Shuffle to end Morcha faction feud |
TT, Kalimpong, Oct. 14: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today replaced the Kalimpong unit’s president and secretary with a seven-member presidium to put an end to factionalism in the branch. Kalimpong unit president Kalyan Dewan has been made the vice-president of the Morcha’s central committee, while secretary Samuel Gurung has been sent to the Dooars as the party’s organising secretary. Other office-bearers of the branch committee remain unchanged. The presidium includes four central committee members — Bijay Sundas, Prabin Rahapal, Desh Bhakta Subba and Francis Dewan — Bandana Yonzon, Namita Gautam and Gopal Rizual. The immediate task of the presidium is to select the Kalimpong unit secretary of the party’s women’s wing in place of Bandana Yonzon within the next 10 days. “The tenure of the presidium has been fixed for three months,” said Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the Morcha spokesperson. The revamp was agreed upon at a meeting of the party’s Kalimpong unit here today in the presence of Morcha president Bimal Gurung. Party sources said the revamp was long overdue to strengthen the organisation, as the factionalism was affecting the unit. “Factionalism started at the top and had begun to percolate right down to sakha and prasakha levels,” said a source. Chhetri, however, said it was more a case of the two (Dewan and Samuel) having a “difference of opinion”. However, the party’s decision not to nominate either a convener or a coordinator of the presidium is a clear indicator that it wants to avoid the repeat of a situation that could lead to factionalism. “Today’s revamp is expected to send a message that factionalism at any level will not be tolerated,” said a source. |
TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 14: The DGHC has decided to issue a new set of guidelines to different departments on staff pattern for creation of additional posts in the council. Additional posts need to be created to absorb all the 6,287 contract workers of the council as the body has only 3,472 sanctioned vacancies at the moment. Additional district magistrate Sonam Bhutia who is looking after the establishment section of the council told The Telegraph that the guidelines would be issued within a day or two. “A secretary would be heading the departments and there would also be an assistant secretary. A section officer would be appointed to look into the affairs of at least three sections,” said Bhutia. Every section would have one head clerk, two upper division clerks, two lower division clerks, one computer operator and at least two to four Group D staff members. “Ideally there would be three sections in an office. While one would be looking after normal duties, the other two would be in charge of non-plan and planned funds,” said Bhutia. Depending on the size of the section of each office, provisions have been kept to post an accountant and a cashier. “Departments like establishments and finance would definitely have more than three sections. For example one would need sections for pension, pay and accounts and record among others for the establishment department,” said Bhutia. Larger departments, for example, finance would need different cells. “They would be a section for the finance officer, an audit cell, a salary cell and pension cell. This is a tentative guideline that will be circulated to see how many additional posts can be created,” said Bhutia. Even though the DGHC had put in place a recruitment rule in 1997, this is the first time that efforts are being made to have a proper system in place for the functioning of the council. Till date the departments — there are around 40 in the council — have been functioning without any laid down structure. Machendra Subba, the president of the Janmukti Astai Karmachari Sangatan — a frontal organisation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which had been leading the agitation for regularisation of contract workers — admitted that the process to create additional posts had started. “A lot of posts can be created in hospitals and the tourism department as well. We are trying to assist the council in creating additional posts,” said Subba. The DGHC department runs a number of lodges, guest houses and trekking huts. The Sangatan, however, expressed its displeasure over the alleged government delay in approving the guidelines for recruitment. “The guideline had been submitted to the government on September 23 but the approval is yet to come. The process of regularisation (against sanctioned posts) must start as early as possible or else we might have to start another agitation after Diwali,” he said. DGHC administrator B.L. Meena refused comment.
Hill tea patent in Europe cup | |||||||
TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 14: The European Union has asked for public opinions on Darjeeling Tea, a step towards granting patent to the brew growing in the Darjeeling hills after its producers requested GI protection of the commodity. Six months have been given to file objections before a decision can be taken to grant Geographical Indicator status to Darjeeling Tea. This is the first time a non-European has approached the EU for Geographical Indicator protection, the spokesperson for the Agriculture and Rural Department of the European Commission, Michael Mann, told the PTI in Brussels today. “If the EU agrees to grant GI status, it would mean that Darjeeling Tea would be protected in all the EU countries. This would be of boon for the industry,” said Sandip Mukherjee, secretary, Darjeeling Tea Association, which had approached the EU. However, DTA members believe that many EU tea importers could try and oppose the move. “There are certain unscrupulous importers who will not want this status. GI status will hamper their business interests as only the tea that originates 100 per cent from the Darjeeling GI area can be sold as Darjeeling Tea,” said Mukherjee. According to Sanjay Bansal, the DTA chairman, there are regulations in the EU countries, which allow blended tea to be sold as a produce of a particular area. “If 51 per cent of a packet contained Assam tea and the rest were from Indonesia, it could still be sold as Assam tea,” said Bansal. Planters said even though Darjeeling produces about only 10 million kg of brew annually, almost 40 million kg is sold as Darjeeling Tea. The process to give protection to Darjeeling Tea had started with the World Trade Organisation approving Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights in 1995. “Since, it was mandatory to get home protection, the Indian government passed a Geographic Indicator and Protection Act in 1999 after which Darjeeling Tea was given the GI status in the country in 2003,” said Bansal. Only 86 gardens in the Darjeeling hills can sell their produce as Darjeeling Tea. The “home protection” prompted the DTA to approach the European Commission in Brussels in November 2007 for recognition across EU.
The Darjeeling municipality allowed taxis to use the rooftop parking space (in picture by Suman Tamang) of a market building that was yet to be opened to decongest the town where traffic snarls are frequent. More than 40 vehicles can be parked on the roof of the two-storied Beef Market "There are two vacancies in the third and the fifth rows. A proposal for seating Jaswant Singh in one of these rows was sent to Speaker Meira Kumar who has approved it," the sources said. 71-year old Singh, elected from Darjeeling in West Bengal on a BJP ticket, was expelled from the party after his book on Mohammed Ali Jinnah created a controversy. TT, Malda, Oct. 14: Residents of a refugee colony allegedly tied a relief officer to a mango tree for four hours last evening protesting against lack of development in the area. Phulendu Dutta was rescued by local CPM councillor Atul Sarkar who visited the spot at 9pm after he heard that the officer and his men had been kept confined from 5pm. Dutta, the relief and rehabilitation officer of Malda district, had gone on a survey of Bachcha Colony, 5km from here. Around 150 families who fled from Bangladesh in 1971 stay in the area. Dutta accompanied by a surveyor and a “chainman” who measures land had gone to inspect the colony before the PWD personnel came to construct roads and a community bathroom. District magistrate Sridhar Ghosh had directed Dutta to lodge a complaint with the Old Malda police. Late last night, Haradhan Das, a leader of Bachcha Colony, was arrested. “What kind of nonsense is this? People may have grievances against officials, but that does not mean that they will treat him in this manner,” said an angry Ghosh today. He said police had been asked to make an inquiry into the incident. Sitting in his chamber at the collectorate, Dutta said this morning that he had gone to Bachcha Colony, along with surveyor Jamaluddin and “chainman” Kushal Das, to chalk out development plans for the area. “Around 5pm, the people there took us to a mango orchard and suddenly grabbed me and tied me to a tree. I was not allowed to use my cellphone. The mob was led by Haradhan Das and Kishor Roy Chowdhury,” said Dutta. He added that the two men accompanying him had managed to flee the spot. Dutta claimed that work on road and drainage in Bachcha Colony would be carried out by the public works department and he had gone to the area to assess the situation so that matters could be explained to the PWD. “The state government has allocated Rs 1.5 crore for the development of refugee colonies in Malda district,” Dutta said. A tour of Bachcha Colony revealed the sorry state of affairs. There are no roads, drainage, power or sanitation. “Nearly 150 families live in our colony. Most of the men are masons, carpenters or bidi workers. We live in squalid conditions despite being located in a municipal area,” said Suniti Das, the wife of the arrested man. Councillor Sarkar alleged that the Old Malda municipality had been under Congress control for a long time and that is why no development had taken place in the colony. “A few electric posts have been erected, but there is no electricity. Last year, Rs 40 lakh had been sanctioned for the refugee and relief department to construct proper drainage, roads and a community bath. The people are seething as nothing has been done as yet. When I heard that an officer had been confined in the colony I immediately went to the area and freed him,” the councillor said. He claimed that the officer was merely gheraoed and not tied to a tree. TT, Gangtok, Oct. 14: Five shops and a school were razed to the ground by a fire at Rangpo bazaar around midnight yesterday. The flames also charred five vehicles and destroyed property in the Sikkim-Bengal border town. It took five hours for eight fire tenders from Rangpo, Singtam, Gangtok and Kalimpong to bring the flames that began at 11.30pm under control with the assistance of local people and police. By that time, shops with wooden structures were burnt to ashes. They belonged to Sajan Agarwal, Satya Narayan Prasad, Swaminath Prasad, Rajendra Prasad and Satendra Prasad. The fire also destroyed Little Bells, a private school that teaches from the nursery level to Class VIII. Fire brigade sources attributed the cause of the fire to electrical short circuit after preliminary investigation. Four nearby houses of Suman Tamang, V. Prasad, Chandra Maya Thatal and Swaminath Prasad were also partially damaged by the fire. Sikkim’s commerce and industries minister Neeru Sewa, the local MLA who visited the spot after the incident, said she had assured the victims of support and compensation from the state government. “I have directed the block development officer of Duga to submit a report of the damage caused by the fire by this evening,” she said. The minister asked the school authorities to start classes in the vacant space available in the area. The victims have demanded a probe into the fire. Sources alleged that the shops-cum-residences of the five families were on rented premises and recently some misunderstanding had arisen between them and the owner. The government has ordered an inquiry into the fire. Shops were closed in Rangpo today to show solidarity with those who have lost their property. |
AAGSU torch rally in memorium of Bhimajuli massacre
Nanda Kirati Dewan, 14th Oct. Guwahati: The All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) the apex students’ body of Gorkhas of Assam last evening took out a mass candle light torch rally today in memory of the Bhimajuli killings and prayers for speed recovery of those injured in the violence through out Assam. In the capital city Guwahati the Kamrup Dist. Committee along with the office bearers of AAGSU central committee took to street with candle in hands at 6pm from the historic Nepali Mandir premises. Flagging off the rally by lighting a earthen lamp and offering prayers to all the deceased and injured Dil Bahadur Limboo President; AAGSU condemned the most inhuman act of violence in Bhimajuli that claimed as many as 14 lives that left some hundred in feared state of mind when National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants indiscriminately fired on houses of the people on 4th Oct 2009 Sunday. Unfortunately 8 out of 14 killed were Gorkhas so the AAGSU is organizing a SAMUHIK ARYA SHRADHA on 25th October 2009 for all 14 killed at Bhimajuli Sonitpur. Condoling the death of Bhimajuli massacre and after offering prayers for quick and complete recovery of those injured in the incident the rally started off silently through Md. Shah Road Paltan Bazar to ASTC circle back to Nepali Mandir. The ruling Congress MLA for Pub Guwahati constituency Captain Robin Bordoloi also joined the rally. Members of Volunteer Cell of AAGSU maintained traffic and discipline through out the peace rally. More than 550 students, elders, man, women and children walked through the streets with candle in hands even surrounding traders, shopkeepers, vegetable & milk vendors also joined the rally. The Nagarik Unnayan Samitee under Platan Bazar police station also had joined the rally. All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other students’ organizations of Assam also extended support.
No media bytes were made through out the rally as it was silent peace rally. Dil Bahadur Limboo President; All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) talking to media persons lambasted the state govt. and police administration for failing to provide security to the people of the region despite having enough inputs of possibility of such incident. Limboo also stretched on to bring into the NDFB leadership and militants involved in heinous man hunting crime to terrorize and earn ransoms. “AAGSU squarely blames the Central and State Govt. for the Bhimajuli massacre as the Assam Arunachal border has always been prone to security lapses and incident like this was an obvious reflection” said the AAGSU President. Thereafter Kamrup Dist AAGSU Chief Advisor Pitamber Joshi handed over the memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mrinal Gogoi who had came at 6.45pm to receive it on behalf of administration. The memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Assam demands adequate security in the region and across the bordering districts, early release of compensation, bear educational cost of Namita Pradhan (11 months) and Suruj Upadhyay (12 years) who lost their parents in the incident, setting up of martyr tomb in Bhimajuli market place and setting up of permanent army and CRPF camp in the region. Addressing the crowd Joshi thanked the all who joined the rally and showing solidarity towards humanity and added that Gorkhas would not at all tolerate any kind of terrorism. We Gorkhas stand with the nation against all antinational elements and activities echoed AAGSU members while concluding the rally. AAGSU is also organizing a statewide protest rally on 14th Oct 2009 as informed by Birendra Subba, vice president;AAGSU. At the time of filing this report the demonstration protest rally was at its peak in all the district headquarters through out Assam.
Glimpses from the lens of the rally Photos: Nanda Kirat Dewan
President D B Limboo answers media queries during the Peace Candle rally
PIB,Gangtok 14th October, 2009, :The Secretary Union Ministry of Tourism Shri Sujit Banerjee has issued a statement on the status of Tourism on the occasion of All India Editors’ Conference on Social Sector and Infrastructural Issues being held in Srinagar which was addressed by him. In his statement Shri Banerjee has said that the Ministry is trying to promote Niche Tourism which includes Heliport Tourism. With a view to promote tourist destinations in hilly and remote areas of the country,the Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for construction of heliports under the Scheme of Product/ Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits.
Two projects for construction of heliports at Mangan and Geetang Khola in Sikkim have also been sanctioned under this new initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. Both the projects are likely to be completed within two years.
Initiatives taken to counter the impact of the global meltdown.
To discuss the Industry problems as a fall out of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai as well as issues affecting the industry due to the ongoing financial melt-down, the National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC) and the stakeholders met on December 15, 2008. Following measures have been taken subsequently:
i. Strengthening the Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme
ii. Organizing Familiarization Tours for Overseas Media and Travel Trade Representatives:
iii. Subsidy to the trade and state governments for participation in international travel fairs and exhibitions:
iv. Extending the benefit of the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme of the Ministry to active Members of India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB):
v. Medical & Wellness Tourism is to be supported through the Market Development Assistant
(MDA) Scheme.
vi. A Visit India Year 2009 Scheme has been announced by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments, for incentivising travel to India during the period April to December 2009.Scheme details have been hosted in the www.incredibleindia.org website of the Ministry of Tourism for worldwide publicity.
- Local forecast for next 24 hours (Gangtok & its neighborhood):
Partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy towards evening (.) Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 22°C and 14°C respectively (.)
- Gangtok city forecast of Max., Min. & Wx. Condition.
| Valid for the period | Max in oC | Min in oC | Rainfall in mm | Wx condition |
| Next 24 hours | 22 | 14 | 000.0 | Partly cloudy sky. |
| Next 48 hours | 22 | 14 | 000.0 | Partly cloudy sky. |
III. Met data dated 14.10.2009
| Today’s Sun sets at (in IST) | 17:05 | Tomorrow Sun rises at (in IST) | 05:33 |
| Moon rises at (in IST) | 02:21 | Moon sets at (in IST) | 15:01 |
| 24 hours rainfall (in mm) | 000.0 | ||
| Max Temp.(in 0C) | 21.1 | Dep. from normal | - 0.9 |
| Min Temp.(in 0C) | 14.0 | Dep. from normal | +2.0 |
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