Intense cold sweep Sikkim as temperature dips low
Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok,17th January: Sikkim is reeling under intense cold after the maximum temperature dived to 7.4 degree Celsius, which is five degree below the normal.
The upper reaches of the state received fresh snowfall, dipping the mercury levels across the region.People said that it has been unusually cold this time after the snowfall.
"This time, it is very cold. People have started using heaters again. People are covering themselves with warm clothes. It is very cold here," Reshab Chettri, a local resident said.
The meteorological department said the sudden change in weather condition is due to the western disturbance. “There may be more decrease in the temperature as the Western disturbances passes over Sikkim” Michael Das, an Assistant Meteorologist told. According to him the winter this year is extreme and would continue till mid of Feburary.
More snowfall and rains have been predicted by the Meteorological Department for the next three four days. The Lowest temperature recorded in the month of January was 1.6 degree Celsius on January 16 after 5.8degree Celsius on December 17.
Sundas smells foul play in College Library construction
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, January 17: "Any governmental construction should have followed proper departmental norms but college authority of Kalimpong College has tried to evade it. It didnot publish the tender notice in the news print and we doubt of foul play in the construction process." Addressing a press conference Tara Sundas, CPM leader of Kalimpong blamed the college authority of bye-passing the rules regarding the construction of College library.
Earlier Sundas had blamed the authority of starting the construction of the library by evading the tendering process and the construction was stopped. Later the college authority made tender notification regarding the construction but Sundas complained of violating the tender rules by not making the publication of tender in the news papers. "If the departmental procedures are not followed then I will take the matter to the court," challenged Sundas.
India & Nepal Discuss Cooperation to Curb Cross-Border Crimes
PIB, KalimNews: India & Nepal yesterday discussed cooperation in countering cross-border crimes & terrorist activities during Home Secretary level talks between the two countries. They discussed wide ranging issues including countering circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes, smuggling of arms/ammunitions, trafficking of narcotics & psychotropic substances and misuse of SIM Cards. Sharing of information/ intelligence reports, progress in establishment of Integrated Check Posts and border roads and India’s support to training and capacity building of Nepal’s security apparatus were also discussed.
The Indian delegation was led by Shri R.K. Singh. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Nepalese delegation was led by Shri Sushil Jung Bahadur Rana, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal. Shri R.K.Singh appreciated the assurance of Nepalese Government for not allowing its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s interest and also assured Nepal of India’s commitment to provide all necessary cooperation and assistance.
The meeting was held in a cordial environment and both the countries expressed their satisfaction on the outcome of the issues deliberated during the meeting and hoped it will go a long way in addressing mutual security concerns, enhancing cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.
छत्रको सकियो अब विमलको पालो
डी.के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,17 जनवरी। छत्र सुब्बाले जे भने त्यही कुरा आज विमल गुरूङले पनि दोहोर्याएका छन्। तिनले आज जामुने कृषि पर्यटन मेलामा पत्रकारहरूले सोधेको उत्तर दिँदै भने, छत्र सुब्बासितको भेट सामान्य हो।
मेलामा जो पनि आउन सक्छन्, भेट हुनसक्छन्। छत्र सुब्बा मेलामा आए, तिनीसित भेटघाट भयो। यदि छत्र सुब्बा मात्र होइन, कोही गोर्खालीग नेता,क्रामाकपाको नेता वा कुनै पनि नेता आएको भए पनि भेट हुन्थ्यो। छत्र सुब्बासित भएको भेटघाट पनि सामान्य हो। विमल गुरूङले छत्र सुब्बासितको भेट सामान्य रहेको बताउँदा बताउँदै पनि एउटा महत्वपूर्ण कुरा गरेका छन्। तिनले भने, छत्र सुब्बाले अघिबाट नै आन्दोलन गरिसकेका छन्। अब मेरो पालो। म अहिले आन्दोलन गरिरहेको छु। जनतालाई अघि लिएर म आन्दोलन गरिरहेको छु। स्मरणीय छ, कालेबुङको रेली मिशनटारमा छत्र सुब्बा अनि विमल गुरूङको भेटघाट भएको थियो। त्यहॉं संगै खिचिएको तस्बिर सार्वजनिक भएपछि राजनैतिक खेमामा विभिन्न अडकलबाजी शुरू भइरहेको छ। तर छेत्र छत्र सुब्बाले भने भेटघाटलाई
सामान्य मात्र बताएनन् तिनले जीटीए र गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रेमीबीच सैद्धान्तिकरुपमा मिलन हुन नसक्ने पनि बताएका थिए। यद्धपी यी दुइ
नेतृत्वको भेटलाई लिएर राजनैतिक बजार भने निक्कै तात्तियो।
विपक्षीहरूले यस भेटलाई सामान्य भेट नभनेर पूर्व नियोजित भेट हो भन्ने टिप्पणीहरू पनि दिए तर छत्र र विमलले भने यो भेटलाई सामान्य भेट मात्र रहेको बताएर विवाद र अड्कलबाजीहरूलाई समाप्त गर्न चाहेका छन्।
GTA by March or state cry: Morcha - Deadline set before territory panel meet
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 17: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today said it would wait till March for the implementation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and would start a fresh agitation for statehood if the Bengal government failed to meet the deadline.
Morcha chief Bimal Gurung has set a deadline of March 27, though he has not given any reason for choosing the particular date.
The pressure tactics came a day before the high powered territorial committee headed by Justice (retired) Shyamal Sen is scheduled to hold a meeting in Calcutta.
One of the major problems for the early implementation of the GTA is the delay by the committee in submitting its report on the Morcha’s demand for the inclusion of the Gorkha dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai in the hill arrangement. The GTA cannot be implemented unless the territorial jurisdiction of the new body is firmed up.
Earlier in the day, a central committee member of the Morcha said: “We will wait only till March end. There is no question of waiting further.” He said the decision had the full endorsement of the Morcha president.
“If the agreement is not implemented by March 27 this year, we will reject it and begin a fresh agitation for Gorkhaland,” Gurung said in the evening.
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri had raised the issue of the slow functioning of the territorial committee during a review meeting between the Centre, state and the Morcha in New Delhi on January 9. “The Union home ministry has directed state home secretary G.D. Gautama to look into our grievances and has directed him to ensure that the process is expedited,” Giri had said after the meeting.
The Morcha’s stand seems to be well-timed as rebel adivasi leader John Barla had said in Darjeeling yesterday that his community would launch an agitation from February end for the early settlement of the territory issue and the formation of the GTA.
“We along with the tea trade union of the Morcha are creating public awareness of the benefits of the GTA. If there is delay in forming the GTA, we will start an agitation from the plains by holding public meetings across the Dooars and Terai from February end,” said Barla.
That both the Morcha and Barla’s supporters are working in tandem was evident from the fact that the adivasi leader’s claim that all agitations would be held in consultation with each other.
In the wake of today’s development, the territorial meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow has also assumed much significance. Till date, the 10-member committee, which also consists of four Morcha representatives, had been finding it difficult to get the demographic break-up of the plains population. Sources said the director of census, who is also a member of the committee, has been asked to come up with a solution on this.
The other issue, which is delaying the formation of the GTA, is the Presidential assent to the GTA Bill that was passed in the Assembly on September 2.
Giri had earlier said: “The home ministry is waiting for an inter-ministerial report, which is expected to be submitted by January 16, 2011, following which the bill will be sent for Presidential assent.” Asked if the report had been submitted, Giri said: “I don’t have any intimation.”
GJM to launch stir from March 27
TNN | Jan 18, 2012: GOKE (DARJEELING): The bonhomie between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the state government is set to face a stiff ordeal with the former on Tuesday announcing that it would restart an agitation from March 27 for a separate state.
In recent months, GJM has been giving indications that they were not happy with the delay in the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). "We have been left with no option but to restart our agitation. We will wait till March 27 and then announce our agitation," said Bimal Gurung, GJM president.
On Monday, John Barla, the ousted leader of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP), had announced that he would start an agitation in the plains to pressure the government to include Terai and Dooars regions in the GTA. The ABAVP leader had also said he would start and awareness programme in the Terai and Dooars regions from February to educate people about the benefits of GTA.
"The delay in the formation of the GTA is unnecessary. This cannot go on any further," Gurung said on Tuesday. The youth wing of GJM has already started signature campaign and public meetings to garner support for a separate state. Asha Gurung, the president of GJM women wing, also lent her support to the cause.
The government has appointed a nine-member team to survey and verify the demand of GJM, but no reports have been submitted yet.
GJMM threatens fresh stir
SNS, KOLKATA, 17 January 2012: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president, Mr Bimal Gurung, this evening threatened re-launching the Gorkhaland statehood agitation if the Centre and the state government fail to form the proposed Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) by 27 March.
“Mr Gurung made the announcement while addressing a public gathering at Jamuni in Darjeeling. He said, if the Centre and the state fail to form the GTA by the given deadline, the tripartite agreement signed with the GJMM in this regard will be deemed invalid and an all-out agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state would be re-started,” the party's central committee leader, Mr Binay Tamag, said over phone. The tripartite agreement for the formation of GTA ~ an autonomous administrative body to govern the Gorkha-dominated areas in Darjeeling district and the adjoining areas ~ was inked on 18 July 2011 in presence of the Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram and chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee.
Rs 70 crore for renovation of road to Sikkim
BIJOY GURUNG AND RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Jan. 17: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for the phase-wise renovation of NH31A at a time the Sikkim government has expressed its displeasure over the tardy pace of repair of the highway by the Border Roads Organisation.
The national highway is the only road link between the Himalayan state and the rest of the country.
The BRO said as much as Rs 51 crore would be spent to convert a 10km stretch from near Kali Jhora to a spot close to Lohapool under Kalimpong subdivision into a two-lane road.
Around Rs 17 crore is meant to strengthen the pavements between Ranipool and Gangtok, which are located about 12km apart.
“Rs 1.5 crore has been sanctioned to hire a consultancy firm to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on the proposed 1km-long bridge at Rangpo, the main entry point to Sikkim,” said a news release issued by the BRO.
The BRO has been repairing the highway for the past one-and-a-half years and it will start the two new projects very soon.
“While the first two projects will be taken up very shortly, the third one will be in the pipeline only when the consultancy submits the detailed project report and the estimate is approved by the appropriate authority,” said the release.
A 19-km stretch of the road between Rangpo and Gangtok is being renovated now, while the BRO is working on a phase-wise development of a 52-km stretch in the Kalimpong subdivision.
“We have started constructing a bypass between 20km and 27km (roughly between Reang and Ravi Jhora). The DPR on the renovation of the stretch between 27km and 28km (between Ravi Jhora and the Teesta bridge) is already with the ministry (of road transport and highways),” said a BRO official.
He added that a DPR was being prepared for the renovation of the 24-km stretch between Teesta Bazar and Rangpo also.
“While the DPR for the 6-km stretch between near Lohapool and Reang was submitted to the ministry, the feasibility study for the proposed viaduct near Lohapool has been approved,” said the official.
However, the viaduct project had run into rough weather with people of Lohapool and Suntaley opposing the plan, saying they would lose their livelihood.
The viaduct will skirt the two villages where people earn a livelihood by running shops patronised by vehicles plying on the highway.
The BRO has come under attack from the Sikkim government, which complained to the Centre about the delay in the renovation of NH31A.
A Sikkim government news release said chief minister Pawan Chamling had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi yesterday and complained to them about the “deplorable” condition of the road and the “tardy progress” of work undertaken by the BRO.
“Mukherjee had assured the chief minister to take up the matter with the BRO and direct that repair and improvement works are expedited and quality is ensured by the BRO,” said the release.
Ambuja crores for north tourism
AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Jan. 17: The Bengal Ambuja Group will invest Rs 100 crore in three tourism projects in north Bengal, minister Gautam Deb today said.
A fourth project, by the developers of the Uttarayon Township here, will be in Sikkim.
The chief minister, too, will announce a wide range of projects, quite a few of them in the tourism sector, when she visits the region next month.
“The chief minister would announce new facilities for the people of north Bengal when she reaches here on February 10. Her plans include a regional centre for disaster management, supplemented by a fire station, at Naxalbari. The centre will offer training as well as function during natural calamities and emergencies like the earthquakes,” said Deb, the north Bengal development minister.
Mamata’s visit will also kick off a campaign to bolster Trinamul’s fortunes in north Bengal, a Congress bastion. Trinamul sources had earlier said she would chalk out a strategy to make her party’s presence felt in the region.
In the tourism sector, Deb said, the chief minister will announce the opening of additional accommodation — tents in specified locations — in Gorumara National Park and Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. “Morgan House, a property owned by the tourism department in Kalimpong, and another government accommodation in the same area would be renovated. The website of our department is almost ready and the chief minister will launch it during the visit,” the minister said.
About the Bengal Ambuja investment, Deb said: “The group will shortly invest in projects at Lataguri, Makaibari and Ghoom in north Bengal.”
Mamata is also expected to make announcements on office infrastructure at the chief minister’s secretariat that will come up in Siliguri. “We have finalised a plot at Kamrangaguri, close to New Jalpaiguri station, for the secretariat and have submitted the details to the CMO. The construction of a second circuit house, considering the frequent movements of ministers and officials, is also necessary,” said Deb.
He said 38 projects, spread across six north Bengal districts and sanctioned by the government, would start by March 31.
“We have sought expression of interest for execution of projects. On the basis of responses made by competent enterprises, seven public sector undertakings have been shortlisted for the task. The tender process would commence soon,” Deb said. He said a process was on to recruit 17 engineers for the North Bengal Development Council and strengthen the engineering cell to facilitate the completion of 370 ongoing projects.
The projects had been started by the Left Front government but were not completed, Deb said.
10 injured, SFI points assault finger at rivals
TT, Siliguri, Jan. 17: Ten SFI supporters, six of them girls, were allegedly beaten up by Trinamul Congress and Chhatra Parishad members at Siliguri College today.
The SFI alleged that its supporters were attacked when they were coming out of the campus after collecting nomination forms for the student union election. The CPM’s student wing has been the dominant union in the college for 16 years.
“The Trinamul Chhatra Parishad members, most of them outsiders, did not even spare our girls. A number of them were assaulted. We have informed police about it in detail,” said Sourav Das, the district secretary of the SFI.
The clash is the latest in campus violence reported across the state and in north Bengal in particular. On January 5, the principal of Raiganj University College in North Dinajpur was beaten up allegedly by Trinamul supporters.
Trinamul and Chhatra Parishad have denied the charges. They said they had protested when an SFI supporter, who is not a student of the college, entered the campus violating election rules laid down by the institution. They said SFI kicked up a fuss because of their protest.
The atmosphere charged up minutes after the college had started distributing the nomination forms around 10.30am. Supporters of the SFI and Trinamul and CP had assembled on either side of the gate shouting slogans against each other. Only students of the college who will collect nomination forms were being allowed to enter after showing their identity cards.
The election to the 45 seats of the students’ union has been scheduled for February 4.
The SFI alleged that the Trinamul and the Congress’s student wing — the two parties are partners in the state and allies at the Centre — had initially prevented one of their supporters from collecting nomination form.
“Trinamul and CP supporters threatened him with dire consequences if he contested the election as an SFI candidate. When we asked the police to intervene, they spoke to Trinamul supporters who did not let the boy go. He felt so intimidated by their gherao that he refused to collect the form later,” said Sagar Sharma, the unit secretary of SFI in the college.
Around 50 policemen and combat personnel had been posted on the campus since morning.
“After the distribution of the forms ended at 2am, our supporters were coming out of the gate when a group of around 50 Trinamul and CP supporters attacked them. They were punched and beaten up,” said SFI leader Das.
The police separated the two groups and barricaded the area in front of the gate.
“But some of the Chhatra Parishad and Trinamul supporters broke the barricade and attacked us again. They know they will not be able to win the election, so they have resorted to the tactics of violence,” Das added.
The SFI blocked Hashmi Chowk for 45 minutes demanding the arrest of the culprits. An FIR has been filed against the attackers.
Trinamul claimed that the SFI was levelling “baseless allegations” to cover up an outsider’s entry.
“All allegations levelled against us are false. The SFI has no supporters in the college and they are forcing students to contest election as their candidates. Today when we spotted an outsider queuing up for the form, we protested. The SFI then started shouting that we had assaulted them. We have lodged an FIR against the SFI worker from outside,” said Nirnay Roy, the district president of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad.
Additional superintendent of the police Amit P. Javalgi said he was looking into the charges levelled by both sides.
Committee to monitor condition of tea workers
SNS, KOLKATA/SILIGURI, 17 JAN: Denying the recent starvation deaths at the closed tea estate, the state government has formed a committee for round-the-clock monitoring of the condition of workers of closed tea gardens.
The committee, comprising the district magistrate and officials of labour and north Bengal development departments, will visit the closed tea gardens regularly and supervise the health conditions of the workers. It will also inquire whether the workers are entitled to receive benefits under any Central scheme.
State labour minister Purnendu Basu said financial assistance would henceforth be provided to workers of locked-out tea gardens on a monthly basis, instead of after a gap of three to six months.
Countering the allegation of Revolutionist Socialist Party leaders on the deaths, Mr Basu said a thorough inquiry had been conducted into the matter. “The government has taken necessary measures for the welfare of the workers and a section of the politically-motivated people have been creating an unnecessary issue out of it,” he said.
The Jalpaiguri chief medical officer of health, Dr Swapan Sarkar, said: “The jobless tea workers are suffering from prolonged illnesses due to lack of proper food.” A report submitted by the district magistrate revealed that the deceased workers were suffering from psoriasis, prolonged diarrhoea and gastric ulcers. The Birpara block medical officer has set up an outdoor department for health check-ups of the poor labourers. It has taken up the initiative to collect their blood samples and diagnose diseases.
The state labour department has planned to provide financial assistance to the families of three of the six Dheklapara Tea Estate workers, who have died of malnutrition and prolonged illness in Alipurduar in the past few months.
Meanwhile, the additional labour commissioner, Mr Pashupati Ghosh, said: “According to rules, a jobless tea worker is entitled to financial assistance up to 58 years. As such, three of the deceased six who died jobless were to receive Rs 1,500 every month. We are preparing a report so that their families receive their due."
Mr Ghosh said the workers of the tea estate, which was closed due to litigation over rights of possession of the plantation, are being deprived of provident fund and gratuity in the absence of proper management. The north Bengal development affairs minister, Mr Gautam Deb, held a meeting with the administrative officials yesterday to provide other assistance. He said he would take up the matter with higher authorities to resolve the litigation outside court.
Ray's 'Sikkim' DVDs to hit markets soon
Priyanka Dasgupta, TNN | Jan 18, 2012: KOLKATA: Your wait to watch Satyajit Ray's 1971 documentary titled "Sikkim" will get over within a few days. Come Thursday and Angel Video will come up with DVDs and VCDs of the Ray documentary that was commissioned by the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim at a time when he felt the sovereignty of Sikkim was under threat from both China and India.
"Six months back, we got in touch with the Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim to procure the rights of the documentary. We have been chasing the authorities for the past one and a half years to transfer the rights. Initially, they weren't sure if they should part with the rights. Finally, we told that holding back the rights is only denying people the opportunity to see a cult work. They were finally convinced when we told them that we had the rights of 11 famous Ray movies, including "Pather Panchali", "Hirak Rajar Deshe" and "Sonar Kella", among others," said Akash Tantiya, director (sales & marketing), Angel Video.
Tantiya, however, was reluctant to reveal the amount the company had to shell out to procure the rights. "The market price is high for any Ray film. But we were willing to pay the amount. The Trust took the print from the British company and gave handed it over to us," he said.
Meanwhile, Sandip Ray is happy with the news of the launch. "The original negative couldn't be traced. It's with the queen of Sikkim, Hope Cook. She is now in America and is quite a recluse. "Sikkim" was her baby. The Chogyals were a great fan of Baba and we tried hard to track down Cook to retrieve the negatives. We got in touch with a company called Gemini. People out there checked the logbook and told us that the negatives should be with her. Despite writing to her on a number of occasions, she didn't respond. Fortunately, a London distributor of Baba's movies - Contemporary Films - had a print. I'm told even Brown University has a print.
Though I've not seen this print, I suppose it is quite good and in viewable condition. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science had done a basic chemical restoration of the documentary and it was subsequently screened at a festival in France in 2008 during a Ray Retrospective. The last time we spoke to the Academy authorities, we were told that they would want to digitally restore both "Kanchenjunga" and "Sikkim" properly. That's yet to be done and also involves a lot of money. Even today, no negatives of "Kanchenjunga" are available," Ray said. Tantiya, however, claimed, "The print of "Sikkim" that we have has been digitally restored and is in excellent condition."
Meanwhile, Ray still doesn't know why the screening of "Sikkim" was stopped at the 2010 Kolkata Film Festival. "I wasn't in town then and the abrupt stalling of the screening is still a mystery for me," he said. But all that is past and he is now looking forward to the launch function at Nandan that will also be graced by Goutam Ghose, among others.It's time to rejoice for those who always wished but never got a chance to watch Satyajit Ray's 1971 documentary titled "Sikkim". Come Thursday and Angel Video is coming up with DVDs and VCDs of the Ray documentary that was commissioned by the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim at a time when he felt the sovereignty of Sikkim was under threat from both China and India.
Says Akash Tantiya, director, sales and marketting, Angel Video, "Six months back, we got in touch with the Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim to procure the rights of the documentary. We have been chasing the authorities for the past one-and-a-half years to transfer the rights.
Initially, they weren't sure that they wanted to part with the rights or not. Finally, we told that not parting with the rights is only denying people the opportunity to see a cult work. We told them that we had the rights of 11 famous Ray movies, including "Pather Panchali", "Hirak Rajar Deshe", "Sonar Kella" and "Kanchenjungha", among others. That convinced them."
Tantiya, however, is reluctant to reveal how much the company had to shell out to procure the rights. "The market price is high for any Ray film. But, we were willing to pay the amount. Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim took the print from the British company gave that to us for our DVD and VCD making purposes," he says.
Meanwhile, Sandip Ray is happy with the news of the launch. "The original negative can't be traced. It's with the queen of Sikkim, Hope Cook. She is now in America and is quite a recluse. "Sikkim" was her baby. The Chogyals were a great fan of Baba and we tried hard to track down Cook to retrieve the negatives. We got in touch with a company called Gemini. The people out there checked the logbook and told us that the negatives should be with her. Despite writing to her on a number of occasions, she didn't respond. Fortunately, there was a London distributor of Baba's movies called Contemporary Films. This company had a print. I'm told even Brown University has a print.
Though I've not seen this print, I suppose, it is quite good and in viewable condition. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science had done a basic chemical restoration of the documentary and it was subsequently screened at a festival in France in 2008 during a Ray Retrospective. The last time we spoke to the Academy authorities, we were told that they would want to digitally restore both "Kanchenjunga" and "Sikkim" properly. That's yet to be done and also involves a lot of money. Even today, no negatives of "Kanchenjunga" are available." Tantiya, however, claims, "The print of "Sikkim" that we have has been digitally restored and is in excellent condition."
Meanwhile, Ray still doesn't know why the screening of "Sikkim" was stopped at the 2010 Kolkata Film Festival. "I wasn't in town then and the abrupt stalling of the screening is still a mystery for me," he says. But all that is past and he is now looking forward to launch function at Nandan that will also be graced by Goutam Ghose, among others.
Urban Poverty in Seven States of NE Region including Sikkim :
PIB, KalimNews: No separate survey has been conducted, however, with a view to identify those below poverty line, Government of India has launched the combined Rural-Urban Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in June, 2011 throughout the country including North-Eastern States and Sikkim. The State/UT Governments have already initiated the SECC with financial and technical support of Government of India.
Under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) meant to address issues of employment, skill training and community development of the urban poor, the funding for North-Eastern States including Sikkim is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 90:10, considering the lack of financial resources with the States in the region. This Ministry is also implementing the scheme of 10% lumpsum provision for the benefit of North-Eastern Region including Sikkim. Projects benefiting the urban poor and low income groups are provided support under the central pool. Community market, Slum re-development, multipurpose resource centres, community sanitation works, etc. are some of the areas which are covered under the scheme.
Statements showing progress of SJSRY and 10% NER Scheme in the North-Eastern Region including Sikkim in last three years and the current years are Annexure-I to II respectively.
If I was Anna...
J.N. Manokaran, KalimNews: Anna Hazare and Team Anna highlighted corruption and demanded a law to eradicate corruption in India. A lofty ideal however did not succeed. If I were in Anna’s position, what would I have done?
1. I will do a personal examination, if I am corrupt. Do I keep my own standards, leave alone the standards expected by God and His Scripture. I may not be corrupt in terms of money, but corrupt in terms of power, ego...etc. Am I intolerant to others and use violence as means to correct people. (Like thrashing drunkards).
2. I would pay all my taxes regularly and sincerely. I will not buy a thing in the market if the seller does not give me a receipt. I will not receive any land/real estate transaction money in cash but only cheque. I will pay the tax in full as a responsible citizen.
3. As far as possible, I will pay by cheque and not cash that includes all consumer goods, assets, jewel...etc.
4. I will not give donation to any political party. If at all I give, I will not demand favour and also pay only by cheque.
5. I will not pay any bribe, however small to any police or Government official or politician for getting things done. It could be for documents like birth certificate; permission for construction; getting domestic gas connection...etc. I will joyfully suffer delay, loss of privileges or loss of opportunities.
6. I will not receive or pay any dowry for the marriage of my children and would not participate in any marriage among my relatives and friends where dowry transaction has happened.
7. I will not follow consumerist culture by upgrading my phones or cars often. I will not switch to newer version of phone or laptop or car until these things really breaks down.
8. I will not mobilize volunteer by hate – ‘Hate Politicians’ but by love – for nation, society and all citizens including Dalits, Tribals, women and minorities.
9. I will select volunteers for this movement only when they affirm and take an oath to follow these values in their personal and family life.
10. I will select a team of leaders from among the volunteers who have highest moral standards and credibility in the eyes of public for integrity and transparent life.
11. Before demanding a law, I will mobilize my volunteers at the grass root level to ensure the Public Distribution System (PDS shops), Public Health Centres (PHCs), and Government schools function optimally, regularly and consistently. If that happens well for next five to ten years, there won’t be illiteracy, hunger, malnutrition or poverty.
12. Instead of spending Rs. 80 lakhs to glamorize the fast, I would have adopted 80 rural schools and would have white-washed, installed benches, black boards and toilets in those schools.
May be Anna and his team should go on a private fast, evaluate themselves and their movement and come up with positive, constructive and nation-building ideas and contribute for the progress of our nation.
First water eats up potato - barrage canal wreaks havoc
TT, Jalpaiguri, Jan. 17: About 800 hectares of standing potato were destroyed when water from the Teesta Barrage was released for the first time to the extended right canal earlier this month.
Water meant for paddy flooded the potato fields in the blocks of Malbazar and Sadar in Jalpaiguri district apparently because farmers had not been informed in advance about the release.
Farmers who had cultivated potatoes said they had no inkling that the fields would be flooded.
“I have been growing potato all these years and those who cultivate paddy used water from deep tube-wells to irrigate their fields. I opted for potato cultivation this year, too, as the crop required less water. But suddenly, the fields were flooded by water from the Teesta Barrage. I do not know what to do now,” said Sahabuddin Miyan of Kranti in Malbazar.
Dipak Roy, another farmer of Charakdangi in Sadar block, had a similar experience. “Most of us did not get any information from the agriculture department about the water discharge,” he said.
The barrage authorities said they had informed the agriculture department well in advance that water would be released through the right bank canal for paddy fields in the two blocks.
The superintending engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project, Gautam Chatterjee, said the Malbazar and Sadar blocks, had a canal network of only 17km till one year back.
“However, we increased the command area of the barrage project and the two blocks have a combined canal network of 41km now. We had informed the agriculture department in September last year that we would start releasing water from the beginning of January. There was ample time for them to ask farmers not to grow anything other than paddy,” said Chatterjee. He said if the water had not been discharged through the right canal, bodo paddy cultivation on about 4,500 hectares could have failed.
The district agriculture department admitted that it had been informed by the irrigation authorities about the water release from the Teesta barrage.
“On our part, we had informed all block and panchayat offices to spread the word to alert the farmers,” said Tapan Sarkar, the crop protection officer of the district.
He said the farmers might have opted for potato cultivation encouraged by higher profits in the previous year.
“It seems that last year’s successful potato cultivation had encouraged other farmers also to grow the crop. It is clear from the fact that the area of potato cultivation had gone up from 30,000 hectares last season to 34,000 hectares this year. Another thing is that paddy takes at least five months to harvest, potato can be harvested in two months. It is unfortunate that potatoes on about 800 hectares have been flooded,” said Sarkar.
Govt dismisses hunger deaths
ENS, Kolkata, Jsnuary 18 2012 : Dismissing the Left Front’s allegations that nine workers of closed Dekhlapara tea garden in Jalpaiguri died of starvation over the past one month, state Labour Minister Purnendu Basu on Tuesday accused the Opposition of indulging in “politics of falsehood” as the government is already supplying food to the people in the area and financial assistance to the employees of the closed tea garden.
A few days ago, RSP, a constituent of the Left Front, had said that nine workers of the tea garden died of starvation and had blamed on the government’s “utter negligence”.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Basu claimed 484 workers of closed industries in the state have received monetary assistance under Financial Assistance for Workers of Locked Out Industries (FAWLI) and Jalpaiguri DM’s report stated that deaths were caused by various diseases like cirrhosis of liver, ulcers etc..
“In November and December each of the 484 workers of the closed tea garden received a total of Rs 15,000. Workers of the Dekhlapara tea garden have received monetary grants. Starvation like situation does not prevail there,” Basu said, adding, he sent an inspection team to the tea garden a day after the reports of starvation deaths.
The team, the minister said, reported him that two medical camps were organised in the tea garden in the last five months. “Instead of indulging in politics of falsehood, the Opposition should have gone there with whatever food stock they had,” he said. The government is planning to appoint a doctor at the tea garden.
“The health condition of the workers deteriorated because of the pathetic attitude of the previous government,” he added.
Sundas smells foul play in College Library construction
D.K.Waiba, KalimNews, Kalimpong, January 17: "Any governmental construction should have followed proper departmental norms but college authority of Kalimpong College has tried to evade it. It didnot publish the tender notice in the news print and we doubt of foul play in the construction process." Addressing a press conference Tara Sundas, CPM leader of Kalimpong blamed the college authority of bye-passing the rules regarding the construction of College library.
Earlier Sundas had blamed the authority of starting the construction of the library by evading the tendering process and the construction was stopped. Later the college authority made tender notification regarding the construction but Sundas complained of violating the tender rules by not making the publication of tender in the news papers. "If the departmental procedures are not followed then I will take the matter to the court," challenged Sundas.
India & Nepal Discuss Cooperation to Curb Cross-Border Crimes
PIB, KalimNews: India & Nepal yesterday discussed cooperation in countering cross-border crimes & terrorist activities during Home Secretary level talks between the two countries. They discussed wide ranging issues including countering circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes, smuggling of arms/ammunitions, trafficking of narcotics & psychotropic substances and misuse of SIM Cards. Sharing of information/ intelligence reports, progress in establishment of Integrated Check Posts and border roads and India’s support to training and capacity building of Nepal’s security apparatus were also discussed.
The Indian delegation was led by Shri R.K. Singh. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Nepalese delegation was led by Shri Sushil Jung Bahadur Rana, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal. Shri R.K.Singh appreciated the assurance of Nepalese Government for not allowing its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s interest and also assured Nepal of India’s commitment to provide all necessary cooperation and assistance.
The meeting was held in a cordial environment and both the countries expressed their satisfaction on the outcome of the issues deliberated during the meeting and hoped it will go a long way in addressing mutual security concerns, enhancing cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.
छत्रको सकियो अब विमलको पालो
डी.के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,17 जनवरी। छत्र सुब्बाले जे भने त्यही कुरा आज विमल गुरूङले पनि दोहोर्याएका छन्। तिनले आज जामुने कृषि पर्यटन मेलामा पत्रकारहरूले सोधेको उत्तर दिँदै भने, छत्र सुब्बासितको भेट सामान्य हो।
मेलामा जो पनि आउन सक्छन्, भेट हुनसक्छन्। छत्र सुब्बा मेलामा आए, तिनीसित भेटघाट भयो। यदि छत्र सुब्बा मात्र होइन, कोही गोर्खालीग नेता,क्रामाकपाको नेता वा कुनै पनि नेता आएको भए पनि भेट हुन्थ्यो। छत्र सुब्बासित भएको भेटघाट पनि सामान्य हो। विमल गुरूङले छत्र सुब्बासितको भेट सामान्य रहेको बताउँदा बताउँदै पनि एउटा महत्वपूर्ण कुरा गरेका छन्। तिनले भने, छत्र सुब्बाले अघिबाट नै आन्दोलन गरिसकेका छन्। अब मेरो पालो। म अहिले आन्दोलन गरिरहेको छु। जनतालाई अघि लिएर म आन्दोलन गरिरहेको छु। स्मरणीय छ, कालेबुङको रेली मिशनटारमा छत्र सुब्बा अनि विमल गुरूङको भेटघाट भएको थियो। त्यहॉं संगै खिचिएको तस्बिर सार्वजनिक भएपछि राजनैतिक खेमामा विभिन्न अडकलबाजी शुरू भइरहेको छ। तर छेत्र छत्र सुब्बाले भने भेटघाटलाईसामान्य मात्र बताएनन् तिनले जीटीए र गोर्खाल्याण्डप्रेमीबीच सैद्धान्तिकरुपमा मिलन हुन नसक्ने पनि बताएका थिए। यद्धपी यी दुइ
नेतृत्वको भेटलाई लिएर राजनैतिक बजार भने निक्कै तात्तियो।
विपक्षीहरूले यस भेटलाई सामान्य भेट नभनेर पूर्व नियोजित भेट हो भन्ने टिप्पणीहरू पनि दिए तर छत्र र विमलले भने यो भेटलाई सामान्य भेट मात्र रहेको बताएर विवाद र अड्कलबाजीहरूलाई समाप्त गर्न चाहेका छन्।
GTA by March or state cry: Morcha - Deadline set before territory panel meet
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| A Morcha fair at Jamuni on Tuesday. Jamuni is 17km from Darjeeling town. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Morcha chief Bimal Gurung has set a deadline of March 27, though he has not given any reason for choosing the particular date.
The pressure tactics came a day before the high powered territorial committee headed by Justice (retired) Shyamal Sen is scheduled to hold a meeting in Calcutta.
One of the major problems for the early implementation of the GTA is the delay by the committee in submitting its report on the Morcha’s demand for the inclusion of the Gorkha dominated areas of the Dooars and the Terai in the hill arrangement. The GTA cannot be implemented unless the territorial jurisdiction of the new body is firmed up.
Earlier in the day, a central committee member of the Morcha said: “We will wait only till March end. There is no question of waiting further.” He said the decision had the full endorsement of the Morcha president.
“If the agreement is not implemented by March 27 this year, we will reject it and begin a fresh agitation for Gorkhaland,” Gurung said in the evening.
Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri had raised the issue of the slow functioning of the territorial committee during a review meeting between the Centre, state and the Morcha in New Delhi on January 9. “The Union home ministry has directed state home secretary G.D. Gautama to look into our grievances and has directed him to ensure that the process is expedited,” Giri had said after the meeting.
The Morcha’s stand seems to be well-timed as rebel adivasi leader John Barla had said in Darjeeling yesterday that his community would launch an agitation from February end for the early settlement of the territory issue and the formation of the GTA.
“We along with the tea trade union of the Morcha are creating public awareness of the benefits of the GTA. If there is delay in forming the GTA, we will start an agitation from the plains by holding public meetings across the Dooars and Terai from February end,” said Barla.
That both the Morcha and Barla’s supporters are working in tandem was evident from the fact that the adivasi leader’s claim that all agitations would be held in consultation with each other.
In the wake of today’s development, the territorial meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow has also assumed much significance. Till date, the 10-member committee, which also consists of four Morcha representatives, had been finding it difficult to get the demographic break-up of the plains population. Sources said the director of census, who is also a member of the committee, has been asked to come up with a solution on this.
The other issue, which is delaying the formation of the GTA, is the Presidential assent to the GTA Bill that was passed in the Assembly on September 2.
Giri had earlier said: “The home ministry is waiting for an inter-ministerial report, which is expected to be submitted by January 16, 2011, following which the bill will be sent for Presidential assent.” Asked if the report had been submitted, Giri said: “I don’t have any intimation.”
GJM to launch stir from March 27
TNN | Jan 18, 2012: GOKE (DARJEELING): The bonhomie between the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the state government is set to face a stiff ordeal with the former on Tuesday announcing that it would restart an agitation from March 27 for a separate state.
In recent months, GJM has been giving indications that they were not happy with the delay in the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). "We have been left with no option but to restart our agitation. We will wait till March 27 and then announce our agitation," said Bimal Gurung, GJM president.
On Monday, John Barla, the ousted leader of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP), had announced that he would start an agitation in the plains to pressure the government to include Terai and Dooars regions in the GTA. The ABAVP leader had also said he would start and awareness programme in the Terai and Dooars regions from February to educate people about the benefits of GTA.
"The delay in the formation of the GTA is unnecessary. This cannot go on any further," Gurung said on Tuesday. The youth wing of GJM has already started signature campaign and public meetings to garner support for a separate state. Asha Gurung, the president of GJM women wing, also lent her support to the cause.
The government has appointed a nine-member team to survey and verify the demand of GJM, but no reports have been submitted yet.
GJMM threatens fresh stir
SNS, KOLKATA, 17 January 2012: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president, Mr Bimal Gurung, this evening threatened re-launching the Gorkhaland statehood agitation if the Centre and the state government fail to form the proposed Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) by 27 March.
“Mr Gurung made the announcement while addressing a public gathering at Jamuni in Darjeeling. He said, if the Centre and the state fail to form the GTA by the given deadline, the tripartite agreement signed with the GJMM in this regard will be deemed invalid and an all-out agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state would be re-started,” the party's central committee leader, Mr Binay Tamag, said over phone. The tripartite agreement for the formation of GTA ~ an autonomous administrative body to govern the Gorkha-dominated areas in Darjeeling district and the adjoining areas ~ was inked on 18 July 2011 in presence of the Union home minister Mr P Chidambaram and chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee.
Rs 70 crore for renovation of road to Sikkim
BIJOY GURUNG AND RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Jan. 17: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for the phase-wise renovation of NH31A at a time the Sikkim government has expressed its displeasure over the tardy pace of repair of the highway by the Border Roads Organisation.
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| A truck passes through a dilapidated stretch of NH31A at Likhubhir, 17km from Kalimpong. File picture |
The BRO said as much as Rs 51 crore would be spent to convert a 10km stretch from near Kali Jhora to a spot close to Lohapool under Kalimpong subdivision into a two-lane road.
Around Rs 17 crore is meant to strengthen the pavements between Ranipool and Gangtok, which are located about 12km apart.
“Rs 1.5 crore has been sanctioned to hire a consultancy firm to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on the proposed 1km-long bridge at Rangpo, the main entry point to Sikkim,” said a news release issued by the BRO.
The BRO has been repairing the highway for the past one-and-a-half years and it will start the two new projects very soon.
“While the first two projects will be taken up very shortly, the third one will be in the pipeline only when the consultancy submits the detailed project report and the estimate is approved by the appropriate authority,” said the release.
A 19-km stretch of the road between Rangpo and Gangtok is being renovated now, while the BRO is working on a phase-wise development of a 52-km stretch in the Kalimpong subdivision.
“We have started constructing a bypass between 20km and 27km (roughly between Reang and Ravi Jhora). The DPR on the renovation of the stretch between 27km and 28km (between Ravi Jhora and the Teesta bridge) is already with the ministry (of road transport and highways),” said a BRO official.
He added that a DPR was being prepared for the renovation of the 24-km stretch between Teesta Bazar and Rangpo also.
“While the DPR for the 6-km stretch between near Lohapool and Reang was submitted to the ministry, the feasibility study for the proposed viaduct near Lohapool has been approved,” said the official.
However, the viaduct project had run into rough weather with people of Lohapool and Suntaley opposing the plan, saying they would lose their livelihood.
The viaduct will skirt the two villages where people earn a livelihood by running shops patronised by vehicles plying on the highway.
The BRO has come under attack from the Sikkim government, which complained to the Centre about the delay in the renovation of NH31A.
A Sikkim government news release said chief minister Pawan Chamling had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi yesterday and complained to them about the “deplorable” condition of the road and the “tardy progress” of work undertaken by the BRO.
“Mukherjee had assured the chief minister to take up the matter with the BRO and direct that repair and improvement works are expedited and quality is ensured by the BRO,” said the release.
Ambuja crores for north tourism
AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Jan. 17: The Bengal Ambuja Group will invest Rs 100 crore in three tourism projects in north Bengal, minister Gautam Deb today said.
A fourth project, by the developers of the Uttarayon Township here, will be in Sikkim.
The chief minister, too, will announce a wide range of projects, quite a few of them in the tourism sector, when she visits the region next month.
“The chief minister would announce new facilities for the people of north Bengal when she reaches here on February 10. Her plans include a regional centre for disaster management, supplemented by a fire station, at Naxalbari. The centre will offer training as well as function during natural calamities and emergencies like the earthquakes,” said Deb, the north Bengal development minister.
Mamata’s visit will also kick off a campaign to bolster Trinamul’s fortunes in north Bengal, a Congress bastion. Trinamul sources had earlier said she would chalk out a strategy to make her party’s presence felt in the region.
In the tourism sector, Deb said, the chief minister will announce the opening of additional accommodation — tents in specified locations — in Gorumara National Park and Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. “Morgan House, a property owned by the tourism department in Kalimpong, and another government accommodation in the same area would be renovated. The website of our department is almost ready and the chief minister will launch it during the visit,” the minister said.
About the Bengal Ambuja investment, Deb said: “The group will shortly invest in projects at Lataguri, Makaibari and Ghoom in north Bengal.”
Mamata is also expected to make announcements on office infrastructure at the chief minister’s secretariat that will come up in Siliguri. “We have finalised a plot at Kamrangaguri, close to New Jalpaiguri station, for the secretariat and have submitted the details to the CMO. The construction of a second circuit house, considering the frequent movements of ministers and officials, is also necessary,” said Deb.
He said 38 projects, spread across six north Bengal districts and sanctioned by the government, would start by March 31.
“We have sought expression of interest for execution of projects. On the basis of responses made by competent enterprises, seven public sector undertakings have been shortlisted for the task. The tender process would commence soon,” Deb said. He said a process was on to recruit 17 engineers for the North Bengal Development Council and strengthen the engineering cell to facilitate the completion of 370 ongoing projects.
The projects had been started by the Left Front government but were not completed, Deb said.
10 injured, SFI points assault finger at rivals
TT, Siliguri, Jan. 17: Ten SFI supporters, six of them girls, were allegedly beaten up by Trinamul Congress and Chhatra Parishad members at Siliguri College today.
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| Siliguri College premises after the clash on Tuesday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo |
“The Trinamul Chhatra Parishad members, most of them outsiders, did not even spare our girls. A number of them were assaulted. We have informed police about it in detail,” said Sourav Das, the district secretary of the SFI.
The clash is the latest in campus violence reported across the state and in north Bengal in particular. On January 5, the principal of Raiganj University College in North Dinajpur was beaten up allegedly by Trinamul supporters.
Trinamul and Chhatra Parishad have denied the charges. They said they had protested when an SFI supporter, who is not a student of the college, entered the campus violating election rules laid down by the institution. They said SFI kicked up a fuss because of their protest.
The atmosphere charged up minutes after the college had started distributing the nomination forms around 10.30am. Supporters of the SFI and Trinamul and CP had assembled on either side of the gate shouting slogans against each other. Only students of the college who will collect nomination forms were being allowed to enter after showing their identity cards.
The election to the 45 seats of the students’ union has been scheduled for February 4.
The SFI alleged that the Trinamul and the Congress’s student wing — the two parties are partners in the state and allies at the Centre — had initially prevented one of their supporters from collecting nomination form.
“Trinamul and CP supporters threatened him with dire consequences if he contested the election as an SFI candidate. When we asked the police to intervene, they spoke to Trinamul supporters who did not let the boy go. He felt so intimidated by their gherao that he refused to collect the form later,” said Sagar Sharma, the unit secretary of SFI in the college.
Around 50 policemen and combat personnel had been posted on the campus since morning.
“After the distribution of the forms ended at 2am, our supporters were coming out of the gate when a group of around 50 Trinamul and CP supporters attacked them. They were punched and beaten up,” said SFI leader Das.
The police separated the two groups and barricaded the area in front of the gate.
“But some of the Chhatra Parishad and Trinamul supporters broke the barricade and attacked us again. They know they will not be able to win the election, so they have resorted to the tactics of violence,” Das added.
The SFI blocked Hashmi Chowk for 45 minutes demanding the arrest of the culprits. An FIR has been filed against the attackers.
Trinamul claimed that the SFI was levelling “baseless allegations” to cover up an outsider’s entry.
“All allegations levelled against us are false. The SFI has no supporters in the college and they are forcing students to contest election as their candidates. Today when we spotted an outsider queuing up for the form, we protested. The SFI then started shouting that we had assaulted them. We have lodged an FIR against the SFI worker from outside,” said Nirnay Roy, the district president of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad.
Additional superintendent of the police Amit P. Javalgi said he was looking into the charges levelled by both sides.
Committee to monitor condition of tea workers
SNS, KOLKATA/SILIGURI, 17 JAN: Denying the recent starvation deaths at the closed tea estate, the state government has formed a committee for round-the-clock monitoring of the condition of workers of closed tea gardens.
The committee, comprising the district magistrate and officials of labour and north Bengal development departments, will visit the closed tea gardens regularly and supervise the health conditions of the workers. It will also inquire whether the workers are entitled to receive benefits under any Central scheme.
State labour minister Purnendu Basu said financial assistance would henceforth be provided to workers of locked-out tea gardens on a monthly basis, instead of after a gap of three to six months.
Countering the allegation of Revolutionist Socialist Party leaders on the deaths, Mr Basu said a thorough inquiry had been conducted into the matter. “The government has taken necessary measures for the welfare of the workers and a section of the politically-motivated people have been creating an unnecessary issue out of it,” he said.
The Jalpaiguri chief medical officer of health, Dr Swapan Sarkar, said: “The jobless tea workers are suffering from prolonged illnesses due to lack of proper food.” A report submitted by the district magistrate revealed that the deceased workers were suffering from psoriasis, prolonged diarrhoea and gastric ulcers. The Birpara block medical officer has set up an outdoor department for health check-ups of the poor labourers. It has taken up the initiative to collect their blood samples and diagnose diseases.
The state labour department has planned to provide financial assistance to the families of three of the six Dheklapara Tea Estate workers, who have died of malnutrition and prolonged illness in Alipurduar in the past few months.
Meanwhile, the additional labour commissioner, Mr Pashupati Ghosh, said: “According to rules, a jobless tea worker is entitled to financial assistance up to 58 years. As such, three of the deceased six who died jobless were to receive Rs 1,500 every month. We are preparing a report so that their families receive their due."
Mr Ghosh said the workers of the tea estate, which was closed due to litigation over rights of possession of the plantation, are being deprived of provident fund and gratuity in the absence of proper management. The north Bengal development affairs minister, Mr Gautam Deb, held a meeting with the administrative officials yesterday to provide other assistance. He said he would take up the matter with higher authorities to resolve the litigation outside court.
Ray's 'Sikkim' DVDs to hit markets soon
Priyanka Dasgupta, TNN | Jan 18, 2012: KOLKATA: Your wait to watch Satyajit Ray's 1971 documentary titled "Sikkim" will get over within a few days. Come Thursday and Angel Video will come up with DVDs and VCDs of the Ray documentary that was commissioned by the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim at a time when he felt the sovereignty of Sikkim was under threat from both China and India.
"Six months back, we got in touch with the Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim to procure the rights of the documentary. We have been chasing the authorities for the past one and a half years to transfer the rights. Initially, they weren't sure if they should part with the rights. Finally, we told that holding back the rights is only denying people the opportunity to see a cult work. They were finally convinced when we told them that we had the rights of 11 famous Ray movies, including "Pather Panchali", "Hirak Rajar Deshe" and "Sonar Kella", among others," said Akash Tantiya, director (sales & marketing), Angel Video.
Tantiya, however, was reluctant to reveal the amount the company had to shell out to procure the rights. "The market price is high for any Ray film. But we were willing to pay the amount. The Trust took the print from the British company and gave handed it over to us," he said.
Meanwhile, Sandip Ray is happy with the news of the launch. "The original negative couldn't be traced. It's with the queen of Sikkim, Hope Cook. She is now in America and is quite a recluse. "Sikkim" was her baby. The Chogyals were a great fan of Baba and we tried hard to track down Cook to retrieve the negatives. We got in touch with a company called Gemini. People out there checked the logbook and told us that the negatives should be with her. Despite writing to her on a number of occasions, she didn't respond. Fortunately, a London distributor of Baba's movies - Contemporary Films - had a print. I'm told even Brown University has a print.
Though I've not seen this print, I suppose it is quite good and in viewable condition. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science had done a basic chemical restoration of the documentary and it was subsequently screened at a festival in France in 2008 during a Ray Retrospective. The last time we spoke to the Academy authorities, we were told that they would want to digitally restore both "Kanchenjunga" and "Sikkim" properly. That's yet to be done and also involves a lot of money. Even today, no negatives of "Kanchenjunga" are available," Ray said. Tantiya, however, claimed, "The print of "Sikkim" that we have has been digitally restored and is in excellent condition."
Meanwhile, Ray still doesn't know why the screening of "Sikkim" was stopped at the 2010 Kolkata Film Festival. "I wasn't in town then and the abrupt stalling of the screening is still a mystery for me," he said. But all that is past and he is now looking forward to the launch function at Nandan that will also be graced by Goutam Ghose, among others.It's time to rejoice for those who always wished but never got a chance to watch Satyajit Ray's 1971 documentary titled "Sikkim". Come Thursday and Angel Video is coming up with DVDs and VCDs of the Ray documentary that was commissioned by the Chogyal (King) of Sikkim at a time when he felt the sovereignty of Sikkim was under threat from both China and India.
Says Akash Tantiya, director, sales and marketting, Angel Video, "Six months back, we got in touch with the Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim to procure the rights of the documentary. We have been chasing the authorities for the past one-and-a-half years to transfer the rights.
Initially, they weren't sure that they wanted to part with the rights or not. Finally, we told that not parting with the rights is only denying people the opportunity to see a cult work. We told them that we had the rights of 11 famous Ray movies, including "Pather Panchali", "Hirak Rajar Deshe", "Sonar Kella" and "Kanchenjungha", among others. That convinced them."
Tantiya, however, is reluctant to reveal how much the company had to shell out to procure the rights. "The market price is high for any Ray film. But, we were willing to pay the amount. Art and Culture Trust of Sikkim took the print from the British company gave that to us for our DVD and VCD making purposes," he says.
Meanwhile, Sandip Ray is happy with the news of the launch. "The original negative can't be traced. It's with the queen of Sikkim, Hope Cook. She is now in America and is quite a recluse. "Sikkim" was her baby. The Chogyals were a great fan of Baba and we tried hard to track down Cook to retrieve the negatives. We got in touch with a company called Gemini. The people out there checked the logbook and told us that the negatives should be with her. Despite writing to her on a number of occasions, she didn't respond. Fortunately, there was a London distributor of Baba's movies called Contemporary Films. This company had a print. I'm told even Brown University has a print.
Though I've not seen this print, I suppose, it is quite good and in viewable condition. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science had done a basic chemical restoration of the documentary and it was subsequently screened at a festival in France in 2008 during a Ray Retrospective. The last time we spoke to the Academy authorities, we were told that they would want to digitally restore both "Kanchenjunga" and "Sikkim" properly. That's yet to be done and also involves a lot of money. Even today, no negatives of "Kanchenjunga" are available." Tantiya, however, claims, "The print of "Sikkim" that we have has been digitally restored and is in excellent condition."
Meanwhile, Ray still doesn't know why the screening of "Sikkim" was stopped at the 2010 Kolkata Film Festival. "I wasn't in town then and the abrupt stalling of the screening is still a mystery for me," he says. But all that is past and he is now looking forward to launch function at Nandan that will also be graced by Goutam Ghose, among others.
Urban Poverty in Seven States of NE Region including Sikkim :
PIB, KalimNews: No separate survey has been conducted, however, with a view to identify those below poverty line, Government of India has launched the combined Rural-Urban Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in June, 2011 throughout the country including North-Eastern States and Sikkim. The State/UT Governments have already initiated the SECC with financial and technical support of Government of India.
Under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) meant to address issues of employment, skill training and community development of the urban poor, the funding for North-Eastern States including Sikkim is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 90:10, considering the lack of financial resources with the States in the region. This Ministry is also implementing the scheme of 10% lumpsum provision for the benefit of North-Eastern Region including Sikkim. Projects benefiting the urban poor and low income groups are provided support under the central pool. Community market, Slum re-development, multipurpose resource centres, community sanitation works, etc. are some of the areas which are covered under the scheme.
Statements showing progress of SJSRY and 10% NER Scheme in the North-Eastern Region including Sikkim in last three years and the current years are Annexure-I to II respectively.
If I was Anna...
J.N. Manokaran, KalimNews: Anna Hazare and Team Anna highlighted corruption and demanded a law to eradicate corruption in India. A lofty ideal however did not succeed. If I were in Anna’s position, what would I have done?
1. I will do a personal examination, if I am corrupt. Do I keep my own standards, leave alone the standards expected by God and His Scripture. I may not be corrupt in terms of money, but corrupt in terms of power, ego...etc. Am I intolerant to others and use violence as means to correct people. (Like thrashing drunkards).
2. I would pay all my taxes regularly and sincerely. I will not buy a thing in the market if the seller does not give me a receipt. I will not receive any land/real estate transaction money in cash but only cheque. I will pay the tax in full as a responsible citizen.
3. As far as possible, I will pay by cheque and not cash that includes all consumer goods, assets, jewel...etc.
4. I will not give donation to any political party. If at all I give, I will not demand favour and also pay only by cheque.
5. I will not pay any bribe, however small to any police or Government official or politician for getting things done. It could be for documents like birth certificate; permission for construction; getting domestic gas connection...etc. I will joyfully suffer delay, loss of privileges or loss of opportunities.
6. I will not receive or pay any dowry for the marriage of my children and would not participate in any marriage among my relatives and friends where dowry transaction has happened.
7. I will not follow consumerist culture by upgrading my phones or cars often. I will not switch to newer version of phone or laptop or car until these things really breaks down.
8. I will not mobilize volunteer by hate – ‘Hate Politicians’ but by love – for nation, society and all citizens including Dalits, Tribals, women and minorities.
9. I will select volunteers for this movement only when they affirm and take an oath to follow these values in their personal and family life.
10. I will select a team of leaders from among the volunteers who have highest moral standards and credibility in the eyes of public for integrity and transparent life.
11. Before demanding a law, I will mobilize my volunteers at the grass root level to ensure the Public Distribution System (PDS shops), Public Health Centres (PHCs), and Government schools function optimally, regularly and consistently. If that happens well for next five to ten years, there won’t be illiteracy, hunger, malnutrition or poverty.
12. Instead of spending Rs. 80 lakhs to glamorize the fast, I would have adopted 80 rural schools and would have white-washed, installed benches, black boards and toilets in those schools.
May be Anna and his team should go on a private fast, evaluate themselves and their movement and come up with positive, constructive and nation-building ideas and contribute for the progress of our nation.
First water eats up potato - barrage canal wreaks havoc
TT, Jalpaiguri, Jan. 17: About 800 hectares of standing potato were destroyed when water from the Teesta Barrage was released for the first time to the extended right canal earlier this month.
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| The potato and paddy fields along the right bank canal of the Teesta Barrage Project in Jalpaiguri. Picture by Biplab Basak |
Farmers who had cultivated potatoes said they had no inkling that the fields would be flooded.
“I have been growing potato all these years and those who cultivate paddy used water from deep tube-wells to irrigate their fields. I opted for potato cultivation this year, too, as the crop required less water. But suddenly, the fields were flooded by water from the Teesta Barrage. I do not know what to do now,” said Sahabuddin Miyan of Kranti in Malbazar.
Dipak Roy, another farmer of Charakdangi in Sadar block, had a similar experience. “Most of us did not get any information from the agriculture department about the water discharge,” he said.
The barrage authorities said they had informed the agriculture department well in advance that water would be released through the right bank canal for paddy fields in the two blocks.
The superintending engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project, Gautam Chatterjee, said the Malbazar and Sadar blocks, had a canal network of only 17km till one year back.
“However, we increased the command area of the barrage project and the two blocks have a combined canal network of 41km now. We had informed the agriculture department in September last year that we would start releasing water from the beginning of January. There was ample time for them to ask farmers not to grow anything other than paddy,” said Chatterjee. He said if the water had not been discharged through the right canal, bodo paddy cultivation on about 4,500 hectares could have failed.
The district agriculture department admitted that it had been informed by the irrigation authorities about the water release from the Teesta barrage.
“On our part, we had informed all block and panchayat offices to spread the word to alert the farmers,” said Tapan Sarkar, the crop protection officer of the district.
He said the farmers might have opted for potato cultivation encouraged by higher profits in the previous year.
“It seems that last year’s successful potato cultivation had encouraged other farmers also to grow the crop. It is clear from the fact that the area of potato cultivation had gone up from 30,000 hectares last season to 34,000 hectares this year. Another thing is that paddy takes at least five months to harvest, potato can be harvested in two months. It is unfortunate that potatoes on about 800 hectares have been flooded,” said Sarkar.
Govt dismisses hunger deaths
ENS, Kolkata, Jsnuary 18 2012 : Dismissing the Left Front’s allegations that nine workers of closed Dekhlapara tea garden in Jalpaiguri died of starvation over the past one month, state Labour Minister Purnendu Basu on Tuesday accused the Opposition of indulging in “politics of falsehood” as the government is already supplying food to the people in the area and financial assistance to the employees of the closed tea garden.
A few days ago, RSP, a constituent of the Left Front, had said that nine workers of the tea garden died of starvation and had blamed on the government’s “utter negligence”.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Basu claimed 484 workers of closed industries in the state have received monetary assistance under Financial Assistance for Workers of Locked Out Industries (FAWLI) and Jalpaiguri DM’s report stated that deaths were caused by various diseases like cirrhosis of liver, ulcers etc..
“In November and December each of the 484 workers of the closed tea garden received a total of Rs 15,000. Workers of the Dekhlapara tea garden have received monetary grants. Starvation like situation does not prevail there,” Basu said, adding, he sent an inspection team to the tea garden a day after the reports of starvation deaths.
The team, the minister said, reported him that two medical camps were organised in the tea garden in the last five months. “Instead of indulging in politics of falsehood, the Opposition should have gone there with whatever food stock they had,” he said. The government is planning to appoint a doctor at the tea garden.
“The health condition of the workers deteriorated because of the pathetic attitude of the previous government,” he added.
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