and help us establish the facility,” Roy told The Telegraph over phone the. “Currently, we are treating injured animals with help from vets in the state animal resource development department.
40% fall in hill tourist inflow- Political turmoil & bad roads result in low footfall
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| A traditional tourist hut in Reshi near Kalimpong. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha |
TT, Kalimpong, Oct. 25: The festive season has failed to bring joy to the tourism sector in the subdivision with a 40 per cent fall in tourist inflow compared to last autumn.
Tourism stakeholders believe many factors — mainly the political turmoil and poor condition of roads — were responsible for the poor tourist arrival even though the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has so far not carried out any political programme that would deter visitors from holidaying in the hills during the festive season.
On the contrary, the party has been organising a month-long cultural programme in the hills as a two-pronged strategy to woo tourists as well as to score a political point by highlighting the cultural difference between the Gorkhas and the rest of Bengal.
“The tourists might have decided against coming to the hills, perhaps, because of what happened in the past couple of years when many of them were forced to leave the hills at a short notice because of political trouble. You hardly see any tourists in town. I have spoken to my colleagues and most of them say the bookings have been very low — maybe coming down by as much as 40 per cent,” said Sanjogita Subba, a former president of the Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association of Kalimpong (Horak).
Transporters and other engaged in tourism business, too, have confirmed that the visitor arrival has been very low this time. “Even those who halt here for at least a night on their way back from Sikkim are few and far between. The condition of the roads could be a reason for their not coming here, as they do not want to risk missing their trains and flights from New Jalpaiguri and Bagdogra respectively on their way home,” said Dawa Lama, a driver.
The pitiable condition of the road is definitely the reason for the poor tourist turnout in Kafer, which along with Lava, is one of the two tourism hotspots in the subdivision. “The road to Kafer from near Lava is maintained by the forests (read the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation). However, despite many approaches, they have not bothered to repair the road, citing funds crunch. We, the local people, have been carrying out patchworks from time to time to keep the road motorable,” said Dorji Sherpa, a hotelier in Kafer.
According to Sherpa, tourists have already thinned in the thickly forested Kafer, which over the years has become very popular with domestic visitors. “All the hotels were packed for only four days this time. Other times, the hotels used to be packed for over 15 days,” he said.
Tea test near home before export
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 25: The Tea Board of India has decided to set up a laboratory in Siliguri to control the export quality of brew and test it to see if it meets international standards, a first-of-its-kind government initiative in the country that is expected to be a major boon for the export-driven Darjeeling tea industry. India, according to Tea Board figures, exports around 200 million kg of tea annually, which is around Rs 2300 crore.
The laboratory will be set up at a cost of Rs 9.4 crore by Eurofins, a Germany-based company, and will be funded by the Union ministry of commerce. The project is expected to become functional by March 2012.
“Various quality parameters like minimum residual levels (of pesticides) in tea can be checked at the laboratory. Checks on bio-fertilisers and its components can also be evaluated and the facilities can be used not just by the tea industry but by other agricultural sectors as well,” said Amalkanti Roy Chowdhury, joint director of the Tea Board.
Setting up such a facility is significant because all export commodities have to comply with international standards on food safety.
“Every country has their own standards on issues like permissible MRLs and the facility will play a role in ensuring that export is not rejected in the international market,” said Chowdhury.
Sanjay Prakash Bansal, chairperson of the Darjeeling Tea Association, told The Telegraph over the phone from Calcutta that the association had been demanding such a facility since 2004. Once the project is completed, the DTA would be running it.
“This is a significant project for the industry and is a major investment by the government to ensure quality product as almost 70 per cent (of the 9 million kg of made tea) of the Darjeeling produce is exported annually. This will also facilitate continuous market access,” said Bansal. There have been instances when orders for tea exported from India, not necessarily Darjeeling tea, were cancelled after they reached offshore because of poor quality.
Bansal, who owns one of the highest numbers of gardens in the Darjeeling hills, said most exporters sent their tea samples abroad for testing. “This means a delay of almost two months to get the result and that is a significant amount of time,” said Bansal.
The Siliguri facility will be set up at the Tea Park. “Eurofins has 146 such centres across the world. In India there are only three such private facilities located in Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Delhi,” said Bansal.
Such is the international focus on food safety that a garden official said “countries like Japan are not very comfortable about using even plants like neem instead of pesticides in organic gardens. They believe that even neem is toxic”.
Sandeep Mukherjee, secretary of the DTA, said exporters of other commodities like mango and pineapple can also get their product tested at the Centre.
“The laboratory will be set up on a public-private partnership basis where the DTA will be the private component of the partnership,” said Mukherjee.
20-yr-old shot dead
TT, Islampur, Oct. 25: A 20-year-old youth, Samser Khan, was shot dead allegedly by his former lover’s husband last night.
Police said Khan, a resident of Simulia in Chakulia, had an affair with the wife of Md Dostic and she had committed suicide five months back. Since then, Dostic had a grudge against Khan. Last night, Khan was returning from a village fair, when he was shot dead by Dostic. The police started a murder case on the basis of a complaint lodged by the deceased’s father Abdul Rajjak. Dostic fled the area after the crime.
Leopard trap
TT, Siliguri: A male leopard was trapped in a cage kept by foresters on Nepuchapu Tea Estate in Malbazar subdivision on Monday. The guards from Malbazar wildlife squad said the seven-year-old animal had been creating panic in the garden for several days and attacked cattle and poultry birds reared by workers. The animal was later released in Gorumara National Park.
Jumbo attack
TT, Siliguri: Dolly Burman suffered injuries when she was attacked by an elephant at Panitanki on the India-Nepal border on Sunday night. Forest officers in Kurseong said the woman had been attacked by the elephant which was part of a 100-member herd roaming in the Naxalbari block for the past few days. Dolly was admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. The foresters said they had increased patrolling on the border.
Road protest
TT, Jaigaon: More than 200 Congress supporters jeered at state public works minister Kshiti Goswami on Monday when he was in Madarihat to inaugurate an inspection bungalow of his department. The Congress members under the leadership of Pranab Banerjee demonstrated in front of the dais erected for the inauguration, saying there was no justification for the minister to spend lakhs of rupees to build such bungalows when roads across north Bengal were in precarious condition.
Worker killed by Jumbo
KalimNews: Lolay Munda(24) of Nich Line Rajabhatkhawa Tea Estate died when he was attacked by a tusker . He was attacked on way to his home from tea garden.Canned then banned, Satyajit Ray's Sikkim draws nation's eyes
PTI, Kolkata, October 25:Sikkim, a documentary made by film legend Satyajit Ray 40 years ago, will be reportedly screened for the first time at the India International Centre in Delhi on October 27. The External Affairs Ministry had banned the documentary in 1975 when the Himalayan kingdom became a part of India.
“I have not been informed about the film being shown anywhere in the country. There has been no intimation, officially or verbally,” Ray’s son Sandip told PTI in Kolkata.
“There has been no official correspondence on the issue. I was informed by some members of the press in mid-September that the ban was being lifted when they sought my reaction. I will always welcome such a move as the people will get a chance to see my father’s film,” he added.
A a documentary on the Chogyal dynasty, Sikkim was commissioned by the last Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, at the behest of his US-born queen Hope Cooke.
Recalling the days of the documentary’s shooting, Sandip said he had accompanied his father to picturesque spots like Namchi in the then Himalayan kingdom in 1970. “After shooting on the location for my father’s film Seemabaddha in Darjeeling, we headed to Sikkim. There we shot for some days with the help of the hospitality provided to us by the Chogyals.”
When the documentary was complete and the rushes were shown, Hope Cook suggested a few cuts which apparently showed the opulence of the royals in contrast to the stark poverty of the people, Sandip said. “One shot showing the poor rummaging through left over food dumped beside the palace was not liked by the royal family. The final cuts were not liked by my father, but he could not do much since it was their production,” Sandip recollected.
He added that the documentary, restored by well known restorer Joseph Lindwall, was last screened at a French film festival in 2006 at a retro on Ray. “There could have been other screenings, private or otherwise elsewhere, which I am not aware of,” he said.
“I had seen a print at the British Film Institute, which is in a good condition, and was screened at the French festival. It was scheduled to be shown at 14th Kolkata International Film festival in 2008, which fell through due to the ban,” Sandip said. There is another print of the documentary with the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences in the US.
“The print is not in a very good condition, while the master negative is traceless,” he added.
The Central Board of Film Certification had given the documentary a ‘U’ certificate for “unrestricted public viewing” in 2002, but there was no screening.
Bengal university rank fourth
SNS, KOLKATA, 25 OCT: Jadavpur University has been ranked fourth among the top 50 universities across the country in a study conducted by the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The first three institutes in the list are University of Hyderabad, Delhi University and Benaras Hindu University.
Apart from JU, the other universities from the state that feature among the top 50 universities include Calcutta University (ranked 10), Burdwan University (ranked 17) and Kalyani University.
The survey was conducted among 50 Indian universities with comparatively high output of publications during a ten-year period from 1999 to 2008.
The study has been conducted based on the research performance of the universities, said Prof. PN Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor of JU, adding that the rank will enable the university to get a fund allotment of Rs 25 crore.
The first three institutes in the list are University of Hyderabad, Delhi University and Benaras Hindu University.
Apart from JU, the other universities from the state that feature among the top 50 universities include Calcutta University (ranked 10), Burdwan University (ranked 17) and Kalyani University.
The survey was conducted among 50 Indian universities with comparatively high output of publications during a ten-year period from 1999 to 2008.
The study has been conducted based on the research performance of the universities, said Prof. PN Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor of JU, adding that the rank will enable the university to get a fund allotment of Rs 25 crore.
Centre readies forces for Bengal poll 60000 troops on early list
TT, New Delhi, Oct. 25: The Centre is giving finishing touches to a plan to send 60,000 paramilitary personnel to Bengal during the Assembly elections next year, the early preparations reflecting apprehensions of a possible surge in violence.
Assembly elections are due in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Assam early next year. Although most of these states hold political significance for the ruling UPA, it is Bengal that is causing concern in the internal security establishment.
“We fear mayhem and we will send 600 companies of paramilitary forces. Preparations will start by February next year,” a senior government official said.
The proposed figure is far higher than the 220 companies (each company will have around 100 personnel) sent to Bengal for the parliamentary polls last year. In the last Assembly polls in 2006, around 600 companies were sent but the main concern then revolved around Maoists.
The proposal to set aside more central forces for Bengal comes at a time Mamata Banerjee has been demanding the withdrawal of security personnel from the Maoist-affected Jungle Mahal.
Mamata is unlikely to oppose the despatch of central forces to check violence during the elections. She would like the turnout to be high for maximum impact of anti-incumbency in the toughest elections for the Left in over 30 years.
However, the areas where the central forces will be deployed can cause some friction between the Centre and the Trinamul Congress. Trinamul feels that under the guise of fighting Maoists, the CPM is using the cover and might of central forces to annihilate political rivals.
Since the Maoist trouble began, six battalions of the CRPF have been deployed in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore. Some of these battalions were moved temporarily for polls in neighbouring Bihar but they are likely to return.
Moreover, the BSF has significant deployment on the India-Bangladesh border. The border force has close to 30,000 troops in the state, some of whom could also be deployed during elections, sources said.
The number of troops being proposed for Bengal exceeds the 45,000 deployed in Bihar, which is in the middle of elections and faces Maoist threat.
However, there is more to Bengal than just Maoist violence. The Centre is keeping two aspects in mind while deciding the force requirement in Bengal.
One, the possibility of the CPI (Maoist) involving itself deeper in the state during the polls. Two, clashes between CPM cadres and Trinamul workers, already on the rise, turning into full-fledged battles as the election dates draw closer.
“We have already begun to prepare ourselves for the tough task ahead. Among all the states going to polls, Bengal is going to be the most important,” said a home ministry source.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram says Mamata is a “valuable ally” but he has also made it clear that central forces are sent on the request of the state government. The Left Front government has sounded out Delhi on its concerns about the alleged nexus between the Maoists and Trinamul supporters.
CATCH in Sikkim
CATCH in Sikkim
Prabin Khaling, Singtam 25th. October:Chief Ministers Comprehensive Annul & Total Check up for Healthy Sikkim Programme (CATCH) Started in Various Places Of East District today. Rigorous Queue of Public gathered at District Hospital Singtam to get checked their Health. Mass Public crowd with Charmness in their face Started rushing the Hospital from 9 A.M. and Fourteen Different Stall was Set Up to check the Health of Individual & to complete requisite formalities, mass were present with different expectations, some were gathered to diagnosis their Problems, Some to Get only Medicines, Some to know their Health Status and Some to prove them self Sanable.
All Medical, Para- Medical & Non Medical (Office) Staff, NGOs, Panchayat of respective wards extended their Co-Operation to bring the Day First Programme make Success and to make the Sikkim’s People Healthy. They were aware and eger to know the aspect of these Programme which will create the fame of State in Nation as well as in Asia.
Primary Health Centre Samdong, Sang, Pakyong, Rangpo too started the CATCH programme in their respective place, Rongli and Rhenock started the programme jointly at Rhenock , mass participation of conscious citizen was there to take the advantage of Programme in respective place .Guide line set by the authorities is each District Hospital and PHC has to Cover the Radius of 10 Kms and 5 Kms of Population in institution itself respectively .
On the first Phase of Programme District Hospital Singtam is catering its service of CATCH as under;-25th Oct- Golitar Sawney, 26th Oct-Shanti Nagar&Panitanki, 27th. Oct-Lall Bazar & Chisopani, 28thOct-MandirLine Singtam Bazar, 30th.Oct Chuwatar &Sawney, 1st.Nov Upper Lingchey GP Ward, 2nd.Nov Lower Linchey GP Ward, 3rd. Nov Pipall Dara Singtam Bazar.
Second Phase of Programme will start from 15th of Nov to 23rd.Nov 2010 at Sirwani Chhalamthang GPU.
Sikkim ready to review Japan tour project
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| Japanese consultant Kazuishi Watabe in Gangtok on Monday. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
TT, Gangtok, Oct. 25: The first draft of the proposed eco-tourism policy of Sikkim under a Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project is expected to be released to all stakeholders here for review in the next two weeks.
The governments of India and Japan had signed the agreement in March for the JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management project. Its total outlay is Rs 330.57 crore and under it, afforestation activities over 4,300 hectare of forest areas will be taken up during the 10-year period of the project in the state.
The main components of the project is the formulation of eco-tourism policies and streamlining eco-tourism activities that aim to benefit local communities living in the forest fringe areas. About 23 per cent of the total outlay is proposed to be spent on the eco-tourism component of the JICA-assisted project, forest officials here said.
“Me and Sikkim forest officials have initiated talks with all stakeholders including tour operators, village-based communities and NGOs to get their suggestions and ideas on the proposed policy. We had our first stakeholders meeting on October 13 and the first draft will be finalised in the next two weeks. Copies of the draft will be circulated among all the stakeholders. We will wait for their comments and pick up feasible suggestions,” said Kazuishi Watabe, a Japanese consultant hired by the JICA to assist the state forest department to formulate the policy.
“My role is to give suggestions and assist in the formulation of an eco-tourism policy for Sikkim,” he said.
Watabe had started working in Sikkim from October 10 and he will be here for 45 days working closely with the forest department. He will be back again in April to assist in finalising the draft of the proposed policy.
“The second draft will be ready at the end of November after holding seminars. The third and final draft will be ready in April next year following which it will be submitted to the state government for approval,” said Watabe. He said the thrust of the eco-tourism policy would be to promote and develop unexplored areas of Sikkim.
The Japanese consultant said the policy should have provisions to build the capacity of the villagers to sell their agro products and to become tourist guides for bird watching, butterfly and flower tours especially orchid sightseeing.
The state additional principal chief conservator of forests, Anil Mainra, said the eco-tourism component of the project has two principal objectives — to provide income generation opportunities to local communities living in the forest fringe and to ensure that the impact of developing eco-tourism does not damage the environment.
Mainra said the measures suggested to improve eco-tourism of Sikkim were to address the difficulties encountered by foreign tourists (the targeted group of visitors) to obtain Inner Line Permits and also to do aggressive eco-tourism marketing, develop infrastructure and build the capacity of local NGOs and village-based communities.
गंगतोक। जापान के परामर्शदायी संस्था जापानीज इंटरनेशनल कर्पोरेशन एजेन्सी (जाइका) द्वारा प्रस्तावित सिक्किम के जैव विविधता संरक्षण और वन प्रबन्धन परियोजना के पहला ड्राफ्ट राज्य के सभी स्टॉकहोल्डरों को अगले दो सप्ताह के अंदर प्रतिपुष्टि और समिक्षा लिए दिया जायेगा।
भारत सरकार और जापान सरकार द्वारा गत मार्च महिना में जाइका को सिक्किम के बन प्रबन्धन को लिए मेमोरेंडम ऑफ अंडरस्टैंडिंग पर हस्ताक्षर किया था। जिस में 330.57 करोड रूपये जाइका द्वारा प्रदान करने संझौता किया गया था। जो राज्य के 43 हजार हैक्टर वन्य क्षेत्र को दस साल के अंदर प्रबन्धन किया जायेगा। जो पर्यटन और इस के दिशा निर्देशन के लिए कारगार सिद्ध होगा।
प्रस्तावित परियोजना के लगभग 23 प्रतिशत धनराशी इको टुरिजम के लिए खर्च करने की जानकारी वन विभाग के आधिकारीक सूत्रों ने दी है।
परियोजान के विशेषज्ञ काजुसी वाटावी ने कहा कि हम और सिक्किम के वन विभाग के अधिकारी द्वारा स्टॉकहोल्डरों के साथ टूर अपरेटर, ग्रामीण इलाकों के समुदाय तथा गैर सरकारी संगठनों के साथ वार्ता करेंगे और उन के सलाह सुझाव लेंगे। उन्होंने कहा कि इस के लिए अगल दो सप्ताह के भीतर फैसला होगा। स्ट़ॉक होल्डरों को परियोजना के ड्राफ्ट सुझाव और समिक्षा के लिए दिया जायेगा।उन्होंने बताया कि जाइका ने राज्य के वन विभाग को इको टुरिज्म के विकास के लिए सहयोग प्रदान करने के लिए जापानी परामर्शदाताओं को बुलाया है। उन्होंने बताया कि इकोटुरिज्म के दिशा में गत अक्टुबर से कार्य शुरू कर 45 दिनों तक वन विभाग के साथ करीबी के साथ कार्य किया। उन्होंने बताया कि आगामी वर्ष अप्रैल से पुन फाइनल ड्राफ्ट के लिए कार्य करने जापानी परामर्शदाता आयेंगे। दुसरी चरण के ड्राफ्ट आगामी नवंबर तक पुरी हो जायेगा। जो राज्य सरकार के अनुमोदन के लिए पेश किया जायेगा। श्री वाटावी ने बताया कि हम अनन्वेषित क्षेत्रों को प्राथमिकता देना चहाते है और स्थानीय लोगों के सहभागिता पर जोर दे रहे है। उन्होंने बताया कि इस के लिए स्थानीय गैर सरकार संगठनों को भी सामेल किया जारहा है।
इको टुरिज्म और सिक्किम के सांदर्भीकता के बारे में बताते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि प्रस्तावित परियोना दस पृष्ठ के होगा जो इस के परिभाषा से ले कर सिद्धान्त और ढांचों के साथ इको टुरिज्म को देखने के लिए समिति और दिशा निर्देश भी सामेल होगा। उन्होंने बताया कि ग्रामवासीयों द्वारा उन के कृषि उत्पादनों को विक्रि किया जा सकता है। इसी प्रकार वर्डवाचिंग, वट्टरफ्लाइ टुर तथा अर्किड फूलों को संबन्धित इलाके में विकास किया जायेगा। उन्होंने बताया कि सिक्किम के पर्यटन के लिए पर्यावरण, जैविकविवधता , विविध संस्कृति, स्थानीय खाद्य तथा जैविक खाद्य इस के लिए फायदे मंद सावित होगा।
उन्होंने बताया कि जापानी लोगों के लिए जैविक उत्पादन बहुत ही आकर्षक होगा। क्योंकि सिक्किम में रासायनीक पर्दाथ पर प्रतिबन्ध लगाया गया है। इस के साथ ही राज्य में अपराधिक मामले कम होने के कारण इस से भी फायदे होने का संभावना है। उन्होंने राज्य के लोगों को पर्यटकों की गाइड के लिए क्षमता विकास के भरपूर प्रशिक्षण प्रदान करने की आवश्यकता पर भी जोर दिया।
दुसीर तरफ राज्य वन विभाग के प्रिंसिपॉल चीफ कंजरवेटर ऑफ फरेस्ट डॉ. अनिल मेनरा ने कहा कि इस परियोजना के मुख्य उद्देश्य लोगों के आय श्रोत विकास करना तथा स्थानीय जनसमुदाय को इको टुरिज्म के माध्यम में पर्यावरण संरक्षण कि तरफ अग्रसर कराना है। उन्होंने बताया कि स्टॉकहोल्डरों से सुझाव के लिए विशेष कर विदेशी पर्यटकों के लिए लगायी जानेवाले इनर लाइन परमिट के बारे में भी समिक्षा करने की आग्रह किया है।
Nobel Three star Nepal defeated Pune Football Club
गंगतोक। ऑल इंडिया गवर्नस गोल्ड कप के आज के मैंच में नोवेल थ्री स्टार नेपाल ने निर्धारित समय के बाद अतिरिक्त समय के अंतिम मिनट में सानदार गोल कर पुणे फुटबॉल क्लब को पराजिर कर अगले राउंड में प्रवेश किया। खेल के शुरूआती दौर रोमांचक हुआ इस के वाद दोनों दलों में कुछ सुस्तीपन दिखाई दी। पर दुसरी हाफ में नेपाली खेलाडीयों ने लगाता अपना दवाव बनाते हुए बार बार गोल करने की प्रयास की। कयी बार मिले सुनहरा मौके गवाकर नेपाली खेलाडीयों के समर्थन में नेपाल के राष्ट्र ध्वज के से स्टेडियम में मौजुद दर्शकों को निराश किया।
फिर भी लगातार हुए प्रयास में नेपाल को गोल करने की सफलता हाथ नही लगा। दुसरी तरफ पुणे एफसी के खिलाडीयों ने भी कयी बार प्रयास किया विफल रहा। निर्धारित समय पर दोनों दल से गोल नही हुआ। अतिरिक्त समय के दुसरी हाफ के अंतिम मिनट में नेपाली खेलाडी जर्सी नंबर 19 राजु राई ने बडे सानदार गोल कर दल को जित दिलाया। राई को दुसरी हाफ के अन्तिम चरण में दल के उम्दा खिलाडी अनिल ओझा को चोट आने के कारण उन के जगह पर मैदान में भेजने की निर्णय किया गया था। वर्ष 2008 में गोल्ड कप चैम्पियन रह चुके थ्री स्टार के कोच कृष्ण बहादुर श्रेष्ठ के निर्णय आखिर कार रंग लाया राजु के गोल से ही अगले राउंड के लिए नेपाली दल का स्थान सुनिश्चित हुआ। कल के मैंच लाजोंग एफ सी सिलोंग और सिक्किम पुलिस के वीच संपन्न होगा। सिक्किम पुलिस ने गत 22 अक्टोबर के दिन स्थानीय दल डेंजोंग बोइज को हराया था।
Suicide: A Growing Concern in Sikkim
Binod Bhattarai, 22 October, 2010 Published in Feature Section
Despite economic progress and prosperity in the tranquil Himalayan region, the State of Sikkim now a day has been crippling by the rise of suicide cases. The latest report of Chennai based Regional Representative of World Health Organisation revealed that, Sikkim is the state in the country which has the highest suicide rate of 48.2 per lakh of population. In the series, Sikkim is followed by Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kerala with the suicide rate of 46.9, 34.5, and 25 per lakh of population respectively. As per the Sikkim CID Police data to be had by the state health department, about 124 suicide cases were reported in 2007, 287 in 2008 and 241 in 2009, which are ominously elevated figure for a tiny state like Sikkim with a population of nearly six lakhs.
In Sikkim if we pore over the views of various connoisseurs, they explained that most of the suicidal cases in the State were the result of substance abuse, narcotics and alcohol use, mental illness and depression followed by family problems, drug addiction, prolonged illness, failure in examinations and love affairs etc. But here the things are different than what they actually supposed.
At this juncture now, it is essential to understand the social analysis of suicide as a social problem. In this situation the significant work of Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist can't be forgotten. As per Durkheim's view simply, 'suicide' means 'self destruction'. But it reveals something lots. At least after the serial suicidal death of Sikkimese, it didn't remain confine to merely 'self destruction' - the simple means of suicide. If we go by Durkheim, suicide is a social fact and not simply an individual act but a product of social forces external to the individual.
In fact, He rejects the various extra social factors such as heredity, climate, depression,
abnormal behavior, mental alienation, racial characteristics and imitation as the cause of suicide.
Even 'Poverty' - the most general cause of suicide, as presented by media and politicians behind the every case of suicide, has been utterly rebutted by him. He, for simple understanding, argues that the greater the integration of individuals within the social group the less likely they are to commit suicide.
Apparently, one thing must be raised in our mind that why Durkheim negates poverty as one of the causes of suicide. If we believe at least some amount on a survey report conducted by the agency of the Govt. of India that reveals most developed states have more suicide rate as compared to the most backward states. In 2001, Maharashtra (14618), Karnataka (11881), Tamil Nadu (11290), Andhra Pradesh (10522) have highest suicide rates respectively. On the other hand all tribal dominated states like Arunachal Pradesh (111), Manipur (41), Mizoram (54), and the most backward states like Bihar (603) and Jharkhand (250) have very less suicide rate.
The place Kalahandi in Orissa at one time was the center of attention in media only because of serial deaths of persons and children due to hungry and malnutrition respectively. But it is quiet surprising that no suicide case was reported from Kalahandi at that time.
In addition to this, as per the ' Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers' conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation in 2003, the average monthly income (excluding rent, interest, dividend etc.) from all sources per farmer household ranged from Rs.1, 062.00 in the state of Orissa to Rs. 5,488.00 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the agriculture year of 2002 -03 and the all India average are Rs.2, 115.00.
To compare the average monthly income of per farmer household in Maharashtra (Rs.2, 463.00) and Gujarat (Rs.2, 684.00) from backward states like Bihar (Rs.1, 810.00), Orissa (1,062), Rajasthan (Rs. 1,498) and Madhya Pradesh (1,430.00), it can be easily revealed that lower monthly income is not a causative factor of suicide. By analyzing these statements it can be said that Durkheim is very close to the truth.
Then, what are the causes of suicides?
According to him, this kind of suicide falls within the purview of 'Anomic Suicide' - one of the classifications of suicide. In fact, anomic suicide results from normlessness or deregulation in society. Although this kind of suicide occurs during industrial and financial crises, it is not because they cause poverty, since crises of prosperity have the same result but because they are crises of the collective order. If poverty and starvation are really the adequate causes of suicide then the suicide rate in all backward states should have been high but it is not. Further he says that poverty protects against suicide because it is a restraint itself. The less one has the less he is tempted to extend the range of his needs. Sociologically, the incident of suicides in Sikkim is actually the result of the combined effect of 'Relative deprivation' and 'Sudden crises', which came in the category of anomic suicide. Significantly, the feeling of relative deprivation is the outcome of westoxication and conspicuous consumption and these feelings has been augmented by the present market policy of Globalization. And it is one of the major drawbacks of the Westernization. One thing that is essentially noticeable that mainly middle class people have been committed suicide in that the effect of relative deprivation has fallen greater on them.
Now, what should be the solutions of this menace?
The effects of modernization, specifically in Sikkim, have led to sweeping changes in the socioeconomic, socio-philosophical and cultural arenas of people's lives, which have greatly added to the stress in life, leading to substantially higher rates of suicide. Rapid urbanization, industrialization and emerging family systems are resulting in social upheaval and distress.
The diminishing traditional support systems leave people vulnerable to suicidal behavior.
Hence, there is an emerging need for external emotional support. The enormity of the problem combined with the paucity of mental health service has led to the emergence of NGOs in the field of suicide prevention. The primary aim of these NGOs should be, to provide the support to suicidal individuals by befriending them. Apart from befriending suicidal individuals, the NGOs should also undertake the education and raising awareness in the public and media.
Enhance the physical interaction between government functionaries and village society by insisting on more tours, night halts and Gram Sabhas by officers at all levels of the administration. Active monitoring through NGOs should be there in every village for the signs of social, economic and psychological distress and provide time to time social, psychological or spiritual counseling. Such monitoring and counseling on village should be made on a regular and routine basis. Increase efficiency of various services that are delivered by the government in the name of people’ s welfare, namely, improve the infrastructural development in the villages, increase the number of primary health centres, provide better roads, safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition and family planning etc.
For the long – term change, it is important to improve the condition of education in the state.
Although, Sikkim has the literacy rate of 82 percent but the real erudite in the state are very few. In this case, it would be fruitful if it would provide value as well as vocational education, atleast at the school level to the students to understand and utilize it for their own benefit in the complexities of present day production and marketing techniques.
Ironically, Sikkim is a state where most of the people are heavily dependent on the Government for fulfilling their basic chuck of life. So it would be better if the government makes its citizens self – dependent and unswerving by opening of various boulevards in the field of social and economic development in the state.
An important mechanism in generating a suicide epidemic is the constant highlighting of instances of suicide. Therefore, it is important to counsel the media to stop highlighting suicide since the fact of highlighting suicide itself adds fuel to the suicide fire as it were.
Despite of significant advancements in science and technology and of material wealth, it is a sad indictment that we are not able to control suicides in our society. Suicide is a multifaceted problem and hence suicide prevention programmes should also be on multidimensional.
Collaboration, coordination, cooperation and commitment are needed to develop. It is a time for civil society to espouse proactive and leadership roles in suicide prevention and save the lives of thousands of young Sikkimese.
The author is a Research Scholar at Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry and can be reached at bhattaraibinod3@gmail.com
At this juncture now, it is essential to understand the social analysis of suicide as a social problem. In this situation the significant work of Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist can't be forgotten. As per Durkheim's view simply, 'suicide' means 'self destruction'. But it reveals something lots. At least after the serial suicidal death of Sikkimese, it didn't remain confine to merely 'self destruction' - the simple means of suicide. If we go by Durkheim, suicide is a social fact and not simply an individual act but a product of social forces external to the individual.
In fact, He rejects the various extra social factors such as heredity, climate, depression,
abnormal behavior, mental alienation, racial characteristics and imitation as the cause of suicide.
Even 'Poverty' - the most general cause of suicide, as presented by media and politicians behind the every case of suicide, has been utterly rebutted by him. He, for simple understanding, argues that the greater the integration of individuals within the social group the less likely they are to commit suicide.
Apparently, one thing must be raised in our mind that why Durkheim negates poverty as one of the causes of suicide. If we believe at least some amount on a survey report conducted by the agency of the Govt. of India that reveals most developed states have more suicide rate as compared to the most backward states. In 2001, Maharashtra (14618), Karnataka (11881), Tamil Nadu (11290), Andhra Pradesh (10522) have highest suicide rates respectively. On the other hand all tribal dominated states like Arunachal Pradesh (111), Manipur (41), Mizoram (54), and the most backward states like Bihar (603) and Jharkhand (250) have very less suicide rate.
The place Kalahandi in Orissa at one time was the center of attention in media only because of serial deaths of persons and children due to hungry and malnutrition respectively. But it is quiet surprising that no suicide case was reported from Kalahandi at that time.
In addition to this, as per the ' Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers' conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation in 2003, the average monthly income (excluding rent, interest, dividend etc.) from all sources per farmer household ranged from Rs.1, 062.00 in the state of Orissa to Rs. 5,488.00 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the agriculture year of 2002 -03 and the all India average are Rs.2, 115.00.
To compare the average monthly income of per farmer household in Maharashtra (Rs.2, 463.00) and Gujarat (Rs.2, 684.00) from backward states like Bihar (Rs.1, 810.00), Orissa (1,062), Rajasthan (Rs. 1,498) and Madhya Pradesh (1,430.00), it can be easily revealed that lower monthly income is not a causative factor of suicide. By analyzing these statements it can be said that Durkheim is very close to the truth.
Then, what are the causes of suicides?
According to him, this kind of suicide falls within the purview of 'Anomic Suicide' - one of the classifications of suicide. In fact, anomic suicide results from normlessness or deregulation in society. Although this kind of suicide occurs during industrial and financial crises, it is not because they cause poverty, since crises of prosperity have the same result but because they are crises of the collective order. If poverty and starvation are really the adequate causes of suicide then the suicide rate in all backward states should have been high but it is not. Further he says that poverty protects against suicide because it is a restraint itself. The less one has the less he is tempted to extend the range of his needs. Sociologically, the incident of suicides in Sikkim is actually the result of the combined effect of 'Relative deprivation' and 'Sudden crises', which came in the category of anomic suicide. Significantly, the feeling of relative deprivation is the outcome of westoxication and conspicuous consumption and these feelings has been augmented by the present market policy of Globalization. And it is one of the major drawbacks of the Westernization. One thing that is essentially noticeable that mainly middle class people have been committed suicide in that the effect of relative deprivation has fallen greater on them.
Now, what should be the solutions of this menace?
The effects of modernization, specifically in Sikkim, have led to sweeping changes in the socioeconomic, socio-philosophical and cultural arenas of people's lives, which have greatly added to the stress in life, leading to substantially higher rates of suicide. Rapid urbanization, industrialization and emerging family systems are resulting in social upheaval and distress.
The diminishing traditional support systems leave people vulnerable to suicidal behavior.
Hence, there is an emerging need for external emotional support. The enormity of the problem combined with the paucity of mental health service has led to the emergence of NGOs in the field of suicide prevention. The primary aim of these NGOs should be, to provide the support to suicidal individuals by befriending them. Apart from befriending suicidal individuals, the NGOs should also undertake the education and raising awareness in the public and media.
Enhance the physical interaction between government functionaries and village society by insisting on more tours, night halts and Gram Sabhas by officers at all levels of the administration. Active monitoring through NGOs should be there in every village for the signs of social, economic and psychological distress and provide time to time social, psychological or spiritual counseling. Such monitoring and counseling on village should be made on a regular and routine basis. Increase efficiency of various services that are delivered by the government in the name of people’ s welfare, namely, improve the infrastructural development in the villages, increase the number of primary health centres, provide better roads, safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition and family planning etc.
For the long – term change, it is important to improve the condition of education in the state.
Although, Sikkim has the literacy rate of 82 percent but the real erudite in the state are very few. In this case, it would be fruitful if it would provide value as well as vocational education, atleast at the school level to the students to understand and utilize it for their own benefit in the complexities of present day production and marketing techniques.
Ironically, Sikkim is a state where most of the people are heavily dependent on the Government for fulfilling their basic chuck of life. So it would be better if the government makes its citizens self – dependent and unswerving by opening of various boulevards in the field of social and economic development in the state.
An important mechanism in generating a suicide epidemic is the constant highlighting of instances of suicide. Therefore, it is important to counsel the media to stop highlighting suicide since the fact of highlighting suicide itself adds fuel to the suicide fire as it were.
Despite of significant advancements in science and technology and of material wealth, it is a sad indictment that we are not able to control suicides in our society. Suicide is a multifaceted problem and hence suicide prevention programmes should also be on multidimensional.
Collaboration, coordination, cooperation and commitment are needed to develop. It is a time for civil society to espouse proactive and leadership roles in suicide prevention and save the lives of thousands of young Sikkimese.
The author is a Research Scholar at Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry and can be reached at bhattaraibinod3@gmail.com
e-security tips for internet users
23 October, 2010 Published in News Section of www.thenortheastlife.com
Tripura police today released a few important tip to internet users for their safety and security. It said in a press statement that every individual should keep in mind the following points while using internet/emails:
1. Use strong pass words preferably Alpha- numeric one that are difficult or impossible to guess.
2. Give different pass words to all other accounts.
3. Use virus protection software. That means three things having it on your computer in the first place, checking daily for new virus signature updates, and then actually scanning all the files on your computer periodically.
4. Do not keep computers on line when not in use. Either shut them off or physically disconnect them from internet connection.
5. Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the subject line or attachment may be.
6. Use a Firewall as a gate keeper between your computer and the internet. Firewalls are usually software products.
7. Make a regular back-up of critical data;
8. Do not give your passwords to any body. Somebody who is malicious can cause great harm to you and your reputation.
9. Do not install any program you are unsure of.
10. Visit bank website by typing by the URL into the address bar;
11. Never reply to e-mails asking for your password or PIN.
12. Verify the domain name displayed to avoid spoof websites before using internet banking.
13. Never use unprotected PCs at Cyber Cafes for internet banking.
14. Log-Off and Close your browser when you have finished internet banking / internet browsing.
15. E-Mail users are advised to open their e-mail accounts in secured India/ local sites preferably.
The state police also advised the internet users contact Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for any assistance to detect Cyber Crimes besides inviting suggestions.
2. Give different pass words to all other accounts.
3. Use virus protection software. That means three things having it on your computer in the first place, checking daily for new virus signature updates, and then actually scanning all the files on your computer periodically.
4. Do not keep computers on line when not in use. Either shut them off or physically disconnect them from internet connection.
5. Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the subject line or attachment may be.
6. Use a Firewall as a gate keeper between your computer and the internet. Firewalls are usually software products.
7. Make a regular back-up of critical data;
8. Do not give your passwords to any body. Somebody who is malicious can cause great harm to you and your reputation.
9. Do not install any program you are unsure of.
10. Visit bank website by typing by the URL into the address bar;
11. Never reply to e-mails asking for your password or PIN.
12. Verify the domain name displayed to avoid spoof websites before using internet banking.
13. Never use unprotected PCs at Cyber Cafes for internet banking.
14. Log-Off and Close your browser when you have finished internet banking / internet browsing.
15. E-Mail users are advised to open their e-mail accounts in secured India/ local sites preferably.
The state police also advised the internet users contact Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for any assistance to detect Cyber Crimes besides inviting suggestions.
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