Airport work in full swing

The construction works of Greenfield Airport Pakyong is going on full swing. The workers here are seen working day and night at the construction site as the work had stopped during rainy seasons and resumed thereafter. The stipulated completion date for the project is July 2012.

Mechanization of agriculture in NE region: Session at CAEPHT

Two days’ brain storming session on “Mechanization of production and processing agriculture in NE region: challenges and strategies” was inaugurated Friday, November 19, at College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Ranipool, East Sikkim. Dr. S.N. Puri, Vice Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal, chaired the programme. Dr. Nawab Ali, former Dy. DDG (Engg.), ICAR, was chief guest and Dr. R.P. Kachru, Ex. ADG (P.E), ICAR, was guest of honour. 

Around 35 dignitaries from all over the country including the host organization attended the inaugural session. Dr. P.K. Srivastava, Dean, CAEPHT, while welcoming the delegates briefed them on the purpose of the brain storming session as indicated by the Vice Chancellor to identify the priority issues of mechanization specific to the NEH region for implementation. Dr. S.K. Rautaray, Professor and Head, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, CAEPHT, Mr. S.K. Paul, Chief Engineer, Govt. of Sikkim and Dr. Premjit Singh, Director of Extension Education, CAU, presented lead papers covering the status, gap and challenges; status of mechanization in Sikkim and extension needs of mechanization in the NER respectively. Several issues emerged out of the presentations to identify pertinent technologies relevant to NEH region sites specific conditions and action to be taken by different agencies (CAEPHT, CAU, ICAR, State governments and other agencies including NGOs and SHGs). Further Details...

School students celebrate “Pre-Children’s Day”

Puspankali School Pakyong celebrated “pre-Children’s Day” Friday in a different way by organizing a Marathon Race on the theme “Say no to drugs” and Fancy Dress Competition among the students in two categories - (A) division for LKG and class I, and (B) division for Class II to class V . 

The marathon race started from school campus to SDM Office Pachey via Pakyong Bazaar, Noab Gaon. 

After the marathon, a short musical program was organized by the music band of the school students. 

Nunam Subba of UKG, Bhuwan Khatiwara of UKG were winners in the fancy dress competition in “A” division and, Ritesh Rizal of Class IV, Mangeeta Subba of class V became winners in fancy dress competition in B Division. Sanjeev Manger of class VIII, Sameer Tamang of Class VII and Subodh Rai of class VI stood first, second and third respectively in boy’s category marathon race. Pempo Doma Bhutia, class VII, Ashika Rizal of class VIII and Karma Doma Bhutia of class VII stood first, second and third respectively in girl’s category marathon race.

Sikkim businessmen keen to increase trade with China

 

Businessmen here have demanded inclusion of new items in the trading list at Nathula Trade Point in Sikkim for a more viable and sustainable trade.

The traders have urged the governments of India and China for urgent revision of the trading list.

"The items which are there in the list do not have good sale value. We want to request the government

to increase the number of items. It would help our trade more," said Nima Bhutia, a trader.

K. K. Kafley, Director of Commerce and Industries Department, Sikkim government said that there are traders from across the border who have also enlisted themselves.

"Many of the residents of Chinese jurisdiction also, they have enlisted themselves as traders and they also come to India for trade purposes," said Kafley.

The border trade is restricted to the traders of Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) only and the goods list for trade were restricted to 29 items from India and 15 items from China. (ANI).

Finally, Ray's 'Sikkim' screened, audiences hail it

 

Audiences hailed Sikkim - a hidden masterpiece by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray that was banned four decades ago - when it had its first public screening Wednesday at the 16th Kolkata Film Festival.

"It is really a masterpiece by Satyajit Ray

. I have seen all his movies. Today, I watched the documentary Sikkim too. I think today I have completed a circle. But I felt really bad that the movie was banned for so many years for useless reasons. I have watched nothing bad in the film. It's a fantastic movie," said film buff Rama Ray after watching the movie.

Made by Satyajit Ray in 1971, the documentary was banned by the external affairs ministry in 1975 when the Himalayan kingdom became a part of India. It was commissioned by the last Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, and his American-born queen Hope Cooke. It was soon banned by the government and remained in the cans after that.

"It's a beautiful movie by a legendary director. I have seen nothing offensive in the film and I don't know why this film was banned for so many years. It is a treasure for all the movie lovers and filmmakers," said Debolina Das, a college student.

"Satyajit Ray has done a marvelous job in this movie. I have waited long to see this movie. I just loved the movie. I plan to see it again," said 55-year-old Kaushik Das, an avid film-goer.

 

courtesy NDTV

Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100159767&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=65902&cp

Won't give directions which may be questioned: SC

Suprme Court

 

 

 

 

 

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it would refrain from issuing a direction which may be questioned on the grounds on its (apex court) authority or jurisdiction. "Once we issue an order, we will take it to its logical conclusion. We don't want to be confronted with grey areas," said the apex court bench of Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar.

The court said this when senior counsel PS Narasimha asked it to give directions to Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Mizoram to issue a notification for adopting the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.

"We don't want a situation where we are told that our orders will not be implemented," Chief Justice Kapadia told the senior counsel.

"We will enforce our orders once we issue them", the court said.
When Narasimha said that the court had all the powers to issue such directions, Chief Justice Kapadia asked counsel to show a judgment of the apex court stating this.
As per the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, there were 14,479 manual scavengers in Delhi in 2007. The figures stood at 2,734 for Himachal Pradesh. For Sikkim and Mizoram no data was made available to the court by the petitioner, Safai Karamchari Andolan.

Courtesy IBN

Move to tame traffic violators

 

The East district traffic police is presently conducting a mass education campaign to contain road traffic violations including misuse of horn, high beam and indicators by drivers in Gangtok.

Around 15 lady drivers from Gangtok participated in the campaign Thursday afternoon by holding placards at the traffic points along the NH 31A here appealing drivers to restrain from unnecessary honking and to use the high beams and indicators of their vehicles in a proper manner.

As claimed by the traffic officials, the mass education campaign against traffic abuses which was launched on November 1 has been successfully with good response from the targeted people. Road abuses like unnecessary or deliberate honking and improper use of high beams have dropped down seventy percent in Gangtok in the past three days, they said.
The campaign has seen traffic cops standing at fixed traffic points in the past three days with placards containing messages against road traffic abuses of misuse or delibera use of horn, high beams in busy traffic zones which can blind the driver coming from opposite direction, going neutral downhill which is risky and can also choke traffic and unauthorized stationing or parking of vehicles along carriage way.

Misuse of horn is particularly an irritant for residents along the highway, hospital patients and school students. The State government has recently notified the areas between Zero Point to Ruchi junction near Titanic Park and up to Ranka taxi stand as ‘no horn zone’ meaning drivers are not allowed to honk in these area which has education institutions, STNM hospital and other important hospitals, said DSP (traffic) Dhiren Lama to reporters today. The traffic cops are regularly sensitizing the drivers not to blow horn in the declared silent zone, he added. The campaign stems from the belief of the authorities that traffic cops alone cannot contain the road rule abuses unless the mass is involved and drivers show self-discipline. The traffic police has requested all stakeholders to inculcate the habit of road discipline so that the capital of the State is made free from all road traffic abuses and set an example throughout the State.

Courtesy Sikkim Reporter