source:The Economist

source: The Hindu

PM’s Address at the Inauguration of the New Headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has inaugurated the new headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi today. Following is the text of PM’s address on the occasion:

“ I am happy to participate in this function for inauguration of the new headquarters building of the Central Bureau of Investigation. I believe this is a state-of-the-art, green building. It is an impressive structure and I congratulate all those who have contributed to its construction. I am sure this new building will provide all of you a congenial and comfortable habitat to work in.

Over the years, the CBI has evolved into the premier investigating agency of the country. There is a loud clamour for the investigation to be handed over to the CBI, whenever there is a gruesome crime, a complex case, a politically sensitive matter or large-scale fraud. Such requests come from all parts of the country and from governments of different persuasions. It is quite common for High Courts, and even the Supreme Court, to entrust cases considered complex or sensitive to the CBI for investigation. Over the years the CBI has acquitted itself well as an independent, professional and competent investigating agency. It has set benchmarks for other investigating outfits in the country to emulate. But there is room for improvement. I would urge the officers of the CBI to strive tirelessly to set even higher standards of work.

A few days back, in the inaugural function of the Civil Services Week, I had spoken about the problem of corruption and the growing impatience of our people to see quick action for tackling it. The CBI is today investigating many high profile cases of corruption that have attracted a great deal of public attention. The handling of these cases constitutes a litmus test for you. What is expected of you is thorough investigation, fair action and quick results. The CBI should act without fear or favour and bring to book all those who are guilty, irrespective of their position or status. I would advise you to put your heads down and work hard, away from the media glare, to ensure early resolution of these cases.

It is also important for the Bureau to ensure that its judgment always remains rooted in hard evidence and is not influenced by extraneous factors. Ours is an open and free society. There will be many views and opinions on all issues. The CBI has to be sensitive to these but it has always to do what is right and correct. For an investigating agency, there can be only one guiding beacon, only one gold standard and that is the law of the land. Whoever transgresses it, how ever mighty, has to be brought to book. At the same time, the CBI has to avoid harassment to those who act in good faith in the discharge of their duties. There should be no vendetta, no witch-hunt and no harassment of the innocent. There should be no apprehension of punitive action for bonafide mistakes as we cannot afford an environment that breeds fear, inaction and indecision.

As we all know, investigation is only one part of the process to bring the guilty to book. Trials have also to be conducted, and conducted speedily. We have decided to set up 71 additional special courts for dealing with cases entrusted to the CBI. I am told that 64 of these have now been sanctioned but only 16 are operational. I would urge my colleague Shri Narayanasamy to pursue the matter with the States. We have already agreed to reimburse the costs incurred in setting up of these courts and it is necessary that the states get persuaded to provide the necessary infrastructure and personnel at the earliest.

Officers, men and women working in the CBI have a difficult task to perform. It is essential that they are looked after well and they have the necessary technical and other resources required for their work. I assure you that our government is committed to providing the CBI the manpower, the finances and the technology that the agency requires. We also stand committed to giving the Bureau the necessary independence and operational flexibility.

Let me end by wishing all the men and women working in the CBI the best in the coming years. May God bless your path.”

* * * * *

SH/SK/SM
(Release ID :71880)

Rajasthan gets Mega Leather Cluster and Investment Zone

Jodhpur-Pali- Marwar to be the Second node of DMIC in Rajasthan

Anand Sharma Lays Foundation Stone for Jodhpur FDDI

Rajasthan gets Mega Leather Cluster and Investment Zone

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry announced that Jodhpur-Pali- Marwar will be the second node of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor in Rajasthan. After a high level meeting with the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gahlot and Industry Minister Shri Rajinder Pareek at Jodhpur today, Shri Sharma informed that the first node in the state i.e. Khushkhera- Bhiwadi-Neemrana is witnessing steady progress. Final application for development of Aerotropolis to be developed in Rajasthan have been submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry. Shri Sharma assured that the matter will be vigorously pursued at the highest level. He further assured that the expenses for the construction of road between Neemrana and Bhiwadi will be borne by the Central government. The Chief Minister, Shri Gahlot assured the due diligence in land acquisition for the projects and also asked the Union Minister to consider the possibility of development of an airport in Jodhpur.

Shri Sharma also announced that one of the proposed seven Mega Leather Clusters will be in Rajasthan which will give a boost to the leather industry in Rajasthan. After laying the foundation stone of the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Shri Sharma said “in next 10 years ten million youngsters will enter the work force we need to improve the job opportunities to absorb them. Skill upgrading through institutes like FDDI is the only way to move forward.” He assured that the FDDI Jodhpur will be a state of the art institute equipped with latest facilities and world standard faculty. Land for the institute is given by the Rajasthan Government and the full expenditure to the tune of 97 crore is being borne by the Central Government.

Continuing on the topic of employment Mr Sharma said that very soon the Government will come out with National Manufacturing Policy and first National Manufacturing and Investment zone will come up in Rajasthan only. He said that the Central Government, in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan is investing heavily in the vocational training of the youth in the state. Apart from Rs 40 Crore ‘Support for Artisan’ programme through FDDI, Government is also running a Rs 60 Crore Placement Linked Skill Development Programme under which 700 youngsters of the state have been trained and placed in jobs in last six months. “Government is coming out with path-breaking policies Rajasthan needs to be ready to benefit from them” he said.

In a major announcement The Union Minister said that within next three days government will come out with the Final strategy for doubling the export in next three years.. Shri Sharma is likely to come back to the city in next two month to dedicate the proposed Spice Park to the city.


*****


DS/RKM.
(Release ID :71883)

US diplomat in Gangtok

PTI | 05:04 PM,Apr 29,2011

Gangtok, Apr 29 (PTI) Speaking on thrust areas where the US would like to collaborate with Sikkim, a senior US diplomat today said that emphasis would be on eco-tourism and finding ways for sustainable development. Clinton S 'Tad' Brown, the Consul for Political and Economic Affairs at the office of the Consulate General of the USA in Kolkata, said the US would also like to join hands for the modernization of Sikkim. �We would like to be here and collaborate and support innovative projects as Sikkim moves towards the future. We don�t want to figure out what to do overnight but build a long lasting relationship�, he said. Stressing the need for environmental conservation, he appreciated the initiatives of the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. Brown explained that scientific expertise into ecological conservation would also be an area where the US could assist in the coming days. Determining other priorities for Sikkim, he said that education, student exchange programmes, selling high-tech technology for renewable hydro- energy generation, environmentally inclined tourism and pharmaceuticals could be areas where the US investors could be interested in. �We will still spend some-time studying other areas where we can collaborate with the Government of Sikkim. We will also look at dealing with the local NGOs and how we can make their functioning more efficient. We will further study the agenda of the state government and decide on further issues. We will conduct surveys and more experts will start coming here now.We are positive that Sikkim is where we can collaborate without any �hindrances�, Brown said. "I have been to most of the Northeastern states but what I have found in Sikkim is that the people here are happy unlike other regions where violence is common. I am surprised that in Sikkim the three ethnic communities live like brothers and their cultures are interlinked. This is a phenomenal achievement in modern times which sets examples for all to follow�, he said.

US Consul for Political and Economic Affairs arrives on official visit

GANGTOK, 28 April: The Office of the Consulate General of the United States of America, Kolkata appears to be taking a keen interest in collaborating with the Government of Sikkim specially in providing the state with technical expertise and funding options.
This development follows from the reputation of proactive governance that Sikkim has earned in the recent past, the 2015 missions declared by the Chief Minister and the exemplary status the state commands amongst all the eight Northeastern states.

After the US Consulate General, Beth Payne’s visit to Sikkim in October last year, Sikkim- US ties appear to be going into the next phase now with the arrival of yet another senior diplomat, Clinton S. “Tad” Brown, the Consul for Political and Economic Affairs. It may be recalled that the Consulate General had extended her stay here in Sikkim by a week which she described as ‘an unforgettable visit to Shangrila’.
Speaking to NOW! last evening, the Consul, who is here on an official two-day visit, explained that his short visit was intended at understanding the political and economical affairs of the state. The diplomat who hails from Buffalo in New York has been in Foreign Service with his first posting in Bangladesh and then in countries like Kenya and Cameroon informed that he has been posted in India for the past nine months now with the North east region being his priority sector.
“I have been to most of the Northeastern states but what I have found in Sikkim is that the people here are happy unlike other regions where violence is common. I am surprised that in Sikkim the three ethnic communities live like brothers and their cultures are interlinked. This is a phenomenal achievement in modern times which sets examples for all to follow”, he expressed.
Adding that his visit to Gangtok was to specifically interact with different sections of society including youth, senior government officials and legislators ‘learning’ more about the state and strengthening Indo- American relations, he explained, “what we are looking here is for us to understand and bond with the Sikkimese and then focus on areas where we can provide our support.”
Speaking on thrust areas where the US would want to collaborate with Sikkim, he said that emphasis on eco-tourism and finding ways for sustainable development would be an area of intervention. Similarly, he mentioned that the US would also like to join hands for the modernization of Sikkim and that the relation of the US with Sikkim would be a long-term process. “We would like to be here and collaborate and support innovative projects as Sikkim moves towards the future. We don’t want to figure out what to do overnight but build a long lasting relationship”, stated the Consul.
Further, he stressed on the subject of environmental conservation for which he also appreciated the initiatives of the state government under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling. In this regard he explained that scientific expertise into ecological conservation would also be an area where the US could assist in the coming days.
Determining other priorities for Sikkim he added that education [student exchange programmes, selling high-tech technology for renewable hydro- energy generation, environmentally inclined tourism and pharmaceuticals could be areas where the US investors could be interested in.
“We will still spend some-time studying other areas where we can collaborate with the Government of Sikkim. We will also look at dealing with the local NGOs and how we can make their functioning more efficient. We will further study the agenda of the state government and decide on further issues. We will conduct surveys and more experts will start coming here now. We are positive that Sikkim is where we can collaborate without any ‘hindrances’, “explained the US Consul, Tad Brown.
Before concluding his interaction with NOW! Mr. Brown, who was all praises for the state, said that more US investors, students would like to come here.
“We are looking for a long lasting relation with Sikkim and have a broad outlook for the future. Sikkim and its people are contagious, remarkable and the beauty is breathtaking. We want to collaborate closely so more people from the Consulate will be visiting now. Even, I am coming back with my family for a holiday soon”, expressed Mr. Brown.
source Sikkim Now

Former President of India A P J Abdul Kalam

Gold has found its place under the sun with stronger currencies losing much of their sheen. The money printing machines are working round the clock. Inflation in developed and developing nations is emerging as one of the biggest economic threats. Hence, the fall in gold prices does not seem a very near term possibility. But its inferior counterpart, silver, has also raised as many eyebrows. Prices of the white metal skyrocketed 84% in 2010. After that it went up another 54% so far in 2011. Much of the recent rally has been fueled by investors who are piling into exchange-traded funds. They are using it to hedge themselves against inflation or currency declines. Hence, while investors are looking for more ways to invest in this precious metal, users of the metal have had a tough time.

Unlike gold, silver has plenty of industrial uses. Three fourth of the world's silver is used for making jewelry, mirrors, solar panels, plasma televisions etc. Hence the producers of these items are desperately looking for silver substitutes. Not that they have found any feasible solution yet, but the desperation to reduce dependence on the metal may bring down silver demand. Even the silver miners are worried whether they can sell more of the metal at current rates. Hence if you are amongst those who are betting on the silver rally, make sure that you keep your exposure very limited.

Comments by J Mulraj

Data source: Ministry of Human Resource Development of India

Construction work of TAPI Gas Pipeline to begin next year


Apr 28, 8:35 PM


Four nations involved in Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, TAPI, pipeline on Thursday reached an agreement on most of the terms on which gas will be sold but price of fuel and transit fee remained unresolved. Officials said in New Delhi after the conclusion of the steering committee meeting that terms of the Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) were agreed at a ministerial meeting. The unresolved issues will again come up for discussions in another meeting of the oil ministers of these countries in Kabul on 13 and 14 of May. Officials said after ascertaining the transit fee and transportation or charge for wheeling the gas through the pipeline, the four countries will meet in Turkmenistan to discuss gas price.
New Delhi raised the issue of safe delivery of fuel through the line at the meeting. Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy said at the meeting that there are issues that need to be addressed. He added that they decided regarding the price of gas, security of the pipeline, certainly of gas supply, transit fee and setting up of the consortium.
The pipeline will traverse 1,650 km of Afghan and Pakistani territories from the Afghanistan-Iran border before entering India at Fazilka, in the state of Punjab. AIR correspondent reports that the construction of the pipeline is due to start in 2012 and be completed and operational by the end of 2015.

SOURCE:livemint

NEW EARTHQUAKE WARNING IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION

Apr 27th 2011, 16:15 by The Economist online

Where the world's gold is held

THE creditworthiness of a country used to be judged by the level of its gold reserves. Under the gold standard, a fall in reserves would lead to the central bank taking crisis measures. The country with the biggest reserves in the world is, not surprisingly, America, with 8,134 tonnes. But expressed in terms of reserves per person, the picture looks very different. It is no surprise to see Switzerland at the top of the list, but why is Lebanon in second place? Its reserves were purchased when the country was the Middle East’s financial centre in the 1960s and 1970s and safeguarded through the civil war years by legal restrictions and by central-bank governor Edmond Naim, who according to legend slept in the bank to protect the hoard. China does not feature in the list at all; but gold bugs fantasise about what might happen if the people’s republic were to swap just some of its mountain of Treasury bonds for bullion.

The new great game in West Asia?

Chinmaya R. Gharekhan


With Saudi Arabia regarding itself as the leader of Sunni Muslims and Iran considering itself the protector of Shias, the game has geo-political as well as religious overtones.

A new great game seems to be on. The locale is West Asia and the principal protagonists are Saudi Arabia and Iran. Unlike the original great game of the late 19th-early 20th century, the current great game has geo-political as well as religious overtones. Saudi Arabia regards itself as the leader of the Sunni Muslim community and Iran is the self-appointed protector of Shias. The Umma technically applies to the entire Muslim fraternity but, in practice, the two branches of Muslim faith do not regard themselves as belonging to the same Umma. They might do so when dealing with or confronting non-Muslims, but between themselves they are antagonistic. The two powers are also engaged in a bitter and determined struggle for dominance in the region.

The Arab-Persian divide cuts across, at least partially, the Shia-Sunni rivalry. At the risk of slight oversimplification, it can be said that as a general rule, an Arab Shia is likely to be more loyal to his Arab identity than to the Shia faith if the latter would imply acting against the interests of his country. This was conclusively demonstrated when the Shias of Iraq fought alongside their Sunni brethren in the war against Iran for eight years.

There are a billion-plus Muslims in the world. Indeed, Islam is the fastest growing religion. Sunnis are in a majority by far; Shias might constitute no more than 15 per cent though most Sunnis would place the figure much lower. Every Sunni majority country has a Shia minority and vice-versa, but the size of the minority varies. There are four Shia majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan. The rest are Sunni majority states, with some having significant Shia minorities. In Pakistan, 20 per cent of the population is Shia, Kuwait has about 25 per cent Shias, and Yemen slightly more. In Lebanon, Shias form 35-40 per cent of the total population, while in Egypt the percentage is negligible. Afghanistan has a significant Shia population in its western part, along the border with Iran.

The differences between the two schools emerged soon after Prophet Muhammad's death in 632 over his succession. One group, later known as Sunnis, wanted an elected successor and chose Abu Bakr; the other group, which eventually came to be called Shias, insisted that the succession pass through the Prophet's bloodline and wanted his nephew and son-in-law Ali to be the successor. The two parted company after the death of Ali who became the fourth caliph, more particularly after Hussein, Ali's grandson, was killed by the Sunni caliph of Baghdad. Ever since, the hostility amounting to enmity between the two groups has claimed many lives.

In several Sunni majority countries, Shias may not even be recognised as Muslims. This was the case in Saudi Arabia until a few years ago. In Pakistan, Shias are regularly targeted and killed by Sunni extremists. Even today, the sub-sects of the Shias, such as Ismailis (Seveners) and Ithnasharis (Twelvers), are considered heretics. In Tehran, a city of 16 million, the small Sunni population does not have a single place of worship of its own; there are differences in the rituals of the two groups. When this writer visited Iran some time ago, the locals invariably referred to fellow Shias as Muslims and the others as Sunnis or Sunnas.

The tensions between the Shias and the Sunnis got greatly exacerbated after the American intervention in Iraq in March 2003. The majority Shia community had been repressed since the state of Iraq came into existence in 1932. This continued during Saddam Hussein's reign though he did place some Shias as well as Christians — Tariq Aziz being the most well-known example — in prominent positions. The Shias suddenly found themselves in power for the first time ever and decided to take their revenge on the Sunnis. The result was a bitter and bloody sectarian strife which claimed thousands of lives. Entire neighbourhoods were ethnically, or rather communally, cleansed and people changed names. Most of those who sought refuge in Jordan and Syria were Sunnis. But the most significant consequence of the American intervention, not intended by any means but anticipatable, was the increased space it created for Iran to interfere in the affairs of the region and to become a significant regional player.

The situation today is that Iran has a major voice in Iraq, Lebanon through its proxy Hezbolla which is a predominantly Shia group, and Palestine through its support to Hamas which is a 100 per cent Sunni movement. In Afghanistan, Iran has vital interests as well as influence, and any solution to the Afghan problem would need Iran's cooperation which it is willing to offer but only on its terms which have a lot to do with its dispute with the U.S. and others over its nuclear programme.

Ever since the Islamic Republic was born in 1979, it has boldly pronounced its policy of exporting the Islamic revolution. When the Egyptians poured into the Tahrir Square in January-February this year, Iran claimed the phenomenon as success for its revolution, but clamped down sternly on its own people wanting to demonstrate in Tehran's Azadi Square. The ‘Arab Spring' of 2011 has opened up fresh opportunities for Iran in its neighbourhood, especially Bahrain. Bahrain's ruling family is Sunni, while the Shias account for 65-70 per cent of the population. When the Shia community protested peacefully at the Pearl Square, there were credible reports that Iran was not involved in the beginning. Once external forces, primarily from Saudi Arabia, entered the scene and used significant force to suppress the protests, Iran made its intentions clear. Although it continues to deny any involvement, it is entirely believable that Iran is doing its best to help fellow Shias in Bahrain by whatever means, short of physically sending its militia. It is noteworthy that many Iraqi voices are expressing strong disapproval of the crackdown of the Shia population in Bahrain, especially the Saudi intervention. Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has warned that the Saudi action could launch wars of religion in the Middle East. Ayatolla Ali Shistani, the most powerful leader of the Shia community in Iraq and beyond, has demanded that the Bahrain authorities not use force against the protesters and has called for a dialogue.

In the years immediately following its attack on Iraq, the U.S. tried to cobble together a coalition of ‘moderate' Sunni states to contain Iran's growing influence in the region. Israel could not obviously be a part of this grouping but it fully supported the effort. During the visits by this writer to the countries in the region, it was made clear to him that Iraq's neighbours would not remain silent and inactive if the Sunnis there came under serious danger. The situation did not escalate to that level; neither of the regional powers wanted to risk war.

The interesting point is that it is Iran, the lone Shia superpower which does not have the economic clout of Saudi Arabia, which has adopted an aggressive posture whereas the Sunni states seem to be on the defensive. Iran feels isolated, encircled and threatened by hostile American forces as well as by what it might perceive as antagonistic Sunni states. It is this which perhaps makes the Iranian regime more motivated and forceful in its diplomacy and actions. The feeble attempts by the Americans to discourage Saudi Arabia from sending its troops into Bahrain not only did not succeed but also led the Saudis to the conclusion that they must be on their own when it came to defending their regime and checking Iran's growing influence. If Bahrain's Shias succeed in gaining a share in the power structure, the Saudis will feel truly threatened, given that its Shia community, accounting for about 10 per cent of the population, is concentrated in its eastern territory where its oil assets are located. Any prospect of Iranian influence on the mainland of Saudi Arabia will be a nightmare to its ruling dynasty.

It is perhaps too late to soften the Shia-Sunni, Iran-Saudi tensions. Even if the Sunni-ruled states satisfy the demands of their Shia populations to some extent, Iran will continue to press home the advantage that has come its way recently, consolidate and build on it. The Americans will certainly not watch this game passively.

It will be fascinating to watch how this new great game plays out. We in India do not have much to worry about its implications domestically, since we are the most inclusive multicultural and multireligious society in the world, bar none. But externally, this great game will demand an agile foreign policy approach, which might demand a new form of non-alignment or dual alignment.

Bhawani Singh's grandson crowned Maharaja of Jaipur

Mohammed Iqbal

Share  ·   Comment   ·   print   ·   T+  

Padmanabh Singh being greeted by the royal household staff after his coronation at City Palace in Jaipur on Wednesday. Photo: Rohit Jain Paras

 

Teenager Padmanabh Singh — grandson of the erstwhile Jaipur ruler, the late Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh — ascended the titular throne of the Pink City at a magnificent coronation ceremony at the City Palace here on Wednesday.

Brig. Singh died on April 17 at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness and on completion of the mourning period Padmanabh was coronated.

Brig. Singh had adopted Padmanabh, son of his daughter Diya Kumari, as the heir to the Kachwaha Rajput dynasty at a grand ceremony in November 2002.

Padmanabh, 13, lit the funeral pyre of Brig. Singh at the royal family's crematorium at ‘Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan' here last week. The unassuming teenager was called from Mayo College in Ajmer, where he is studying, to join the mourning.

Wednesday afternoon's solemn ceremony was attended by a galaxy of scions of the erstwhile royal families — the former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje and present Arts and Culture Minister Bina Kak were among them.

Padmanabh's coronation in the royal grandeur was followed by the presentation of a guard of honour by an imperial contingent and salute by firing of cannon 12 times. The newly designated titular Maharaja took the salute with poise while holding a sword.

Padmanabh, who has inherited the vast wealth of the former Jaipur rulers, will also squarely face legal disputes pending in connection with a huge chunk of properties. Many of the royal buildings have been given on lease to the State government for a token amount.

Members of the royal family are involved in litigation over distribution of ancestral palaces and enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, precious gem stones, artefacts and antiques. Brig. Singh's stepmother, the late Gayatri Devi, was one of the litigants.

Brig. Singh's decision to declare Padmanabh his successor met with opposition as the young crown prince's father, Narendra Singh, had been a member of the royal household staff. The late Maharaja's two stepbrothers had stoutly opposed the move, leading to a rift within the family.

Some Rajput groups called upon Brig. Singh's wife Padmini Devi after the Maharaja's death to select a successor from among the sons of his stepbrothers or from any royal family of the erstwhile Rajputana. According to them, Padmanabh's coronation would “break the royal lineage” and damage the princely State's dignity.

The adoption ceremony for Padmanabh was the second at the City Palace after a gap of 81 years. Brig. Singh's father, Sawai Man Singh II — originally from Isarda — was also adopted at the same venue by the then ruler Sawai Madho Singh II in 1921. Brig. Singh, born in 1931, was the natural successor of Man Singh II.

After the coronation ceremony and other rituals, the titular Maharaja Padmanabh went straight to the city deity Govind Deoji's famous temple in the Walled City here. He was accompanied by his parents and Padmini Devi.

source:the Hindu

11.87 crores Sikkim Lotteryt to Bharat Thakkar

Luck & 6 digits changed it all for the trio

TNN | Apr 27, 2011, 01.12am IST

For Mulund resident Bharat Thakkar, a paltry sum of Rs 10, a set of six digits and a stroke of luck completely turned his life around recently when he hit a jackpot of Rs 11.87 crore. Wary of the attention his newfound wealth is likely to bring him, Thakkar chooses to be reticent and veil his exuberance even as the lottery company lines up celebrations for his win on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old has been closely guarding the good news for days. "I want it to be a surprise for my wife," is all he divulges. Admitting that the "rich feeling" and the sudden spotlight were all new for him, Thakkar apparently does not want to take any risk. Still unsure of how he will spend his bounty, the former real estate agent philosophically says he will follow the path life takes for him.

Thakkar is among two other winners of the Playwin lottery organized through the Sikkim government. "This is the largest sum we have given out at one shot," said Tsegyal Tashi, director Sikkim state lotteries, Sikkim government.

Like Thakkar, the other two winners also entered the crorepati league, by a mere twist of fate.

It was on a holiday to Kolkota that Dombivli resident Satish Algur (40) picked up his ticket. On returning home two days ago, he was greeted to the overwhelming tidings of his win of Rs 2.14 crore. The realisation is yet to sink in, says Algur who has already started conjuring up images of his dream home. Typical of any home buyer's worry in this space-crunched city, Algur who holds a job at a private firm jokes that he would need another lottery to afford the sky-high real estate prices in Mumbai.

The third winner, Bharat Krushna Vanarase from Pune, has arrived in Mumbai with his entire family; the smiles on his wife and daughters' faces speak volumes for the joy the Rs 7.77 crore jackpot has ushered into their household. A bank cashier on the brink of retirement, 59-year-old Vanarase has spent his life dabbling in notes, but the enormity of his win has left him speechless. A father of three, Vanarase has been dutifully picking up lottery tickets for the past 10 years, often at the cost of being reproached by his wife, Bharti. Today, she puts down the family's fortune to a stroke of luck. "I never thought I would win such a huge sum. We thank God for it," says Vanarase, who sheepishly adds that he has picked up another lottery ticket this week, just out of old habit.

Lobsang Sangay is new PM of Tibetan government-in-exile

source:iSikkim

Lobsang Sangay, a Harvard educated will be assuming the responsibilities of Prime Minister of Tibetan government-in-exile.

A 43 year old Harvard-educated academic won through the democratic process. Around 85,000 of the 150,000 Tibetans who live in exile cast their vote at the elections to choose the political successor of His Holiness Dalai Lama.

Lobsang was born in a Tibetan refugee camp in India’s hill station of Darjeeling in 1968. He was favourite from the very beginning because of his age (youngest among all the contenders) and also because of his education.

He won 55 percent of total votes and was a clear choice over Tenzin Tethong, a former representative of the Dalai Lama in New York and Washington and Tashi Wangdi, who has run half a dozen departments of the government-in-exile.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, 2011, declares that he will devolve political leadership and put the matter for the Tibetan Parliament in exile to decide the fate of the future Tibetan polity.

Sangay is currently based in United Sates for the past 16 years, is expected to move to Dharamsala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based, before he officially takes office in August.

In an interview to media Lobsang Sangay said “It’s humbling and also an honor and a privilege that Tibetans have entrusted their hope and aspirations in me, and I will do the best in my capacity to live up to the expectations of Tibetans”.

His experience in Harvard would come handy in dealing with the foreign affairs of Tibetan government-in-exile.

Mr. Sangay asserted that his top priority is to “end the suffering of Tibetans inside Tibet, to have the Chinese government recognize the identity and dignity of Tibetans and to find a peaceful way to address the issue of Tibet.”

He equally stressed on the need to improve the welfare of exiled Tibetans, particularly the younger ones.
But road for newly elected PM would not easy. Lobasag will have to face a daunting task of fitting in shoes of the Dalai Lama.

The new prime minister is expected to take office after the term of the current prime minister ends in August 2011

Apr 26th 2011, 17:30 by The Economist

Rich countries are outsourcing carbon-dioxide emissions

WHEN a country reports its carbon emissions to the United Nations, it is the carbon dioxide that goes out of chimneys, exhaust pipes and forest fires of the country’s own territory that gets counted. But what about the carbon emitted elsewhere by people making goods that the country imports? A paper just published in PNAS by Glen Peters and colleagues from Cicero, a research group, looks at how the world’s carbon emissions get reapportioned when the carbon used to make traded goods and services is charged against the account of the ultimate consumer, not the initial producer. So while Europe may pride itself on emitting less carbon from its own territory than it did in 1990, from a consumption point of view the carbon embodied in imports from China alone all but cancels out the gain. In general the study finds that net embodied carbon imports into developed countries grew from 400m tonnes in 1990 to 1.6 billion tonnes in 2008—a growth rate faster than that of the world economy or global carbon

Govt. confident of achieving set target of 62000 Mega Watt capacity additions: MoS Power


Apr 27, 1:45 PM
Government says it is making all out efforts to tap the potential in power generation to meet the demand and supply gap in the country. Speaking at a Conference on Promoting Investment Opportunity in Power Sector in South Asia, the Minister of State for Power, Mr K.C Venugopal said the country has achieved a significant installed capacity of 1 lakh 72 thousand Mega Watt but the shortages have been in the range of more than 8 per cent in Energy and 10 per cent during the peak hour demands. He said that government is also confident of achieving the set target of 62000 Mega Watt capacity additions.
Mr Venugopal said, it is estimated that SAARC power grid linking Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka has the potential to install at least one lakh Mega Watt in the region for common use among its member- countries. The minister also said that the problem of acute energy defecit in South Asian Countries can be addressed by promoting investment in power sector and also by integrating the region by SAARC grid to leverage cross border trading of power. Mr Venugopal also added that the success of power trading between Bhutan and India has encouraged the two countries to take up more hydro projects as Bhutan is supplying over 1200 Mega Watt to the Indian Grid.

STDC goes online with G2C travel portal

GANGTOK, 26 April [IPR]: Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Ltd launched its G2C (Government to Customer) travel portal www.sikkimflygov.in on 22 April, during the closing ceremony of the International Rhododendron Festival held at Uttarey, West Sikkim.
STDC has become the first government organization to venture into airline ticketing with the launch of this portal which has been developed on a Public Private Partership (PPP) model in collaboration with ZETA Travel Technologies Pvt Ltd, informs a press release. This portal offers cheap and reliable airfares apart from various tour packages within Sikkim like village tourism (homestay) pilgrimage tours, trekking etc.
The government of Sikkim has declared the tourism industry as a thrust industry to promote tourism based economics and to act as the key agent for sustainable economic development. This venture has been conceptualized to make Sikkim a tourist destination by choice and to facilitate self employment opportunities and result in entrepreneurship development in various corners of state, the release further informs.

source:sikkimnow

sourceLivemint

    Students of moden school displaying a cultural show

Regional Parties and their efficacy in advancing Nation Building”

Regional Parties and their efficacy in advancing Nation Building”
source:Sikkim Now

Keynote lecture delivered by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at Jamia Milia Islamia on 25 April, 2011
I am thankful to the Jamia Milia Islamia for the invitation extended to me to speak on the subject “Regional Parties and their efficacy in advancing Nation Building”, which is appropriate and has gained prominence now in the Indian political discourse. Our Country is so vast and diverse that it is virtually impossible to reach out to every nook and corner. The ethos and the social fabric of each corner of the country thus remain unheard of or unattended to. Our forefathers have designed the Constitution well, where the hopes and aspirations of all citizens can be transformed into reality within its framework.
The Sikkim Democratic Front Party, of which I am the Founding President, is governing the State of Sikkim for the last seventeen years. The people have reposed confidence in my party in overwhelming terms. I respectfully bow to this honour. My commitment has been to rise to their expectations as their first servant to improve their quality of life. I am relentlessly pursuing this goal with all the energy and enthusiasm at my command. Since the people are the masters, we can go full course to take all possible measures in socio-cultural upliftment on all issues falling under the State Subjects in the Constitution of India. Therefore, duly advancing and ensuring an environment of social equity, equality of access to rights and opportunities with particular focus on the welfare of the weaker sections.
I am, therefore, fully aware that I might be better positioned to make a claim that Regional Parties do, in fact, have greater leverage and innovation in advancing effective nation building. I might also intertwine regional parties with smaller States.

I take this opportunity to refresh you briefly the history of how we became the 22nd State of the Indian federal system. The events prior to the independence of the country in 1947 had a deep impact in the minds of our forefathers in Sikkim. The people of Sikkim then wanted to emulate the achievements brought about by the Freedom Fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Dal Bahadur Giri and Maj. Durga Malla and such other host of Indian leaders. This led to a democratic upsurge in the Kingdom of Sikkim in 1949. Much later, the seeds sown thus bore fruit under the astute leadership of L.D. Kazi, the first Chief Minister of a democratic State.
I, as a teenager deeply impressed as a democratic soldier was swept into the popular people’s movement for self-determination and self rule. Therefore, based on free choice and collective wishes of the Sikkimese people, Sikkim entered into the federal structure of the Indian union in May 1975.  From both a national and a regional perspective, I can imagine no greater proof of national integration and patriotism than this.
Today, our State is known as progressive, peaceful, green and innovative. Flourishing tourism travel to our State is indicative of this. We are therefore showing greater result oriented leadership amongst smaller States. This has a lot to do with the way we have brought about a high level of social justice. All pro-people policies have to have a strong element of social justice. Therefore all sections of our society are woven into a single identity of being Sikkimese. We are deeply proud of this fact.
I would like to add that our government has successfully redefined the concept of a border State. Peace, communal harmony, security, growth and development are indicators of this. Our people are free from insurgency, terrorism and fear psychosis. We have proved this in these actual terms thus making a great contribution towards advancing nation building.
The Nation is already 64 years into independence and democracy. Now we have enough grounds to argue and conclude that issue of contribution towards nation building is irrespective and independent of mainstream party or regional party, large party or smaller party, party at the centre, region or otherwise. All parties have contributed as much as so many other people and institutions.
Two questions need to be considered. One is whether deepening of democracy, which is always good thing, is furthered by initiatives at the regional level and by regional parties? The other is whether regional parties are better suited and positioned to further the goals of development like eradication of poverty, providing better healthcare and access to quality education?
Briefly, I would say that at the micro level and in the eyes of the common man, nation building means providing basic necessities for sustaining the lives of the millions in our country. In addition, we need to provide a healthy ecosystem for our youth to be able to get gainful livelihood opportunities. There are other aspects to Nation building but we need to look at it from the perspective of the general masses.
Regional parties in the length and breadth of Country have come to being as expressions of people’s aspirations which is both constitutional and democratic. Hence, they do manifest deepening of democracy and not taking anything away from it. I will try and argue that both the questions are well served by the Regional Parties. There are three dimensions that I will deal with in my argument.

Knowledge and proximity
Regional parties, by its very definition and nature, will have the advantage of having firsthand knowledge of the local situation. Hence giving full backing to the Panchayati Raj Institutions is a pointed response to this knowledge. PRI has been playing a great role in making development happen in the villages of Sikkim. We were privileged to be awarded the first Nirmal Rajya Purashkar by the President of India. Our endeavour has been to make our villages as self-sufficient units which are also self-governed. This is definitely a major contribution in deepening of democracy. Another interesting aspect is the global challenges that are looming large. This makes local and regional challenges even greater, for instance, with climate change. A policy has to be made centrally but action on the ground has to be done locally. Besides what can be done in the mountains is very different from coastal areas. Mahatma Gandhiji had all along stressed the need for local action and planning. It is only now, after so many years, we are finding that he was correct.
Our other actions in banning grazing in the forest areas, reducing use of plastics and the subsequent efforts in greening Sikkim through harit kranti, green mission and ten minutes to earth, adds tremendously to the rich biodiversity. With over 85 percent of forest cover, I feel proud to have been recognized as the Greenest Chief Minister of India by the Centre of Science and Environment.  While we guard the Himalayan borders with other countries, we also add to environmental and water securities for the country. We therefore forego many development options generally available with lowland States. We however, find that at the national level, these sacrifices we make are hardly accounted for.
All these achievements clearly suggest that our appreciation of the ground realities is so much better. It is not coloured by central level politics or national parties and this helps. National parties cannot adequately appreciate the problem of mountain areas, like Sikkim, which has come to the mainstream much later. The sweeping parameters and policies adopted by the national party and national leadership do not generally factor in the hopes and aspirations, needs and requirements of regional and smaller States. On the other hand, we can appreciate local problems and are better suited to represent the larger interest of citizens based on the situational analysis of a particular region or area.
This should be considered positively as a mark of widespread political consciousness growing among the citizens. Mainstream parties should be able to understand that this is a happy development to see that the regional parties are contributing towards nation building in a better and effective manner in their region and their States.
Regional parties with certain defined political programs and slogans based on region specific or area specific needs can always promote emotional proximity and physical compactness in terms of advancing national integration.
I have experienced obvious advantage of leading my party and government in terms of a more focused development intervention at a very local level based on the felt needs to bring about speedy progress. This has led to my Government making significant progress in sectors like social justice, education and health. We have ambitious targets of poverty free mission, kutcha house free mission, Organic State mission and so on by 2015.

Regional aspirations and smaller States
What are problems being faced by smaller states? What are the downsides of being regional a regional player? Problems besetting smaller states are not proportionate to the size of the State in question. Smaller states have same degree of paraphernalia like we find in bigger states. Budget formulation and annual plan finalization is done as per the Gadgil Committee formula taking population ratio as the criteria. Due to scanty allocation, we get little elbow room to manoeuvre our development options in the State. Our voices fail to reach the corridors of power in the Centre. In the Parliament too with only one Lok Sabha MP and one Rajya Sabha MP, everything becomes rather difficult.
We feel the pinch as major benefits are taken away by the Ministries headed by MPs from larger States. Sometimes we pine that a new system should be formulated for allocating number of MPs on the size of small states and larger states and not on the basis of population in the states. While we follow all the central policies and the guidelines but at times, perforce, we have to think in terms of protecting our demographics from the growth of people coming from other parts of country.
Smaller states have little or no influence over the policy direction undertaken by the Central Government. Party with greater number of MPs has greater say over the running of the Central Government. For example, after Sikkim’s merger with the Indian Union in 1975, not a single Cabinet berth has been allotted to Sikkim’s MPs and not a single Sikkimese has been appointed to any constitutional post. Smaller State like Sikkim has no representative in the Central Government. This tends to puncture our self esteem and a sense of dismay settles over when any regional aspiration is seldom honoured.
Unless there is overall development and safety ensured for all people living in villages and from the poor sections of the society, the country cannot prosper. For this to happen, people must have easy access to widespread opportunities, rights and power including larger interest group like the tribals, dalits and other backward classes. Why is there a burgeoning demand for regional identity and new statehood demands? This is basically to seek security and development among the marginalized section of people. Instead of browbeating and subduing popular aspirations, it is necessary that justice is done to all the citizens of the country.

Understanding of Nationalism
Under Indian federalism, a cordial centre-state relationship and cooperation is a must and everyone should respect people’s mandate both at the state and centre. This will mean respecting democracy in letter and spirit. However, when there is unfounded contest between parties as being bigger or smaller, influential or less influential, this will lead to weakening of Country itself.
In order to strengthen our understanding of national unity, we may need to revisit stereotype thinking and obsolete outlook both in terms of country’s strength and understanding of nationalism. In the same context, I suggested earlier and still say why not substitute the word ‘Sindh’ in our National Anthem with the word “Sikkim”? The basic fact is when India became independent Sikkim was not in the national mainstream. Now has not that fact altered? This will further cement the edifice of emotional integration and justice done to the peace-loving citizens of India.  Please forgive me, if I am blamed for inviting storms into a tea cup!
While we are emerging as one of the leading economies of the world, there is definitely a problem of general disenchantment among people when they look upon the political system. People are losing faith on the political establishment and political leadership. But is the political leadership alone to be blamed? Can sweeping generalization not do injustice to ideal politicians in the country, who have been working so hard sincerely, honestly and so diligently? How do we repay them for their selfless service to the country? The people are responsible for providing an alternative. While choosing their representatives, are not people accountable for making the right choice? People need to live with rights and responsibility. Unless they are capable and competitive to live as responsible Citizens, it is wrong to blame the system and leadership alone. This is no solution and we are, therefore, finding that the Constitution itself is under threat.
Nation Building is a complex exercise. Regional aspirations and their democratic outpouring is healthy and does help in making regional parties more flexible and innovative in listening to and addressing the aspirations of the people.
Having had had the enduring experience of leading a regional political party and the government since 1994, I have overcome temptation and incitement for moving away from remaining regional in character and spirit. This has, indeed, strengthened our regional claims towards consolidation of national governance, collective well being and overall prosperity of the Nation at large. And next time, I stand with you, I am sure I will have not changed my mind, my ethos and my political position.
At the end, while taking the debate forward, I would always welcome your suggestions to make our exercise mutually beneficial to benefit our people, our region and our Nation.
[courtesy: IPR Department]

Sikkim must be absorbing over 2 cr tonnes of carbon dioxide valued at 40 billion dollars ?

Sunderbans absorb over 4 cr tonnes of carbon dioxide

PTI

Share  ·   print   ·   T+  

The Hindu A tiger at Sunderbans. File Photo

 

Protecting the world from the adverse affects of climate change, the Sunderbans forests play a crucial ecological role by acting as a carbon sink and absorbing more than four crore tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, according to a recent study.

Having 2118 sq km of total mangrove forest cover, the Indian Sunderbans have soaked in 4.15 crore tonnes of carbon dioxide, valued at around $79 billion in the international market, researchers from the University of Calcutta said.

“Mangrove trees act as a natural tank for carbon dioxide storage. They absorb carbon for their own needs, which is a boon for us. The more such biomass we have on earth, the more CO2 will be pulled from the atmosphere. This will ultimately result in controlling the rise of atmospheric temperature and the subsequent climate change,” Prof Abhijit Mitra, who led the research, told PTI.

This process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir is known as carbon sequestration.

As a primary greenhouse gas, large-scale CO2 emission is responsible for global warming as it leads to a rise in sea levels and temperature, adversely affecting agriculture, fishery and human health.

With funding from the Union Ministry of Earth Science and the state forest department, the two-year-long study of the carbon sequestration efficiency of the mangroves was done by the varsity’s marine science department.

Out of the total amount of carbon tied up in earthbound forms, an estimated 90 per cent is contained in the world’s forests. For each cubic foot of merchantable wood produced in a tree, it has been estimated that about 15 kg of carbon is stored in total tree biomass.

To evaluate carbon stocks in the above-ground biomass (AGB) of three dominant mangrove species (’Sonneratia apetala’, ‘Avicennia alba’ and ‘Excoecaria agallocha’) in the Sunderbans, carbon content in stem, branch and leaf biomass was estimated using laser beams by the team of ecologists.

The estimates done in the study, however, exclude the below-ground biomass found under the soil.

Atanu Raha, the state’s principal chief conservator of forests, pointed out that the results are positive as there has been no degradation of forest cover in the Sunderbans.

“In the core forest area, there has been no degradation due to human intervention. Only few forest trees have been lost due to natural reasons beyond our control,” he said.

The unique biological productivity, taxonomic diversity and aesthetic beauty of the Indian Sunderbans has been recognised with the crowns of World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve in 1987 and 1989 respectively by the UNESCO.

The study also found that the central part of the Sunderbans is a poor carbon sink as compared with the western part of the delta.

“The fresh water of Himalayan glaciers fails to reach the central part due to heavy siltation and clogging of the Bidyadhari channel. This has affected the growth of productive mangrove vegetation,” Mitra said.

Effective soil management, tidal interactions (through artificial canalisation) and sufficient flow of freshwater into the mangroves can improve the biomass production of mangrove species, the study suggested.

If the social forestry project is taken up extensively in the Sunderbans, then it might even help the government to earn carbon credit points and sell them for cash using the carbon emission trading system under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Himachal Pradesh has already done it. In the international market one tonne of carbon is valued at USD 19.

So the Sunderbans can be valued at around USD 79 billion in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide it sequesters,” said Mitra.

The carbon trading system has been recognised by the UN as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by giving it a monetary value.

Credits, that can be bought or sold in the market at the prevailing price, gives the owner the right to emit carbon dioxide after paying for it.

Sai Baba, his life and legacy


In a country that has never been short of self-proclaimed godmen peddling spiritual succour with commercial motive, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away at the age of 84 at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh on April 24, 2011, stands out as a rare phenomenon — a spiritual leader whose mass following transcended linguistic, national, and religious boundaries, who channelised the fervour and quest of millions of devotees into giving and sharing, who steered clear of divisive political and communal activities all his life. In the complex spiritual spectrum of modern-day India, Sai Baba may not have been associated with a metaphysical and transcendent philosophy like Sri Aurobindo, or the fervent devotion to the divine that often sent Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa into a trance, or the self-enquiry and non-dualism that made Sri Ramana Maharishi a silent, yet eloquent preceptor. Yet Sai Baba's simple message of love and harmony — mostly soaked in the language of Hindu philosophy, but often in a universal strain — was enough to draw the masses towards him. Among those who sought his guidance were the harried and the content businessperson, the troubled and the sated householder, politicians in search of peace, and the more humble seekers of solace from the rigours of life. His early reputation was built on a series of miracles such as producing vibhuthi (holy ash) or rings or miniature shivalings out of thin air, which invited disdain from rationalists who saw these as nothing more than sleight of hand; there were other controversies as well. His ardent devotees, on the other hand, saw the miracles as mere expressions of his divine powers, and his teachings and the manner in which he touched their lives as far more important.

Sai Baba's phenomenal mass appeal lay in his unswerving commitment to communal harmony, his encouragement of charitable activity and public-spiritedness, and his own example in building educational and health care institutions that focussed on meeting basic needs on a large scale. Among the projects executed by his Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the drinking water supply projects for Ananthapur district and Chennai city stand out. The latter effort, a Rs.200 crore project to strengthen the Kandaleru-Poondi canal through which waters of the Krishna reached the metropolis, earned the admiration of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, a non-believer who went so far as to describe Sai Baba as “one equivalent to God.” His devotees may or may not be on the lookout for a reincarnation in some remote place but for society at large, his legacy will be the message of love and harmony and the altruistic activities of his cash-rich trust that, without his guiding hand, needs to resist temptation and carry on with integrity, transparency, and imagination.

Editorial of the Hindu

Data Source: The Economist

Data source: CIA World Factbook

Sikkim Studies Programme launched in Jamia Millia Islamia

source:Isikkim

 

The Centre for North East studies, Jamia Millia Islamia launched a “Sikkim Studies Programme” in the varsity.

With this “Sikkim” has become the first state in the country to get the honor of being a specialized subject of studies in any Central University in India.

Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Centre for North East Studies welcomed the Chief Minister for the launch of ‘the Sikkim Studies Programme’ in the Third World Academy. In his opening remarks Prof Hazarika acknowledged that “there is a lacuna of serious academic research and scholarship on Sikkim. There for it is important to initiate a focused programme to comprehend the larger issues of Sikkim; the challenge of climate change, causes of social stress, issues related to border and trade and also the issues of governance”.

Sikkim is showing greater result oriented leadership amongst smaller states. It has achieved progress since it became part of India in 1975. It also contributed to the national progress, we as Himalayan state preserve the water for lower land state, provide border security and safeguard the environment.

On the launch of the programme, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling raised some serious concerns and asserted “As a politician we face the consequences as our people suffer from livelihood. We are nationalist people but people in the capital do not appreciate our effort. We need compensation to and recognition for our sacrifice”.

Chief Minister also highlighted serious issue of political power in federal democracy. He said “it is important to have more MPs in the Parliament to make your voice heard. We have only one MP and nobody care for us. We as regional party has proximity and knowledge of local situation but our voice failed to reach the parliament; it is also reflected in the scanty allocation of budget”.

IMG_0296

CM interacting with the Vice Chancellor of JMI, Najeeb Jung

Mr Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor of JMI emphasized that it is the duty of media and universities and Indian polity to focus on NE. India is just not limited to cow belt of the North or four better-off state of South. Our resources are limited; therefore we heartily appreciate the intuitive taken by the Chief Minister. We have limited knowledge about Sikkim and think that it is only a tourist place. Therefore it warrants focused research on good governance, how it has sustained peace and harmony, political stability and so on.  All such issues will be debated here and be taken to the Public domain.

Mr. PD Rai, Member of Parliament performed the ceremonial procedure and invited Mr.Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim to launched the Sikkim Studies Programme here in Jamia Millia Islamia by handing over the latter of memorandum and books to the Vice Chancellor. The CM also donated books in 53 volumes on Sikkim to the library. He said that this initiative would bridge the information gap by developing think tank and bringing people closer to the state.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by both the MPs, Shri PD Rai, Shri OT Lepcha, Shri RS Basnet, Principal Secretary to CM and Principal Resident Commissioner.

High power committee set up in blackmoney case: Govt. tells SC


Apr 25, 8:57 PM


The Government on Monday told the Supreme Court that a high power committee comprising heads of various probe agencies and specialised departments has been constituted to monitor the investigation and steps taken to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks.

The 10-member committee, which will immediately start functioning, consists of Revenue Secretary, Deputy Director RBI, Directors of CBI, Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Chairman of CBDT, Director General of Revenue Intelligence, Directorate General of Narcotics Control, Director of Foreign Intelligence Office and Joint Secretary of Foreign Trade.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told the bench that the co-ordinated mechanism has been put in place to deal with all such cases of black money and it would be headed by the Revenue Secretary. He further said that various aspects of the black money case can be probed by different agencies and it would not be limited to the present case of Pune stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan who has come under the scanner of ED and income tax department.

AIR

Mission Hospital opens ‘virtual OPD’ in Gangtok

Source:Sikkim Now

GANGTOK, 24 April: The Mission Hospital of Durgapur, West Bengal, opened a Telemedicine and Information Centre here at the Somani Building, MG Marg today. The centre was inaugurated by Dr K Bhandari, Director General, Health Services.
Speaking to media persons, Dr Bhandari informed that Mission Hospital was one of the 14 hospitals across the country empanelled with the Government of Sikkim.

“We have empanelled the hospital to provide cashless treatment to patients referred from Sikkim, a facility which is not provided by any other state in the country,” Dr. Bhandari informed. A patient, after being referred from Sikkim, needs only a letter from the Health Department to receive treatment at these hospitals after which the government pays the bills, he explained.
“All this has been possible due to the vision of the Chief Minister. A person can now get good treatment at a lesser cost,” he said and added that this facility was available for both, below poverty line and above poverty line people of Sikkim.
Meanwhile, Dr Satyajit Bose [Chairman, Mission Hospital] informed that this was the first stepping-stone in the realization of their commitment to bring “quaternary care” to the doorsteps of every individual in this region.
“We have plans to set-up a Tertiary care hospital in Siliguri, which will also offer services in all major super-specialities including cardiac, kidney transplant, neurosurgery, joint replacement, etc.,” he added.
“We have operated on a few patients from Sikkim [2 kids through Rotary] in our hospital, who experienced the high standard of our hospital which is at par with the best hospitals in India,” he said and added that the hospital is empanelled with the Government of Sikkim to provide tertiary level care to the Sikkimese.
The centre at Gangtok will serve as a ‘virtual OPD’ wherein super speciality consultation will be available through video conferencing on prior appointment. Consultants from the hospital will visit this clinic on specified days of the months, it was informed. The centre will also provide services like sample collection for routine and special laboratory investigations and will further provide all information about the services available at the Mission Hospital, package details and assist in patient’s transit to the Mission Hospital.

Rotarians undertake cleaning mission at Shanti Sthal

GANGTOK, 24 April: The Rotarians of Rotary Club of Gangtok and South, along with members of Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok, organised a ‘Safai Abhiyan’ at Shanti Sthal, the cremation ground at Ranipool.

About a fortnight ago, a group of Rotarians noticed that the floors and side walls at the cremation ground had become very dirty and that the toilets needed cleaning as well. This motivated the Rotarians to undertake the cleaning mission on Friday, informs a press release.

The Shanti-Sthall was constructed in 1993-94 by the Gangtok Rotary Club and handed-over to the UD&HD which has kept a chowkhidar there but it is mostly the Rotary Club that takes care of the maintenance of the area from time to time, the release adds.
A total of 15 members took part in this Abhiyan.

"Sindh" in the national anthem be replaced with "Sikkim"- Chamling

Sikkim has no representation at centre: Chamling


IANS, New Delhi, April 25: Emphasising that since its merger with the Indian union Sikkim has no representation at the centre, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling suggested that the word "Sindh" in the national anthem be replaced with "Sikkim" to further strengthen emotional integration of the people of the state with the country.
Delivering a lecture ‘Regional parties and their efficacy in advancing nation building’ at Jamia Millia Islamia here, Chamling said that stereotype thinking should be changed to strengthen national unity.
‘In order to strengthen our understanding of national unity, we may need to revisit stereotype thinking and obsolete outlook both in terms of country’s strength and understanding of nationalism. In the same context, I suggested earlier and still say why not substitute the word ‘Sindh’ in our national anthem with the word ‘Sikkim,” Chamling said.
The chief minister said that when India gained independence, Sikkim was not part of the Indian union.
‘Now has not the fact altered? This (by including Sikkim in the national anthem) will further cement the edifice of emotional integration and justice done to peace-loving citizens of India,’ he said.
Sikkim merged with India in 1975 to become the 22nd state of the Indian union.
Chamling, who launched the Sikkim studies programme at Jamia, said that smaller states have little or no influence over the policy direction of the central government and the party with greater number of MPs has a greater say.
‘Since Sikkim’s merger with the Indian union, not a single cabinet berth has been allotted to Sikkim MPs and not a single Sikkimese has been appointed to any constitutional post. Smaller states like Sikkim have no representative in the central government. This tends to puncture our self esteem and a sense of dismay settles over when any regional aspiration is seldom honoured,’ he said.
Chamling, who is founder president of the Sikkim Democratic Front which has been in power in the state for the last 17 years, said regional parties have ‘greater leverage and innovation in effective national building’ and ‘manifest deepening of democracy’.
He said regional parties across the country have come to be expressions of people’s aspirations and added that such parties have the advantage of first hand knowledge of local situation.
‘Our appreciation of ground realities is so much better. It is not coloured by central level politics of national parties,’ he said.
The chief minister said his state was contributing to environmental and water security of the country and had foregone many development options generally available to lowland states. ‘We, however, find that at the national level, these sacrifices we make are hardly accounted for.’
Chamling also spoke about smaller states facing budgetary constraints.
‘Budget formulation and annual plan finalisation is done as per the Gadgil committee formula taking population ratio as the criteria. Due to scanty allocation, we get little elbow room to manoeuvre our development options in the state. Our voices fail to reach the corridors of power in the centre… We feel the pinch as major benefits are taken away by the ministries headed by larger states,’ he said.
The chief minister suggested that a new system should be formulated for determining MPs on the size of states and not on the basis of population.
Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung said that larger states get greater voice and it was essential for the system to debate how to overcome the lacuna.
‘Lectures like these put these issues in perspective,’ he said.
The Vice Chancellor said that the university was an eclectic, nationalist, secular university. He said that though Jamia had been declared a minority institution its doors were open to all irrespective of caste and region.
Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Centre for North East studies, Academy of Third World Studies of the university, who moderated the lecture, said as a result of initiative taken by Sikkim, the varsity was getting response form other north eastern states to start study programmes.

Sikkim mourns the demise of Sai Baba




Governor expresses his condolences on the demise of Baba

His Excellency Shri B.P. Singh, the Governor of Sikkim has expressed his deep condoles on passing away of Shri Sathya Sai Baba. In his message to Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhara Pradash. His Excellency has mentioned that on behalf of the Government and the people of Sikkim please accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

In passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the world has lost a divine and an enlightened soul who inspired millions of people with his message of love, tolerance and compassion. Sai Baba brought relief and happiness to countless needy people both through his preaching as well as by missions that go to provide education, medical service, drinking water and other services.

The millions of devotees spread over in our country as well as abroad are testimony as his preaching have touched their hearts and encouraged them to live compassionate lives. For man’s divine nature itself is at the centre of His mission and message.

CM expresses his deep sorrow on the sad demise of Baba

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has expressed his deep sorrow and anguish over the sad demise of Shri Satya Sai Baba who left for his heavenly abode at 7.40 in the morning of 24th Aprril. Terming his death as huge loss to mankind the Chief Minister has expressed his sincere condolence to the followers of Satya Sai Baba. In this hour of grief the Chief Minister has asked the followers to be strengthened, fortified and be guided by the teachings of Satya Sai Baba. Furthermore the Sikkim Democratic Front party has also expressed their deep sorrow over the sad demise of Shri Sathya Sai Baba as baba’s contribution to the world as a whole was immense.

SIBLAC mourns the death of Sai Baba

Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee has issued a press release stating that the heartbreaking news proclaiming the demise of spiritual leader Sai Baba has caused wave of immense shock and uncertainties to all of us. It is very shocking to note that when the world still needed the guiding blessings of the Sai Baba, he is no more amid us. The release further states that late Sai Baba was an inspiration to innumerable of his followers. His noble deeds, however, shall keep on inspiring the human beings for infinite times to unfold. It further adds that we pray that in his death, the deceased spiritual leader swiftly attains Nirvana and concludes by stating that we also pray that we all are bestowed with endurance to bear with this most irreparable loss thus caused in the death of the spiritual leader.

Chinmaya Mission, Sikkim Centre pays their condolences

Chinmaya Mission, Sikkim Centre and all its members have expressed their condolences on the passing away of the spiritual master Sri Satya Sai Baba, through a press release. The release further states that the Nation as well as the whole world suffers an irreparable loss. All the Humanities rise to salute this great spiritual leader who through his teachings and Seva work relieved the sufferings of millions of people far and wide. Sai Baba taught humanity the highest human values.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail