NSS scheme starts at seven-day camp

The Telegraph, Darjeeling, Dec. 19: Students enrolled on the National Service Scheme (NSS) of St Joseph’s College (North Point) have adopted Frymal Village — Wards 27 and 28 — and are working on projects to end alcoholism, scarcity of drinking water and unemployment in the area. About 60 students of the college, helped by residents, have already started repairing the water tanks. “We were sanctioned Rs 30,000 by the Union ministry of youth and sports affairs following the approval of our projects, which were chalked out after a survey,” said Aniruddha Das, programme officer, NSS unit I.

Although the projects were launched at a weeklong camp to end on December 26, they will be monitored throughout the year, Das added. The survey covered 89 households. “While many felt water scarcity was a big issue, to others garbage disposal was important. Twelve families believed that alcoholism was a major problem,” said Das.

Experts from different fields will attend the camp so that people can seek help and suggestions. Seminars on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, solid waste management and career opportunities will be conducted in collaboration with NGOs. The camp will also involve people in developing community assets. “The idea is to bring about a sense of participation,” said Anirudra Gurung, programme officer, NSS Unit II.

Arjun Chhetri, the secretary of Frymal Gram Sudhar Samiti, was all praise of the NSS initiative. “We are trying to encourage the youths of our wards to participate in these programmes. It will help channel their energy in a positive manner,” said Chhetri.

Morcha wins college elections

The Telegraph, Kurseong/Darjeeling, Dec. 19: The Gorkha Jan Vidyarthi Morcha — the student wing of the newly formed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha — won 26 of the 27 seats in Kurseong College today. Although the SFI and the ABGL had fielded candidates in 8 and 24 seats respectively, the remaining seat went to the GNLF’s Gorkha National Students’ Front, which had contested in 24 seats.

This is the second institute after Darjeeling Government College where the Morcha has won the student council election. The president of the Morcha’s student unit in Kurseong College, Pema Ghisingh, said it was a “victory for the people”.

Toy train ride first step to Everest expedition

The Telegraph, Siliguri, Dec. 19: Guess what role the toy train played in the first-ever expedition to Mt Everest in 1921. (Inset photo by Barun Roy)

It was this train that was used by the British team to ferry its equipment from Siliguri to Darjeeling, from where the daring attempt to conquer the highest mountain on earth was launched.

The fact has been unearthed by Terry Martin, the author of two books on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) — Halfway to Heaven and The Iron Sherpa: Volume 1. Martin was here last week for some last-minute fact-finding for the second volume of The Iron Sherpa, which he expects to get published by spring next year.

“I happened to meet a lady in the UK who is the daughter of the photographer who had accompanied George Mallory in the first expedition to Mt Everest,” said Martin. “She told me that the DHR was used extensively to carry the equipment of the climbers. I am here to corroborate this and a few other facts that I came across at the last moment.”

GNLF fumes over status bill delay

The Telegraph, Calcutta, Dec. 19: Like their chief Subash Ghisingh, GNLF MLAs today warned the Bengal Assembly that they would go back to their demand for Gorkhaland if the Centre failed to pass the Sixth Schedule bill by February.

On Monday, Ghisingh had told chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Siliguri that in case of a delay in passing the bill it would be difficult for him to restrain his party supporters some of whom are already harping on Gorkhaland “out of frustration”.

Though the CPM had joined the GNLF to move a motion urging “all political parties to expedite the report of parliamentary standing committee on the bill and ensure its immediate passage”, municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya revealed the tension between the two parties.

“We are compelled to renew Ghisingh’s term (as caretaker administrator of DGHC) since there are no alternatives. But we want council polls so that people can choose the body that will run the hills transparently and democratically,’’ the minister said.