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PDF on World’s Top 25 Trains for Free!

Dear Friends at The Himalayan Beacon,

We are thrilled to see your response, above! We would love for your readers to ask for the PDF of our entire list of the World’s Top 25 Trains — and to know more about how we are including the DHR in a grand tour in 2008. Please email us your email address, and we will email you back the PDF of the entire 52-page book called IRT Society’s Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2008. If you want a hard copy, please send $10 USD for shipping (if mailing outside the US and Canada.)

The PDF is free. Our email: tourdesk@irtsociety.com.

Our web: http://www.irtsociety.com Thanks! Eleanor Hardy, President, The Society of International Railway Travelers

Eleanor Hardy

Rejuvenating efforts for adopted village

In a special camp organised by the students of St Joseph’s college, Darjeeling, the effortswere to remodel a village area with respect to social as well as environmental aspects. A report by Chandra Bir Gurung and Aalop Thapa

A special camp of National Service Scheme (NSS), by St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling was organised in the adopted area of Frymal Village from 18 to 26 December 2007. From some reliable sources we came to know that the Darjeeling Municipality has declared it as a slum area. The area is situated within three kilometers of the college. Initially when the survey was conducted in all the 89 houses of the village it was found that plenty of problems exist in the village like scarcity of drinking water, garbage disposal, and alcoholism to mention a few. Accordingly we students chalked a schedule.Under the guidance of the two programme officers Aniruddha Das and A Gurung, we took up different initiatives during the camp. During the inaugural ceremony Sunita Mitra Dev the sub-divisional officer, Darjeeling, B M Subba, the local Municipal commissioner and Jyoti Prakash Rai, the president, Frymal Gram Sudhar Samity encouraged us with their speech to take up social service works. We were about 60 NSS volunteers who were divided into some groups. The camp gave us the rare opportunity of working together, dine together and stay together and share some moments of joy, sorrow and experiences together. The motto of NSS camp, “not me but you” was emphasised upon. We took up some construction works during the camp. Keeping in mind the drinking water scarcity in the village we repaired the 6000 litre water tank, situated at the upper end of the village, which remained unused for years. About 12 years back the villagers had constructed the tank. We also made a small boundary on top of the public toilet located inside the village, so that the pipe can be fitted and rain water can be harvested in the water tank attached with the toilet. Working hand in hand with the villagers the main sewerage of the village was also cleaned up. The enthusiasm showcased by the villagers gave us impetus to work for our adopted village. We cultivate one NSS Garden, which was a wonderful experience and it was so encouraging when our programme officer accompanied us to collect cow dung for plantation. Though it was a small garden but it beautified the outside area of the village community hall. Apart from manual works, for the creation of awareness several programmes were organised during the camp. There were seminars on blood donation and thalassemia, HIV/ AIDS, solid waste management, exercise to cope with drug addiction and alcoholism. The resource persons came from Siliguri Suryanagar Samaj Kalyan Sanstha; Siliguri, KRIPA Foundation; Darjeeling, PRERNA; Darjeeling and Zion Consultancy; Darjeeling. The programmes were really enlightening. On the second day of the camp one free health check-up camp was organised predominantly for the villagers, which was attended by four doctors. On 25 December, we organised a cultural programme in the village community hall, in which the villagers also participated actively. On the concluding day we had a book distribution programme. The smiling kids with new books in hand inspired us to do more.For such a successful camp we just can’t stop thanking Sanu Bhai Viswakarma, Dalraj Chettri, Arjun Chettri (the secretary, Frymal Gram Sudhar Samity), Insu Lepcha and the like who constantly helped us and worked hand in hand with us. The year-long programme has also been planned on the concluding day that includes teaching of the kids, scientifically garbage disposal etc. Though the camp started at the end of the year, we feel that it was a new beginning.

GJM prepares for Stage II

Kurseong, Jan. 18: Following the “success” of its first phase of non co-operation movement, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) organised a rally in Kurseong today.
The participants chanted pro-Gorkhaland and anti-Sixth Schedule slogans. Addressing the rally, the GJM Kurseong branch chief and central committee executive member,  Pradeep Pradhan, claimed that the GJM’s support base has swelled riding the Gorkhaland demand. He urged the Kurseong municipality councillors to resign from their posts and join the statehood demand.The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) would organise candle rallies in support of their demand in different parts of the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars region domiciled by the Nepali speaking people from tomorrow to 21 January. (The Statesman)