Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

The  Indian mottled eel,  locally known as Raj Bam,   was recovered from the Singtam River at Golitar this early morning.  The snake-like fish weighed around 7 kg and was four feet long. The local people said that they had never seen this species for so long. Such mysterious-looking marine fish are also sighted from time to time on the river banks, local people added.

FROM Mizo Reporter GANGTOK, Jan 21 – Vineet Kumar, a second year IT student of Sikkim Manipal University, won the award in the social work category for his nationwide campaign on spreading awareness of cyber crime. He has conducted hundreds of cyber security awareness programmes in schools, colleges and banks. The award comprises Rs10,000 Lenovo laptop and a trophy. “The objective of the award is to give young Indians a platform to showcase their ideas and achievements,” said Kal Raman, CEO of GlobalScholar.

GANGTOK: In compliance with the Supreme Court's directive to regulate the functioning of the police in the country, Sikkim has become the first state to enforce the Sikkim Police Act, 2008, with effect from September five, an official release said on Wednesday.   Fixed tenure of two years for the director general of police, superintendent of police and in-charges of police stations were the main features of the Sikkim Police Act, it said. The Police Accountability Commission was set up under the chairmanship of retired chief justice of the Sikkim High Court R K Patra. The commission would enquire into public complaints against police officers for serious misconduct (death in custody, rape, grievous hurt and arrest without due process of law), the release said.  The complaints against policemen should be accompanied by a sworn statement by the complainants. The commission has been empowered to perform the functions of the State Human Rights Commission listed under secti...

GANGTOK, May 25: Governor Sudarshan Agarwal said the freedom of the press is the most integral part of democracy. He was speaking at the Ram Patro Memorial Award ceremony on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of SIKKIM EXPRESS as a daily newspaper at Mangla Mansion here yesterday. While stating that journalists have a greater role in leading society in the right direction, the Governor urged the local journalists to report on rural and social issues alongside carrying out initiated investigative journalism and emphasized reporting on the effective implementation of centrally sponsored schemes in particular the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the welfare and betterment of the rural folks across the State. According to him, Mass Media are the shepherds of the society and that the shepherds depen...

A. CHATTERJEE Gangtok: Mr Sudarshan Agarwal, Governor of Sikkim, recalled that Edmund Burke, one of the foremost political thinkers of 18th Century England, attributed the coinage ‘Fourth Estate’ to journalism (press). He said ‘you can hold the other three – legislature, executive and judiciary – accountable. Quoting Oscar Wilde, an eminent 19th Century British writer, he said, ‘collect facts first, distort later. Recalling his personal experience of setting up a school for the downtrodden in Uttarakhand as Governor there, and a distorted report thereof by a national daily, Mr Agarwal said, ‘I have been a victim of media distortion’. Referring Press Council of India's observation he said, ‘media should work within a Lakshman Rekha to be drawn by themselves’ and advised not to take ‘liberty as licence’. The Governor was speaking as chief guest at the ‘Ram Patro Memorial Award’ function held by Sikki...

SHIVADEEP RAI Gangtok: Government Fruit Preservation Factory (GFPF) in Singtam has launched Orange and Passion Fruit RTS (Ready to Serve) drink in 2 litre bottle, along with orange, mango, pineapple and passion fruit squash in 700ml plastic bottle with GFPF’s brand name - ‘Sikkim Supreme’. The design of RTS and quash bottle is reverted the original, old one, to maintain GFPF brand mark 200ml orange and passion fruit RTS are already available in the market. Besides, RTS and squash, Thot-ney pickle, Kapra pickle, Ningro pickle, Broccoli pickle and dried natal powder of Sishnu are also introduced by GFPF, which are available in the market in 400gm, 250 gm, 200gm and 50gm bottle and packet. The 2 litre RTS and plastic bottled squashes would be available in the market from May 24 (Saturday) at a very reasonable price, Ms Nima L Yethenpa, Managing Director of GFPF said. Altogether 57 GFPF pro...

SHIVADEEP RAI Gangtok: Paying tribute to Mary Scott, PNG School celebrated its 84th Founder’s Day in a befitting manner at the school premises on May 21. Mr. PS Tingbo, Reverend of EPCS Church (Gangtok) was chief guest on the occasion. During the function, a documentary video ‘The Touch’ was displayed to the gathering which included present and former students and teachers of PNG School and guests. The video narration revealed the journey of PNG School since its inception in the year 1924 till date. It was narrated that PNG School was founded by Mary Scott of Scotland in 1924 with the permission of the then King Chogyal. At that time there was lack of education for girls due to the ethics and culture of Sikkim. In such kind of circumstances, Mary Scott with the vision and hope to develop girls literally, visited every family and tried to convince them for girls’ education. Mary Scott...

The Union Tourism Ministry has been according top priority to development of tourism in the area, since tourism has great potential for employment generation and economic growth. This was stated by the Union Tourism Secretary Sh . S. Banerjee recently while reviewing the progress of projects sanctioned to the State Governments for development and promotion of tourism in the North-Eastern Region. He said during the 10 th plan period a total amount of Rs.319 crore was released to the North Eastern states including Sikkim , as against the mandatory provision of 10% amounting to Rs.269 crore . Similarly in the first year of the 11 th plan i.e. 2007-08, against the target of Rs.95.3 crore ( 10% allocation of the budget) the actual expenditure on the North East including HRD & publicity amounted to Rs.170 crore . Sh . S. Banerjee said out of this amount, the amount rele...

Gangtok, May 20 (ANI): Residents of Sikkim have reacted strongly to reports about China’s claim to a small tract of land in northern Sikkim. “On the one hand, China is trying to tell the international community that it has stepped back from laying claims on portions of Sikkim close to its borders, on the other hand, we keep hearing about military activities on Sikkim’s border with China,” said Ratan Gurung, a resident. “China is retracting on its commitment. It’s wrong on its part to lay claim on the area,” added Bhupal Basnett, another resident. China has made fresh claims with troops making an entry into the “finger area” which is the northernmost tip of Sikkim. The boundary area is demarcated by mounds of stones, which China has objected to. India though has told China it will not allow Chinese troops in the area, as it would mean a breach of treaty between the neighbours. The row has occurred even as the two Asian giants reopened trade across the 15,000-ft Nathu La Pass, 52 km eas...

A day after your channel reported China's attempts to lay claim to a strategically important area in North Sikkim, called the "Finger Area", TIMES NOW have gained access to the exclusive pictures of the Finger Area showing Indian patrol vehicles. Earlier, China surprised India by laying claims on a small tract of land in North Sikkim and threatened to demolish the existing stone structures there. India rebutted these claims, lodged an official protest and barred Chinese troops from entering the area. Referred to as the "Finger Area" by Indian armed forces, this territory falls north of Gyangyong in Sikkim and overlooks a strategically important valley known as the Sora Funnel. It contains several stone cairns, which are essentially heaps of stones that can be used for shelter. The exclusive pictures, which TIMES NOW have, depict the actual situation in the Finger Point area. The images, the first from Sikkim, show Indian military patrol vehicles on the Indian si...

Surya Gangadharan / CNN-IBN New Delhi: It would seem China is determined to broaden the areas of territorial dispute with India. To their claims on areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing wants to add Sikkim, which China had accepted as part of India only a few years ago. The area being claimed by the Chinese is a sliver of territory jutting into Tibet – the Indian Army refers to it as the ‘Finger Area’. Chinese troops were trying to lay a road cutting through the Finger Area that would link up their locations on either side of it. The Indian Army objected when China claimed this area during flag meetings and also diplomatically in Beijing. “This is a flat area, same height as the Tibetan plateau from where forces can be launched to cut of the Shigatse-Yatung highway,” said Lt Gen Sheru Thapliyal, explaining why the area was crucial to India. China-watchers in India say this is part of Beijing's tactics against India, probing Indian military defences on the ground, gauging the respon...

Pranab Dhal Samanta Beijing sends ‘informal’ threat to demolish stone structures in Finger Area, India protests, bans Chinese troop entry New Delhi, May 17: China has surprised India by laying claim on a small tract of land in North Sikkim, even threatening this week to demolish existing stone structures there. India has strongly rebutted these claims, lodged an official protest and barred Chinese troops from entering the area. Referred to as the “Finger Area” by Indian armed forces, this territory falls north of Gyangyong in Sikkim and overlooks a strategically important valley known as the Sora Funnel. It contains several stone cairns, which are essentially heaps of stones that can be used for shelter. The area is in the northernmost tip of Sikkim, north of a place called Gyangyong, and appears like a protruding finger on the map — hence the name Finger Area. On Thursday, at the periodic division commander-level flag meeting in Nathu La, India made it clear that it will ...

Gangtok May 14: Star Universal Resource Company Inc an American company with headquarters in New York, that specializes in making express highways, tunnels Airports the world over made a presentation on Sevok-Gangtok -Nathula expressway to the Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling at Chintan Bhawan here in the capital. The company that will also finance the entire project said that the total cost of this express highway will come to about Rs 1550 Crores.  The express highway will have tunnels and bridges with two lanes and the slope of the tunnel will be less than 3 % it will be all-weather concrete roads, open around the clock. Before coming here this project was presented to Minister DONER Mr Mani Shankar Iyer, and only about 30 km of the highway will be in West Bengal and the company h...

Gangtok, May 16: Sikkim paid rich honor to the 1973 pro-demoracy martyr Birkha Bahadur Gurung who led to the erstwhile Chogyal kingdom becoming the 22nd state of India on this day. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling posthumously awarded the L D Kazi award for Democratic Movement to martyr Gurung, who sacrificed his life in the 1973 uprising. The award carried a citation and a cheque of Rs one lakh. On the occasion of 34th State Day, Chief Minister unveiled a life size statue of Kazi Lhendup Dorji Khangsherpa, Father of Democracy of Sikkim, at Chintan Bhawan here today. "Mr Kazi's contribution was immense for Sikkim and we must take inspiration from him. Credit for today's developed Sikkim goes to him and his democratic soldiers," Chamling said. It...

NAMCHI, May 14: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today visited various places in and around Namchi, in order to take stock of the various developmental projects currently under progress here. He was accompanied by the minister, Rural Management and Development Department, KN Rai, Area MLA, Melli, Girish Chandra Rai, secretaries of all the government departments along with the officials from the South District. Mr. Chamling started his inspection from the construction site of the Ropeway near Gandhi Park here. He directed the engineers of the concerned department to ensure that the ropeway meets top standards. He also directed them to look for a good parking area near the site. During his visit to the Jorethang Road, the CM dire...

GANGTOK, May 12: Prashant Rasaily, the first runner up of the television reality show “Gateway to Hollywood” was felicitated in glittering function held at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhawan here today. The ceremony was organized by the Sikkim Filmmakers and Artist Society for his landmark achievement in the show. Shyam Pradhan, a film maker based in Sikkim and Chandra Prakash Ghimirey, a cinematographer also from Sikkim chaired the occasion as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Prashant was felicitated with a citation, shawl and a memento. Expressing his gratitude towards the Association, Prashant said he was touched with the gesture and the support that he received from the people of Sikkim. The young director said that there are very talented youths in Sikkim who are in desperate need for proper guidance and mentoring, especially in the area of filmmaking. He further expressed his desire to make a film on Sikkim for which he sought the support of the people. In his addres...

GANGTOK, May 11: Sikkim’s Prashant Rasaily lost the ticket to Hollywood by a whisker. The extremely talented young filmmaker was beaten in the finals of Gateway, a reality show aired on the Sony Pix television channel, by Bejoy Nambiar from Mumbai. The final episode, which was aired today, had its tense moments when films of both the finalists were scrutinised by the jury. While most of the jury members liked Prashant’s filmmaking techniques, especially his camera work and editing, Bejoy ultimately won the title on the basis of his strong script. ‘Gateway,’ conceptualised by Hollywood producer Ashok Amritraj, featured 18 contestants from all across India who competed intensively over several weeks to get a chance to direct a Hollywood film produced by Amritraj’...

The youngest Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University is on a drive to reformulate the varsity’s syllabus and restructure administrative policies so that there will be no dearth of wherewithal in making the varsity chapter an international success, writes DB Rai Professor Mahendra P Lama, the vice chancellor of Sikkim University, is the first youngest VC of any Indian University. He was a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and now he is keen to reform Sikkim University so as to give it world-class repute. He wishes the university to work in terms of an institutional dynamism so that it would attract students from the northeast states as well as Nepal, Bangladesh and South West China. Referring to the vision of the chief minister Pawan Chamling and prime minister Manmohan Singh, Professor Lama said, the leaders have the vision to construct a supreme University in this region, so that there will be no dearth of wherewithal in making the varsity chapter an international success. E...

SHIVADEEP RAI Gangtok: “Sikkim would be ten times better than now if education and knowledge are infused in the society”, said Prof. Dr. Mahendra P Lama, Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University. He was addressing the gathering as the chief guest at the one-day orientation programme at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre at 5th Mile on May 7. He said education is the core significant factor of the present time and Sikkim is one of the fast growing states and best in the field of education in the entire nation. He underlined the base of education saying, “reading habit is the most fundamental factor for education”. He said people of the hills enjoy everything like playing games, listening music, and watching movies. But one thing they do not enjoy is reading. “People feel hesitant and bothered about buying books and reading it though they do not feel the same ...

DB RAI Gangtok: Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society (NWCS) is an ideal enterprise of the Sikkemese women that has proved that they are now capable to be self-dependent like their male counterpart in making their livelihood. NWCS was formed in 2001 for the women who wanted to be self-reliant on their earning. To start with, the society was not so active. Members were only a few. But soon it kept pace with the changing situation and now it boasts of having its 30 permanent members who earn more than three thousand rupees per month from their society by manufacturing handmade products like cushion covers, thanka, bags etc. In the Society they are not merely employees but entrepreneurs also. “We do not only work what the workers do in firm but we innovate new items also, said M...