Journalists’ Forum of Northeast India formed

GANGTOK, July 2: With an aim to cater various needs of the working journalists of Northeast India, a forum was shaped Tuesday (June 30) in Guwahati. The member-based organization titled ‘Journalists’ Forum of Northeast India’ has been designed to work for the enrichment of its members from print, electronic & web media, and also for the overall growth of journalism in the trouble torn region. The forum will emphasize on wider interaction among the journalists and also with the civil society and advocacy groups. More over, the forum has mandates to work for protecting the legal and constitutional rights of the journalist-members through reasonable and justified means.

Meeting in the sidelight of ICRC media workshop for the northeastern journalists in Guwahati on June 30, the participants from all States of the region (including from Bhutan) consented for the regional media persons forum. The meeting unanimously formed a convening committee of Journalists’ Forum of Northeast India with Nava Thakuria (Guwahati) as its convener.

The other members of the forum are Irengbam Arun (Manipur), Dilip Sarma (Nagaland), Bijoy Gurung (Sikkim), Syed Sajjad Ali (Tripura), Pinna Kitnal Muklom (Arunachal Pradesh), David Laitphlang (Meghalaya), H.Vanlalnghaka (Mizoram) and Shankar Dey, Ranen Kumar Goswami, Sailen Barua (Assam).

The convening committee will soon arrange a meeting in any States of the region to constitute a full fledged working committee of JFNI, stated in a press statement.

GOVT PLANS FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR ST

NEW DELHI:2 JULY,PIB: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements several Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Programmes for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes in the country. These schemes/programmes of the Ministry relate to income-and-employment generation potential, creation of critical infrastructure, educational development and improvement in literacy of all tribals. Under the Scheme of ‘Vocational Training in Tribal Areas’ implemented by this Ministry through the State Governments and NGOs, training for skill upgradation is given in various modern/traditional trades to ST youths in order to enable them to gain suitable employment or to become self-employed. During the last three years, 19235 ST youths have been trained under this Scheme. The Vocational Training Centres set up under this Scheme may run vocational courses in modern/traditional skills including TV repairing, car driving and similar other courses depending upon the employment potential of the area. This information was given by the Minister of State of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Dr. Tushar A. Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. (PIB)

Centre asks states to identify eligible beneficiaries for old age pension scheme

The Government has asked States to identify eligible beneficiaries for grant of pension to old age persons, widows and disabled in rural and urban areas. The beneficiaries would be identified from the BPL list in rural areas and from the corresponding lists in urban areas. Universal coverage of all the eligible beneficiaries is envisaged under the various pension schemes.

In order to check irregularities in payment of pension, States have been asked to disburse the pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) through bank/ post office account, where feasible. In case of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) disbursement through bank/ post office account has been made mandatory. To enhance transparency and accountability a software for NSAP-MIS has been developed and States have been asked to place the data of beneficiaries in the public domain. Central Government provides financial assistance tor States/UTs for the old age persons, widows and disabled under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) which are components of the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). NSAP was introduced in 1995 as a ‘Centrally Sponsored Scheme’ . Later it was transferred to States in 2002-03 and since then it is implemented by the State Governments. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is applicable to persons who are 65 years or higher. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) is applicable to widows in the age group of 40-64 years and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) is applicable to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age group of 18-64 years. All the three pension schemes are meant for persons belonging to a household living below the poverty line. Central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary is provided in all the pension schemes and States are urged to contribute an equal amount. These pension schemes are applicable in rural as well as urban areas. The government has also clarified that there is no proposal to increase the central assistance or to expand the old age pension scheme for farmers above the age of 60 years. This information was given by the Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Dr. C.P.Joshi in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. (pib)

^{SIKKIM UNIVERSITY}

(A Central University established by an Act of Parliament of India 2007)

Press Release

Sikkim University announces the result for the 2^nd (Spring) Semester examination of both the Under Graduate & Post Graduate Programmes of Sikkim University held from 1^st - 10^th June, 2009. As per the University norms and tradition, the results of each semester has to be published within 20 days of the last day of the Semester examination. i.e. by 30^th December for Monsoon Semester and by 30^th June for Spring Semester.

The students who appeared for this examinations were from the 9 affiliated colleges of Sikkim Univerisity and the Post Graduate students of Sikkim University.

Sikkim University has also introduced improvement paper system from the spring (Second) Semester 2009 onwards.

The results are available on the Sikkim University website: www. sikkimuniversity. in

FOR SUBJECT WISE / COLLEGE WISE FIRST THREE SCORERS LOG ON TO....www. sikkimuniversity. in or CLICK HERE