Singapore firm to draw master plan for Sikkim tourism
Sarikah Atreya
Gangtok, June 5
The State Government has entered into an agreement with a Singapore-based consultancy firm for laying out a 10-year road map for developing the growing tourism sector into another level.
According to a release from the State Information & Public Relations department, the State tourism department has inked the agreement with Master Consult Services Pvt Ltd which is based in Singapore.
The agreement was signed yesterday by the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Chrisopher Khoo, and the State Tourism Secretary, Mr S.B.S. Bhaduria, here. The company will be charging around Rs 65 lakh as consultancy fees, it is learnt.
Blueprint of strategies
The Singapore company’s blueprint for Sikkim tourism development will comprise tourism audit, strategic analysis, market development and promotion, manpower and skill upgradation and upgrading physical infrastructure across the State, the release said.
Other components of the master plan for revamping Sikkim tourism will include strategies for promotion of tourism industry, skill and manpower development of all its stakeholders, the infrastructure (present and proposed) and marketing issues among others, the release informs.
In addition to scientific exploration of the tourism prospect in the State on holistic basis, the firm will also draw blueprint for specific projects including the Uttaray Tourism Development Plan to sell many of the unexplored destinations to the outside tourists for boosting local economy.
In turn, the State Government will propose to build one tourism spot in every constituency, including promotion of adventure tourism, pilgrimage tourism, village tourism and so on, on the basis of recommendations of the consultancy firm. There are 31 territorial constituencies in Sikkim.
Tourism branding
In the proposed tourism master plan for Sikkim, tourism branding will be given special attention along with competency and standards. The State tourism department will function as a regulatory and promotion agency.
Uttaray in West Sikkim has also been given special attention in the road map with the department keen to exploit the tourism potential of this area.
Monday, June 8, 2009
SINGAPORE FIRM TO FACE LIFT SIKKIM TOURISM
GANGTOK, 4 JUNE: Tourism in Sikkim is set to get a facelift. The state tourism department has struck an agreement with Singapore-based Master Services Private Limited on 3 June and a 10-year tourism master plan is being worked out.
The plan would cover tourism audits, strategic analysis, market development and promotion, as well as manpower, skill and physical infrastructure upgrading programmes across the state.
While Mr Christopher Khoo, managing director, and Mr Teo Puay Kim, senior consultant, represented the Singapore firm, state tourism secretary Mr SBS Bhadauria and other senior officials represented the government of Sikkim for signing the contract.
The development comes at a time when the state government has pledged to create one tourist spot in every constituency. Promotion of adventure tourism, pilgrimage tourism and village tourism has also been included in the master plan. The report and the consultancy provided by the firm, it is hoped, would transform Sikkim into a premiere tourist destination.
Issues related to the historical development of tourism in Sikkim, as well as the state's tourism data, economic value and contribution, would also be covered under the master plan. The role of the tourism department as a regulating and promoting agency will be continued through the master plan to meet global standards.
(SOURCE:STATESMAN)
The plan would cover tourism audits, strategic analysis, market development and promotion, as well as manpower, skill and physical infrastructure upgrading programmes across the state.
While Mr Christopher Khoo, managing director, and Mr Teo Puay Kim, senior consultant, represented the Singapore firm, state tourism secretary Mr SBS Bhadauria and other senior officials represented the government of Sikkim for signing the contract.
The development comes at a time when the state government has pledged to create one tourist spot in every constituency. Promotion of adventure tourism, pilgrimage tourism and village tourism has also been included in the master plan. The report and the consultancy provided by the firm, it is hoped, would transform Sikkim into a premiere tourist destination.
Issues related to the historical development of tourism in Sikkim, as well as the state's tourism data, economic value and contribution, would also be covered under the master plan. The role of the tourism department as a regulating and promoting agency will be continued through the master plan to meet global standards.
(SOURCE:STATESMAN)
GOVERNOR URGED TO SAVE NATHU LA TRADE
Sikkim govt. urges Governor to save Nathu La trade
Gangtok (PTI):6 June 2009
With the much-hyped Sino-India border trade at Nathu La recording no transaction last month, Sikkim government has urged Governor B P Singh to convince the Centre to review the goods on the trade list urgently to save the bilateral trade from becoming a non-event, official sources said on Sunday.
"We have requested the Governor to take up with the comnmerce ministry the review of the goods on the trade list during his proposed visit to New Delhi in order to revive the traders' interests in the border trade", an official of the state commerce and industries department told PTI here.
A delegation of the commerce and industries department led by its director Ujjwal Gurung will visit the national capital soon to take up the matter with the Centre, he said.
At the local level, the state government held a meeting with the army and custom officials two days ago to dwell on the measures to boost border trade by way of the review of the goods list and improvement in the infrastructure between Gangtok and Nathu La, the official said.
The historic Nathu La trade hit its lowest point in May last, the first month of the resumption of trade this season, with no no transaction being recorded nor traders from either side visiting the marts for business purposes apparently to protest against the failure of the two governments to review the list of goods.
The officer said the key to resurrect the border trade lay strictly with the Centre which alone could decide the direction of the Sino-India border trade at Nathu La, he said.
Officials here concede that the traders have a point as the goods on the trade list were not not financially viable considering the costs incurred by them in import of goods.
"The state government has raised this point with the Centre for review of the goods list time and again, but to no avail as the latter appears to be not so keen to take the border trade to the next level for making it a full-fledged trade between the two countries from Nathu La frontier in view of security implications", they said.
The traders, on their part, have been adamant that they will not not take part in the border trade in spite of pressure from the state government agencies as the Nathu La trade was simply not not a judicious business proposition, a representaive of Indo-Chinese Traders Association of Sikkim (ICTAS) said.
Apart from the review of the goods list, the Centre should also consider lifting the restriction on the marketing of the imported goods ouside Sikkim to enable the traders to make some profits as the local market was already choked with Chinese goods, he said.
Nathu La border trade was re-opened by the two countries in 2004 after a gap of about 40 years with India setting up a trade mart at Sherathang and China at Renguingang in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
Under the bilateral agreement, India had approved 29 items on the trade list, while the number of items approved by China stood at 15.
In the first two years, the traders had shown tremendous enthusiasm in the bilateral trade which grew substantially at Rs 9.6 million last year, but at the same time the demand for review of goods on the trade list grew louder resulting in no transaction of goods at the border trade last month.
Gangtok (PTI):6 June 2009
With the much-hyped Sino-India border trade at Nathu La recording no transaction last month, Sikkim government has urged Governor B P Singh to convince the Centre to review the goods on the trade list urgently to save the bilateral trade from becoming a non-event, official sources said on Sunday.
"We have requested the Governor to take up with the comnmerce ministry the review of the goods on the trade list during his proposed visit to New Delhi in order to revive the traders' interests in the border trade", an official of the state commerce and industries department told PTI here.
A delegation of the commerce and industries department led by its director Ujjwal Gurung will visit the national capital soon to take up the matter with the Centre, he said.
At the local level, the state government held a meeting with the army and custom officials two days ago to dwell on the measures to boost border trade by way of the review of the goods list and improvement in the infrastructure between Gangtok and Nathu La, the official said.
The historic Nathu La trade hit its lowest point in May last, the first month of the resumption of trade this season, with no no transaction being recorded nor traders from either side visiting the marts for business purposes apparently to protest against the failure of the two governments to review the list of goods.
The officer said the key to resurrect the border trade lay strictly with the Centre which alone could decide the direction of the Sino-India border trade at Nathu La, he said.
Officials here concede that the traders have a point as the goods on the trade list were not not financially viable considering the costs incurred by them in import of goods.
"The state government has raised this point with the Centre for review of the goods list time and again, but to no avail as the latter appears to be not so keen to take the border trade to the next level for making it a full-fledged trade between the two countries from Nathu La frontier in view of security implications", they said.
The traders, on their part, have been adamant that they will not not take part in the border trade in spite of pressure from the state government agencies as the Nathu La trade was simply not not a judicious business proposition, a representaive of Indo-Chinese Traders Association of Sikkim (ICTAS) said.
Apart from the review of the goods list, the Centre should also consider lifting the restriction on the marketing of the imported goods ouside Sikkim to enable the traders to make some profits as the local market was already choked with Chinese goods, he said.
Nathu La border trade was re-opened by the two countries in 2004 after a gap of about 40 years with India setting up a trade mart at Sherathang and China at Renguingang in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
Under the bilateral agreement, India had approved 29 items on the trade list, while the number of items approved by China stood at 15.
In the first two years, the traders had shown tremendous enthusiasm in the bilateral trade which grew substantially at Rs 9.6 million last year, but at the same time the demand for review of goods on the trade list grew louder resulting in no transaction of goods at the border trade last month.
Friday, June 5, 2009
PM reconstitutes Planning Commission
20:36 IST 5June 2009
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has approved the reconstitution of the Planning Commission as follows :
Deputy Chairman - Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Member - Dr. Saumitra Chaudhuri
Member -Prof. Abhijit Sen
Member - Dr. (Ms) Syeda Hameed
Member - Dr. Mihir Shah
Member - Dr. Narendra Jadhav
Member - Shri B.K. Chaturvedi
The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Planning Commission.
20:36 IST 5June 2009
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has approved the reconstitution of the Planning Commission as follows :
Deputy Chairman - Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Member - Dr. Saumitra Chaudhuri
Member -Prof. Abhijit Sen
Member - Dr. (Ms) Syeda Hameed
Member - Dr. Mihir Shah
Member - Dr. Narendra Jadhav
Member - Shri B.K. Chaturvedi
The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Planning Commission.
Ministry of Urban Development to launch North Eastern Urban Development Programme
New Delhi 5 June 2009
A meeting to review implementation of projects under 10% lumpsum provision for Infrastructure Development in towns in North East was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. Ramachandran, Secretary (UD) here today.
Speaking at the meeting the Secretary informed that the Ministry will Launch North Eastern Urban Development Programme assisted by Asian Development Bank in Aizawl, Shillong, Gangtok, Kohima, and Agartala in the first phase very shortly.
He said that the programme at a total cost of Rs. 1371.4 crore will help improve basic municipal services in the identified cities. He also stated that every effort shall be made to expedite launching of Phase - II of the Programme to cover cities in remaining three States in the North East.
The Scheme was launched in the year 2001-02 and 213 projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,700 crore have been sanctioned under the scheme out of which 1080 crore have been released as Central Assistance. Over 40% projects have been completed under the scheme so far. During the course of discussion, Dr. M. Ramachandran highlighted the need for early completion of ongoing projects and requested the States to adhere to the timelines committed by them for completion of projects. He also highlighted the fact that during two consecutive years, Ministry has been providing more than 10% for the development of urban areas in North East. He emphasized the need for early completion of projects. TFK/RK
New Delhi 5 June 2009
A meeting to review implementation of projects under 10% lumpsum provision for Infrastructure Development in towns in North East was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. Ramachandran, Secretary (UD) here today.
Speaking at the meeting the Secretary informed that the Ministry will Launch North Eastern Urban Development Programme assisted by Asian Development Bank in Aizawl, Shillong, Gangtok, Kohima, and Agartala in the first phase very shortly.
He said that the programme at a total cost of Rs. 1371.4 crore will help improve basic municipal services in the identified cities. He also stated that every effort shall be made to expedite launching of Phase - II of the Programme to cover cities in remaining three States in the North East.
The Scheme was launched in the year 2001-02 and 213 projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,700 crore have been sanctioned under the scheme out of which 1080 crore have been released as Central Assistance. Over 40% projects have been completed under the scheme so far. During the course of discussion, Dr. M. Ramachandran highlighted the need for early completion of ongoing projects and requested the States to adhere to the timelines committed by them for completion of projects. He also highlighted the fact that during two consecutive years, Ministry has been providing more than 10% for the development of urban areas in North East. He emphasized the need for early completion of projects. TFK/RK
BIGGEST INVESTMENT STORY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS
Biggest investment story for the next 20 years
If you want to become a proud owner of a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, please do not join the finance industry and instead become a farmer. No, this isn't a figment of our imagination but is a candid assessment of the world that we would live in 10 to 20 years from now and it has been made by one of the world's most successful and outspoken investors. The man in question is Jim Rogers. Speaking to India's leading business daily, the bow-tie sporting maverick opined that the world is shifting away from the financial types to producers of real goods and the transition could last for several years. Hence, ten years from now, it could be the farmers who will drive fancy cars while stock brokers will move around in tractors and taxis. Rogers also said that if the Indian government really gets serious about reforms this time around, then India would be the one of the biggest investment stories for the next twenty years or so. He was also worried about the fact that few of the developed countries like the US and UK are in real mess and could also have a run on their currencies. As for his investment ideas, Rogers continued to remain bullish on commodities as he felt it was the safest thing to do what with countries around the world resorting to printing of money.
(sOURCE:EQUITYMASTER)
If you want to become a proud owner of a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, please do not join the finance industry and instead become a farmer. No, this isn't a figment of our imagination but is a candid assessment of the world that we would live in 10 to 20 years from now and it has been made by one of the world's most successful and outspoken investors. The man in question is Jim Rogers. Speaking to India's leading business daily, the bow-tie sporting maverick opined that the world is shifting away from the financial types to producers of real goods and the transition could last for several years. Hence, ten years from now, it could be the farmers who will drive fancy cars while stock brokers will move around in tractors and taxis. Rogers also said that if the Indian government really gets serious about reforms this time around, then India would be the one of the biggest investment stories for the next twenty years or so. He was also worried about the fact that few of the developed countries like the US and UK are in real mess and could also have a run on their currencies. As for his investment ideas, Rogers continued to remain bullish on commodities as he felt it was the safest thing to do what with countries around the world resorting to printing of money.
(sOURCE:EQUITYMASTER)
NATHU LA BORDER TRADE GRINDS TO A HALT
Nathu-la border trade grinds to a halt
(TibetanReview.net, Jun 04, 2009) —
No trade had taken place so far between the Indian state of Sikkim and the Dromo (Yatung) County of Tibet across the Nathu-la pass since it opened for business this year, the fourth, on May 4, reported the UNI news service Jun 2.
Traders from both the sides complain that the number of items they are allowed to trade with each other under the terms of the Sino-India deal for the opening of the Nathu-la pass were obsolete, the report said. The deal, signed in 2006 allows Indians to export only 29 items can be exported to TAR from the Indian side while the Chinese traders can export only 15 items as per the prescribed scheduled items allowed for the border trade.Most of these items listed in the schedule are obsolete and do not have commercial value, a fact which both the Chinese and Sikkimese traders have highlighted in the past three years demanding that these be increased, the report said.
No traders from Dromo had crossed the mountainous border of 14,400 feet to reach Sherathang trade mart on the Sikkim side to do business since May 4, the opening day of the fourth Nathu La border trade, the report said. Sikkimese traders too hacstopped crossing the border and going to the Renquinngang (Tibetan: Rinchengang) trade mart located on the Tibetan side, the report said.
The development has effectively brought the border trade into a standstill and the PROBLEM lies in the list of trade items, the report added.
(TibetanReview.net, Jun 04, 2009) —
No trade had taken place so far between the Indian state of Sikkim and the Dromo (Yatung) County of Tibet across the Nathu-la pass since it opened for business this year, the fourth, on May 4, reported the UNI news service Jun 2.
Traders from both the sides complain that the number of items they are allowed to trade with each other under the terms of the Sino-India deal for the opening of the Nathu-la pass were obsolete, the report said. The deal, signed in 2006 allows Indians to export only 29 items can be exported to TAR from the Indian side while the Chinese traders can export only 15 items as per the prescribed scheduled items allowed for the border trade.Most of these items listed in the schedule are obsolete and do not have commercial value, a fact which both the Chinese and Sikkimese traders have highlighted in the past three years demanding that these be increased, the report said.
No traders from Dromo had crossed the mountainous border of 14,400 feet to reach Sherathang trade mart on the Sikkim side to do business since May 4, the opening day of the fourth Nathu La border trade, the report said. Sikkimese traders too hacstopped crossing the border and going to the Renquinngang (Tibetan: Rinchengang) trade mart located on the Tibetan side, the report said.
The development has effectively brought the border trade into a standstill and the PROBLEM lies in the list of trade items, the report added.
CHAMBER URGES UPA TO INCLUDE SIKKIM IN UNION CABINET
PRESS RELEASE
4.JUNE 2009
SIKKIMCHAMBER OF COMMERCE urges the UPA Government to include the lone representative from Sikkim in the Union Cabinet. Honorable Member of Parliament Shri P D Rai is a talented, young and energetic personality having profound vision for upgradation in various fields. He is the lone MP in the Lok Sabha who comes from IIT-IIM club . He is a graduate from Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management. This is also a moment of pride for the IIT and IIM because they are finding representation for the first time in Lok Sabha. Shri Rai has the unique distinction of being the first ever IIT-IIMer in the Lok Sabha and will contribute his bit in changing the way Parliament and MPs are viewed in the country.
He has to his credit as being the pioneer who brought Computer age to Sikkim. He also contributed to Sikkim’s upliftment as Deputy Chairman of Sikkim Planning Commission.
Already hundred of IIMs and IITs have congratulated Shri P D Rai and Sikkim’s electorate to make his entry to Indian Parliament . He not only will take up the cause of Sikkim and North East but will be a great asset for the Indian Parliament as he will be able to place his views to upgrade and make India more competitive with his vast knowledge.
We hope his brilliance and achievements will find place in the Union Cabinet to add value to governance in the country. SCC therefore urges UPA to kindly include this young and unique personality from this strategic border state a part of the Union Government structure to further the process of integration of this backward State into the national mainstream.
S.K.Sarda
President
SikkimChamber Of Commerce
Gangtok
Sikkim
4.JUNE 2009
SIKKIMCHAMBER OF COMMERCE urges the UPA Government to include the lone representative from Sikkim in the Union Cabinet. Honorable Member of Parliament Shri P D Rai is a talented, young and energetic personality having profound vision for upgradation in various fields. He is the lone MP in the Lok Sabha who comes from IIT-IIM club . He is a graduate from Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management. This is also a moment of pride for the IIT and IIM because they are finding representation for the first time in Lok Sabha. Shri Rai has the unique distinction of being the first ever IIT-IIMer in the Lok Sabha and will contribute his bit in changing the way Parliament and MPs are viewed in the country.
He has to his credit as being the pioneer who brought Computer age to Sikkim. He also contributed to Sikkim’s upliftment as Deputy Chairman of Sikkim Planning Commission.
Already hundred of IIMs and IITs have congratulated Shri P D Rai and Sikkim’s electorate to make his entry to Indian Parliament . He not only will take up the cause of Sikkim and North East but will be a great asset for the Indian Parliament as he will be able to place his views to upgrade and make India more competitive with his vast knowledge.
We hope his brilliance and achievements will find place in the Union Cabinet to add value to governance in the country. SCC therefore urges UPA to kindly include this young and unique personality from this strategic border state a part of the Union Government structure to further the process of integration of this backward State into the national mainstream.
S.K.Sarda
President
SikkimChamber Of Commerce
Gangtok
Sikkim
INDIA THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
India threatened by changes to the Monsoon
Greenpeace calls on Manmohan Singh to act on climate change
June 04, 2009
On the eve of World Environment Day, Greenpeace activists hang a banner from the Mankhurd-Vashi bridge in Mumbai, urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to put India’s climate policy on track and stop climate change. The bridge links Mumbai and Thane, the two cities in South Asia that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Greenpeace simultaneously released a scientific paper describing the impacts of climate change on the Indian monsoon, which would result in enormous social and economic impacts for over a billion people. Enlarge Image
Mumbai, India — The Indian monsoon – lifeline of the subcontinent - will be significantly affected by climate change, according to a Greenpeace paper titled ‘Monsoon Wager: Climate change and the Indian Monsoon’, released on the eve of World Environment Day. To drive home the point, eight Greenpeace activists hung an 80 foot banner with a message to the Indian Prime Minister, that read, “Dr Manmohan Singh, Save our Monsoon” from the Mumbai-Thane bridge linking the two cities which are amongst the most vulnerable to cyclones, sea level rise and flooding in the South Asian region (1).
The stability and predictability of the monsoons are critical to India’s economy, society and ecology, and changes in the monsoon will have far reaching social and economic impacts. The Greenpeace paper, a compilation of current climate science on the Indian monsoon, concludes that climate change could bring about significant change to the intensity, geographic distribution and inter seasonal breaks in the monsoon, which would have enormous social consequences(2). “The lives of millions of Indians, farmers, city dwellers, even those trading on the Mumbai Sensex, depend on the monsoon. The unprecedented flooding that Mumbai experienced in 2005 is estimated to have caused a direct loss of about Rs. 450 crores (US$100 million). Mumbai and India cannot allow the delicate balance of the monsoon to be thrown awry; we cannot afford to adapt if the monsoons are impacted, we simply have to stop that from happening”, said Vinuta Gopal, Climate & Energy campaigner Greenpeace. The predictions made by the IPCC in the 4th Assessment Report suggest that warming is likely to be above the global average for South Asia, with an increase in summer precipitation and an increase in the frequency of intense precipitation in some parts. The report states that more extreme rainfall and winds may result from tropical cyclones. Though the rainfall would increase by an overall 20% in the summer monsoon, it will not be spread evenly across the country. “India has not been a historical contributor to the problem of climate change, but it has a lot to lose from the effects that climate change will have on its land and people. Given that the science calls for drastic action to prevent a climate catastrophe, even developing countries such as India cannot afford to ignore the situation and need to move away from a ‘business as usual’ carbon intensive growth path” said Siddharth Pathak, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace who is in Bonn, Germany to keep an eye on the Climate negotiations meeting. Greenpeace demanded that the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh put India’s climate policy on track and urge world leaders such as Obama, Hu, Merkel, Sarkozy, Brown and Lula to do the same. “The Climate Summit to be held in Copenhagen in December needs to come up with an agreement that will save the planet. The longer the climate negotiators delay the greater the threat to India’s one billion inhabitants. With only six months to go, time is running out.“ added Siddharth.
Greenpeace calls on Manmohan Singh to act on climate change
June 04, 2009
On the eve of World Environment Day, Greenpeace activists hang a banner from the Mankhurd-Vashi bridge in Mumbai, urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to put India’s climate policy on track and stop climate change. The bridge links Mumbai and Thane, the two cities in South Asia that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Greenpeace simultaneously released a scientific paper describing the impacts of climate change on the Indian monsoon, which would result in enormous social and economic impacts for over a billion people. Enlarge Image
Mumbai, India — The Indian monsoon – lifeline of the subcontinent - will be significantly affected by climate change, according to a Greenpeace paper titled ‘Monsoon Wager: Climate change and the Indian Monsoon’, released on the eve of World Environment Day. To drive home the point, eight Greenpeace activists hung an 80 foot banner with a message to the Indian Prime Minister, that read, “Dr Manmohan Singh, Save our Monsoon” from the Mumbai-Thane bridge linking the two cities which are amongst the most vulnerable to cyclones, sea level rise and flooding in the South Asian region (1).
The stability and predictability of the monsoons are critical to India’s economy, society and ecology, and changes in the monsoon will have far reaching social and economic impacts. The Greenpeace paper, a compilation of current climate science on the Indian monsoon, concludes that climate change could bring about significant change to the intensity, geographic distribution and inter seasonal breaks in the monsoon, which would have enormous social consequences(2). “The lives of millions of Indians, farmers, city dwellers, even those trading on the Mumbai Sensex, depend on the monsoon. The unprecedented flooding that Mumbai experienced in 2005 is estimated to have caused a direct loss of about Rs. 450 crores (US$100 million). Mumbai and India cannot allow the delicate balance of the monsoon to be thrown awry; we cannot afford to adapt if the monsoons are impacted, we simply have to stop that from happening”, said Vinuta Gopal, Climate & Energy campaigner Greenpeace. The predictions made by the IPCC in the 4th Assessment Report suggest that warming is likely to be above the global average for South Asia, with an increase in summer precipitation and an increase in the frequency of intense precipitation in some parts. The report states that more extreme rainfall and winds may result from tropical cyclones. Though the rainfall would increase by an overall 20% in the summer monsoon, it will not be spread evenly across the country. “India has not been a historical contributor to the problem of climate change, but it has a lot to lose from the effects that climate change will have on its land and people. Given that the science calls for drastic action to prevent a climate catastrophe, even developing countries such as India cannot afford to ignore the situation and need to move away from a ‘business as usual’ carbon intensive growth path” said Siddharth Pathak, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace who is in Bonn, Germany to keep an eye on the Climate negotiations meeting. Greenpeace demanded that the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh put India’s climate policy on track and urge world leaders such as Obama, Hu, Merkel, Sarkozy, Brown and Lula to do the same. “The Climate Summit to be held in Copenhagen in December needs to come up with an agreement that will save the planet. The longer the climate negotiators delay the greater the threat to India’s one billion inhabitants. With only six months to go, time is running out.“ added Siddharth.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
TAAS IN SIKKIM
Tuesday, June 02, 2009, 11:00 Hrs [IST]
TAAS opens its training institute in Gangtok to train local youths to boost tourism in the state
BY TBM Staff Mumbai
Sikkim is all set to boost its tourism industry with highly trained manpower. The Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), the tour operators’ body has branched out its venture to train local youths through a dedicated institute. Earlier known for its rescue operations to help accident-trapped or stranded tourists, the TAAS has now set up a fully equipped training institute in Gangtok. The institute, which trains local youths for tourism and allied industries are prepared to provide training to tour operators, guides and other tourism related professionals in the Himalayan state, where tourism is the main industry. According to a report in Statesman News Service, TAAS has seven of its members recognised as inbound tour operators by the Ministry of Tourism. The TAAS training institute was officially inaugurated by the NK Subba, Chairman, Sikkim Tourism Development Board. The first batch of 25 youths commenced their training last week. “As per the training programme, sponsored by the state tourism department, TAAS will be offering month-long training to 25 youths who will be familiarised with alpine trekking and be given other basic knowledge of tourism products,” said Lokendra Rasaily, General Secretary, TAAS. He further informed that the trainees representing all parts of the state are set to be exposed to the ever-changing world of tourism during the training period. Study visits and treks to high altitude tourism spots like Green Lake and Dzongri is also included in the training module, while first-aid and safety methods at high altitudes will also be taught as a pre-requisite. Furthermore, in order to woo foreign tourists and make them feel comfortable, the youths will also be taught foreign languages. TAAS has decided to place meritorious trainees into the tour agencies run by its members. “The tour operators under the TAAS will also be employing those trainees who excel themselves during the training programme. We will give them further specialised training. We also want to pass a message to the other educated youths about the enormous potential of tourism,” said Rasaily. Paljor Lachungpa, President, TAAS said, “Along with the state government and Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, Sikkim who has prioritised the tourism sector, we have succeeded in attracting tourists and making Sikkim the most favourable tourism destination in the nation. As the Chief Minister has given priority to tourism, we - as members of the TAAS - feel encouraged and committed to serve tourists and make Sikkim the best possible destination.” He further added, “Since May 2001, TAAS has sent more than 1.1 lakh tourists to Nathu La and has deposited Rs 1.3 crore to the state exchequer. This is our biggest achievement.” Reiterating the state government's commitment to tourism in Sikkim, Subba, said that it is the responsibility of every person in the state to maintain the tourist-friendly image of Sikkim. “Everybody must participate for the growth of tourism here. The state government has declared 2010 as ‘Tourism Year’ and the TAAS has already started planning for preparation.”
TAAS opens its training institute in Gangtok to train local youths to boost tourism in the state
BY TBM Staff Mumbai
Sikkim is all set to boost its tourism industry with highly trained manpower. The Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), the tour operators’ body has branched out its venture to train local youths through a dedicated institute. Earlier known for its rescue operations to help accident-trapped or stranded tourists, the TAAS has now set up a fully equipped training institute in Gangtok. The institute, which trains local youths for tourism and allied industries are prepared to provide training to tour operators, guides and other tourism related professionals in the Himalayan state, where tourism is the main industry. According to a report in Statesman News Service, TAAS has seven of its members recognised as inbound tour operators by the Ministry of Tourism. The TAAS training institute was officially inaugurated by the NK Subba, Chairman, Sikkim Tourism Development Board. The first batch of 25 youths commenced their training last week. “As per the training programme, sponsored by the state tourism department, TAAS will be offering month-long training to 25 youths who will be familiarised with alpine trekking and be given other basic knowledge of tourism products,” said Lokendra Rasaily, General Secretary, TAAS. He further informed that the trainees representing all parts of the state are set to be exposed to the ever-changing world of tourism during the training period. Study visits and treks to high altitude tourism spots like Green Lake and Dzongri is also included in the training module, while first-aid and safety methods at high altitudes will also be taught as a pre-requisite. Furthermore, in order to woo foreign tourists and make them feel comfortable, the youths will also be taught foreign languages. TAAS has decided to place meritorious trainees into the tour agencies run by its members. “The tour operators under the TAAS will also be employing those trainees who excel themselves during the training programme. We will give them further specialised training. We also want to pass a message to the other educated youths about the enormous potential of tourism,” said Rasaily. Paljor Lachungpa, President, TAAS said, “Along with the state government and Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, Sikkim who has prioritised the tourism sector, we have succeeded in attracting tourists and making Sikkim the most favourable tourism destination in the nation. As the Chief Minister has given priority to tourism, we - as members of the TAAS - feel encouraged and committed to serve tourists and make Sikkim the best possible destination.” He further added, “Since May 2001, TAAS has sent more than 1.1 lakh tourists to Nathu La and has deposited Rs 1.3 crore to the state exchequer. This is our biggest achievement.” Reiterating the state government's commitment to tourism in Sikkim, Subba, said that it is the responsibility of every person in the state to maintain the tourist-friendly image of Sikkim. “Everybody must participate for the growth of tourism here. The state government has declared 2010 as ‘Tourism Year’ and the TAAS has already started planning for preparation.”
INDIA WIDE SUPPORT TO P D RAI FOR GETTING BERTH IN UNION CABINET
Readers Opinions
In a first, an IIT-IIMer as MP
J.B.Lal,NOIDA - U P ..,says:INDIA need Such qualified MPs of Mr Rai's calibre to take the reins of Country towards prosperity. His remarks abour Mr B.B.Lal's valued advise which he followed and admired is appreciable. All the best for him in life. [2 Jun, 2009 1208hrs IST]
Venkata,texas,says:come on IITans and IIMS where are you all. Its time for you to rule the country and the country needs you. Its yours time to say good bye for to the old fashioned politians with criminal background and family ploitians whit only goal and aim to suck the country funds and run away. you all have to take over the future of the country. jai hind . . . .[2 Jun, 2009 1204hrs IST]
Roja,IIT,kgp,says:after few years of job ,both IIT and IIM students can focus on politics,country needs intellectual brain for sustinable development. [2 Jun, 2009 1204hrs IST]
Shashikant Deshpande,Mumbai,says:Thank you Mr. Das.We really appreaciate your act. I think it will inspire many others like you. And in next parliamant we may find more MP like you. Our future is bright. Thanks again[2 Jun, 2009 1202hrs IST]
Manik Sharma,Doha,qatar,says:Great,I think this time people voted for a bright future for Indians back home and abroad. Kudos for Mr Das.[2 Jun, 2009 1159hrs IST]
Subash roy,hyderabad,says:It is great to hear of an IIT/IIM graduate making it to parliament. Having interacted with this rather special group during national youth festivals like `mardi gras' and `mood indigo', where thinking out-of-the-box is the norm, I'm certain that Mr Rai will make it count when it matters. Wishing him luck and may his tribe increase.[2 Jun, 2009 1149hrs IST]
Giridhar,Faridabad,says:I can say a valuable learning for us about a great person Mr. Rai who will be seeing in our Parliament House. Thanks to the TOI for providing us this knowledge.[2 Jun, 2009 1135hrs IST]
Naresh Dhiman,Kuwait,says:Congatulations !!! Mr.Prem Das Rai. I am sure you would make a difference. Most politician have reputation of being corrupt. I hope you spend most for the development of your state and control corruption. Good luck[2 Jun, 2009 1102hrs IST]
Ajay,sonepat,says:its unbelievable............. [2 Jun, 2009 1102hrs IST]
Atul Jain,IIT Kanpur,says:This is a proud day for all Sikkimese students like me. Sp. those who are privileged enough to get quality education. I too am from Sikkim and from IIT Kanpur. Thus i feel more proud today[2 Jun, 2009 1054hrs IST]
Vipul,bangalore,says:Looks like my search of a role model will end now.[2 Jun, 2009 1048hrs IST]
Bhupendra Basera,Dehradun,says:Dear Sir, Mr. Rai is really a patriot for this country, because I saw many people who got success in life, but they did not serve his own land or locality. Usually they migrated form his actual place but Mr. Rai did not do so. He went back his state and did job even cut off salary by one fourth. I think it is a good sacrifice for his state's sake. If one fourth person will think like so, our country will rise like a sunflower.[2 Jun, 2009 1047hrs IST]
Suresh pramar,noida,says:Prem Das Rai is possibly the most qualified person sent to the Lok Sabha from Sikkim. He has an excellent opportunity to help the state join the national mainstream in the true sense. I wish him the best of luck Suresh Kr Pramar[2 Jun, 2009 1044hrs IST]
Amitava Sanyal,Mumbai,says:This is it ! It is time we should get learned people in these institituons. We have had too many illiterates,old haggards and scoundrels in the LS for a long time ![2 Jun, 2009 1036hrs IST]
Bheema,USA,says:I am so happy about it. Its beginning of new India[2 Jun, 2009 1032hrs IST]Gugan,Mumbai,says:Thank you! We will help you in all the ways possible! [2 Jun, 2009 1028hrs IST]
M S Afzal,New Delhi,says:Kudos to Prem Das. He has wonderfully taken a step with a difference to improvise the tarnished image of a ordinary parliamentary so called netaji. Usually IIT-IIMers land in a corporate sector only for their personal career and advancements, but there will be rare people like Mr Das to think for the nation and we the people of India are always with persons like Mr Das so that we can have better governance and well established efficient administration in the country.[2 Jun, 2009 1023hrs IST]
Niklesh,California,says:This is really good news.. We needed a start and we got it .. The network of IIMers and IITians will allow the influx of views of high intellectuals at first and soon we will see more like you taking the posts in the parliament.. IIT and IIM are great challenges and you over come them.. I am sure you will excel in this field too ![2 Jun, 2009 1023hrs IST]
Prabhu,Bangalore,says:India needs this sort of professionals into politics and I am sure he will be able to add a great value sitting in the Parliment. Congrats on this achievement and very nice of ET to come up with an inspiring article.[2 Jun, 2009 1001hrs IST]
Amit,california,says:India needs more intellectuals and highly qualified people like this running the government, not candidate with criminal cases lodged against them. I wish Mr. Rai the best![2 Jun, 2009 1001hrs IST]
Allen Paul,Sydney,says:We definitely need more MP's like him! To take a three-fourths salary cut is no mean thing! The politics-shy middle class should take the cue and change the way politics and politicians are seen by the people![2 Jun, 2009 0959hrs IST]
Purnachandra Rath,Khallikote(Orissa),says:Mr Prem Das Ray should be taken in appropriate important Parliament Committees and his managerial skills should be utilised. Of late Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling was lamenting that no body from his State has been given a ministerial post for the last 33 years. Why the PM not try with this educated MP ? This will increase the sense of belonging to the Nation by the Sikkimese people.[2 Jun, 2009 0952hrs IST]
Dev,australia,says:well done..just some good tech degree itself is enough. we need more tech educated in parliament..as technology is big part of lives these days[2 Jun, 2009 0949hrs IST]
D K Pradhan,Hyderabad,says:Rai is a great indian citizen and his joining the politics will certainly encourage intelectuals to think his way and definitely many more will come forward in coming years for the betterment of this country. [2 Jun, 2009 0942hrs IST]
Rahul Ner,Singapore,says:Heartily Congratulations Mr. Rai. I hope you bring great IITian way of thinking and analysis in our parliament. This should inspisre more IITian and may be more techie people to handle power positions which they hopefully provide a path for more fast and clean progress. Jai Ho ! [2 Jun, 2009 0927hrs IST]
Nilay,NRI,says:Don't get over excited, give him time he will be turned into Politician, then will start his success path and he will use his managerial skill to become a best politician(Syn: corruption) ... cheers[2 Jun, 2009 0919hrs IST]
Sunny Guglani,R.,says:best of luck sir...i would rather say that India needs you.... not only Sikkim. Regards sunny.guglani@gmail.com[2 Jun, 2009 0907hrs IST]
Khoda,sydney,says:way to go...this was needed[2 Jun, 2009 0853hrs IST]
Capt.A.S.Sehmi,USA,says:Mr.Rai sacrifice is well admiring & should expected from the young generation of IIT which has given the intellectual proof of superiority of input, analysis & performance heights & horizon in all sectors of industry in home & abroad but lack of nationalistic characteristics have not been noticed which Mr.Rai has displayed & deserves to be admired by all in parliament with members learning from his methodology to the responsibilities of Member of Parliament of India.His induction should also bring more soberity,stability & sanity in conduct of business of the house unlike earlier times which people of India are tired to see impeding the developement efforts of Congress & UPA alliance.[2 Jun, 2009 0832hrs IST]
Mindspeak,San Jose, California,says:I feel great about the future of our country. It is time that we move to the next level of governance. Leaders should have greater vision than the people they are leading. Our country missed a beat or two as knowledge and awareness grew among the masses. Politics in not for thugs and dynasties alone, and MPs like Mr.Rai augur well for the change in perception of the stigma associated with being a politician or should I say "people's representative". More people from the intelligentsia should follow suite and take up leadership positions in governance.[2 Jun, 2009 0820hrs IST]
Ravindran K,Chennai,says: Congrats to Mr Rai and Sikkim Democratic Front. Lok Sabha Joint Entrance Exam or IIT JEE should be made a qualifying standard at the earliest. [2 Jun, 2009 0807hrs IST]
Anil Raj Rai,Gangtok,says:I am proud to have Prem Das Rais as Sikkim's lone MP. I have a lot of expectation from him. I hope he succeeds in improving the education system in Sikkim which is of prime concern[2 Jun, 2009 0756hrs IST]
Manish,India,says:One of the happiest news I ever heard in Indian politics. I wish and hope that Mr Prem Das will deliver what anyone will expect from an IIT-IIMer and will open eyes of all fellow Indians that educated persons in our parliament are very much required and also that choosing a right politician does matter. Further, I also wish that your work and virtues will open eyes of more educated persons to plunge in this field to take our country to the path of progress. Wish you all the best.[2 Jun, 2009 0742hrs IST]rahul,USA,says:kudos..[2 Jun, 2009 0714hrs IST]
Sri-Indian,USA,says:This is a welcome sign but will not help if he can't make a difference or joins the rest and become one of them. We would like to see him bring some changes.[2 Jun, 2009 0709hrs IST]
Nabanita Datta,Michigan USA,says:As an IIT-ian myself, I congratulate this IIT-IIM MP on his election. I also wish, that all the 545 members are IIT-IIM alumni, for at least one term of the Lok Sabha. It will create a REAL difference to this country. The IIT-ians' party, Bharat Punarnirman Dal, needs to gather momentum in the subsequent elections.[2 Jun, 2009 0624hrs IST]
AM,A,says:We need people like Rai in Indian Parliament. Congrats Rai. You have done India, IITians, Sikkimmers proud by deciding to dedicate your time for people. More People like Rais, and Jaya Prakash Narayan (of Andhra Pradesh, Loksatta party)are needed now in the country. Rai , you pl try to join forces nationally with Loksatta party and attract more genuine, intelligent individuals into Indian polity. [2 Jun, 2009 0611hrs IST]
Prof.R.Krishnamurthy,Hosur,says:...Once Kamaraj was asked that whether lack of education led to religious and caste feelings. He immediately replied that many a times education alone couldn't eradicate this social stigma citing the example of Kerala where religious educational institutions and parties have a say ,unfortunately ,till this day.What is necessary is a change in mind set ...[2 Jun, 2009 0606hrs IST]
suresh kr pramar,noida,says:P.D.Rai is possibly the youngest and the best qualified person from Sikkim to be sent to the Lok Sabha. He has an excellent opportunity to help the state to grow in the right direction One hope he will be able to perform better than those who preceeded him.Good Luck Suresh Kr Pramar[2 Jun, 2009 0516hrs IST]
In a first, an IIT-IIMer as MP
J.B.Lal,NOIDA - U P ..,says:INDIA need Such qualified MPs of Mr Rai's calibre to take the reins of Country towards prosperity. His remarks abour Mr B.B.Lal's valued advise which he followed and admired is appreciable. All the best for him in life. [2 Jun, 2009 1208hrs IST]
Venkata,texas,says:come on IITans and IIMS where are you all. Its time for you to rule the country and the country needs you. Its yours time to say good bye for to the old fashioned politians with criminal background and family ploitians whit only goal and aim to suck the country funds and run away. you all have to take over the future of the country. jai hind . . . .[2 Jun, 2009 1204hrs IST]
Roja,IIT,kgp,says:after few years of job ,both IIT and IIM students can focus on politics,country needs intellectual brain for sustinable development. [2 Jun, 2009 1204hrs IST]
Shashikant Deshpande,Mumbai,says:Thank you Mr. Das.We really appreaciate your act. I think it will inspire many others like you. And in next parliamant we may find more MP like you. Our future is bright. Thanks again[2 Jun, 2009 1202hrs IST]
Manik Sharma,Doha,qatar,says:Great,I think this time people voted for a bright future for Indians back home and abroad. Kudos for Mr Das.[2 Jun, 2009 1159hrs IST]
Subash roy,hyderabad,says:It is great to hear of an IIT/IIM graduate making it to parliament. Having interacted with this rather special group during national youth festivals like `mardi gras' and `mood indigo', where thinking out-of-the-box is the norm, I'm certain that Mr Rai will make it count when it matters. Wishing him luck and may his tribe increase.[2 Jun, 2009 1149hrs IST]
Giridhar,Faridabad,says:I can say a valuable learning for us about a great person Mr. Rai who will be seeing in our Parliament House. Thanks to the TOI for providing us this knowledge.[2 Jun, 2009 1135hrs IST]
Naresh Dhiman,Kuwait,says:Congatulations !!! Mr.Prem Das Rai. I am sure you would make a difference. Most politician have reputation of being corrupt. I hope you spend most for the development of your state and control corruption. Good luck[2 Jun, 2009 1102hrs IST]
Ajay,sonepat,says:its unbelievable............. [2 Jun, 2009 1102hrs IST]
Atul Jain,IIT Kanpur,says:This is a proud day for all Sikkimese students like me. Sp. those who are privileged enough to get quality education. I too am from Sikkim and from IIT Kanpur. Thus i feel more proud today[2 Jun, 2009 1054hrs IST]
Vipul,bangalore,says:Looks like my search of a role model will end now.[2 Jun, 2009 1048hrs IST]
Bhupendra Basera,Dehradun,says:Dear Sir, Mr. Rai is really a patriot for this country, because I saw many people who got success in life, but they did not serve his own land or locality. Usually they migrated form his actual place but Mr. Rai did not do so. He went back his state and did job even cut off salary by one fourth. I think it is a good sacrifice for his state's sake. If one fourth person will think like so, our country will rise like a sunflower.[2 Jun, 2009 1047hrs IST]
Suresh pramar,noida,says:Prem Das Rai is possibly the most qualified person sent to the Lok Sabha from Sikkim. He has an excellent opportunity to help the state join the national mainstream in the true sense. I wish him the best of luck Suresh Kr Pramar[2 Jun, 2009 1044hrs IST]
Amitava Sanyal,Mumbai,says:This is it ! It is time we should get learned people in these institituons. We have had too many illiterates,old haggards and scoundrels in the LS for a long time ![2 Jun, 2009 1036hrs IST]
Bheema,USA,says:I am so happy about it. Its beginning of new India[2 Jun, 2009 1032hrs IST]Gugan,Mumbai,says:Thank you! We will help you in all the ways possible! [2 Jun, 2009 1028hrs IST]
M S Afzal,New Delhi,says:Kudos to Prem Das. He has wonderfully taken a step with a difference to improvise the tarnished image of a ordinary parliamentary so called netaji. Usually IIT-IIMers land in a corporate sector only for their personal career and advancements, but there will be rare people like Mr Das to think for the nation and we the people of India are always with persons like Mr Das so that we can have better governance and well established efficient administration in the country.[2 Jun, 2009 1023hrs IST]
Niklesh,California,says:This is really good news.. We needed a start and we got it .. The network of IIMers and IITians will allow the influx of views of high intellectuals at first and soon we will see more like you taking the posts in the parliament.. IIT and IIM are great challenges and you over come them.. I am sure you will excel in this field too ![2 Jun, 2009 1023hrs IST]
Prabhu,Bangalore,says:India needs this sort of professionals into politics and I am sure he will be able to add a great value sitting in the Parliment. Congrats on this achievement and very nice of ET to come up with an inspiring article.[2 Jun, 2009 1001hrs IST]
Amit,california,says:India needs more intellectuals and highly qualified people like this running the government, not candidate with criminal cases lodged against them. I wish Mr. Rai the best![2 Jun, 2009 1001hrs IST]
Allen Paul,Sydney,says:We definitely need more MP's like him! To take a three-fourths salary cut is no mean thing! The politics-shy middle class should take the cue and change the way politics and politicians are seen by the people![2 Jun, 2009 0959hrs IST]
Purnachandra Rath,Khallikote(Orissa),says:Mr Prem Das Ray should be taken in appropriate important Parliament Committees and his managerial skills should be utilised. Of late Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling was lamenting that no body from his State has been given a ministerial post for the last 33 years. Why the PM not try with this educated MP ? This will increase the sense of belonging to the Nation by the Sikkimese people.[2 Jun, 2009 0952hrs IST]
Dev,australia,says:well done..just some good tech degree itself is enough. we need more tech educated in parliament..as technology is big part of lives these days[2 Jun, 2009 0949hrs IST]
D K Pradhan,Hyderabad,says:Rai is a great indian citizen and his joining the politics will certainly encourage intelectuals to think his way and definitely many more will come forward in coming years for the betterment of this country. [2 Jun, 2009 0942hrs IST]
Rahul Ner,Singapore,says:Heartily Congratulations Mr. Rai. I hope you bring great IITian way of thinking and analysis in our parliament. This should inspisre more IITian and may be more techie people to handle power positions which they hopefully provide a path for more fast and clean progress. Jai Ho ! [2 Jun, 2009 0927hrs IST]
Nilay,NRI,says:Don't get over excited, give him time he will be turned into Politician, then will start his success path and he will use his managerial skill to become a best politician(Syn: corruption) ... cheers[2 Jun, 2009 0919hrs IST]
Sunny Guglani,R.,says:best of luck sir...i would rather say that India needs you.... not only Sikkim. Regards sunny.guglani@gmail.com[2 Jun, 2009 0907hrs IST]
Khoda,sydney,says:way to go...this was needed[2 Jun, 2009 0853hrs IST]
Capt.A.S.Sehmi,USA,says:Mr.Rai sacrifice is well admiring & should expected from the young generation of IIT which has given the intellectual proof of superiority of input, analysis & performance heights & horizon in all sectors of industry in home & abroad but lack of nationalistic characteristics have not been noticed which Mr.Rai has displayed & deserves to be admired by all in parliament with members learning from his methodology to the responsibilities of Member of Parliament of India.His induction should also bring more soberity,stability & sanity in conduct of business of the house unlike earlier times which people of India are tired to see impeding the developement efforts of Congress & UPA alliance.[2 Jun, 2009 0832hrs IST]
Mindspeak,San Jose, California,says:I feel great about the future of our country. It is time that we move to the next level of governance. Leaders should have greater vision than the people they are leading. Our country missed a beat or two as knowledge and awareness grew among the masses. Politics in not for thugs and dynasties alone, and MPs like Mr.Rai augur well for the change in perception of the stigma associated with being a politician or should I say "people's representative". More people from the intelligentsia should follow suite and take up leadership positions in governance.[2 Jun, 2009 0820hrs IST]
Ravindran K,Chennai,says: Congrats to Mr Rai and Sikkim Democratic Front. Lok Sabha Joint Entrance Exam or IIT JEE should be made a qualifying standard at the earliest. [2 Jun, 2009 0807hrs IST]
Anil Raj Rai,Gangtok,says:I am proud to have Prem Das Rais as Sikkim's lone MP. I have a lot of expectation from him. I hope he succeeds in improving the education system in Sikkim which is of prime concern[2 Jun, 2009 0756hrs IST]
Manish,India,says:One of the happiest news I ever heard in Indian politics. I wish and hope that Mr Prem Das will deliver what anyone will expect from an IIT-IIMer and will open eyes of all fellow Indians that educated persons in our parliament are very much required and also that choosing a right politician does matter. Further, I also wish that your work and virtues will open eyes of more educated persons to plunge in this field to take our country to the path of progress. Wish you all the best.[2 Jun, 2009 0742hrs IST]rahul,USA,says:kudos..[2 Jun, 2009 0714hrs IST]
Sri-Indian,USA,says:This is a welcome sign but will not help if he can't make a difference or joins the rest and become one of them. We would like to see him bring some changes.[2 Jun, 2009 0709hrs IST]
Nabanita Datta,Michigan USA,says:As an IIT-ian myself, I congratulate this IIT-IIM MP on his election. I also wish, that all the 545 members are IIT-IIM alumni, for at least one term of the Lok Sabha. It will create a REAL difference to this country. The IIT-ians' party, Bharat Punarnirman Dal, needs to gather momentum in the subsequent elections.[2 Jun, 2009 0624hrs IST]
AM,A,says:We need people like Rai in Indian Parliament. Congrats Rai. You have done India, IITians, Sikkimmers proud by deciding to dedicate your time for people. More People like Rais, and Jaya Prakash Narayan (of Andhra Pradesh, Loksatta party)are needed now in the country. Rai , you pl try to join forces nationally with Loksatta party and attract more genuine, intelligent individuals into Indian polity. [2 Jun, 2009 0611hrs IST]
Prof.R.Krishnamurthy,Hosur,says:...Once Kamaraj was asked that whether lack of education led to religious and caste feelings. He immediately replied that many a times education alone couldn't eradicate this social stigma citing the example of Kerala where religious educational institutions and parties have a say ,unfortunately ,till this day.What is necessary is a change in mind set ...[2 Jun, 2009 0606hrs IST]
suresh kr pramar,noida,says:P.D.Rai is possibly the youngest and the best qualified person from Sikkim to be sent to the Lok Sabha. He has an excellent opportunity to help the state to grow in the right direction One hope he will be able to perform better than those who preceeded him.Good Luck Suresh Kr Pramar[2 Jun, 2009 0516hrs IST]
AS P D RAI, IIT-IIM CLUB MAKES ENTRY INTO LOK SABHA OF INDIA
NEW DELHI:1st june 2009
It is Indian education system's ultimate ticket to the corporate boardroom. According to one study, around 50% of all CEOs in India have Prem Das Rai those magic letters on their CVs — IIT-IIM. But for all their brilliance and achievement in the corporate world, not a single member of the IIT-IIM club had so far entered Parliament as a member.
Now, Prem Das Rai, elected to the 15th Lok Sabha as the lone member from Sikkim, has the unique distinction of being the first ever IIT-IIMer in the Lok Sabha. Rai, 54, hopes to contribute his bit in changing the way Parliament and MPs are viewed in the country. For the moment though, this IIT Kanpur (chemical engineering) and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus just wants to familiarize himself with the new job.
As he puts it, ‘‘First, I need to look at the benchmarks of what constitutes a good MP. We are at a crossroads. People this time have voted for stability but they have also voted for better parliamentarians and parliamentary processes,’’ says the Sikkim Democratic Front MP, who early in his career chucked a cushy job as a multinational banker and later gave up opportunities in the US in favour of returning to his home state, Sikkim. And what does an IIT-IIMer bring to Parliament? ‘‘I look at the entire IIT-IIM community as part of my support system. We have a very strong network. Through it I would be able to funnel a lot of intellectual capital. Then there is the skill set. In IITs and IIMs, you develop a certain way of learning, analysis and presentation. These would be handy in Parliament,’’ he says.
Rai, however, admits he is entering uncharted territory. ‘‘These are, as yet, just hypotheses. I don’t know how it will actually play out. Down the road you would be able to find out how I add value to governance.’’ Rai had been marked for brilliance early in life. As a boy growing up in the then sovereign kingdom of Sikkim, he was sent to an elite school in Mussoorie by the king as part of the royal policy of promoting bright kids. After school, he cracked the JEE to go directly to IIT and then to IIM. ‘‘Life in Sikkim was very feudal but in Mussoorie I learned that you are no more and no less than anybody else. That’s a value I imbibed early,’’ he says.
In the midst of his BTech course, Sikkim merged with India and Rai become an Indian. After completing his MBA in 1978, Rai landed himself a ‘‘great job’’ at the American Bank in Calcutta. A meeting with B B Lal, the then Governor of Sikkim, changed the course of his life. ‘‘Lal told me, ‘Young man what are you doing in Calcutta? Come back, Sikkim needs you.’ That finally helped me make up my mind and I returned to join a state government enterprise with a three-fourth cut in salary.’’
( sOURCE:TOI)
It is Indian education system's ultimate ticket to the corporate boardroom. According to one study, around 50% of all CEOs in India have Prem Das Rai those magic letters on their CVs — IIT-IIM. But for all their brilliance and achievement in the corporate world, not a single member of the IIT-IIM club had so far entered Parliament as a member.
Now, Prem Das Rai, elected to the 15th Lok Sabha as the lone member from Sikkim, has the unique distinction of being the first ever IIT-IIMer in the Lok Sabha. Rai, 54, hopes to contribute his bit in changing the way Parliament and MPs are viewed in the country. For the moment though, this IIT Kanpur (chemical engineering) and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus just wants to familiarize himself with the new job.
As he puts it, ‘‘First, I need to look at the benchmarks of what constitutes a good MP. We are at a crossroads. People this time have voted for stability but they have also voted for better parliamentarians and parliamentary processes,’’ says the Sikkim Democratic Front MP, who early in his career chucked a cushy job as a multinational banker and later gave up opportunities in the US in favour of returning to his home state, Sikkim. And what does an IIT-IIMer bring to Parliament? ‘‘I look at the entire IIT-IIM community as part of my support system. We have a very strong network. Through it I would be able to funnel a lot of intellectual capital. Then there is the skill set. In IITs and IIMs, you develop a certain way of learning, analysis and presentation. These would be handy in Parliament,’’ he says.
Rai, however, admits he is entering uncharted territory. ‘‘These are, as yet, just hypotheses. I don’t know how it will actually play out. Down the road you would be able to find out how I add value to governance.’’ Rai had been marked for brilliance early in life. As a boy growing up in the then sovereign kingdom of Sikkim, he was sent to an elite school in Mussoorie by the king as part of the royal policy of promoting bright kids. After school, he cracked the JEE to go directly to IIT and then to IIM. ‘‘Life in Sikkim was very feudal but in Mussoorie I learned that you are no more and no less than anybody else. That’s a value I imbibed early,’’ he says.
In the midst of his BTech course, Sikkim merged with India and Rai become an Indian. After completing his MBA in 1978, Rai landed himself a ‘‘great job’’ at the American Bank in Calcutta. A meeting with B B Lal, the then Governor of Sikkim, changed the course of his life. ‘‘Lal told me, ‘Young man what are you doing in Calcutta? Come back, Sikkim needs you.’ That finally helped me make up my mind and I returned to join a state government enterprise with a three-fourth cut in salary.’’
( sOURCE:TOI)
SIKKIM DESERVES A CABINET BERTH IN UNION CABINET
By Darshan Desai & Shweta SrinivasanNew Delhi, June 2 (IANS) Sikkim’s sole Lok Sabha MP, P.D. Rai, feels it is “high time” the central government made the strategic border state a part of the government structure with a berth in the union cabinet.
“I feel it is high-time that India gives Sikkim a berth and allows it to be a part of the government structure,” Rai, 54, told IANS in an interview.
A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Rai threw up a cushy job in Kolkata with the Bank of America to move to Sikkim in the early 1980s with his Chinese wife Jean, whom he had met in Kolkata.
In Sikkim, he set up Sikkim Computers and is widely credited with ushering in the computer age in the state.
Rai insists that neither he nor his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) had ever hankered for central ministerial berths. He said rather philosophically, “We are not one of those states who bargain for ministerial berths.”
Asked if given a ministry what would he prefer, he said, “tourism would be good.” Sikkim, an erstwhile protectorate, became part of India in April 1975.
Rai is now putting his efforts towards gathering all northeast MPs together to influence national policy and get the region its due.
“I am hoping to bring together all the northeast MPs to affect policy at the national level. The eastern side of India is neglected.”
He added: “The media talks about us joining the mainstream… we are already part of the mainstream… we are a part of the country.
“The media reports only the violence (in parts of northeast) and this gives a very unfair skewed picture.”
He has a three-point agenda for his state - to make it into a hub for education, horticulture and tourism.
Rai and his SDF have demonstrated how youth-centric and development-oriented governance could change the face of the state. And this gave the party its fourth consecutive victory in the assembly elections.
The state has achieved a literacy rate of 82 percent, its per capita gross state domestic product of Rs.23,786 is above the national average, the infant mortality rate has come down to 30 per 1,000 against India’s average 60.
All in just about a decade.
The government is powering its self-employment schemes by micro-financing and has pumped in a whopping Rs.30,000 crore in tourism, agriculture, horticulture and floriculture.
“The banks were harassing our young beneficiaries and not giving loans. We started financing them to such effect that their projects became bankable later,” said Rai, who also chaired the Sikkim Industrial Development Corporation.
The SDF pocketed all the 32 seats in the state where anti-incumbency seems to be an alien word. “It’s pro-incumbency in Sikkim,” says Rai, who himself won by a margin of 85,000 votes with his share being 64 percent, a tall order in a small state.
Being tech savvy, Rai finds the parliamentary procedures like filling in entry-information at 10 different places as cumbersome and a waste of time.
He joined politics and Chief Minister Pavan Chamling’s SDF in 1994. He graduated from IIT-Kanpur in 1976 and IIM-Ahmedabad 1978 and has worked with various civil society organisations and NGOs.
“It was way back in 1980 that the then governor of Sikkim B.B. Lal told me that Sikkim needs me,” recalls Rai.
On joining politics, he said: “I had it in the back of my head that I wanted to be in politics and governance at some point - even when I was at IIT and IIM. It’s just that a plethora of professional opportunity comes your way. In that sense a lot had to be sacrificed, but I have no regrets as it has always been my dream to serve the people of Sikkim.”
His wife Jean was initially apprehensive about his jumping into the hurly burly of politics.
“I was a bit hesitant, but I gradually adjusted and now I am enjoying it,” Jean said with a grin, looking up from her laptop in their room at the New Sikkim House in Delhi.
(Darshan Desai & Shweta Srinivasan can be contacted at darshan.d@ians.in & shweta.s@ians.in)
“I feel it is high-time that India gives Sikkim a berth and allows it to be a part of the government structure,” Rai, 54, told IANS in an interview.
A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Rai threw up a cushy job in Kolkata with the Bank of America to move to Sikkim in the early 1980s with his Chinese wife Jean, whom he had met in Kolkata.
In Sikkim, he set up Sikkim Computers and is widely credited with ushering in the computer age in the state.
Rai insists that neither he nor his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) had ever hankered for central ministerial berths. He said rather philosophically, “We are not one of those states who bargain for ministerial berths.”
Asked if given a ministry what would he prefer, he said, “tourism would be good.” Sikkim, an erstwhile protectorate, became part of India in April 1975.
Rai is now putting his efforts towards gathering all northeast MPs together to influence national policy and get the region its due.
“I am hoping to bring together all the northeast MPs to affect policy at the national level. The eastern side of India is neglected.”
He added: “The media talks about us joining the mainstream… we are already part of the mainstream… we are a part of the country.
“The media reports only the violence (in parts of northeast) and this gives a very unfair skewed picture.”
He has a three-point agenda for his state - to make it into a hub for education, horticulture and tourism.
Rai and his SDF have demonstrated how youth-centric and development-oriented governance could change the face of the state. And this gave the party its fourth consecutive victory in the assembly elections.
The state has achieved a literacy rate of 82 percent, its per capita gross state domestic product of Rs.23,786 is above the national average, the infant mortality rate has come down to 30 per 1,000 against India’s average 60.
All in just about a decade.
The government is powering its self-employment schemes by micro-financing and has pumped in a whopping Rs.30,000 crore in tourism, agriculture, horticulture and floriculture.
“The banks were harassing our young beneficiaries and not giving loans. We started financing them to such effect that their projects became bankable later,” said Rai, who also chaired the Sikkim Industrial Development Corporation.
The SDF pocketed all the 32 seats in the state where anti-incumbency seems to be an alien word. “It’s pro-incumbency in Sikkim,” says Rai, who himself won by a margin of 85,000 votes with his share being 64 percent, a tall order in a small state.
Being tech savvy, Rai finds the parliamentary procedures like filling in entry-information at 10 different places as cumbersome and a waste of time.
He joined politics and Chief Minister Pavan Chamling’s SDF in 1994. He graduated from IIT-Kanpur in 1976 and IIM-Ahmedabad 1978 and has worked with various civil society organisations and NGOs.
“It was way back in 1980 that the then governor of Sikkim B.B. Lal told me that Sikkim needs me,” recalls Rai.
On joining politics, he said: “I had it in the back of my head that I wanted to be in politics and governance at some point - even when I was at IIT and IIM. It’s just that a plethora of professional opportunity comes your way. In that sense a lot had to be sacrificed, but I have no regrets as it has always been my dream to serve the people of Sikkim.”
His wife Jean was initially apprehensive about his jumping into the hurly burly of politics.
“I was a bit hesitant, but I gradually adjusted and now I am enjoying it,” Jean said with a grin, looking up from her laptop in their room at the New Sikkim House in Delhi.
(Darshan Desai & Shweta Srinivasan can be contacted at darshan.d@ians.in & shweta.s@ians.in)
Monday, June 1, 2009
SIKKIM: Sikkim govt considering official decree to ‘Himalayan Viagra’ collection
Caterpillar Fungus
GANGTOK, May 31: Sikkim is seriously considering following the footsteps of its Himalayan neighbours, Nepal and Bhutan, by legalizing the collection of the medicinal herb, Cordyceps Sinensis from the forest areas.
For the uninformed, Cordyceps Sinensis is popular known as ‘caterpillar fungus’, widely known in the Himalayan belt as ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ and its connoisseurs do not tire to sing the aphrodisiac properties of this ‘Himalayan Viagra’.
With one kg of raw caterpillar fungus fetching as much as 2000 US dollars, Cordyceps Sinensis had reportedly funded the successful Maoist battle against the monarchy in Nepal. Now the collection and trading of this medicinal herb is legal in Nepal.
Cordyceps Sinensis is also widely found in the highlands of Bhutan which made the collection and trading of the herb legal only in 2004. Only communities living in and around the high lands are allowed to collect it and sell it to traders through government organized auctions.
Bhutan sells this product in 3 grades, A, B and C at prices ranging from US $ 2685 to US $ 2485. Collection of the herb is strictly regulated and is done on rotation basis.
Nestled between Nepal, Bhutan and another giant producer of ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ China, the Himalayan State of Sikkim also has fair quantities of this medicinal herb in its high altitude areas of North, East and West districts.
Now belatedly realizing that its bio revenue source has been lying untapped, the State government is now chewing over a proposal from the State forest department to legalize collection and trading of Cordyceps Sinensis abundantly stored in its highlands.
Sources from the State forest department inform that the department has sent a draft proposal for legalizing collection of Cordyceps Sinensis in the State. Collection of medicinal plants from the wild is prohibited in Sikkim.
The proposal is now being vetted by the State law department and after proper scrutiny, a government notification will be issued in due course of time, it is informed.
Apart from the enormous revenue potential for locals and government, the bid to legalize collection of this medicinal herb could have been prompted by an incident of not so recent past where around 17 kgs of ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ had been seized from two smugglers by the forest officials.
On July last year, the forest officials seized the consignment derived from the highlands of the State at Singtam meant for delivery outside the State. The incident had created a furore in the State and demands for bringing this clandestine business above-board had been made leading to this latest bid of the State forest department.
Though the various points in the proposal are still under scrutiny, it is learnt that the department is keen to legalize collection of this medicinal herb in a controlled manner in the high altitude areas of Sikkim.
Cordyceps sinensis, a rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus is found in the altitudes above 4,500 m in the Himalayas. In Sikkim, it is found in areas like Green Lake, Dzongri, Thamjey, Nathu La Pass, Doman Valley, Tholung Pass and other areas above 8,000 ft. All these areas are under the forest department.
Though no resource survey of this medicinal herb has been conducted in Sikkim, the forest department says that it knows where the herb is found in Sikkim.
One of the silent features of the proposal is that only Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) registered with the forest department will be allowed to collect the caterpillar fungus. The JFMC will have to be from that area where the herb is found.
Collection from sanctuaries will not be allowed. A 25-75 percentage share has been proposed by the department which is being screened by the law department. The JFMCs will get 75 percent of the total Cordyceps sinensis they have collected while the remaining 25 percent will go to the State forest department. The department is also keen to market the forest produce through authorized dealers.
Experts on medicinal plants here have welcomed the proposal of the department. They also said that foreign technology is readily available to artificially produce the medicinal herb in Sikkim.
The experts have also endorsed the rationale behind the proposal. “People are already collecting Cordyceps sinensis and other forest produce from the forest. By legalizing the collection will mean that the present clandestine operations will come above-board leading to control and regulation. The locals will also benefit by earning money which will mean that they will have a stake in protecting the biodiversity. Right now they don’t have any stakes”, said one expert.
( source: sikkim express)
Caterpillar Fungus
GANGTOK, May 31: Sikkim is seriously considering following the footsteps of its Himalayan neighbours, Nepal and Bhutan, by legalizing the collection of the medicinal herb, Cordyceps Sinensis from the forest areas.
For the uninformed, Cordyceps Sinensis is popular known as ‘caterpillar fungus’, widely known in the Himalayan belt as ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ and its connoisseurs do not tire to sing the aphrodisiac properties of this ‘Himalayan Viagra’.
With one kg of raw caterpillar fungus fetching as much as 2000 US dollars, Cordyceps Sinensis had reportedly funded the successful Maoist battle against the monarchy in Nepal. Now the collection and trading of this medicinal herb is legal in Nepal.
Cordyceps Sinensis is also widely found in the highlands of Bhutan which made the collection and trading of the herb legal only in 2004. Only communities living in and around the high lands are allowed to collect it and sell it to traders through government organized auctions.
Bhutan sells this product in 3 grades, A, B and C at prices ranging from US $ 2685 to US $ 2485. Collection of the herb is strictly regulated and is done on rotation basis.
Nestled between Nepal, Bhutan and another giant producer of ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ China, the Himalayan State of Sikkim also has fair quantities of this medicinal herb in its high altitude areas of North, East and West districts.
Now belatedly realizing that its bio revenue source has been lying untapped, the State government is now chewing over a proposal from the State forest department to legalize collection and trading of Cordyceps Sinensis abundantly stored in its highlands.
Sources from the State forest department inform that the department has sent a draft proposal for legalizing collection of Cordyceps Sinensis in the State. Collection of medicinal plants from the wild is prohibited in Sikkim.
The proposal is now being vetted by the State law department and after proper scrutiny, a government notification will be issued in due course of time, it is informed.
Apart from the enormous revenue potential for locals and government, the bid to legalize collection of this medicinal herb could have been prompted by an incident of not so recent past where around 17 kgs of ‘Yarcha-Gombuk’ had been seized from two smugglers by the forest officials.
On July last year, the forest officials seized the consignment derived from the highlands of the State at Singtam meant for delivery outside the State. The incident had created a furore in the State and demands for bringing this clandestine business above-board had been made leading to this latest bid of the State forest department.
Though the various points in the proposal are still under scrutiny, it is learnt that the department is keen to legalize collection of this medicinal herb in a controlled manner in the high altitude areas of Sikkim.
Cordyceps sinensis, a rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus is found in the altitudes above 4,500 m in the Himalayas. In Sikkim, it is found in areas like Green Lake, Dzongri, Thamjey, Nathu La Pass, Doman Valley, Tholung Pass and other areas above 8,000 ft. All these areas are under the forest department.
Though no resource survey of this medicinal herb has been conducted in Sikkim, the forest department says that it knows where the herb is found in Sikkim.
One of the silent features of the proposal is that only Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) registered with the forest department will be allowed to collect the caterpillar fungus. The JFMC will have to be from that area where the herb is found.
Collection from sanctuaries will not be allowed. A 25-75 percentage share has been proposed by the department which is being screened by the law department. The JFMCs will get 75 percent of the total Cordyceps sinensis they have collected while the remaining 25 percent will go to the State forest department. The department is also keen to market the forest produce through authorized dealers.
Experts on medicinal plants here have welcomed the proposal of the department. They also said that foreign technology is readily available to artificially produce the medicinal herb in Sikkim.
The experts have also endorsed the rationale behind the proposal. “People are already collecting Cordyceps sinensis and other forest produce from the forest. By legalizing the collection will mean that the present clandestine operations will come above-board leading to control and regulation. The locals will also benefit by earning money which will mean that they will have a stake in protecting the biodiversity. Right now they don’t have any stakes”, said one expert.
( source: sikkim express)
BHAICHUNG WINS JHALAK DIKHHLA JAA
Bhaichung Bhutia wins 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'
Bhaichung wins 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'
Sun, May 31 11:07 PM
Mumbai, May 31 (IANS) After showing his legwork on the field, football star Bhaichung Bhutia has proved he can dance well too as he walked away with the winner's trophy after the grand finale of third season of Sony TV's reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' here Sunday night.
Bhutia, who was one of the weaker contenders when the show began over three months back, beat model Gauhar Khan and actor Karan Grover to win the Rs.4 million prize money as well as the audience's adulation.
His victory has not only been backed by improved performance, but also by the SMS frenzy in his home state of Sikkim.
Several women from an organisation called Sahayta Club chipped in with Rs.30,000 to buy mobile cash cards so that they could facilitate 10,000 SMS votes for Bhutia last week.
Another campaign was undertaken by a social organisation called Citizens Forum that had set up a massive tent in Sikkim to conduct mass voting. Many booths were also set up in various localities in and around the state and neighbouring West Bengal hills to boost Bhutia's vote count.
Even the United Sikkim Sporting Soccer Club, whose chief patron is Bhutia, organised a mass voting at a discotheque in Gangtok.
Bhutia was recently slapped with a show-cause notice by Mohun Bagan, the club for which he plays football, for missing their practice sessions.
But he went on to perfect his dance moves for 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'.
The special episode was a glitzy event with performances from the participants, choreographers as well as celebrity guests, actors Malaika Arora Khan and Mallika Sherawat.
The show's judges - star choreographers Saroj Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant - as well as actress Juhi Chawla graced the event.
A run-down of the journey of the three finalists too was showcased.
Indo Asian News Service
Bhaichung wins 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'
Sun, May 31 11:07 PM
Mumbai, May 31 (IANS) After showing his legwork on the field, football star Bhaichung Bhutia has proved he can dance well too as he walked away with the winner's trophy after the grand finale of third season of Sony TV's reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' here Sunday night.
Bhutia, who was one of the weaker contenders when the show began over three months back, beat model Gauhar Khan and actor Karan Grover to win the Rs.4 million prize money as well as the audience's adulation.
His victory has not only been backed by improved performance, but also by the SMS frenzy in his home state of Sikkim.
Several women from an organisation called Sahayta Club chipped in with Rs.30,000 to buy mobile cash cards so that they could facilitate 10,000 SMS votes for Bhutia last week.
Another campaign was undertaken by a social organisation called Citizens Forum that had set up a massive tent in Sikkim to conduct mass voting. Many booths were also set up in various localities in and around the state and neighbouring West Bengal hills to boost Bhutia's vote count.
Even the United Sikkim Sporting Soccer Club, whose chief patron is Bhutia, organised a mass voting at a discotheque in Gangtok.
Bhutia was recently slapped with a show-cause notice by Mohun Bagan, the club for which he plays football, for missing their practice sessions.
But he went on to perfect his dance moves for 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'.
The special episode was a glitzy event with performances from the participants, choreographers as well as celebrity guests, actors Malaika Arora Khan and Mallika Sherawat.
The show's judges - star choreographers Saroj Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant - as well as actress Juhi Chawla graced the event.
A run-down of the journey of the three finalists too was showcased.
Indo Asian News Service
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Army launches world's second highest cycling expedition
Army launches world’s second highest cycling expedition
May 30,2009
Kolkata (PTI) Troops of 33 Corps on Friday embarked on the second highest cycling expedition in the world across Sikkim.
The cycling team from 66 Armoured Regiment comprising two officers, two JCOs and 15 other ranks were flagged off from Sukna by Maj. Gen M S Sidhu, chief of staff of 33 Corps.
“Their aim is to explore by cycle the tough terrain of North Sikkim, inculcate a spirit of adventure and exploration, explore the flora and fauna of Lachung valley and Lachen valley and finally develop self-confidence and team spirit,” Col. Sandeep Singh, commanding officer of 66 Armoured Regiment said in a release.
The expedition will scale the Dorjila mountain peak in North Sikkim located at a height of 5,625 metres by cycle. The highest cycling expedition, incidentally, has been across Marsimik La pass in Ladakh which is at a height of 5,679 metres.
The distance covered will be 440 km.
May 30,2009
Kolkata (PTI) Troops of 33 Corps on Friday embarked on the second highest cycling expedition in the world across Sikkim.
The cycling team from 66 Armoured Regiment comprising two officers, two JCOs and 15 other ranks were flagged off from Sukna by Maj. Gen M S Sidhu, chief of staff of 33 Corps.
“Their aim is to explore by cycle the tough terrain of North Sikkim, inculcate a spirit of adventure and exploration, explore the flora and fauna of Lachung valley and Lachen valley and finally develop self-confidence and team spirit,” Col. Sandeep Singh, commanding officer of 66 Armoured Regiment said in a release.
The expedition will scale the Dorjila mountain peak in North Sikkim located at a height of 5,625 metres by cycle. The highest cycling expedition, incidentally, has been across Marsimik La pass in Ladakh which is at a height of 5,679 metres.
The distance covered will be 440 km.
Friday, May 29, 2009
NEW APPOINTMENTS OF MINISTERS IN INDIAN CABINET
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, appointed the following as members of the Council of Ministers:-
CABINET MINISTERS
1. Shri Virbhadra Singh
2. Dr. Farooq Abdullah
3. Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh
4. Shri Dayanidhi Maran
5. Shri A. Raja
6. Shri Mallikarjun Kharge
7. Kumari Selja
8. Shri Subodh Kant Sahay
9. Dr. M.S. Gill
10. Shri G.K. Vasan
11. Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal
12. Shri Mukul Wasnik
13. Shri Kantilal Bhuria
14. Shri M.K. Alagiri
MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
1. Shri Praful Patel
2. Shri Prithviraj Chauhan
3. Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal
4. Shri Salman Khursheed
5. Shri Dinsha Patel
6. Shrimati Krishna Tirath
7. Shri Jairam Ramesh
MINISTERS OF STATE
1. Shri Srikant Jena
2. Shri E. Ahamed
3. Shri Mullappally Ramachandran
4. Shri V. Narayanasamy
5. Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia
6. Shrimati D. Purandeswari
7. Shri K.H. Muniyappa
8. Shri Ajay Maken
9. Shrimati Panabaka Lakshmi
10. Shri Namo Narain Meena
11. Shri M.M. Pallam Raju
12. Shri Saugata Ray
13. Shri S.S. Palanimanickam
14. Shri Jitin Prasad
15. Shri A. Sai Prathap
16. Shri Gurudas Kamat
17. Shri Harish Rawat
18. Professor K.V. Thomas
19. Shri Bharatsinh Solanki
20. Shri Mahadev Khandela
21. Shri Dinesh Trivedi
22. Shri Sisir Adhikari
23. Shri Sultan Ahmed
24. Shri Mukul Roy
25. Shri Mohan Jatua
26. Shri D. Napoleon
27. Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan
28. Shri S. Gandhiselvan
29. Smt. Preneet Kaur
30. Shri Tusharbhai Chaudhary
31. Shri Sachin Pilot
32. Shri Arun Yadav
33. Shri Prateek Prakashbapu Patil
34. Shri R.P.N. Singh
35. Shri Shashi Tharoor
36. Shri Vincent Pala
37. Shri Pradeep Jain
38. Ms. Agatha Sangma
The President administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the above members of the Council of Ministers at a ceremony held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, today.
****
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi, May 28,2009/Jyaistha 7, 1931
AKT/HS/LV/CS
Thursday, May 28, 2009
EXODUS TO SIKKIM
Reduced tax holiday induces industrial exodus
By Ambika Sharma
Solan, May 27,2009.
With the income tax holiday being reduced to 30 per cent from the earlier 100 per cent (as per the 2003 central industrial package), the pharmaceutical sector in the state was the first to feel the pinch. Already faced with excise duty reduction of 25 per cent, pharmaceutical units have now started shifting their operations to states like Sikkim where more incentives were available.
A top executive of a leading pharmaceutical unit said, “With reduction in income tax holiday, doing business here has ceased to be a lucrative proposition. The sudden reduction in excise duty in non-incentive states from the earlier 16 per cent to 8 per cent in a span of just one year has brought the industry in Himachal almost on a par with other states. The remaining margin gets consumed in meeting freight charges for the transportation of raw material and finished products, leaving little in terms of profitability.”
While companies like Zydus, Cipla, Cadila, Alkem, Intas, Sun Pharma, Indchemie, etc. had already shifted production of a majority of their products to Sikkim, companies like Unichem, Torrent, Aristo, Alembic, Glenmark etc. have either bought land in Sikkim or construction of their plants was already at an advanced stage there.
RK Arora, chairman of the association of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs belonging to Himachal, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, said, “The state government should urge the Centre to extend the income tax holiday for a period of 10 years, bringing it on a par with Sikkim.”
Officials of the industries department said it was a condition originally mentioned in the 2003 industrial package and they were endeavouring to get the package period increased to its original term of 10 years (up to 2013). Since Himachal was still at its nascent stage of industrialisation more was needed to uplift it economically. The issue would be taken up if investors made a suitable representation voicing their concern, they added.
By Ambika Sharma
Solan, May 27,2009.
With the income tax holiday being reduced to 30 per cent from the earlier 100 per cent (as per the 2003 central industrial package), the pharmaceutical sector in the state was the first to feel the pinch. Already faced with excise duty reduction of 25 per cent, pharmaceutical units have now started shifting their operations to states like Sikkim where more incentives were available.
A top executive of a leading pharmaceutical unit said, “With reduction in income tax holiday, doing business here has ceased to be a lucrative proposition. The sudden reduction in excise duty in non-incentive states from the earlier 16 per cent to 8 per cent in a span of just one year has brought the industry in Himachal almost on a par with other states. The remaining margin gets consumed in meeting freight charges for the transportation of raw material and finished products, leaving little in terms of profitability.”
While companies like Zydus, Cipla, Cadila, Alkem, Intas, Sun Pharma, Indchemie, etc. had already shifted production of a majority of their products to Sikkim, companies like Unichem, Torrent, Aristo, Alembic, Glenmark etc. have either bought land in Sikkim or construction of their plants was already at an advanced stage there.
RK Arora, chairman of the association of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs belonging to Himachal, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, said, “The state government should urge the Centre to extend the income tax holiday for a period of 10 years, bringing it on a par with Sikkim.”
Officials of the industries department said it was a condition originally mentioned in the 2003 industrial package and they were endeavouring to get the package period increased to its original term of 10 years (up to 2013). Since Himachal was still at its nascent stage of industrialisation more was needed to uplift it economically. The issue would be taken up if investors made a suitable representation voicing their concern, they added.
FM FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE
Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed his first press conference here today, after joining office on 25th May, 2009. Following is the text of his opening remarks at the press conference:
“According to our manifesto, the new Government is required to present the Union Budget within 45 days of coming to power. We will adhere to this schedule and propose to present the Budget in the first week of July. The regular budget 2009-10 exercises are underway in full swing. Reviving the growth momentum of our economy which has been affected by the global financial crisis is the top most priority of this Government. The fiscal prudence has to be kept in mind while taking steps for reviving the economy. As you all know, a major consequence of the global financial crisis has been the loss of confidence among industry and business. Various coordinated steps taken by the government and the RBI have stabilised the economy in a short period of time. The economic system was keenly looking forward to a stable and effective government to steer it out of the current situation. The mandate of the people has provided that booster dose and led to a widespread “feel good” sentiment. I am aware that we need to rapidly build on that with concrete steps which we shall do. We are assessing the impact of three doses of economic stimulus we announced in December, in January and in the Interim Budget.
Sustained stimulus to growth can be harnessed by the next round of economic reforms. We have a broad plan of action in mind. I will get additional inputs when I have my pre-budget consultations with different stakeholders. All this will be distilled into a concrete short-term and medium-term vision and strategy for India’s economic growth. Industry and business have been hurt by the cost of finance and its easy availability. While much has been done in the last 8 months and international capital flows have resumed, the cost and the speed with which finance can be accessed remains a matter of concern.
One of the first steps I propose to take is to meet bankers and get them committed to a more benign plan of action. The government has the opportunity to present its vision and approach for the next five years in the forthcoming budget. Broadly, the election results have vindicated the strategy of “inclusive growth”. I have no hesitation in saying that alongwith reviving the momentum of growth and employment creation, our government will strengthen the various “inclusive” elements in the coming budget. The Government will have to focus on implementing and strengthening its infrastructure investments. These concerns will be addressed with a view to impart further momentum for an early return to the high growth path of recent years. The pipeline of infrastructure projects will be re-appraised and made more robust. Where necessary, policy and procedures will be calibrated to give a boost to infrastructure spending. Prophets of doom have been unduly focusing on increased public spending and consequent increase in the revenue and fiscal deficits in the recent past. We are hopeful that an early return to our recent growth performance will help us come back to our preferred path of fiscal prudence. Let me say unambiguously that we are committed to restoring growth and employment and that would not have been possible without increased spending funded by incremental borrowing. This would need to be further continued in 2009-10-the current year. However, we are equally committed to the process of fiscal consolidation over a period of say 2 to 3 years. We need to seize the opportunity presented by the current circumstances for pushing long pending reform measures. These include measures in the area of financial sector and real economy, to make the economy more competitive and the economic regulatory and oversight system more efficient, quick and responsive to global developments. As you know, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act Amendment was passed by Parliament recently. We propose to bring this into force to make India’s Anti- money Laundering regime stronger.”
“According to our manifesto, the new Government is required to present the Union Budget within 45 days of coming to power. We will adhere to this schedule and propose to present the Budget in the first week of July. The regular budget 2009-10 exercises are underway in full swing. Reviving the growth momentum of our economy which has been affected by the global financial crisis is the top most priority of this Government. The fiscal prudence has to be kept in mind while taking steps for reviving the economy. As you all know, a major consequence of the global financial crisis has been the loss of confidence among industry and business. Various coordinated steps taken by the government and the RBI have stabilised the economy in a short period of time. The economic system was keenly looking forward to a stable and effective government to steer it out of the current situation. The mandate of the people has provided that booster dose and led to a widespread “feel good” sentiment. I am aware that we need to rapidly build on that with concrete steps which we shall do. We are assessing the impact of three doses of economic stimulus we announced in December, in January and in the Interim Budget.
Sustained stimulus to growth can be harnessed by the next round of economic reforms. We have a broad plan of action in mind. I will get additional inputs when I have my pre-budget consultations with different stakeholders. All this will be distilled into a concrete short-term and medium-term vision and strategy for India’s economic growth. Industry and business have been hurt by the cost of finance and its easy availability. While much has been done in the last 8 months and international capital flows have resumed, the cost and the speed with which finance can be accessed remains a matter of concern.
One of the first steps I propose to take is to meet bankers and get them committed to a more benign plan of action. The government has the opportunity to present its vision and approach for the next five years in the forthcoming budget. Broadly, the election results have vindicated the strategy of “inclusive growth”. I have no hesitation in saying that alongwith reviving the momentum of growth and employment creation, our government will strengthen the various “inclusive” elements in the coming budget. The Government will have to focus on implementing and strengthening its infrastructure investments. These concerns will be addressed with a view to impart further momentum for an early return to the high growth path of recent years. The pipeline of infrastructure projects will be re-appraised and made more robust. Where necessary, policy and procedures will be calibrated to give a boost to infrastructure spending. Prophets of doom have been unduly focusing on increased public spending and consequent increase in the revenue and fiscal deficits in the recent past. We are hopeful that an early return to our recent growth performance will help us come back to our preferred path of fiscal prudence. Let me say unambiguously that we are committed to restoring growth and employment and that would not have been possible without increased spending funded by incremental borrowing. This would need to be further continued in 2009-10-the current year. However, we are equally committed to the process of fiscal consolidation over a period of say 2 to 3 years. We need to seize the opportunity presented by the current circumstances for pushing long pending reform measures. These include measures in the area of financial sector and real economy, to make the economy more competitive and the economic regulatory and oversight system more efficient, quick and responsive to global developments. As you know, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act Amendment was passed by Parliament recently. We propose to bring this into force to make India’s Anti- money Laundering regime stronger.”
Sunday, May 24, 2009
CONGRATULATIONS PRANAB AS INDIA'S FINANCE MINISTER
New Delhi Veteran politician Pranab Mukherjee, hailed as one of the five best Finance Ministers in the world in 1984, will re-enter the North Block as Finance Minister of the new Congress-led UPA government.
Often described as a man for all seasons and seen by his party as a trusted trouble shooter, Mukherjee's first task would be to present the budget for 2009-10 and continue the measures to boost the economy reeling under the impact of global financial crisis.
As author of the interim budget for the current fiscal, it would be easier for him to prepare the full budget for the fiscal and ensure continuity in the economic policies and programmes.
The government is required to get the budget passed by Parliament by July 31 as the vote-on-account (which allows government to withdraw money from Consolidated Fund) sought in the interim budget comes to end on July 31.
Mukherjee is a veritable encyclopaedia on Congress movement and has been a minister in all the party governments since the mid-1970s, save the Rajiv Gandhi government between 1984 and 1989.
The eternal 'number two', Mukherjee was a trusted lieutenant of late Indira Gandhi under whom he was the powerful Minister of State for Revenue during the emergency and later became a full-fledged Finance Minister between 1982 and 1984.
Mukherjee, who after a gap of 25 years became the Finance Minister in the previous UPA government, had little opportunity to excel. It was an additional charge for the External Affairs Minister after the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram was shifted to Home Ministry.
The only significant thing he did as the Finance Minister was to present an interim budget for the outgoing government. As Finance Minister in the 80s, he was the boss of the present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was then the Governor of Reserve Bank of India. Although many thought he would become Prime Minister in 2004, Congress president Sonia Gandhi nominated Manmohan Singh for the responsibility.
Again the top constitutional post is said to have eluded him during the Presidential election in 2007 when Left parties reportedly favoured him but the Congress chose Pratibha Patil.
The 73-year-old leader from West Bengal, who took to politics under the tutelage of late Ajoy Mukherjee of the Bangla Congress, had briefly gone out of the Congress in the mid-1980s in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination.
After his reported brush with Rajiv Gandhi, who took over from his mother in 1984, Mukherjee made an exit from Congress and started his own party – Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress – only to merge it with the parent party again in the last years of the former Prime Minister.
From an obscure village in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Mukherjee has risen to become the number two in the corridors of power in Delhi shaping government policies and programmes.
He played an important role in Congress allying with the Trinamool Congress to inflict a humiliating defeat on the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal.
Mukherjee, who mostly made it to the upper house since 1969 when he first became a Rajya Sabha member, was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from Jangipur constituency in Murshidabad district in 2004. He repeated the feat in this elections widening the victory margin to over 1.26 lakhs, from 34,360 in 2004.
He became the Deputy Minister of Industrial Development at the Centre for the first time in 1973 and went on to serve as Minister of State and Cabinet Minister.
Mukherjee was rated as one of the best finance ministers of the world in 1984 and was adjudged the best parliamentarian in 1997.
As Union Commerce Minister, Mukherjee contributed significantly to the negotiations leading to the establishment of the World Trade Organisation. For some time, during the 1990s he had held the dual charge of External Affairs Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
During the previous stint of the UPA government, as External Affairs Minister Mukherjee played a crucial role in negotiating the nuclear deal with the US and improving India's ties with it, besides mobilising world opinion against Pakistan after the terrorist strike in Mumbai.
He also functioned as the leader of the 14th Lok Sabha. Apart from his assignments in the government, he played a significant role in the Congress as a member of CWC, the highest policy-making body of the party, as treasurer, general secretary, member of central election committee and the central parliamentary board of the party.
He was appointed president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress in 1985, 2000 and again last year when the PCC chief fell ill.
Widely travelled, he led several delegations to important conferences abroad and in the UN General Assembly. Educated at Vidyasagar College, he began his career as a teacher and a journalist and was associated with publications like Desher Dak (Call of Motherland).
Mukherjee has authored several books including Midterm Poll, Beyond Survival, Emerging dimensions of Indian Economy, Off the Track, Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice and Challenge before the Nation.
He was a trustee of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad and president of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan. He also served as the chairman of the Planning Board of the Asiatic Society, from 1984-1986 and during 1992-96.
Often described as a man for all seasons and seen by his party as a trusted trouble shooter, Mukherjee's first task would be to present the budget for 2009-10 and continue the measures to boost the economy reeling under the impact of global financial crisis.
As author of the interim budget for the current fiscal, it would be easier for him to prepare the full budget for the fiscal and ensure continuity in the economic policies and programmes.
The government is required to get the budget passed by Parliament by July 31 as the vote-on-account (which allows government to withdraw money from Consolidated Fund) sought in the interim budget comes to end on July 31.
Mukherjee is a veritable encyclopaedia on Congress movement and has been a minister in all the party governments since the mid-1970s, save the Rajiv Gandhi government between 1984 and 1989.
The eternal 'number two', Mukherjee was a trusted lieutenant of late Indira Gandhi under whom he was the powerful Minister of State for Revenue during the emergency and later became a full-fledged Finance Minister between 1982 and 1984.
Mukherjee, who after a gap of 25 years became the Finance Minister in the previous UPA government, had little opportunity to excel. It was an additional charge for the External Affairs Minister after the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram was shifted to Home Ministry.
The only significant thing he did as the Finance Minister was to present an interim budget for the outgoing government. As Finance Minister in the 80s, he was the boss of the present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was then the Governor of Reserve Bank of India. Although many thought he would become Prime Minister in 2004, Congress president Sonia Gandhi nominated Manmohan Singh for the responsibility.
Again the top constitutional post is said to have eluded him during the Presidential election in 2007 when Left parties reportedly favoured him but the Congress chose Pratibha Patil.
The 73-year-old leader from West Bengal, who took to politics under the tutelage of late Ajoy Mukherjee of the Bangla Congress, had briefly gone out of the Congress in the mid-1980s in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination.
After his reported brush with Rajiv Gandhi, who took over from his mother in 1984, Mukherjee made an exit from Congress and started his own party – Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress – only to merge it with the parent party again in the last years of the former Prime Minister.
From an obscure village in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Mukherjee has risen to become the number two in the corridors of power in Delhi shaping government policies and programmes.
He played an important role in Congress allying with the Trinamool Congress to inflict a humiliating defeat on the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal.
Mukherjee, who mostly made it to the upper house since 1969 when he first became a Rajya Sabha member, was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from Jangipur constituency in Murshidabad district in 2004. He repeated the feat in this elections widening the victory margin to over 1.26 lakhs, from 34,360 in 2004.
He became the Deputy Minister of Industrial Development at the Centre for the first time in 1973 and went on to serve as Minister of State and Cabinet Minister.
Mukherjee was rated as one of the best finance ministers of the world in 1984 and was adjudged the best parliamentarian in 1997.
As Union Commerce Minister, Mukherjee contributed significantly to the negotiations leading to the establishment of the World Trade Organisation. For some time, during the 1990s he had held the dual charge of External Affairs Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
During the previous stint of the UPA government, as External Affairs Minister Mukherjee played a crucial role in negotiating the nuclear deal with the US and improving India's ties with it, besides mobilising world opinion against Pakistan after the terrorist strike in Mumbai.
He also functioned as the leader of the 14th Lok Sabha. Apart from his assignments in the government, he played a significant role in the Congress as a member of CWC, the highest policy-making body of the party, as treasurer, general secretary, member of central election committee and the central parliamentary board of the party.
He was appointed president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress in 1985, 2000 and again last year when the PCC chief fell ill.
Widely travelled, he led several delegations to important conferences abroad and in the UN General Assembly. Educated at Vidyasagar College, he began his career as a teacher and a journalist and was associated with publications like Desher Dak (Call of Motherland).
Mukherjee has authored several books including Midterm Poll, Beyond Survival, Emerging dimensions of Indian Economy, Off the Track, Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice and Challenge before the Nation.
He was a trustee of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad and president of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan. He also served as the chairman of the Planning Board of the Asiatic Society, from 1984-1986 and during 1992-96.
CHAMLING AS CM FOR THE FOURTH TERM
Chamling takes oath as CM for fourth consecutive term
GANGTOK 21 May 2009
A heady mix of old hands, young and fresh faces and women members featured in the 12 member new cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling who was sworn for the record fourth consecutive term today.
Mr. Chamling was sworn into office for the fourth consecutive term this morning by Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh at the Ashirbad bhavan at the Raj Bhavan complex here in the capital.
The Governor administrated the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Chamling as the Chief Minister of Sikkim. The Governor then administrated the oath of office and secrecy to the other 11 cabinet ministers individually.
The new cabinet of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government was significant as none of the old cabinet members of the last term who were handed tickets and won were retained in Mr. Chamling’s new team.
The new cabinet has seen a total new team which included seven first timers. It follows the model of ‘five old and seven new faces, including two women’ of the Chief Minister but in a slightly different manner.
The difference is that barring the Chief Minister the rest of his 11 cabinet colleagues are either new or making a comeback after a rest.
“It is a hundred percent new cabinet”, said Mr. Chamling later in the evening during a press meet.
Mr. Chamling has retained home, finance, revenue and expenditure, Department of Personnel, Planning and economic reforms, North eastern council and other departments not specifically allocated to any other ministers.
Regarding his decision not to retain the power department which he had held in the previous term, the Chief Minister told SIKKIM EXPRESS that it was done so as he could not given proper time. “It was due to my busy schedule and I have handed the responsibility to a young minister (SG Lepcha). He is from North Sikkim and is well sensitized about the local issues”, he said.
Among the old hands Ran Bahadur Subba, the fourth term MLA who defeated Nar Bahadur Bhandari from Soreng-Chakung constituency in west Sikkim and was a MLA in the last term has been given a cabinet berth with the roads and bridges and labour department in his portfolio.
Thinley Tshering Bhutia also a fourth term SDF MLA from Kabi-Lungchok who was not in the cabinet last term but had previously served as minister has bounced back as the minister for water security and public health engineering and transport departments.
The Speaker of the last Assembly, DN Takarpa who is serving for the second term after winning from Rinchenpong constituency in west Sikkim this time has also been included in the cabinet. He has been handed health care, human security, family welfare, animal husbandry and law and parliamentary affairs departments.
DB Thapa, who was a cabinet minister in SDF’s first term but rested after that and given a ticket and won this time is the new urban development, food and civil supplies minister.
NK Pradhan who has won five consecutive terms but was never in the cabinet was finally rewarded for his perseverance. He has been given in-charge of human resource development, sports and youth affairs and information technology departments.
Next came the youth brigade.
Among these younger lot who were MLAs in the last two terms- Bhim Dhungel, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha and Dawcho Lepcha – have also been made cabinet ministers.
Mr. Dhungel has been handed with the tourism, forest and wildlife management and science and technology departments.
Dawcho Lepcha is the agriculture, food security, horticulture and cash crop and irrigation and flood control minister while Dzongu MLA Sonam Gyasto Lepcha has been handed the departments of energy and power, cultural affairs and heritage.
The rural development department and cooperation departments will be headed by CB Karki, another two term MLA.
Among the two women members who have been made ministers are Tilu Gurung and Neeru Sewa.
Mrs. Gurung has been made the buildings and housing minister and while Miss Sewa will look after commerce and industries, information and public relations, excise (Abkari), printing and stationeries departments.
At 32 years of age, Miss Sewa is the youngest in the Chamling cabinet.
In one of the first notifications of the new government, four newly elected MLAs were also accorded the rank of cabinet minister. They were BS Panth, Prem Singh Tamang, Chandra Maya Subba and LM Lepcha.
Mr. Panth was made the chairman of the Power Advisor Board while Mr. Tamang is the new chairman for Industries, Trade and Commerce Development Board. Similarly, Chandra Maya Subba is the new chairman of State Trading Corporation of Sikkim while LM Lepcha is the new chairman of State Bank of Sikkim and Sikkim State Cooperation Bank.
All the above four have been accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Meanwhile as per a government notification, former rural development minister KN Rai has been made as the new political secretary to the Chief Minister. Former tourism minister Ram Bahadur Subba is now the legal advisor to the Chief Minister while former health minister Hissey Lachungpa is the political advisor. All three of them have been accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Tumin Lingi MLA Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia was also appointed as the government chief whip and accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Similarly, a Speaker Pro-tem will be appointed from the members of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly tomorrow. The Governor will be administrating the oath of office to the Speaker Pro-tem tomorrow at Raj Bhavan.
Mr. Chamling disclosed to SIKKIM EXPRESS on the sidelines of press briefing today evening that Menlom Lepcha will be sworn in as the Speaker Pro-tem tomorrow.
The first session of the Eighth Assembly will be held on May 22 where the Speaker Pro-tem will be administrating the oath to the newly elected MLAs. The MLAs then will elect their Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Chamling informed that the Speaker to be elected is KT Gyalsten while the Deputy Speaker responsibility will be handed to MB Dahal.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling
Home, Finance, Revenue and Expenditure, Development Planning, Economic Reforms and North East Council Affairs and other departments not specifically allotted to any other Minister.
Ran Bahadur Subba
Roads and Bridges, Labour
Thinlay Tshering Bhutia
Water Security and Public Health Engineering and Transport
Dawa Norbu Takarpa
Health Care, Human Service and Family Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries and
Veterinary Services and Parliamentary Affairs
Narendra Kumar Pradhan
Human Resource Development, Sports and Youth Affairs and Information Technology
Dil Bahadur Thapa
Urban Development and Housing, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
Sonam Gyatso Lepcha
Energy and Power, Cultural Affairs and Heritage
Chandra Bahadur Karki
Rural Management and Development, Cooperation
Dawcho Lepcha
Food Security and Agriculture Development and Horticulture & Cash Crops Development, Irrigation and Flood Control
Bhim Prasad Dungel
Tourism, Forest Environment and Wildlife Management, Mines, Minerals and Geology, Science and Technology
Tilu Gurung
Buildings and Housing
Neeru Sewa
Commerce and Industries, Information and Public Relations, Printing and Stationary, Excise (Abkari)
Chairman/Chairperson
BS Panth – Power Advisor Board (Cabinet rank)
PS Tamang – Industries, Trade and Commerce Development Board (Cabinet rank)
Chandra Maya Subba – State Trading Corporation of Sikkim (Cabinet rank)
LM Lepcha – State Bank of Sikkim and Sikkim State Cooperation Bank (Cabinet rank)
Am Prasad Sharma – Sikkim Distilleries
Tshering Wangdi Lepcha – SNT
Puran Gurung – Denzong Agriculture Cooperative Society
PL Subba – Agriculture/Horticulture board
Madan Cintury – Sikkim SC, ST and OBC Development Corporation
Tenzi Sherpa – Khadi and Village industries board
BB Rai – Sikkim Industrial Development and Investment Corporation
Sonam Gyasto Bhutia – Land Use and Environment Board
Phitook Tshering Bhutia – ST Welfare Board
Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia – Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society
Advisors
Political Secretary to CM – KN Rai
Legal Advisor to CM – Ram Bahadur Subba
Political Advisor to CM – Hissey Lachungpa
GANGTOK 21 May 2009
A heady mix of old hands, young and fresh faces and women members featured in the 12 member new cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling who was sworn for the record fourth consecutive term today.
Mr. Chamling was sworn into office for the fourth consecutive term this morning by Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh at the Ashirbad bhavan at the Raj Bhavan complex here in the capital.
The Governor administrated the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Chamling as the Chief Minister of Sikkim. The Governor then administrated the oath of office and secrecy to the other 11 cabinet ministers individually.
The new cabinet of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government was significant as none of the old cabinet members of the last term who were handed tickets and won were retained in Mr. Chamling’s new team.
The new cabinet has seen a total new team which included seven first timers. It follows the model of ‘five old and seven new faces, including two women’ of the Chief Minister but in a slightly different manner.
The difference is that barring the Chief Minister the rest of his 11 cabinet colleagues are either new or making a comeback after a rest.
“It is a hundred percent new cabinet”, said Mr. Chamling later in the evening during a press meet.
Mr. Chamling has retained home, finance, revenue and expenditure, Department of Personnel, Planning and economic reforms, North eastern council and other departments not specifically allocated to any other ministers.
Regarding his decision not to retain the power department which he had held in the previous term, the Chief Minister told SIKKIM EXPRESS that it was done so as he could not given proper time. “It was due to my busy schedule and I have handed the responsibility to a young minister (SG Lepcha). He is from North Sikkim and is well sensitized about the local issues”, he said.
Among the old hands Ran Bahadur Subba, the fourth term MLA who defeated Nar Bahadur Bhandari from Soreng-Chakung constituency in west Sikkim and was a MLA in the last term has been given a cabinet berth with the roads and bridges and labour department in his portfolio.
Thinley Tshering Bhutia also a fourth term SDF MLA from Kabi-Lungchok who was not in the cabinet last term but had previously served as minister has bounced back as the minister for water security and public health engineering and transport departments.
The Speaker of the last Assembly, DN Takarpa who is serving for the second term after winning from Rinchenpong constituency in west Sikkim this time has also been included in the cabinet. He has been handed health care, human security, family welfare, animal husbandry and law and parliamentary affairs departments.
DB Thapa, who was a cabinet minister in SDF’s first term but rested after that and given a ticket and won this time is the new urban development, food and civil supplies minister.
NK Pradhan who has won five consecutive terms but was never in the cabinet was finally rewarded for his perseverance. He has been given in-charge of human resource development, sports and youth affairs and information technology departments.
Next came the youth brigade.
Among these younger lot who were MLAs in the last two terms- Bhim Dhungel, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha and Dawcho Lepcha – have also been made cabinet ministers.
Mr. Dhungel has been handed with the tourism, forest and wildlife management and science and technology departments.
Dawcho Lepcha is the agriculture, food security, horticulture and cash crop and irrigation and flood control minister while Dzongu MLA Sonam Gyasto Lepcha has been handed the departments of energy and power, cultural affairs and heritage.
The rural development department and cooperation departments will be headed by CB Karki, another two term MLA.
Among the two women members who have been made ministers are Tilu Gurung and Neeru Sewa.
Mrs. Gurung has been made the buildings and housing minister and while Miss Sewa will look after commerce and industries, information and public relations, excise (Abkari), printing and stationeries departments.
At 32 years of age, Miss Sewa is the youngest in the Chamling cabinet.
In one of the first notifications of the new government, four newly elected MLAs were also accorded the rank of cabinet minister. They were BS Panth, Prem Singh Tamang, Chandra Maya Subba and LM Lepcha.
Mr. Panth was made the chairman of the Power Advisor Board while Mr. Tamang is the new chairman for Industries, Trade and Commerce Development Board. Similarly, Chandra Maya Subba is the new chairman of State Trading Corporation of Sikkim while LM Lepcha is the new chairman of State Bank of Sikkim and Sikkim State Cooperation Bank.
All the above four have been accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Meanwhile as per a government notification, former rural development minister KN Rai has been made as the new political secretary to the Chief Minister. Former tourism minister Ram Bahadur Subba is now the legal advisor to the Chief Minister while former health minister Hissey Lachungpa is the political advisor. All three of them have been accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Tumin Lingi MLA Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia was also appointed as the government chief whip and accorded the status of a cabinet minister.
Similarly, a Speaker Pro-tem will be appointed from the members of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly tomorrow. The Governor will be administrating the oath of office to the Speaker Pro-tem tomorrow at Raj Bhavan.
Mr. Chamling disclosed to SIKKIM EXPRESS on the sidelines of press briefing today evening that Menlom Lepcha will be sworn in as the Speaker Pro-tem tomorrow.
The first session of the Eighth Assembly will be held on May 22 where the Speaker Pro-tem will be administrating the oath to the newly elected MLAs. The MLAs then will elect their Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Chamling informed that the Speaker to be elected is KT Gyalsten while the Deputy Speaker responsibility will be handed to MB Dahal.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling
Home, Finance, Revenue and Expenditure, Development Planning, Economic Reforms and North East Council Affairs and other departments not specifically allotted to any other Minister.
Ran Bahadur Subba
Roads and Bridges, Labour
Thinlay Tshering Bhutia
Water Security and Public Health Engineering and Transport
Dawa Norbu Takarpa
Health Care, Human Service and Family Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries and
Veterinary Services and Parliamentary Affairs
Narendra Kumar Pradhan
Human Resource Development, Sports and Youth Affairs and Information Technology
Dil Bahadur Thapa
Urban Development and Housing, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
Sonam Gyatso Lepcha
Energy and Power, Cultural Affairs and Heritage
Chandra Bahadur Karki
Rural Management and Development, Cooperation
Dawcho Lepcha
Food Security and Agriculture Development and Horticulture & Cash Crops Development, Irrigation and Flood Control
Bhim Prasad Dungel
Tourism, Forest Environment and Wildlife Management, Mines, Minerals and Geology, Science and Technology
Tilu Gurung
Buildings and Housing
Neeru Sewa
Commerce and Industries, Information and Public Relations, Printing and Stationary, Excise (Abkari)
Chairman/Chairperson
BS Panth – Power Advisor Board (Cabinet rank)
PS Tamang – Industries, Trade and Commerce Development Board (Cabinet rank)
Chandra Maya Subba – State Trading Corporation of Sikkim (Cabinet rank)
LM Lepcha – State Bank of Sikkim and Sikkim State Cooperation Bank (Cabinet rank)
Am Prasad Sharma – Sikkim Distilleries
Tshering Wangdi Lepcha – SNT
Puran Gurung – Denzong Agriculture Cooperative Society
PL Subba – Agriculture/Horticulture board
Madan Cintury – Sikkim SC, ST and OBC Development Corporation
Tenzi Sherpa – Khadi and Village industries board
BB Rai – Sikkim Industrial Development and Investment Corporation
Sonam Gyasto Bhutia – Land Use and Environment Board
Phitook Tshering Bhutia – ST Welfare Board
Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia – Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society
Advisors
Political Secretary to CM – KN Rai
Legal Advisor to CM – Ram Bahadur Subba
Political Advisor to CM – Hissey Lachungpa
CHAMLING TO BRING TAX RELIEF FOR OLD SETTLERS
SIKKIM: Chamling to bring tax relief for old settlers
FROM THE TELEGRAPH
Gangtok, May 21: After returning to power for the fourth time, Pawan Chamling will now try to bring cheers to the old settlers in the state.
The chief minister said he would work for providing income tax exemption to the old settlers, comprising mostly the traders, who had been left out of the facility.
“We have started working towards this as the SDF had promised before the elections. We have already started the paper work,” Chamling said following the first cabinet meeting of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government, a day after taking oath.
Last year, central income-tax relief was granted to those who have Sikkim Subject Certificates, an instrument of identification given by the Chogyals to the people. But the non-Sikkimese — about 30,000 people are in this segment and many of them have been around since the time of the king — were not included in the exemption.
S.K. Sarda, the president of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, has expressed his happiness over Chamling’s announcement. “This is a great news for us and we are grateful to the chief minister. The business community voted the SDF for an absolute mandate,” he said.
Among the other proposals passed by the cabinet was reservation for Bhutia-Lepchas in the panchayats, government services and in the higher education. Chamling said the Bhutias and the Lepchas comprised 20 per cent of the state’s population and the reservation would be implemented for them. Reservations for OBCs would be 21 per cent and for the Limboos and Tamangs would be 14 per cent in the same fields.
Chamling announced health insurance for all Sikkimese people and bank accounts for every housewife, as promised in the SDF manifesto. “The cabinet has also decided to open a grievance cell for each department,” he said.
The chief minister made a special reference to the verdict given by the voters of Dzongu, a Lepcha reserve and the hotbed of anti-hydel plant protests. “The protests in Dzongu now turns out to be sponsored by vested interests as the people there had voted for the SDF. The verdict is a referendum for the power projects,” he said.
FROM THE TELEGRAPH
Gangtok, May 21: After returning to power for the fourth time, Pawan Chamling will now try to bring cheers to the old settlers in the state.
The chief minister said he would work for providing income tax exemption to the old settlers, comprising mostly the traders, who had been left out of the facility.
“We have started working towards this as the SDF had promised before the elections. We have already started the paper work,” Chamling said following the first cabinet meeting of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government, a day after taking oath.
Last year, central income-tax relief was granted to those who have Sikkim Subject Certificates, an instrument of identification given by the Chogyals to the people. But the non-Sikkimese — about 30,000 people are in this segment and many of them have been around since the time of the king — were not included in the exemption.
S.K. Sarda, the president of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, has expressed his happiness over Chamling’s announcement. “This is a great news for us and we are grateful to the chief minister. The business community voted the SDF for an absolute mandate,” he said.
Among the other proposals passed by the cabinet was reservation for Bhutia-Lepchas in the panchayats, government services and in the higher education. Chamling said the Bhutias and the Lepchas comprised 20 per cent of the state’s population and the reservation would be implemented for them. Reservations for OBCs would be 21 per cent and for the Limboos and Tamangs would be 14 per cent in the same fields.
Chamling announced health insurance for all Sikkimese people and bank accounts for every housewife, as promised in the SDF manifesto. “The cabinet has also decided to open a grievance cell for each department,” he said.
The chief minister made a special reference to the verdict given by the voters of Dzongu, a Lepcha reserve and the hotbed of anti-hydel plant protests. “The protests in Dzongu now turns out to be sponsored by vested interests as the people there had voted for the SDF. The verdict is a referendum for the power projects,” he said.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
CHAMBER CONGRATULATES DR.PAWAN CHAMLING ON LANDSLIDE VICTORY
PRESS RELEASE
DT 16 MAY 2009
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce congratulates Dr Pawan Chamling- President-Sikkim Democratic Party for a sweeping victory in the Assembly poll 2009. The business community of Sikkim has voted in full strength in favour of the policies and programmes of SDF and its visionary leader Dr Pawan Chamling, as per their promise and commitment to be more responsible and make Sikkim’s economy more vibrant.
Sikkim now enters the diamond age. This victory symbolizes the victory of peace and development. Dr Pawan Chamling enters the 4th term of managing the State of Sikkim.
Now Sikkim will rise up further in all sectors in the field of agriculture, trade & commerce, industry, horticulture, floriculture, tourism, nathula trade, education, health, youth empowerment, rural development and infrastructure.
The business community is now sure that having obtained mandate of the people on issues of their interest, Dr Pawan Chamling, President-Sikkim Democratic Front will soon fulfill their aspirations.
The blessings of Guru Padmasambhava shall remain on us for all ages to come.
( S.K.Sarda)
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok
DT 16 MAY 2009
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce congratulates Dr Pawan Chamling- President-Sikkim Democratic Party for a sweeping victory in the Assembly poll 2009. The business community of Sikkim has voted in full strength in favour of the policies and programmes of SDF and its visionary leader Dr Pawan Chamling, as per their promise and commitment to be more responsible and make Sikkim’s economy more vibrant.
Sikkim now enters the diamond age. This victory symbolizes the victory of peace and development. Dr Pawan Chamling enters the 4th term of managing the State of Sikkim.
Now Sikkim will rise up further in all sectors in the field of agriculture, trade & commerce, industry, horticulture, floriculture, tourism, nathula trade, education, health, youth empowerment, rural development and infrastructure.
The business community is now sure that having obtained mandate of the people on issues of their interest, Dr Pawan Chamling, President-Sikkim Democratic Front will soon fulfill their aspirations.
The blessings of Guru Padmasambhava shall remain on us for all ages to come.
( S.K.Sarda)
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok
SIKKIM FIRST EVER MARWARI FILM GOES ON FLOOR
Sikkim first ever Marwari film goes on floor
Gangtok (IANS): “Khoto Sikko”, the first Marwari film to be made here highlighting the lives of the migrant Marwari community living in the state for generations, has gone on the floors. Producer-director Rakesh Somani says that the small budget family drama will create ripples at the box office.
“This is the first Marwari film being made by a Sikkimese. Marwari boy Raunak Somani from Gangtok plays the male lead. Sonia Seth, who is from Namchi in South Sikkim, is paired opposite him," Somani, who is also directing the film, told reporters at the mahurat shot of the film Friday.
The film will be shot and made in Sikkim. B.P. Bagjai will work as the assistant director, while camerawork will be handled by Gechen Bhutia.
"The movies that are made in Jodhpur do not appeal to us who live in the Himalayan belt. There are many like us in the northeast region and other places who don't understand the pure language used by the films that come out from Rajasthan. This is our film for our audiences," said Somani, managing direcor of SK Audio vision Pvt Ltd.
Somani plans to wrap up the film this year and will have 80 percent of the shooting in the state. The rest will be shot in Rajasthan, Siliguri and Kakribhitta at Indo-Nepal border.
Gangtok (IANS): “Khoto Sikko”, the first Marwari film to be made here highlighting the lives of the migrant Marwari community living in the state for generations, has gone on the floors. Producer-director Rakesh Somani says that the small budget family drama will create ripples at the box office.
“This is the first Marwari film being made by a Sikkimese. Marwari boy Raunak Somani from Gangtok plays the male lead. Sonia Seth, who is from Namchi in South Sikkim, is paired opposite him," Somani, who is also directing the film, told reporters at the mahurat shot of the film Friday.
The film will be shot and made in Sikkim. B.P. Bagjai will work as the assistant director, while camerawork will be handled by Gechen Bhutia.
"The movies that are made in Jodhpur do not appeal to us who live in the Himalayan belt. There are many like us in the northeast region and other places who don't understand the pure language used by the films that come out from Rajasthan. This is our film for our audiences," said Somani, managing direcor of SK Audio vision Pvt Ltd.
Somani plans to wrap up the film this year and will have 80 percent of the shooting in the state. The rest will be shot in Rajasthan, Siliguri and Kakribhitta at Indo-Nepal border.
Monday, May 11, 2009
SERVICE TAX ON SALE OF LOTTERY TICKETS IN SIKKIM
Service tax on sale of lottery tickets
S Madhavan / New Delhi May 11, 2009
In a very recent decision in Union of India Vs. Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd. (2009-VIL-01-SC-ST), the Supreme Court had occasion to deal with some fundamental principles relating to taxation of services.
The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the sale, promotion and marketing of lottery tickets would be exigible to service tax under the relevant provisions of the Finance Act, 1994. The respondents in this case were agents of the state of Sikkim which had floated lottery schemes. Accordingly, the respondents were able to purchase lottery tickets in bulk at a discount to their face value and, in turn, resell these tickets to principal stockists at a different price and thus make a profit out of the difference between the amounts received from the principal stockists and those paid to the state government. The department issued a letter to the respondents requiring them to pay service tax under the category of ‘business auxiliary service’. This letter was impugned before the Sikkim High Court by way of a writ petition and the High Court upheld the writ petition on the ground that since lottery tickets were not goods but were actionable claims, the petitioners could not be said to be rendering any servicein relation to promotion of the client's goods or of marketing or sale of such goods. It hence came to the conclusion that the definition of business auxiliary service was not attracted. It was this order of the Sikkim High Court which was the matter of the appeal in the Supreme Court.
In order to appreciate the subject matter under reference, it is appropriate to extract the definition of business auxiliary service in the service tax law as follows: “Business auxiliary service” means any service in relation to:
(i) promotion or marketing or sale of goods produced or provided by or belonging to the client; or
(ii) promotion or marketing of service provided by the client;
This definition as per Section 65 (19) of the Finance Act, 1994 came into effect from July 2003. Subsequently, an explanation was added to sub clause (ii) of Section 65(19) in May 2008 as follows:-
Explanation — For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purpose of this sub-clause, “service in relation to promotion or marketing of service provided by the client” includes any service provided in relation to promotion or marketing of games of chance, organised, conducted or promoted by the client, in whatever form or by whatever name called, whether or not conducted online, including lottery, lotto, bingo;”
While it was this explanation which was the subject matter of the decision, certain fundamental aspects of taxation of services were taken into consideration as well.
At the outset, the court examined past decisions on the matter and came to the conclusion that a lottery ticket could not be property, either as a thing of value in itself or of title or ownership to anything. It therefore came to the conclusion that on purchasing lottery tickets, a person merely obtained a claim to a conditional interest in prize money that was not in his possession and hence lottery tickets could only be construed as actionable claims and not goods.
Having held so, the Court then asked the question as to whether the state, in organising a lottery, rendered any services to anybody. The Central government argued that this was indeed the case, as a service was undoubtedly rendered to the general public since revenues were generated as a result of the activity of sale of lottery tickets. The Supreme Court did not agree and held that raising of revenues by the State by itself cannot amount to a rendition of service. The Court considered the dictionary meaning of the word ‘service’, which has not been defined in the Finance Act 1994, as follows:
“Work done or duty performed for another or others; a serving; as professional services, repair service, a life devoted to public service. An activity carried on to provide people with the use of something, as electric power, water, transportation, mail delivery, telephones, etc., Anything useful, as maintenance, supplies, installation, repairs, etc., provided by a dealer or manufacturer for people who have bought things from him.”
It held that services provided in respect of the matters envisaged under Section 65(19) of the Act must be construed strictly. Before a tax was found to be leviable, it must come within the domain of legitimate business and/or trade. The Court also considered the United Nations — Central Product Classification (UN — CPC), which contained the description of gambling and betting services and covered the activities of organising lotteries. It also considered whether organising a lottery could fall within the terms 'entertainment' and 'amusement', as provided in Entries 34 and 62 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, so as to be construed as a service. The Court took note of the fact while the activities of the respondents could amount to a service, in terms of advertisement and promotion of lotteries and other marketing related activities, the definition of ‘business auxiliary service’ required that such promotion and marketing activities should be with regard to the services provided by the cients, in this case the State of Sikkim.
Thus, lotteries themselves had to be construed to be services, if the taxable heading of 'business auxiliary service' were to be attracted. The Supreme Court then held that the rendition of service for the purpose of imposition of service tax was imperative. It must be a part of the economic activity. Economic activity had three characteristics; a tax on production; a tax on sales and a tax on services. The concept of the Value Added Tax comes from the generic expression so as to include taxes on services as well.
The court considered all of these principles but was unable to come to a definitive conclusion as to whether organising lotteries would amount to a rendition of service. Since it was unable to do so, it limited itself to thereafter considering the legal implications of the explanation to sub clause (ii) to Section 65 (19). It came to the conclusion in that regard that this explanation, which stated that service in relation to promotion or marketing of services provided by the client would include a service provided in relation to promotion or marketing of lottery, could only be prospective in nature, since it was not at all apparent or clear in law that a lottery was a service and it was only because the explanation held it to be so that the service tax, if at all, would apply to services in relation to promotion or marketing thereto.
The court thereafter came to the conclusion, after an extensive discussion on whether the explanation was a clarificatory or declaratory one in nature, that the explanation had undoubtedly introduced a substantive law. If a substantive law was thus introduced, it could only have prospective effect. It thus held that subject to the constitutionality of the explanation, as to whether it could simply deem the organisation of a lottery to be a service, the service tax in regard to services, in relation to such organisation of lotteries under the relevant heading of business auxiliary services, was only effective from May 2008, when the explanation took effect.
This interesting case is similar to the recent one of the Delhi High Court on renting of immovable property in that the question of whether something can simply be held to be a service, without the requirement of addressing the issue of whether or not the activity in question fell within the dictionary meaning of 'service', was the subject matter of both the above cases. In this present case of course, the Supreme Court has not concluded whether organising a lottery is a service and whether the government can simply deem it to be a service whereas the Delhi High Court had held that renting of property was not a service. It will be interesting to see how these issues are dealt with by the Supreme Court in any future case.
The author is Leader, Indirect Tax Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers
pwctls.nd@in.pwc.com
S Madhavan / New Delhi May 11, 2009
In a very recent decision in Union of India Vs. Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd. (2009-VIL-01-SC-ST), the Supreme Court had occasion to deal with some fundamental principles relating to taxation of services.
The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the sale, promotion and marketing of lottery tickets would be exigible to service tax under the relevant provisions of the Finance Act, 1994. The respondents in this case were agents of the state of Sikkim which had floated lottery schemes. Accordingly, the respondents were able to purchase lottery tickets in bulk at a discount to their face value and, in turn, resell these tickets to principal stockists at a different price and thus make a profit out of the difference between the amounts received from the principal stockists and those paid to the state government. The department issued a letter to the respondents requiring them to pay service tax under the category of ‘business auxiliary service’. This letter was impugned before the Sikkim High Court by way of a writ petition and the High Court upheld the writ petition on the ground that since lottery tickets were not goods but were actionable claims, the petitioners could not be said to be rendering any servicein relation to promotion of the client's goods or of marketing or sale of such goods. It hence came to the conclusion that the definition of business auxiliary service was not attracted. It was this order of the Sikkim High Court which was the matter of the appeal in the Supreme Court.
In order to appreciate the subject matter under reference, it is appropriate to extract the definition of business auxiliary service in the service tax law as follows: “Business auxiliary service” means any service in relation to:
(i) promotion or marketing or sale of goods produced or provided by or belonging to the client; or
(ii) promotion or marketing of service provided by the client;
This definition as per Section 65 (19) of the Finance Act, 1994 came into effect from July 2003. Subsequently, an explanation was added to sub clause (ii) of Section 65(19) in May 2008 as follows:-
Explanation — For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purpose of this sub-clause, “service in relation to promotion or marketing of service provided by the client” includes any service provided in relation to promotion or marketing of games of chance, organised, conducted or promoted by the client, in whatever form or by whatever name called, whether or not conducted online, including lottery, lotto, bingo;”
While it was this explanation which was the subject matter of the decision, certain fundamental aspects of taxation of services were taken into consideration as well.
At the outset, the court examined past decisions on the matter and came to the conclusion that a lottery ticket could not be property, either as a thing of value in itself or of title or ownership to anything. It therefore came to the conclusion that on purchasing lottery tickets, a person merely obtained a claim to a conditional interest in prize money that was not in his possession and hence lottery tickets could only be construed as actionable claims and not goods.
Having held so, the Court then asked the question as to whether the state, in organising a lottery, rendered any services to anybody. The Central government argued that this was indeed the case, as a service was undoubtedly rendered to the general public since revenues were generated as a result of the activity of sale of lottery tickets. The Supreme Court did not agree and held that raising of revenues by the State by itself cannot amount to a rendition of service. The Court considered the dictionary meaning of the word ‘service’, which has not been defined in the Finance Act 1994, as follows:
“Work done or duty performed for another or others; a serving; as professional services, repair service, a life devoted to public service. An activity carried on to provide people with the use of something, as electric power, water, transportation, mail delivery, telephones, etc., Anything useful, as maintenance, supplies, installation, repairs, etc., provided by a dealer or manufacturer for people who have bought things from him.”
It held that services provided in respect of the matters envisaged under Section 65(19) of the Act must be construed strictly. Before a tax was found to be leviable, it must come within the domain of legitimate business and/or trade. The Court also considered the United Nations — Central Product Classification (UN — CPC), which contained the description of gambling and betting services and covered the activities of organising lotteries. It also considered whether organising a lottery could fall within the terms 'entertainment' and 'amusement', as provided in Entries 34 and 62 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, so as to be construed as a service. The Court took note of the fact while the activities of the respondents could amount to a service, in terms of advertisement and promotion of lotteries and other marketing related activities, the definition of ‘business auxiliary service’ required that such promotion and marketing activities should be with regard to the services provided by the cients, in this case the State of Sikkim.
Thus, lotteries themselves had to be construed to be services, if the taxable heading of 'business auxiliary service' were to be attracted. The Supreme Court then held that the rendition of service for the purpose of imposition of service tax was imperative. It must be a part of the economic activity. Economic activity had three characteristics; a tax on production; a tax on sales and a tax on services. The concept of the Value Added Tax comes from the generic expression so as to include taxes on services as well.
The court considered all of these principles but was unable to come to a definitive conclusion as to whether organising lotteries would amount to a rendition of service. Since it was unable to do so, it limited itself to thereafter considering the legal implications of the explanation to sub clause (ii) to Section 65 (19). It came to the conclusion in that regard that this explanation, which stated that service in relation to promotion or marketing of services provided by the client would include a service provided in relation to promotion or marketing of lottery, could only be prospective in nature, since it was not at all apparent or clear in law that a lottery was a service and it was only because the explanation held it to be so that the service tax, if at all, would apply to services in relation to promotion or marketing thereto.
The court thereafter came to the conclusion, after an extensive discussion on whether the explanation was a clarificatory or declaratory one in nature, that the explanation had undoubtedly introduced a substantive law. If a substantive law was thus introduced, it could only have prospective effect. It thus held that subject to the constitutionality of the explanation, as to whether it could simply deem the organisation of a lottery to be a service, the service tax in regard to services, in relation to such organisation of lotteries under the relevant heading of business auxiliary services, was only effective from May 2008, when the explanation took effect.
This interesting case is similar to the recent one of the Delhi High Court on renting of immovable property in that the question of whether something can simply be held to be a service, without the requirement of addressing the issue of whether or not the activity in question fell within the dictionary meaning of 'service', was the subject matter of both the above cases. In this present case of course, the Supreme Court has not concluded whether organising a lottery is a service and whether the government can simply deem it to be a service whereas the Delhi High Court had held that renting of property was not a service. It will be interesting to see how these issues are dealt with by the Supreme Court in any future case.
The author is Leader, Indirect Tax Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers
pwctls.nd@in.pwc.com
TOURISTS EVACUATED IN NORTH SIKKIM
Tourists evacuated in Sikkim after landslide
Mangan, Sikkim (IANS): Around 350 tourists who were stranded on Saturday night along the North Sikkim Highway after a massive landslide blocked the road have been evacuated, officials said on Sunday.
The tourists were stranded between Mangan and Lachen and Lachung in remote north Sikkim.
According to the District Magistrate North T.N. Kazi, the landslide had taken place at one place - Langkey Khola about seven km from Mangan - and left about 40 vehicles with tourists stranded on the highway.
The tourists were either turned back to their respective places of origin by their travel operators or taken to safer areas by vehicles, Mr. Kazi said.
Paljor Lachungpa, president of Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), confirmed that representatives of travel agencies from Gangtok had reached the spot and taken care of the tourists.
"We took back many of the tourists to the hotels they were lodged in at Lachen or Lachung. They were lodged there at no extra cost," said Mr. Lachungpa.
Mangan, Sikkim (IANS): Around 350 tourists who were stranded on Saturday night along the North Sikkim Highway after a massive landslide blocked the road have been evacuated, officials said on Sunday.
The tourists were stranded between Mangan and Lachen and Lachung in remote north Sikkim.
According to the District Magistrate North T.N. Kazi, the landslide had taken place at one place - Langkey Khola about seven km from Mangan - and left about 40 vehicles with tourists stranded on the highway.
The tourists were either turned back to their respective places of origin by their travel operators or taken to safer areas by vehicles, Mr. Kazi said.
Paljor Lachungpa, president of Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), confirmed that representatives of travel agencies from Gangtok had reached the spot and taken care of the tourists.
"We took back many of the tourists to the hotels they were lodged in at Lachen or Lachung. They were lodged there at no extra cost," said Mr. Lachungpa.
MATHU LA TRADE IN LOW RESPONSE
Nathu La trade draws low response in its fourth season
Nathula, Sat, 09 May 2009 ANI
Nathula (Sikkim), May 9 (ANI): The fourth season of trade between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) through the Nathu La Pass of Sikkim has reflected disappointment among Indian traders who still haven't received travel passes since border trade was opened on May 4.
The travel passes of around 62 Sikkimese traders are still pending with the East district administration which is the prime agency to issue all such passes for the border trade causing a major disappointment.
Anil Gupta, General Secretary of Indo-China Border trade association of Sikkim said, " the low-key inauguration ceremony of May 4 and the delay of travel passes will create a unharmonious situation between the two countries and will refrain Indian traders from visiting the Tibetian side from next year."With the delay of travel passes a bitter international relation will be created affecting the trade. The identity of Sikkim will also be spoiled in the national scenario. The travel passes shouldn't have been delayed as it was declared officially that the international border trade would begin and every thing should have been well organized. Now because our traders can't go there creating a lot of disappointment on their side," he added.
Border trade between the two countries is also sluggish due to restrictions in tradable items. India can import 15 items from China including silk, yak pelts and horses, and export 29 goods that include textiles, tea, rice, vegetables and herbs.
Business people from both sides of the border are seeking a broadening of the list of items traded through the pass.
Kesang Diki, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) commerce official was unsatisfied with the facilities given to them on the Indian side and with the unfavourable weather causing further threat to their goods.
"When the fellow Indian traders come to our place to trade we provide all the basic necessities like carrying the good and picking from the bus stand and keeping inside the stall. We don't let them face problems but out here we face the trouble of carrying our own good to the mart. I also feel that a revamped list of items should be of prior concern if you want a good trade between India and China," she said.
In July 2006, the two Asian giants, re-opened trade across the Nathu La Pass as part of a broader rapprochement. The move marked the first direct trade link between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a bitter border war in 1962.
Under the agreement, trade takes place four days a week - Monday to Thursday - beginning May each year and lasting until November 30 when snow makes the area impassable.
Although two-way trade was slow in the first three seasons, about 1,900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, five kilometers below the pass on the Indian side. About 1,200 Indian traders headed to the Rinchengang interim market in Tibet on the Chinese side, 16 km from the border, during the first three seasons. (ANI)
Nathula, Sat, 09 May 2009 ANI
Nathula (Sikkim), May 9 (ANI): The fourth season of trade between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) through the Nathu La Pass of Sikkim has reflected disappointment among Indian traders who still haven't received travel passes since border trade was opened on May 4.
The travel passes of around 62 Sikkimese traders are still pending with the East district administration which is the prime agency to issue all such passes for the border trade causing a major disappointment.
Anil Gupta, General Secretary of Indo-China Border trade association of Sikkim said, " the low-key inauguration ceremony of May 4 and the delay of travel passes will create a unharmonious situation between the two countries and will refrain Indian traders from visiting the Tibetian side from next year."With the delay of travel passes a bitter international relation will be created affecting the trade. The identity of Sikkim will also be spoiled in the national scenario. The travel passes shouldn't have been delayed as it was declared officially that the international border trade would begin and every thing should have been well organized. Now because our traders can't go there creating a lot of disappointment on their side," he added.
Border trade between the two countries is also sluggish due to restrictions in tradable items. India can import 15 items from China including silk, yak pelts and horses, and export 29 goods that include textiles, tea, rice, vegetables and herbs.
Business people from both sides of the border are seeking a broadening of the list of items traded through the pass.
Kesang Diki, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) commerce official was unsatisfied with the facilities given to them on the Indian side and with the unfavourable weather causing further threat to their goods.
"When the fellow Indian traders come to our place to trade we provide all the basic necessities like carrying the good and picking from the bus stand and keeping inside the stall. We don't let them face problems but out here we face the trouble of carrying our own good to the mart. I also feel that a revamped list of items should be of prior concern if you want a good trade between India and China," she said.
In July 2006, the two Asian giants, re-opened trade across the Nathu La Pass as part of a broader rapprochement. The move marked the first direct trade link between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a bitter border war in 1962.
Under the agreement, trade takes place four days a week - Monday to Thursday - beginning May each year and lasting until November 30 when snow makes the area impassable.
Although two-way trade was slow in the first three seasons, about 1,900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, five kilometers below the pass on the Indian side. About 1,200 Indian traders headed to the Rinchengang interim market in Tibet on the Chinese side, 16 km from the border, during the first three seasons. (ANI)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
NATHU LA TRADE - FOURTH SEASON- INAUGURATED
GANGTOK:4 May 2009:
( Source: The Economic Times)
The fourth year of Indo-China peripheral border trade kicked off on Monday with a ceremony at Sherathang trade mart near Nathula border and Rinchengong trade mart on the Chinese side. Traders on both sides greeted each other and offered khada (silk scarf) and foodstuff.
The state department of commerce and industry officials with director Ujjal Gurung attended the ceremony. Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) personnel handled the entire show at the checkpost and trade mart centre with immigration and customs department of the government of India. President of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce S.K. Sarda and others were present too. Trade between the two countries will remain open till November.
It is reported that trade at Nathula border has not shown the expected progress as the merchandise listed by both the governments in 1990s has become obsolete now and do not command market demand these days. The other two border trade points in Himachal and Uttarakhand also have been experiencing the same problem. Only one item, silk yarn, is doing well in Sikkim.
In fact, reports pouring in suggest that these three border trade points have now become dens for international smugglers. With the connivance of officials of central agencies, responsible for supervising border trade, unlisted items are entering our country in huge quantities.
When legal trade in Sikkim last year amounted to Rs 96 lakh, smuggled Chinese electronic items saw a hefty business of Rs 15 crore at this border. Government of India has taken some action by suspending and transferring guilty officials who were assigned to monitor the border trade. This has not improved matters so far.
According to reports of central intelligence wings, smuggled Chinese mobile sets have created havoc in the Indian market. It is reported that in the recent Mumbai terrorist attack, Chinese mobiles without any code numbers were found to be used for blasting. The ministry of telecom recently has directed all concerned to ensure that no service providers should issue any SIM card without obtaining the IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) number of the handset. It is observed that for quite sometime, bordering countries are going out of their way to intercept our mobile network. The department of telecom is now taking steps to check that.
bellyad.innerHTML = b2;
( Source: The Economic Times)
The fourth year of Indo-China peripheral border trade kicked off on Monday with a ceremony at Sherathang trade mart near Nathula border and Rinchengong trade mart on the Chinese side. Traders on both sides greeted each other and offered khada (silk scarf) and foodstuff.
The state department of commerce and industry officials with director Ujjal Gurung attended the ceremony. Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) personnel handled the entire show at the checkpost and trade mart centre with immigration and customs department of the government of India. President of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce S.K. Sarda and others were present too. Trade between the two countries will remain open till November.
It is reported that trade at Nathula border has not shown the expected progress as the merchandise listed by both the governments in 1990s has become obsolete now and do not command market demand these days. The other two border trade points in Himachal and Uttarakhand also have been experiencing the same problem. Only one item, silk yarn, is doing well in Sikkim.
In fact, reports pouring in suggest that these three border trade points have now become dens for international smugglers. With the connivance of officials of central agencies, responsible for supervising border trade, unlisted items are entering our country in huge quantities.
When legal trade in Sikkim last year amounted to Rs 96 lakh, smuggled Chinese electronic items saw a hefty business of Rs 15 crore at this border. Government of India has taken some action by suspending and transferring guilty officials who were assigned to monitor the border trade. This has not improved matters so far.
According to reports of central intelligence wings, smuggled Chinese mobile sets have created havoc in the Indian market. It is reported that in the recent Mumbai terrorist attack, Chinese mobiles without any code numbers were found to be used for blasting. The ministry of telecom recently has directed all concerned to ensure that no service providers should issue any SIM card without obtaining the IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) number of the handset. It is observed that for quite sometime, bordering countries are going out of their way to intercept our mobile network. The department of telecom is now taking steps to check that.
bellyad.innerHTML = b2;
Sunday, May 3, 2009
CHAMBER DEMANDS REVIEW OF TRADE LIST THRU NATHU LA
SIKKIM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GANGTOK
PRESS RELEASE DT.1 MAY 2009
Nathu la trade enters the fourth season beginning 4th May 2009 when Department of Commerce, Government of Sikkim is organsing a function wherein traders have been invited to participate in the opening function to be held at Sherathang Trade Mart on the Indian Side. The timing of the programme has been fixed at 9 AM on 4th May 2009.
Around 50 applications have already been submitted at DC office for issue of Trade Pass.
These trade passes are issued to those residents of Sikkim who have got a trade licence issued by Local Self Government, Government of Sikkim. The traders can also get permission to take their vehicle upto Chinese trade post located 14 km down Nathu la..
The participation in the past three years have chiefly been from the residents of border areas of Sikkim. The trade lists which was notified by a public notice No 20(RE-2006)2004-2009 dt 13th June 2006 remains the same even for the current season allowing 15 items for import and 29 items for export from Sikkim,India.
The list remains obsolete
We urge Commerce Ministry to review this list immediately so that a viable and vibrant trade can start over Nathu la.
S.K.Sarda
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok
GANGTOK
PRESS RELEASE DT.1 MAY 2009
Nathu la trade enters the fourth season beginning 4th May 2009 when Department of Commerce, Government of Sikkim is organsing a function wherein traders have been invited to participate in the opening function to be held at Sherathang Trade Mart on the Indian Side. The timing of the programme has been fixed at 9 AM on 4th May 2009.
Around 50 applications have already been submitted at DC office for issue of Trade Pass.
These trade passes are issued to those residents of Sikkim who have got a trade licence issued by Local Self Government, Government of Sikkim. The traders can also get permission to take their vehicle upto Chinese trade post located 14 km down Nathu la..
The participation in the past three years have chiefly been from the residents of border areas of Sikkim. The trade lists which was notified by a public notice No 20(RE-2006)2004-2009 dt 13th June 2006 remains the same even for the current season allowing 15 items for import and 29 items for export from Sikkim,India.
The list remains obsolete
We urge Commerce Ministry to review this list immediately so that a viable and vibrant trade can start over Nathu la.
S.K.Sarda
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok
Friday, May 1, 2009
INDO-CHINA TRADE THRU NATHULA TO RESUME ON 4TH MAY 2009L
Gangtok:1 may 2009: Bilateral trade between Asian giants India and China will resume through the Nathu La pass in Sikkim on the famed Silk Route Friday, with the government promising traders a new mart near the border, officials said.
Nathu La is one of the three trading border posts between India and China, the other two being Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand.
While the list of items allowed for the border trade will remain unchanged this season, traders can expect a new trade mart at the border, work on which has already been started, said Sikkim Industries Secretary M.G. Kiran.
"The central government has promised us Rs.8.5 crore ($1.7 million) to construct the mart. Of this, we have already received Rs.1 crore ($202,600)," Kiran said.
He also said the trade mart was coming up at Sherthang near Nathu La pass.
An eight-room hotel is also being built in the area primarily for Indian traders. The state industries authorities are also building a new car park and more shops as part of the mart.
The department is also planning to construct cargo space in view of the expected enhanced volume of trade this year. A check post is being built at the Nathu La border, where immigration and customs checks will be under one roof.
Kiran added that the construction work would be supervised and managed by the roads and bridges department of the state government.
The sluggish border trade between the two countries is due to restrictions in tradable items - India can import 15 items from China including silk, yak pelts and horses, and export 29 goods that include textiles, tea, rice, vegetables and herbs.
However, as the government has now provided most favoured nation (MFN) status to trade through the Nathu La route, the trade volume is expected to increase this season, officials said.
The two Asian giants in July 2006 reopened trade across the 15,000-feet (4,545-metre) Nathu La pass, 52 km east of Sikkim's capital Gangtok, as part of a broader rapprochement.
The move marked the first direct trade link between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a bitter border war in 1962.
Under an agreement reached between India and China, trade takes place four days a week - Monday to Thursday - beginning May each year and lasting until Nov 30, when snow closes down the pass.
Bilateral trade in 2006 through Nathu La saw business worth about Rs.20 lakh ($40,200), with Indian traders doing business worth about Rs.11 lakh ($22,250). In 2007, the volume of trade was to the tune of Rs.26 lakh ($52,100).
Although two-way trade was slow in the first three seasons, last year about 1,900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, 5 km below the pass on the Indian side. The total trade stood at Rs.96 lakh ($194,400) in 2008.
About 1,200 Indian traders headed to the Renqinggang interim market in Tibet on the Chinese side, 16 km from the border, during the first three seasons. (IANS)
Nathu La is one of the three trading border posts between India and China, the other two being Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand.
While the list of items allowed for the border trade will remain unchanged this season, traders can expect a new trade mart at the border, work on which has already been started, said Sikkim Industries Secretary M.G. Kiran.
"The central government has promised us Rs.8.5 crore ($1.7 million) to construct the mart. Of this, we have already received Rs.1 crore ($202,600)," Kiran said.
He also said the trade mart was coming up at Sherthang near Nathu La pass.
An eight-room hotel is also being built in the area primarily for Indian traders. The state industries authorities are also building a new car park and more shops as part of the mart.
The department is also planning to construct cargo space in view of the expected enhanced volume of trade this year. A check post is being built at the Nathu La border, where immigration and customs checks will be under one roof.
Kiran added that the construction work would be supervised and managed by the roads and bridges department of the state government.
The sluggish border trade between the two countries is due to restrictions in tradable items - India can import 15 items from China including silk, yak pelts and horses, and export 29 goods that include textiles, tea, rice, vegetables and herbs.
However, as the government has now provided most favoured nation (MFN) status to trade through the Nathu La route, the trade volume is expected to increase this season, officials said.
The two Asian giants in July 2006 reopened trade across the 15,000-feet (4,545-metre) Nathu La pass, 52 km east of Sikkim's capital Gangtok, as part of a broader rapprochement.
The move marked the first direct trade link between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a bitter border war in 1962.
Under an agreement reached between India and China, trade takes place four days a week - Monday to Thursday - beginning May each year and lasting until Nov 30, when snow closes down the pass.
Bilateral trade in 2006 through Nathu La saw business worth about Rs.20 lakh ($40,200), with Indian traders doing business worth about Rs.11 lakh ($22,250). In 2007, the volume of trade was to the tune of Rs.26 lakh ($52,100).
Although two-way trade was slow in the first three seasons, last year about 1,900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, 5 km below the pass on the Indian side. The total trade stood at Rs.96 lakh ($194,400) in 2008.
About 1,200 Indian traders headed to the Renqinggang interim market in Tibet on the Chinese side, 16 km from the border, during the first three seasons. (IANS)
SIKKIM REGISTERS 83% HIGHEST VOTING IN INDIA
Sikkim registers record 83 percent voting
Gangtok, April 30 (IANS) Sikkim registered a record voter turnout of 83 percent Thursday as it held simultaneous assembly elections and balloting for its lone Lok Sabha seat in the third phase of the elections.The percentage Thursday is higher than the 82 percent registered in 1999. The figure had declined to 80 percent in 2004. Sikkim joined the Indian Republic in 1975.
In Thursday’s elections, the West district saw a total voting turnout of approximately 84.16 percent, South district a turnout of 82.38 percent, North district a voting turnout of 81 percent, while the East district witnessed 80 percent.
Chief Electoral Officer T.T. Dorjee said the elections in Sikkim, including for its 32 assembly constituencies, were a “smooth and peaceful affair”.
During the day at some places in the South and West districts, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had to be changed due to technical malfunction, and due to the bad weather some polling officers could not reach their polling booths on time, delaying voting in some areas.
The CEO also stated here that as of now there were no negative reports from any of the presiding officers which meant that there was no question of re-polling in any of the polling stations.
Gangtok, April 30 (IANS) Sikkim registered a record voter turnout of 83 percent Thursday as it held simultaneous assembly elections and balloting for its lone Lok Sabha seat in the third phase of the elections.The percentage Thursday is higher than the 82 percent registered in 1999. The figure had declined to 80 percent in 2004. Sikkim joined the Indian Republic in 1975.
In Thursday’s elections, the West district saw a total voting turnout of approximately 84.16 percent, South district a turnout of 82.38 percent, North district a voting turnout of 81 percent, while the East district witnessed 80 percent.
Chief Electoral Officer T.T. Dorjee said the elections in Sikkim, including for its 32 assembly constituencies, were a “smooth and peaceful affair”.
During the day at some places in the South and West districts, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had to be changed due to technical malfunction, and due to the bad weather some polling officers could not reach their polling booths on time, delaying voting in some areas.
The CEO also stated here that as of now there were no negative reports from any of the presiding officers which meant that there was no question of re-polling in any of the polling stations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)