BREAKING NEWS

INDEFINITE STRIKE SUSPENDED TILL 16th AUGUST

KalimNews,Kalimpong, 27 July: Considering the Tripartite meeting of 11th August and Independence Day GJMM has suspended the strike for 20 days. All educational institutions, offices , shops and vehicular traffic will remain open till 16th of August. Indefinite strike will resume again from 17th August as usual. Central committee and respective Sub Divisional Committees announced the declaration this afternoon.

GORKHA OUTFIT CALLS OFF INDEFINITE SHUTDOWN

July 27 (IANS) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), fighting for a separate Gorkhaland state, Monday withdrew its indefinite shutdown in the three hill sub-divisions of West Bengal's Darjeeling district ahead of tripartite talks with the government.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung announced the withdrawal of the shutdown at a public meeting in Chowrasta of Darjeeling town.

GJM press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chhetri said the outfit would wait for the outcome of the third round of tripartite talks Aug 11 with the state and central governments on its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of parts of northern West Bengal.

'We will review our stand on Aug 17 in the light of the developments during the Aug 11 tripartite talks,' he said.

SAHID DIWAS IN KALIMPONG

Kalyan Dewan and Samuel Gurung

Nima Tamang Pix: Manoj Rai

Sahid Diwas organised by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Kalimpong

KalimNews , Kalimpong 27 July: On the occasion of Sahid Diwas a special programme was organised by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for the second year in all the places of Darjeeling Hills and plain areas including Dooars. In a memorial service martyrs of Gorkhaland agitation were paid homage by the people of Kalimpong. Representatives of different political, apolitical, social, religious and official organisations as well as families of the martyrs and individuals laid wreaths and khadas in the Sahid Park. People remembered the martyrs who died and were killed by the Polices and anti Gorkhaland forces during the agitation of Gorkhaland.

The programme organised by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha remembered Pramila Sharma and Akbar Lama as the martyrs since it restarted its agitational movement of Gorkhaland from the year 2007.

Besides the retired army personnel, senior citizens and GJMM leaders, the function was also attended by the local officers and the public.

Different speakers reminding of the massacare of Kalimpong on 27th July 1986 in which 14 people lost their lives and Pramila Sharma who was shot dead on 25th July 2008 in Darjeeling, spoke about the sacrifices made by the martyrs for the cause of Gorkhaland and peoples' responsibilty for the cause .

FIRE IN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 27 July: Due to a short circuit in the main exchange control room of Kalimpong Telephone Exchange landlines and broadband were badly affected today . The short circuit in the AC ad other devices damaged many circuit boards and equipments this morning. Due to strike there were no staff in the Office and Exchange building as a result no warning alarm could be noticed. Somehow the local staff tried to restore the exchange. In the day time the staff restored and by evening almost all the lines and exchanges were restored.

GLP SEIZES DRUG MEANT FOR SIKKIM

SANJAY AGARWAL, SE: RANGPO, July 26: In a commendable job, the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) unit deployed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) along the Kalimpong subdivision side of National Highway 31A has done a good turn for Sikkim by intercepting drugs meant to be smuggled into Sikkim. The GJM had deployed a batch of GLP members along the NH 31A during the ongoing Darjeeling bandh period to provide assistance to the Sikkimese people and inbound and outbound traffic. The GLP has set up a camp at 10th mile along the National Highway, 10 kms from Sikkim side of Rangpo. During a routine checking yesterday night along the Highway, the GLP recovered a batch of drugs from three trucks. It is informed that the GLP camp in-charge Arun Sharma and Kipa Tshering and other 40 GLP members were checking the vehicles on the Highway where they recovered 25 bottles of Recodex Syrup and 10 files of Spasmo Proxyvon from three trucks carrying food grains and hardware materials. The GLP then detained the trucks and the drivers along with the handy-boys/ helpers. The GLP today handed over the trucks, seized drugs and the drivers to the Kalimpong police.

The police have seized the trucks, drugs and arrested the drivers and the hand-boys on charges of smuggling contraband substances.

(KalimNews, Kalimpong adds that the arrested and accused Vikash Chhetri of Rangpu, Ashwin Tamang of Teesta Bazar, Passang Tamang of Pakyong and Umesh Sharma of Rangpu were produced before the Magistrate of Kalimpong Court and their plea to grant bail was rejected and sent to jail. The first three are truck drivers.)

Adivasi Disowned Peace March

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 27 July: Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad refuted the joint peace march held in Jaigaon. ABAVP leaders of apex body stated that it is the decision of the local Adivasis for their own self interest and not in the interest of ABAVP. People in Jaigaon are in peace and there is no need of anything like peace march. They also refuted that the blockade made in Siliguri has nothing to do with ABAVP. ABAVP condemns such activities and will take action against those self styled ABAVP cadres apex body leader Suresh Toppo said .

Wage Parity Between Men and Women

LOK SABHA , 27 July :The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination. However, according to the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) data for 2004-05 the average difference of wages paid to men and women in the rural areas is Rs.59.40. This disparity in wages could be attributed to existing social norms and practices as well as inadequate accounting of the overall work output of women in rural areas. This Act is implemented by the respective State Governments for the areas under their jurisdiction. For the areas under the Central Government, the Act is implemented by the office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). Central Government is regularly monitoring the implementation of the Act and instructions are issued from time to time for effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act. This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Harish Rawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. (PIB)

BAN ON POLYTHENE BAGS

Lok Sabha, 27 July:Government has worked on concrete plan to ban polythene bags. The manufacture and use of polyethene bags and recycling of plastic wastes are regulated under the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (as amended in 2003). As per these rules, manufacture, sale and use of carry bags less than 20 micron in thickness and less than 8 x12 inches in size are prohibited. Some States have prescribed more stringent norms for thickness of polyethene bags and have banned their use in public/tourist places. The Government has also notified the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. Municipal Authorities are responsible for implementation of the provisions of these rules pertaining to collection, storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal solid wastes including plastic wastes. The collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of hazardous waste are regulated under the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2008. As per these rules, hazardous waste is to be disposed of by the industry either on its own or in a Common Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF). Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shrimati Maya Singh in Rajya Sabha today. (PIB)

DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROELECTRICITY

RAJYA SABHA , 27 July: Government has taken policy initiatives and measures to promote development of hydro power in the country including the National Electricity Policy announced in February, 2005. The Hydro Power Policy has been revised in 2008 and it inter-alia provides level playing field to private developers, recovery of additional costs through merchant sale upto a maximum of 40% of saleable energy, 100 units of electricity per months to each project affected family for 10 years after commercial operation of the project, additional 1% free power from the project for a local area development fund, etc. The revised Mega Power Projects Policy provides for lower qualifying capacity of 350 MW (from 500 MW) in respect of hydro power plants located in Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim and the 7 States of North-Eastern Region. For accelerated development of hydro power in the country, a 50,000 MW hydro initiative was launched in 2003 and Preliminary Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of 162 projects aggregating 48,000 MW were prepared. Out of these, 77 projects with capacity of 37,000 MW were selected for execution. Against this, a target of 15,627 MW hydro capacity has been set up by the Planning Commission for the 11th Plan. In addition, advance action is being taken for hydro capacity addition during the 12th Plan. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has estimated hydro potential in the country at 1,48,701 MW. This includes 58,971 MW of hydro capacity in North Eastern Region and 4,286 MW in the State of Sikkim. This information was given by Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Minister of State, Ministry of Power in a written reply to a question by Shri Matilal Sarkar in the Rajya Sabha today. (pib)

12 Hrs. RECESS on MONDAY DECLARED

KalimNews, Kalimpong 26 July: The third relaxation of 12 hours on 27th July is declared by the Central committee of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha this afternoon. The first of the recess of 10 hrs was on 20th July while the second of 12 hrs was on 25th July.

This relaxation is in consideration to observe Sahid Diwas in memory of the people who died and were killed by the Police during the Gorkhaland agitation of 1986-1988. On 27th July 1986, 14 people were killed in police firing in a rally at Kalimpong organised by GNLF in protest against the Indo Nepal Treaty of 1950.

It is presumed that the indefinite strike of GJMM which started from the afternoon of 13th July 2009 will end by this week as it is high time for the Governmental offices to prepare bills, acquitance and cheques for the salary of the staff. And previously relaxation to offices during these periods of bandh was practised by GJMM. The ongoing strike is being continued for the 12th day and GJMM is sticked to its demand of transfer of three Police officers including the IGP. Besides them other two demands have been fulfilled by one way or other and it has given relaxation to NH 31A and Tea & Cinchona Plantations.

AHEAD OF ROAD BLOCKADE, GJM DOLES OUT FOOD

ENS,Kolata, 27 July:Even as the threat of road blockade leading to Darjeeling by anti-Gorkhaland groups looms large, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha signalled that it had sufficient supplies for the people of the Hills by launching a food distribution drive on Sunday.

The GJM leaders said the ongoing indefinite bandh would be relaxed for 24 hours beginning Monday to enable people to attend “Shahid Diwas” in various parts of the Hills and Dooars. The GJM will be observing the Shahid Diwas to pay respect to around 1,200 people who lost their lives in the struggle for Gorkhaland.

The GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri, said the bandh would be re-imposed on Tuesday morning and ruled out the possibility of calling off the bandh.

According to Giri, around 7,000 families in Darjeeling alone had been given foodgrain. “Everyone who came to the distribution centres at the Darjeeling Gymkhana and Chingmari Church were given 15 kg rice and 2 kg pulses,” said Giri.

“At the Gymkhana, 6,000 people received essential supplies. We are closely monitoring to prevent blackmarketing. This responsibility has been entrusted to the Gorkhaland Personnel. They will check price hike,” he added.

Similar food distribution centres had been set up in other places, including Takda and Soureni, but figures were yet to be released. Asked about the source of the foodgrain being distributed, Giri said party president Bimal Gurung had ordered that enough supplies be stocked up before the bandh was declared.

“During the ceremony, we will be felicitating the families of our party supporters Akbar Lama and Pramila Sharma, who lost their lives during clashes with anti-Gorkhaland protesters this year. We have already given monetary assistance of Rs 2 lakh to Lama’s family, and the same will be given to Sharma’s family tomorrow,” Giri said.

The GJM, meanwhile, has decided to halt the project work at the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in Kalijhora.

The GJM leaders said they wanted to impose the seriousness of their demand through this move. The low dam project on the Teesta is expected to be completed in 2010.

GJM to suspend bandh today

Marcus Dam, TH, KOLKATA, 27 July: People in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal will on Monday get a reprieve from the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which observes the day as “Martyrs’ Day” in memory of those killed in the 1980s during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland State.

The victims include those who died in police firing at Kalimpong on the day in 1986. The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) — now an adversary of the GJM — was spearheading the Statehood agitation then. A large section of its leadership broke away from the GNLF to form the GJM in October 2007.

The GNLF had also been observing July 27 as Martyrs’ Day during the years it was the principal political force in the Darjeeling hills.

“The decision to suspend the bandh for a day has been taken in view of the Martyrs’ Day. Shops and banks will remain open, though government offices will stay closed. Vehicles will be allowed to ply the roads,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told The Hindu over telephone from Darjeeling on Sunday.

The bandh — called by the GJM in support of the Statehood demand — that entered its 14th day would resume on Tuesday, Mr. Giri said.

Highways blocked

Though vehicles were allowed to ply in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong on Saturday, some anti-GJM groups in the plains of north Bengal blocked highways in the foothills at two different places, to prevent the movement of lorries carrying food and other essential commodities towards the hills.

Day-long strike relief in memory of ‘martyrs’ - Morcha distributes ration to poor families

Gorkhaland Personnel remove a felled tree from Chowrastha in Darjeeling on Sunday to clear the area for a ‘martyrs’ day’ programme. Picture by Suman Tamang TT,Darjeeling, July 26: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has announced a day-long relaxation in its indefinite strike tomorrow to commemorate “martyrs’ day”. However, there is little indication of the protest being withdrawn despite the tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland scheduled for August 11, as the hill party today went on an overdrive distributing rice and lentil to BPL families. Morcha president Bimal Gurung said: “We have to provide a relaxation to commemorate martyrs’ day. Many had laid down their lives for the cause of Gorkhaland.” On July 27, 1986, at least 14 people were killed during a police firing in Kalimpong when the GNLF under Subhas Ghisingh was spearheading the Gorkhaland agitation. Ever since, the day has been observed as “martyrs’ day” in memory of the 1,200 people killed during the 28-month long agitation. Offices will not be exempt from the strike. “Transport and business establishments will remain open, along with banks and post offices,” said Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, while addressing a rally at Chowrastha. This is the third relaxation the Morcha is providing since it launched its indefinite strike on July 13. However, members of the party which is demanding transfer of senior police officers as a condition for lifting its strike, today distributed 10 kg of rice and a kg of lentil to 2,000 BPL families in and around Darjeeling. “I had said I would not keep my supporters hungry. We held camps at Darjeeling Gymkhana Club and at Singamari, Sukhiapokhri and Takdha to provide the food items. We will undertake a similar exercise in Kurseong and Kalimpong also,” said Gurung, while overseeing the distribution at Gymkhana. Hundreds had lined up at the club for more than six-seven hours to take their ration home. “I have a family of 11 and only two of us are working. We are day workers and it is difficult for us during strikes,” said Phurba Tamang, standing in front of Gymkhana. Bandh relaxation today TT,Statesman News Service, KURSEONG, 26 JULY: The GJMM leadership would relax the indefinite shutdown tomorrow to facilitate observance of the Martyrs’ Day. “Life would be normal from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. We hope, the people would pay obeisance to the Gorkhaland martyrs who laid down lives in Kalimpong in 1986 for our paramount cause,” said the GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri today. Notably, the hill-based outfit has given relaxation to the strike on three different occasions for three reasons since it has started on 13 July. Mr Giri affirmed that the observance being over, the bandh would come into force again and it would continue till their demands were met. “We would relentlessly continue with the shutdown agitation come what may until the inspector general of police, north Bengal Mr KL Tamta is removed from his post,” he said. Recounting the saga of sacrifice for the statehood cause, Mr Giri said that nearly twelve hundred people had died since the movement was launched in the 1980's. “We would not be found wanting if the cause we are striving for would require more sacrifice to near its fruition,” Mr Giri averred. Hill girl among 15 chosen beauties Lengshong in Kalimpong on Sunday. Picture by D.K. Waiba TT, Kalimpong, July 26: Lengshong Huang from Kalimpong has charmed her way into the first 15 of the nationwide Fact Universal Teen Pageant that will go on air on a private television channel from August 1. Organised by the Mumbai-based Fact Enterprises, the auditions for the pageant were held in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi and Ahmedabad in May. Twenty-six of them were selected and groomed under the watchful eyes of former Miss World Diana Hayden in Mumbai, where the 15 finalist were eventually picked. The petite Lengshong, who has just cleared her school-leaving examinations, had entered the contest in Calcutta on a lark. “I had gone to Calcutta on a holiday. When I heard about the pageant, I decided to go for the audition,” she told The Telegraph here, while sitting alongside her visibly proud mum Pintsho and a rather reticent father John at their B.L. Dixit Road home here. Once the episodes of the pageant start going on air on 9X, viewers, Lengshong said, can vote for their favourite contestants. In all, 10 recorded episodes will be telecast. According to the official website of the event, the grand finale will be telecast live, but the date is yet to be announced. It is, however, not clear from the website how the winner will be selected. However, the website promises that the pageant will be grand in terms of scale, reach, vision and purpose. “The event will be a launch pad for beautiful, talented and aspiring teenage girls across India,” said the organisers. The winner will take home Rs 3 lakh, sponsored gifts and a year’s modelling contract. The second runner-up will receive Rs 2 lakh, gifts and a year’s modelling assignment, while the third runner-up will get Rs 1 lakh and sponsored gifts. Lengshong said barring dancing lessons she has not been doing any extra preparation. “During the grooming lessons in Mumbai, we were taught to walk the ramp and went through dance and gym sessions,” said the 15-year-old, who idolises Sonia Gandhi, Katrina Kaif and her grandmother, but not necessarily in that order. Only time will tell whether Lengshong will end up as a teen idol, but her mother, it appears, will be the least surprised if it happens. “She has a pleasant personality, carries herself very well and is intelligent,” said Pintsho. A good success recipe, the mother believes. Parishad warns against state cry in plains TT,Siliguri, July 26: The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad today said it had nothing against the August-11 tripartite meeting, but would counter any move by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to include the Terai and Dooars in the separate state the hill party had been demanding. Birsa Tirkey, the state president of the Parishad, said: “We are not concerned about the tripartite talks involving the Morcha and central and state governments in Delhi on August 11. But we want to say clearly that those who have been living in the Dooars and the Terai for decades will not allow the regions to be parts of Gorkhaland, as demanded by the Morcha.” Tirkey was here to attend a meeting of the state executive committee of the Parishad. The outfit also demanded an alternative road to the Dooars from Siliguri as the existing NH31 through Sevoke often gets blocked because of frequent strikes by the Morcha or landslides. So, a new road in the plains, crossing the Teesta, is necessary for the development of the Dooars, said Tirkey. Parishad leaders said they had discussed several issues related to the development of the community at the meeting. “Our struggle to improve the socio-economic conditions of the tribal population has started bearing fruit. Distribution of land rights has started, a closed tea estate (Chinchula) has opened and more academic institutions are coming up. Also, senior government officials are meeting us on a regular basis to discuss development issues and brief us on the progress of several schemes,” said the state president. Sikkim University turns two SNS,GANGTOK, 26 JULY: A month-long socio-cultural and academic programme starting from 27 July is slated to mark the second anniversary of Sikkim University. The programme would involve participants from schools and colleges from both within and outside Sikkim . The Sikkim University is a central institution established and funded by the Government of India under an Act of Parliament. It has nine affiliated colleges spread over the state and was set up on 2 July 2007. A debate on the topic: “Economic Development is more important than protection of the Environment" would be arranged to kick off the celebration on 27 July and students from the affiliated colleges would participate in the programme. This would be followed by a "Spic Macay" programme on 2 August, where Ms Malabika Sen, the Kathak exponent, would perform. A day long seminar on "Higher Education: Problems & Prospects" would also be organised on 10 August. The Sikkim University Chancellor, Prof MS Swaminathan would attend the valedictory function, and he would deliver the foundation day lecture at Chintan Bhawan here. The state chief minister, Mr Pawan Chamling and Governor BP Singh would also be present on the occasion.