First examine Sikkim Subject certificates of those in the enquiry commission: AYSA
GANGTOK, November 4: All Sikkim Youth Association (ASYA) today demanded that the bonafides of those officials assisting the commission on Sikkim Subject certificates be checked first before the enquiry process begins.
The State cabinet in its recent meeting on October 31 had approved the constitution of a commission to inquire on forged or unauthorized illegal Sikkim Subject certificates. The commission is headed by retired justice RK Patra as its chairman.
Commenting on the above commission, the AYSA, inter alia, the Sikkim Subject certificates of those officials assisting the inquiry commission be scrutinized first before moving ahead. Otherwise, the objectives of the commission will not be successful, the body said.
The AYSA suggested the government to include only those officials with proper Sikkim Subject certificates to assist the commission. It added that several commissions had been set up in the past to probe into the Sikkim Subject certificates.
But these commissions did not came to a conclusion or submit a full report and only wasted public money, the AYSA said in a press statement.
source:sikkim express
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Old settlers unmoved on Pranab’s comment on IT exemption
HM Report
Gangtok, November 4: The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) has expressed indifference on the recent comment by Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee that virtually rejected the old settlers’ plea for income tax exemption. On Tuesday, Mr.Mukherjee had ruled out extending income tax exemption to about 400 families saying that the demand did not meet the criteria laid down by the state government for granting income tax exemption to the Sikkimese people last year.
When asked on the development, Mr.Suresh Agarwal, General Secretary, AOSS reiterating the old settlers’ stand said “ the union minister’s submission is as per record as on date”. He further said that the state had never said not to extend Income tax exemption to the old settlers. Hopeful on the state government’s attempt towards income tax exemption to the old settlers, Mr.Agarwal said “if the state finds fit, then the centre would recommend our cause”.
It may be mentioned here that the old settlers had demanded income tax exemption for themselves on the grounds of equality before law. Earlier, a six member high level committee of the state government had transferred the onus to the aggrieved old settlers asking them to seek legal and constitutional advice to pursue the matter with the centre.
HM Report
Gangtok, November 4: The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) has expressed indifference on the recent comment by Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee that virtually rejected the old settlers’ plea for income tax exemption. On Tuesday, Mr.Mukherjee had ruled out extending income tax exemption to about 400 families saying that the demand did not meet the criteria laid down by the state government for granting income tax exemption to the Sikkimese people last year.
When asked on the development, Mr.Suresh Agarwal, General Secretary, AOSS reiterating the old settlers’ stand said “ the union minister’s submission is as per record as on date”. He further said that the state had never said not to extend Income tax exemption to the old settlers. Hopeful on the state government’s attempt towards income tax exemption to the old settlers, Mr.Agarwal said “if the state finds fit, then the centre would recommend our cause”.
It may be mentioned here that the old settlers had demanded income tax exemption for themselves on the grounds of equality before law. Earlier, a six member high level committee of the state government had transferred the onus to the aggrieved old settlers asking them to seek legal and constitutional advice to pursue the matter with the centre.
IT RELIEF ONLY FOR SIKKIM SUBJECT HOLDERS: PRANAB MUKHERJEE
GANGTOK, November 3: Delivering yet another blow to the old settlers of Sikkim, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today made it clear that the income tax relief has been granted only to the Sikkim Subject holders and no one else.
The Finance Minister said that the income tax exemption has been given only to the Sikkim Subject holders and not for others, informed Pabitra Bhandari, Executive Editor of Nepali daily Hamro Prajashakti over phone from New Delhi.
Bhandari had questioned the Finance Minister during the inaugural session of the Economic Editors’ Conference today whether the old settlers of Sikkim can be exempted from the income tax as provided to the Sikkim Subject holders here. The meet is being organized Press Bureau of Information at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi.
Speaking to the media here over phone from New Delhi, Bhandari said in reply, Mukherjee made it clear that the income tax exemption was meant only for the Sikkim Subject holders.
The Finance Minister said that the Union government is targeting to collect Rs. 4 lakh crores as revenue from direct tax in one year and there will be no compromise on this target, informed Bhandari.
Similarly, revenue secretary PV Baidya added that the income tax relief modality had been made in consultation with the Sikkim government where only those names in the Sikkim Subject register and their descendants are eligible for income tax relief in Sikkim, informed Bhandari. Excluding them, Baidya said that others in Sikkim have to pay income tax, she informed.
The latest admission from the very top levels of the Union government deals another blow to the aspirations of the 9000 odd old settlers of Sikkim who have been clamouring for income tax exemption at par with the Sikkim Subject holders.
The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) had been recently told by the State government to seek legal and constitutional advice so that it can forward the income tax exemption demand to the Centre. The State government had also communicated with AOSS about the conclusion of the committee, which had been formed to look into their demands, there were ‘no provision’ in the Income Tax Act, 1961 for grant of income tax exemption to the left out individuals of Sikkim.
source-sikkimexpress
GANGTOK, November 3: Delivering yet another blow to the old settlers of Sikkim, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today made it clear that the income tax relief has been granted only to the Sikkim Subject holders and no one else.
The Finance Minister said that the income tax exemption has been given only to the Sikkim Subject holders and not for others, informed Pabitra Bhandari, Executive Editor of Nepali daily Hamro Prajashakti over phone from New Delhi.
Bhandari had questioned the Finance Minister during the inaugural session of the Economic Editors’ Conference today whether the old settlers of Sikkim can be exempted from the income tax as provided to the Sikkim Subject holders here. The meet is being organized Press Bureau of Information at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi.
Speaking to the media here over phone from New Delhi, Bhandari said in reply, Mukherjee made it clear that the income tax exemption was meant only for the Sikkim Subject holders.
The Finance Minister said that the Union government is targeting to collect Rs. 4 lakh crores as revenue from direct tax in one year and there will be no compromise on this target, informed Bhandari.
Similarly, revenue secretary PV Baidya added that the income tax relief modality had been made in consultation with the Sikkim government where only those names in the Sikkim Subject register and their descendants are eligible for income tax relief in Sikkim, informed Bhandari. Excluding them, Baidya said that others in Sikkim have to pay income tax, she informed.
The latest admission from the very top levels of the Union government deals another blow to the aspirations of the 9000 odd old settlers of Sikkim who have been clamouring for income tax exemption at par with the Sikkim Subject holders.
The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) had been recently told by the State government to seek legal and constitutional advice so that it can forward the income tax exemption demand to the Centre. The State government had also communicated with AOSS about the conclusion of the committee, which had been formed to look into their demands, there were ‘no provision’ in the Income Tax Act, 1961 for grant of income tax exemption to the left out individuals of Sikkim.
source-sikkimexpress
SIKKIM: Namchi is all time tourist destination
BY PRAKASH CHETTRI
Namchi: The district town of South Sikkim, Namchi, is at present the only all time tourist destination which has the potential to draw more than 1000 tourists daily by the year 2015, said the Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel on Tuesday. He was speaking as chief guest at Namchi Mahotsav 2009 which was inaugurated by Monday by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling.
Mr. Dhungel highlighted the rich tradition and culture of Sikkim which, he said, adds to the prospect of the state tourism sector to advance in national and international level. He urged the educated unemployed youth of Sikkim to take tourism as a profession in view of the development of infrastructures done by the state government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Chamling.
The cultural programme on the second day of the Mahotsav for the first time included kite festival as a special attraction. People were thrilled to witness locals, tourists and experts from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, flying kites of various designs at Assangthang Helipad from 9 in the morning. Moreover, sever colourful cultural events were impressively presented on the day.
BY PRAKASH CHETTRI
Namchi: The district town of South Sikkim, Namchi, is at present the only all time tourist destination which has the potential to draw more than 1000 tourists daily by the year 2015, said the Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel on Tuesday. He was speaking as chief guest at Namchi Mahotsav 2009 which was inaugurated by Monday by Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling.
Mr. Dhungel highlighted the rich tradition and culture of Sikkim which, he said, adds to the prospect of the state tourism sector to advance in national and international level. He urged the educated unemployed youth of Sikkim to take tourism as a profession in view of the development of infrastructures done by the state government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Chamling.
The cultural programme on the second day of the Mahotsav for the first time included kite festival as a special attraction. People were thrilled to witness locals, tourists and experts from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, flying kites of various designs at Assangthang Helipad from 9 in the morning. Moreover, sever colourful cultural events were impressively presented on the day.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
SIKKIM CONVERTING INTO PHARMA HUB
Sikkim turns into a pharma hub
By Writankar Mukherjee
Early this year, when Mumbai-based pharma major Unichem Laboratories was planning to expand its capacity, it was in a fix. The company’s existing plants at Goa, Ghaziabad and Baddi were already running at full capacity and acquiring additional land in these places would have meant a pretty high investment. At that point of time, the company started to evaluate Sikkim as another potential destination.
Bingo! It took very little effort and time for Unichem to decide on its next manufacturing hub. It was Sikkim. The tax incentives which this hilly state offered on the table was quite attractive and easily comparable to the so-called pharma-hub, Baddi, at Himachal Pradesh. Unichem at one shot decided to invest Rs 30 crore to set up an ultra-modern formulation plant. The plant is now expected to be operational in a couple of months.
Today, Sikkim is home to as many as 14 major pharma companies, which have significant investments in the state. These include the who’s who of Indian pharma sector — Cipla, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila, Alembic, IPCA, Alkem Lab, Intas Pharma, Torrent Pharma and of course, Unichem. Industry grapevine suggests even the likes of Lupin is also evaluating the state.
Believe it or not, Sikkim — which is the least populous state in the country and the second-smallest after Goa — has already attracted pharma investment upwards of Rs 2,500 crore. After Gujarat, Goa and Baddi, Sikkim is now attracting the most attention. This could have big implications, considering the fact that the country is the world’s fourth largest producer of pharmaceuticals by volume.
"Sikkim is a peaceful state and has huge potential for the manufacturing sector. There is minimal interference by the state government. It’s true the state took some time to develop and attract the pharma companies. But now it is surely at a tipping point," says Ramesh Kumar, who heads the Cipla plant at Sikkim. The Cipla unit is spread over 12 acres and has gone on stream since April 2008.
Mumbai-based drug major Sun Pharma completely buys the view. The company has plans to convert its Rs 50-crore Sikkim plant, which became operational since April this year, into a major manufacturing base. Sun Pharma manufactures solid oral finished dosages (read tablets and capsules) of its popular brands like Glucored, Gemer and Cardivas.
"Since the Sikkim plant is expected to be an important supply point for our Indian finished dosage business, going forward, it will be manufacturing a part of our top products too," exclaims a Sun Pharma spokesperson.
The company is also finding labour, power and overall cost of manufacturing to be lower in Sikkim as compared to states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Sikkim’s attractiveness lies in the multitude of tax benefits it has on offer. The inclusion of Sikkim under the Centre’s ‘North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, 2007’ in April 2007 did the trick. As part of this, all new units as well as existing units which go in for substantial expansion in Sikkim will be eligible for incentives for a period of ten years from the date of commencement of commercial production. Check out some of the incentives.
There’s 100% excise duty exemption on finished products manufactured there, 100% exemption on income tax, capital investment subsidy of 30% on the
investment in plant and machinery, interest subsidy at 3% on working capital loan and even reimbursement of 100% insurance premium. On the top of it all, Sikkim also offers attractive freight subsidy.
"The benefits which we get in Sikkim are truly attractive and in some cases even better than that in Baddi. However, the freight benefit may not have a huge impact on the pharma industry as freight cost in the domestic market accounts for just 1-2%," says Unichem Laboratories vice president (finance) Rakesh Parikh.
The scale of benefits at Baddi, such as excise, had eventually come down. In fact, the pharma sector made a beeline for Baddi around 2004-05 to cash in on the tax incentives. As many as 180 pharma units had since then set up base in Baddi. Can, then, Sikkim match up to Baddi?
While the likes of Sun Pharma feel it is still early days to truly compare Sikkim and Baddi, no one is willing to completely write off the state’s potential. "Even if we forget the excise benefits at Sikkim as such benefits are now also available in several states, the biggest draw for the state is its ten-year income tax holiday. This could mean a lot for profitable companies like us," claims Parikh.
However, a section of the industry feels the state needs to work on certain grey areas to emerge as a major pharma cluster. "Infrastructure is still the biggest concern in Sikkim. However, the good news is that the government is now emphasising on this. The state is also addressing the power situation. The recent announcement of constructing the rail link in Sikkim will provide a further fillip," says Cipla’s Kumar.
Agrees Daara B Patel, the secretary-general at Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) — the apex body of Indian pharma companies. "Certain vital factors are still missing in Sikkim. The state government needs to come up with a dedicated policy to support the pharma industry. Plus, there are issues with availability of skilled workers which again the state government can address by setting up training institutes," Patel says.
Be that as it may, analysts feel the Indian pharma companies always prefer to flock together. It had happened in Goa, Baddi and now Sikkim should not be an exception. More so, since the big guns have already tested the waters. The state has another latent edge — the Silk Route of India or the Nathu La Pass. The industry believes this could act as a shortcut for the Indian industry to tap the highly potential Chinese and CIS countries.
The pitch seems to be perfect for the next-phase expansion. "Poor marketing is a handicap which the East has perennially been suffering from and Sikkim is no exception. And it is here that Baddi had scored trumps. If Sikkim can effectively market itself and the benefits it offers, there can be no reason why it cannot emerge as the next Baddi," adds a senior executive of a Gujarat-based pharma company, which has invested in the state.
Source:ET
By Writankar Mukherjee
Early this year, when Mumbai-based pharma major Unichem Laboratories was planning to expand its capacity, it was in a fix. The company’s existing plants at Goa, Ghaziabad and Baddi were already running at full capacity and acquiring additional land in these places would have meant a pretty high investment. At that point of time, the company started to evaluate Sikkim as another potential destination.
Bingo! It took very little effort and time for Unichem to decide on its next manufacturing hub. It was Sikkim. The tax incentives which this hilly state offered on the table was quite attractive and easily comparable to the so-called pharma-hub, Baddi, at Himachal Pradesh. Unichem at one shot decided to invest Rs 30 crore to set up an ultra-modern formulation plant. The plant is now expected to be operational in a couple of months.
Today, Sikkim is home to as many as 14 major pharma companies, which have significant investments in the state. These include the who’s who of Indian pharma sector — Cipla, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila, Alembic, IPCA, Alkem Lab, Intas Pharma, Torrent Pharma and of course, Unichem. Industry grapevine suggests even the likes of Lupin is also evaluating the state.
Believe it or not, Sikkim — which is the least populous state in the country and the second-smallest after Goa — has already attracted pharma investment upwards of Rs 2,500 crore. After Gujarat, Goa and Baddi, Sikkim is now attracting the most attention. This could have big implications, considering the fact that the country is the world’s fourth largest producer of pharmaceuticals by volume.
"Sikkim is a peaceful state and has huge potential for the manufacturing sector. There is minimal interference by the state government. It’s true the state took some time to develop and attract the pharma companies. But now it is surely at a tipping point," says Ramesh Kumar, who heads the Cipla plant at Sikkim. The Cipla unit is spread over 12 acres and has gone on stream since April 2008.
Mumbai-based drug major Sun Pharma completely buys the view. The company has plans to convert its Rs 50-crore Sikkim plant, which became operational since April this year, into a major manufacturing base. Sun Pharma manufactures solid oral finished dosages (read tablets and capsules) of its popular brands like Glucored, Gemer and Cardivas.
"Since the Sikkim plant is expected to be an important supply point for our Indian finished dosage business, going forward, it will be manufacturing a part of our top products too," exclaims a Sun Pharma spokesperson.
The company is also finding labour, power and overall cost of manufacturing to be lower in Sikkim as compared to states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Sikkim’s attractiveness lies in the multitude of tax benefits it has on offer. The inclusion of Sikkim under the Centre’s ‘North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, 2007’ in April 2007 did the trick. As part of this, all new units as well as existing units which go in for substantial expansion in Sikkim will be eligible for incentives for a period of ten years from the date of commencement of commercial production. Check out some of the incentives.
There’s 100% excise duty exemption on finished products manufactured there, 100% exemption on income tax, capital investment subsidy of 30% on the
investment in plant and machinery, interest subsidy at 3% on working capital loan and even reimbursement of 100% insurance premium. On the top of it all, Sikkim also offers attractive freight subsidy.
"The benefits which we get in Sikkim are truly attractive and in some cases even better than that in Baddi. However, the freight benefit may not have a huge impact on the pharma industry as freight cost in the domestic market accounts for just 1-2%," says Unichem Laboratories vice president (finance) Rakesh Parikh.
The scale of benefits at Baddi, such as excise, had eventually come down. In fact, the pharma sector made a beeline for Baddi around 2004-05 to cash in on the tax incentives. As many as 180 pharma units had since then set up base in Baddi. Can, then, Sikkim match up to Baddi?
While the likes of Sun Pharma feel it is still early days to truly compare Sikkim and Baddi, no one is willing to completely write off the state’s potential. "Even if we forget the excise benefits at Sikkim as such benefits are now also available in several states, the biggest draw for the state is its ten-year income tax holiday. This could mean a lot for profitable companies like us," claims Parikh.
However, a section of the industry feels the state needs to work on certain grey areas to emerge as a major pharma cluster. "Infrastructure is still the biggest concern in Sikkim. However, the good news is that the government is now emphasising on this. The state is also addressing the power situation. The recent announcement of constructing the rail link in Sikkim will provide a further fillip," says Cipla’s Kumar.
Agrees Daara B Patel, the secretary-general at Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) — the apex body of Indian pharma companies. "Certain vital factors are still missing in Sikkim. The state government needs to come up with a dedicated policy to support the pharma industry. Plus, there are issues with availability of skilled workers which again the state government can address by setting up training institutes," Patel says.
Be that as it may, analysts feel the Indian pharma companies always prefer to flock together. It had happened in Goa, Baddi and now Sikkim should not be an exception. More so, since the big guns have already tested the waters. The state has another latent edge — the Silk Route of India or the Nathu La Pass. The industry believes this could act as a shortcut for the Indian industry to tap the highly potential Chinese and CIS countries.
The pitch seems to be perfect for the next-phase expansion. "Poor marketing is a handicap which the East has perennially been suffering from and Sikkim is no exception. And it is here that Baddi had scored trumps. If Sikkim can effectively market itself and the benefits it offers, there can be no reason why it cannot emerge as the next Baddi," adds a senior executive of a Gujarat-based pharma company, which has invested in the state.
Source:ET
SIKKIM: Migrants from Bihar deprived of central schemes in Sikkim
SIKKIM: Migrants from Bihar deprived of central schemes in Sikkim – BJM
November 3, 2009
FROM ZEENEWS.COM
Gangtok: In an embarrassment to the Pawan Kumar Chamling government, an apolitical body – Bihari Jagaran Manch (BJM) – on Tuesday alleged that members of the community have been deprived of the benefits of various central government schemes despite being bonafide residences of Sikkim for several decades.
“The central welfare schemes have not not been extended to over 40,000-strong Bihari migrants despite the fact that most of them have been settled here for many decades,” BJM President Swami Prasad told reporters here.
Alleging discrimination against the Bihari people in Sikkim, he said the state government authorities were not issuing trade licences to them for the purpose of engaging themselves in business activities for livelihood, he said.
The members of the Bihari communities have been made to run from one office to another to secure trade licences due to bureaucratic red-tappism with one department passing the buck on other for disposal of applications, the BJM President said.
While the Urban Development and Housing Development (UD&HD) authorities ask for residency certificate for issuance of trade licences to the migrant people, the local authorities were not issuing the document to the needy despite the fact that they have been issued voter identity cards and ration cards by the subordinate officials.
Prasad further alleged that the distress of the migrant people have been compounded further as the UD&HD authorities have taken away the licences of about 10,000 hawkers, mostly from Bihar, some months back for the purpose of verification but the papers were not being returned to enable them earn their livelihood.
Alleging the plight of the Bihari people have worsened over the years in Sikkim, the BJM President urged the Chamling government to take appropriate steps to enable the migrant people to lead a life of dignity.
The state government should also consider issuing the Sikkim Subject Certicate or the Certificate of Identification to the old settlers from the Bihari community who were living in the state by the cut off date of April 26, 1975, so that they can enjoy their socio-economic and political rights as much as the locals, he said.
On the demand for income tax exemption for the old settlers, Prasad said that it would be fair that the migrant people carrying relevant documents of their residency be considered for exemption as was the case with the indigenous people.
Prasad sought to give a clean chit to the Chief Minister for the plight of the migrant people and blamed the ‘influential bureaucracy’ in the state for the discrimination of the Bihari community.
November 3, 2009
FROM ZEENEWS.COM
Gangtok: In an embarrassment to the Pawan Kumar Chamling government, an apolitical body – Bihari Jagaran Manch (BJM) – on Tuesday alleged that members of the community have been deprived of the benefits of various central government schemes despite being bonafide residences of Sikkim for several decades.
“The central welfare schemes have not not been extended to over 40,000-strong Bihari migrants despite the fact that most of them have been settled here for many decades,” BJM President Swami Prasad told reporters here.
Alleging discrimination against the Bihari people in Sikkim, he said the state government authorities were not issuing trade licences to them for the purpose of engaging themselves in business activities for livelihood, he said.
The members of the Bihari communities have been made to run from one office to another to secure trade licences due to bureaucratic red-tappism with one department passing the buck on other for disposal of applications, the BJM President said.
While the Urban Development and Housing Development (UD&HD) authorities ask for residency certificate for issuance of trade licences to the migrant people, the local authorities were not issuing the document to the needy despite the fact that they have been issued voter identity cards and ration cards by the subordinate officials.
Prasad further alleged that the distress of the migrant people have been compounded further as the UD&HD authorities have taken away the licences of about 10,000 hawkers, mostly from Bihar, some months back for the purpose of verification but the papers were not being returned to enable them earn their livelihood.
Alleging the plight of the Bihari people have worsened over the years in Sikkim, the BJM President urged the Chamling government to take appropriate steps to enable the migrant people to lead a life of dignity.
The state government should also consider issuing the Sikkim Subject Certicate or the Certificate of Identification to the old settlers from the Bihari community who were living in the state by the cut off date of April 26, 1975, so that they can enjoy their socio-economic and political rights as much as the locals, he said.
On the demand for income tax exemption for the old settlers, Prasad said that it would be fair that the migrant people carrying relevant documents of their residency be considered for exemption as was the case with the indigenous people.
Prasad sought to give a clean chit to the Chief Minister for the plight of the migrant people and blamed the ‘influential bureaucracy’ in the state for the discrimination of the Bihari community.
DARJEELING: Mirror of 60 years of Tibetan struggle
Nov. 3: From waging an armed resistance on Chinese “incursion” to fleeing Tibet and establishing a democratic process, the entire journey of the community in exile has been brought alive in an exposition.
The Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture is currently holding the exhibition to mark the community’s 50 years of life in exile at its centre in Darjeeling and it will continue till November15.
Rare photographs of the Tibetan army training at a location called Drapchi and the violent uprising in Tibet in March 2008 adorn the centre’s wall, along with images of the refuges taking part in voting to elect representatives to the Kalon Tripa — the highest executive body.
“In 1949, the People’s Liberation Army marched into Tibet’s eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo seizing control of the headquarters at Chamdo. In 1951 a ‘A 17 point agreement on measures for the peaceful liberation of Tibet’ was forced on the Tibetan people before ultimately crushing the uprising in 1959,” said Tshering Norbu Dekeva, general secretary of Manjushree, pointing to the photographs of the uprising that took place in Lhasha in 1959.
In March 1959, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the community, along with his supporters fled Tibet and entered India through Arunachal Pradesh.
“Life was difficult and His Holiness (Dalai Lama) established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Mussorie before shifting it to Dharmasala in 1960,” said Dekeva.
A parliament named Commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies was formed in 1960 and it was named as Tibetan Parliament in Exile in 2006.
It was from 2001 that direct election to Kalon Tripa was introduced. “Every five year, the Tibetan refugees scattered across the world cast their votes. There are equal representatives to the three provinces of U-Tsang, Dotoe and Domay (the region Dalai Lama comes from),” said Dekeva.
“Representatives of the four sects of Tibetans and Bhor (a religion Tibetans used to follow before Buddhism was introduced in the country) are also elected to the body,” he added.
The transformation and efforts of the community to preserve their culture and traditions have been documented through the 200-odd photographs on display.
Nov. 3: From waging an armed resistance on Chinese “incursion” to fleeing Tibet and establishing a democratic process, the entire journey of the community in exile has been brought alive in an exposition.
The Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture is currently holding the exhibition to mark the community’s 50 years of life in exile at its centre in Darjeeling and it will continue till November15.
Rare photographs of the Tibetan army training at a location called Drapchi and the violent uprising in Tibet in March 2008 adorn the centre’s wall, along with images of the refuges taking part in voting to elect representatives to the Kalon Tripa — the highest executive body.
“In 1949, the People’s Liberation Army marched into Tibet’s eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo seizing control of the headquarters at Chamdo. In 1951 a ‘A 17 point agreement on measures for the peaceful liberation of Tibet’ was forced on the Tibetan people before ultimately crushing the uprising in 1959,” said Tshering Norbu Dekeva, general secretary of Manjushree, pointing to the photographs of the uprising that took place in Lhasha in 1959.
In March 1959, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the community, along with his supporters fled Tibet and entered India through Arunachal Pradesh.
“Life was difficult and His Holiness (Dalai Lama) established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Mussorie before shifting it to Dharmasala in 1960,” said Dekeva.
A parliament named Commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies was formed in 1960 and it was named as Tibetan Parliament in Exile in 2006.
It was from 2001 that direct election to Kalon Tripa was introduced. “Every five year, the Tibetan refugees scattered across the world cast their votes. There are equal representatives to the three provinces of U-Tsang, Dotoe and Domay (the region Dalai Lama comes from),” said Dekeva.
“Representatives of the four sects of Tibetans and Bhor (a religion Tibetans used to follow before Buddhism was introduced in the country) are also elected to the body,” he added.
The transformation and efforts of the community to preserve their culture and traditions have been documented through the 200-odd photographs on display.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Corruption stumbling block in NREGS in nation: Chief Justice Saika
Seminar on NREGS with special reference to Sikkim by High Court
GANGTOK, October 31: Highlighting corruption as a major stumbling block towards the implementation of NREGS in the nation, Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Aftab H Saika opined that the judiciary has a lot to do to help to realize the objectives of the Act enacted in 2005 by the Parliament.
Legislations are made but questions remain when it comes to the implementation part and corruption is a major stumbling block to the laudable and ambitious legislation of NREGA, said the Chief Justice while inaugurating the day long seminar on ‘implementation of NREGS in the Northeast with special reference to Sikkim’.
The seminar is in the series of activities being organized by the High Court as part of its year long golden jubilee celebrations.
Today’s seminar was organized at the auditorium hall of Tashi Namgyal Academy here at Gangtok.
In his inaugural speech, the Chief Justice said that checks and balances have to be put in the NREGS and the judiciary must introspect as to what extent it can assist in the properly implementation of the Act. He also extended full help from the High Court of Sikkim in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, Lok Sabha member PD Rai pointed out the challenges of timely payment and use of the labourers into productive work in the NREGS. Monitoring of the works done is also a challenge where the role of social auditing is very important, he said.
Rai said that the NREGS is an Act passed by the Parliament to provide livelihood security to the poor people in the rural areas and hence, there is a huge difference between NREGS and other flagship programmes of the Union government.
State Rural Development Minister CB Karki said that NREGS is a unique safety net for the poor people in the country and there is a need to translate the objectives of the Act into a reality. He said that the NREGS has completed 3 years of implementation in Sikkim and has now been universalized in all the GPUs of the State.
Karki said that around 52,000 households in rural Sikkim had participated in the programme in the year 2008-09 and a sum of Rs. 25 crores were released in payment stimulating the rural economy. Transparency has also been maintained with payments through banks and post offices and regular social auditing by reputed NGOs, he said.
The NREGS has helped in strengthening the Panchayati Raj Insitution, said the minister pointing the lack of timely payment of wages and proper maintenance of documents as the challenges faced by Sikkim in the implementation of the national programme.
Earlier, High Court Judge Justice AP Subba presented the welcome address where he highlighted the constitutional and legal aspects of the NREGS.
High Court Judge Justice SP Wangdi presented the vote of thanks.
Later in the afternoon, the working session of the seminar was held which was participated by Rural Development secretary AK Ganeriwala, Chief Judicial Magistrate (East & North) Lakchung Sherpa, Sikkim University assistant professor Binu Sundas, advocate Laxmi Chakraborty and Sikkim University assistant professor Dr Satya Brata Singh followed by an open house discussion.
Source:SikkimExpress
Seminar on NREGS with special reference to Sikkim by High Court
GANGTOK, October 31: Highlighting corruption as a major stumbling block towards the implementation of NREGS in the nation, Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Aftab H Saika opined that the judiciary has a lot to do to help to realize the objectives of the Act enacted in 2005 by the Parliament.
Legislations are made but questions remain when it comes to the implementation part and corruption is a major stumbling block to the laudable and ambitious legislation of NREGA, said the Chief Justice while inaugurating the day long seminar on ‘implementation of NREGS in the Northeast with special reference to Sikkim’.
The seminar is in the series of activities being organized by the High Court as part of its year long golden jubilee celebrations.
Today’s seminar was organized at the auditorium hall of Tashi Namgyal Academy here at Gangtok.
In his inaugural speech, the Chief Justice said that checks and balances have to be put in the NREGS and the judiciary must introspect as to what extent it can assist in the properly implementation of the Act. He also extended full help from the High Court of Sikkim in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, Lok Sabha member PD Rai pointed out the challenges of timely payment and use of the labourers into productive work in the NREGS. Monitoring of the works done is also a challenge where the role of social auditing is very important, he said.
Rai said that the NREGS is an Act passed by the Parliament to provide livelihood security to the poor people in the rural areas and hence, there is a huge difference between NREGS and other flagship programmes of the Union government.
State Rural Development Minister CB Karki said that NREGS is a unique safety net for the poor people in the country and there is a need to translate the objectives of the Act into a reality. He said that the NREGS has completed 3 years of implementation in Sikkim and has now been universalized in all the GPUs of the State.
Karki said that around 52,000 households in rural Sikkim had participated in the programme in the year 2008-09 and a sum of Rs. 25 crores were released in payment stimulating the rural economy. Transparency has also been maintained with payments through banks and post offices and regular social auditing by reputed NGOs, he said.
The NREGS has helped in strengthening the Panchayati Raj Insitution, said the minister pointing the lack of timely payment of wages and proper maintenance of documents as the challenges faced by Sikkim in the implementation of the national programme.
Earlier, High Court Judge Justice AP Subba presented the welcome address where he highlighted the constitutional and legal aspects of the NREGS.
High Court Judge Justice SP Wangdi presented the vote of thanks.
Later in the afternoon, the working session of the seminar was held which was participated by Rural Development secretary AK Ganeriwala, Chief Judicial Magistrate (East & North) Lakchung Sherpa, Sikkim University assistant professor Binu Sundas, advocate Laxmi Chakraborty and Sikkim University assistant professor Dr Satya Brata Singh followed by an open house discussion.
Source:SikkimExpress
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Geetanjali Krishna: Footprints of the mountains
October 31, 2009, 0:19 IST
We were driving in Sikkim, and the roads were so bad in parts, that all one could do was wait for sleep to lull us into oblivion. As we bumped and jerked our way across the verdant hills, I awoke to hear something pitter-pattering on the roof of our car. “We couldn’t be in a hail storm,” said I incredulously, for the sun was bright outside my window. The driver shrugged, “it isn’t a hailstorm madam. It’s a landslide!” Shocked, my husband and I craned our heads out of the window. Bad idea that turned out to be, as small pebbles hit us amidst showers of mud. The driver drove on, unconcerned. I asked him why he didn’t look more bothered and he replied: “This is a daily occurrence after the monsoons, just be thankful it is such a small one!”
Sure enough, the next bend in the mountain revealed another one. As we climbed higher and higher, we not only saw more landslides on the road, but also noticed many others on the mountains around us. As my only encounters with landslides have been within the pages of disaster novels, I was unnerved. Locals, on the other hand, seemed more sanguine. “This is a regular occurrence,” said the driver, “our elders believe that it’s the mountain’s way of showing men that their roads and mines haven’t tamed them…” This year, when the Cyclone Aila hit the North East, Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills saw over 100 landslides, resulting in over 22 fatalities and untold damage to roads and villages. “It rained continuously for over two days,” said our driver, “and the roads were impassable for a long time!”
Another time, the driver said, he found the road blocked by a landslide, and decided to turn back. “But a furlough ahead, the road had caved in thanks to another landslide — so I was forced to wait in my car for twenty four hours, hoping that the mountains won’t move again, waiting for bulldozers to clear the road,” he narrated. Local villagers, said he, shared a frugal rice meal with him, but he passed a long and cold night without any warm clothing. Ever since, he’s always prepared for the worst whenever he’s on the road. “I carry a blanket, pillow, plenty of water and several packets of biscuits. Who knows when one might need them?” said he.
Cyclones and the monsoon are, however, not the only cause of landslides — the increase in human activity on the mountains has also made the mountains restless. Illegal mining on these mineral-rich hills is rampant, and has greatly weakened the substrate on which the soil rests. There are several dams being built on the two big rivers of this region, Teesta and Rangit, which have necessitated the building of more roads, diverting the rivers from their natural course, and even tunneling deep into the mountain. The inevitable felling of trees hasn’t helped either…
We got off the car to stretch our legs, and I looked up at the awesome footprint of what the driver assured me was a very small landslide. Some of the fallen boulders would certainly do a lot more than pitter patter if they fell on the roof of a car, I thought. “You drive on these roads everyday — don’t you all ask the government what it is doing to safeguard people like you from landslides?” I asked. The driver smiled: “Look at the size of these mountains. Then look at how small we are…If the mountains decide to move, do you think we or the government can do anything at all — except to let things slide with them?”
October 31, 2009, 0:19 IST
We were driving in Sikkim, and the roads were so bad in parts, that all one could do was wait for sleep to lull us into oblivion. As we bumped and jerked our way across the verdant hills, I awoke to hear something pitter-pattering on the roof of our car. “We couldn’t be in a hail storm,” said I incredulously, for the sun was bright outside my window. The driver shrugged, “it isn’t a hailstorm madam. It’s a landslide!” Shocked, my husband and I craned our heads out of the window. Bad idea that turned out to be, as small pebbles hit us amidst showers of mud. The driver drove on, unconcerned. I asked him why he didn’t look more bothered and he replied: “This is a daily occurrence after the monsoons, just be thankful it is such a small one!”
Sure enough, the next bend in the mountain revealed another one. As we climbed higher and higher, we not only saw more landslides on the road, but also noticed many others on the mountains around us. As my only encounters with landslides have been within the pages of disaster novels, I was unnerved. Locals, on the other hand, seemed more sanguine. “This is a regular occurrence,” said the driver, “our elders believe that it’s the mountain’s way of showing men that their roads and mines haven’t tamed them…” This year, when the Cyclone Aila hit the North East, Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills saw over 100 landslides, resulting in over 22 fatalities and untold damage to roads and villages. “It rained continuously for over two days,” said our driver, “and the roads were impassable for a long time!”
Another time, the driver said, he found the road blocked by a landslide, and decided to turn back. “But a furlough ahead, the road had caved in thanks to another landslide — so I was forced to wait in my car for twenty four hours, hoping that the mountains won’t move again, waiting for bulldozers to clear the road,” he narrated. Local villagers, said he, shared a frugal rice meal with him, but he passed a long and cold night without any warm clothing. Ever since, he’s always prepared for the worst whenever he’s on the road. “I carry a blanket, pillow, plenty of water and several packets of biscuits. Who knows when one might need them?” said he.
Cyclones and the monsoon are, however, not the only cause of landslides — the increase in human activity on the mountains has also made the mountains restless. Illegal mining on these mineral-rich hills is rampant, and has greatly weakened the substrate on which the soil rests. There are several dams being built on the two big rivers of this region, Teesta and Rangit, which have necessitated the building of more roads, diverting the rivers from their natural course, and even tunneling deep into the mountain. The inevitable felling of trees hasn’t helped either…
We got off the car to stretch our legs, and I looked up at the awesome footprint of what the driver assured me was a very small landslide. Some of the fallen boulders would certainly do a lot more than pitter patter if they fell on the roof of a car, I thought. “You drive on these roads everyday — don’t you all ask the government what it is doing to safeguard people like you from landslides?” I asked. The driver smiled: “Look at the size of these mountains. Then look at how small we are…If the mountains decide to move, do you think we or the government can do anything at all — except to let things slide with them?”
ASSOCIATION OF OLD SETTLERS OF SIKKIM
GANGTOK, EAST SIKKIM – 737101.
Date: 31/10/2009.
PRESS RELEASE
The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim condemns the attempt made by Shri T. B. Rai of ASESUA to create confusion and furore on the Income Tax Exemption issue of the old settlers.
The demand of the Association is on principles of natural justice and equity and in keeping with the social harmony of the State which we are proud of.
The demands of this Association have been continuously appreciated by all concerned and at all levels, having been adopted as a resolution by the ruling SDF party, respectfully placed in the SDF party manifesto and recorded in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, holding the same as legitimate.
This Association is a non-political organization and has never made any issues regarding citizenship granted to the individuals vide Government of India notifications in 1991. In the world’s largest democracy, India, a statement from Shri T. B. Rai like “any one demanding their political rights should go back to their native place” simply reflects his poor understanding of the Noble principles enshrined in the Constitution of India.
This Association highly condemns such irresponsible statements of Shri T. B. Rai, which tend to undermine the dignity of the individual and exhibits total lack of mutual respect and tolerance and which has the potential of destroying the social fabric of our beautiful State.
Suresh Agarwal,
General Secretary,
Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim.
Gangtok,Sikkim
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GANGTOK, EAST SIKKIM – 737101.
Date: 31/10/2009.
PRESS RELEASE
The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim condemns the attempt made by Shri T. B. Rai of ASESUA to create confusion and furore on the Income Tax Exemption issue of the old settlers.
The demand of the Association is on principles of natural justice and equity and in keeping with the social harmony of the State which we are proud of.
The demands of this Association have been continuously appreciated by all concerned and at all levels, having been adopted as a resolution by the ruling SDF party, respectfully placed in the SDF party manifesto and recorded in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, holding the same as legitimate.
This Association is a non-political organization and has never made any issues regarding citizenship granted to the individuals vide Government of India notifications in 1991. In the world’s largest democracy, India, a statement from Shri T. B. Rai like “any one demanding their political rights should go back to their native place” simply reflects his poor understanding of the Noble principles enshrined in the Constitution of India.
This Association highly condemns such irresponsible statements of Shri T. B. Rai, which tend to undermine the dignity of the individual and exhibits total lack of mutual respect and tolerance and which has the potential of destroying the social fabric of our beautiful State.
Suresh Agarwal,
General Secretary,
Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim.
Gangtok,Sikkim
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