Aayo Gorkhali

Special Article

The writer is Senior Editor, The Statesman

By ARINDAM GHOSH-DASTIDAR

l

Excessive Negativism, Little By Way Of Positive Action

l

Since the CPI (M) is West Bengal’s ruling party, any retaliation it undertakes can only add fuel to fire. From the editorial, Rough Courtship, in The Statesman dated 24 September 1986

l

Darjeeling has reached a grim pass, a crisis that is both a symptom and an explanation of what is wrong. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) should not cavil; historically, the Gorkhaland idea was first proposed by the undivided CPI in the aftermath of independence. The slide has been gradual since the mid-eighties and alarmingly swift since February this year. Governance once again lies rather thin on the ground in a volatile part of Bengal. And it would scarcely be an exaggeration to suggest that Darjeeling is becoming more intractable, even explosive, than Nandigram.

l

As the DGHC’s tenure drew to a close, the government was palpably unnerved with the renewed stirrings of sub-regional jingoism. Over the past fortnight, the administration has been up to its depth in trying to cope with a lethal cocktail of ethnicity and parochialism, the second being used as a counter-strategy.

l

Bimal Gurung’s credentials may be suspect just as Subhas Ghisingh’s were once upon a time. But if the CPI-M MLA from Siliguri and a heavyweight in the Left Front ministry is linked to the emergence of two parochial organisations, the trends are more ominous than what the Chief Minister is prepared to acknowledge.

l

As the urban development minister, Ashok Bhattacharjee has emerged as the government’s pointman in the Hills. Yet his contradictory advisories on tourism and backstage manoeuvres run counter to the professed cosmopolitan outlook of the CPI-M. Over the past week, the region has witnessed a churning of the quagmire, with the local minister making the waters murkier.

Separated We Will Stand – Not all their demands are unjust. A studied resolution is a must.

FROM THE OUTLOOK

By Jaideep Mazumdar

A few reasons why the Gorkhas are demanding a whole new state…

They allege the Darjeeling Hills region, dominated by Gorkhas, has been neglected by the state government.

The Hills Council set up 20 years ago under Subhas Ghising has failed to deliver. The Hills region is cash rich. But it’s not getting its due vis-a-vis development. Gorkha leaders say the promise of accelerated growth by the West Bengal CM is too little and too late.

They want the centre to intervene, hold tripartite talks with the state government and Gorkha leaders.

When Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya announced at the end of an all-party meeting earlier this week that ‘Gorkhaland’ was beyond the pale of possibility, was he effectively closing all doors to an amicable resolution? Those demanding a separate state for the Gorkhas believe so.

“We’re for quick development, even reservations, but won’t ever allow the state’s division.” Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, West Bengal CM

The meet, convened to evolve a consensus among political parties on the Gorkhaland issue, resolved to preserve the state’s territorial integrity. This consensus against Gorkhaland led to the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) demanding the Centre’s intervention. “We want Gorkhaland and nothing short of that will do,” Bimal Gurung, president of GJM, which is spearheading the movement, told Outlook.

Tibetan Wall Paintings at Durpindara Monastery

The Tibetan Monasteries spread across the Darjeeling Hills a magnificent art galleries featuring old and new Buddhist Paintings. These paintings essentially depicting different facets of Vajrayana Sect are aesthetic pieces of art. Students of Tibetan Paintings should visiting as many monasteries as he or she can. Especially the old Monasteries. I love visiting the monasteries. These photos were taken at the Durpin Dara Monastery situated at Kalimpong. The monastery is not as old as compared to the monasteries in Darjeeling or the one at Pedong but its importance likes in the exquisite art works that it features. The monastery was also consecrated by this Holiness The Dalai Lama himself. The monastery is known as Zang Dhok Palri Monastery in Tibetan.

All Photos by Barun Roy

Trekking in Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim

By Barun Roy

On the way from Bagdogra or Siliguri, the transport stops at Kurseong to give its occupants some relaxation. One can stretch ones limbs while looking around this little town known as a Sub-division of Darjeeling district. It commands a direct view of the plains nearly 5, 000 feet below.

The journey to Kalimpong, via Darjeeling, along the Peshok Road takes one through an almost virgin forest, interspersed occasionally by clearings where tea is grown and villages are to be found. Visitors will long remember the magnificient view that is seen from the View Point – half way down the Peshok Road. After traveling through a world bounded by gigantic trees, one rounds a bend and is presented suddenly with a glorious view of the valley and the towering mountains beyond. Far below, one can see the confluence of the Rangeet and Teesta Road Rivers, mingling together with a muffled roar in a swift flow of turbulent blue green water.

The town is centered around its large market square with the Deolo and Durbindara Hills to the North and South, respectively. The world knows St. Andrews’ Grahams Homes which is situated in the Deolo Hills. This School not only educates the children but also trains them up in all spheres of art and industry, so that when they leave school set out into the world, they are ready to take up any work without undergoing any further practical training.

Kalimpong has a feature of its own with its picturesque setting as it is the home in this district of Arts and Crafts Industry. During Haat (market) days, people from all surrounding bustees, villages and from the border of Sikkim are to be found holding stalls to sell their products such as vegetable, ghee (butter), foodgrains etc. After selling their products, they buy their requirements and prepare to return to their destinations after seeing a Cinema show and enjoying some Tibetan food and a glass of country liquor, Pachawal or Tongba, served in a hollowed bamboo container which refreshes them for their long tedious journey back.

Sikkim is situated to the North, forming a wedge between Bhutan to the East and Nepal to the West. The great Tibetan plateau lies to the north of Sikkim itself.

Although Sikkim is only 65 miles long and 45 miles broad, yet it contains some fo the finest mountain and ravine scenery in the world. The Kanchenjunga range is viewed in all its splendour, while the Everest massif can be seen from many advantageous points. The Teesta River with its tributaries drains Sikkim and the Teesta Valley is a magnificient gorge, wonderful and awe-inspiring when in flood. Sikkim has no low foot-hills when approached from the plains: the mountains descend abruptly on to the “Dooars” the famous tea district of Bengal and Assam.

Like Darjeeling District, Sikkim too was originally inhabited by the Lepchas. The Lepchas first settled in Sikkim in the 12^th Century, A. D. In 1641, most of them were converted to Buddhism by Lama Missionaries from Tibet, and they consecrated their Maharajah. Sikkim has weathered two foreign invasions and conquests. At present she is a state of the Indian Union.

Pipe lines every where but not a drop to drink

Pipe lines supplying water to houses at Kalimpong. Photo by Barun Roy

Markets to remain open from 6 pm June 22nd to 6 pm June 24th

BREAKING STORY! A HIMALAYAN BEACON NEWS TICKER!

Darjeeling: According to sources in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, markets throughout the Darjeeling Hills will open from 6 pm June 22^nd to 6 pm June 24^th allowing the people to buy food and domestic supplies. While no posters have been brought out by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha nor any communiqué issued, sources have confirmed that it would be done so within a few hours.

BREAKING STORY! A HIMALAYAN BEACON NEWS TICKER!

“ALL VEHICLES IN DARJEELING HILLS AND DOARS TERAI WILL HAVE TO USE GL PLATE AFTER JULY 7 OR THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED PLY THROUGH THE ROADS” BIMAL GURUNG

“ALL TEA GARDENS, SCHOOLS, COLLEGE WILL BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE INDEFINITE STRIKE. AFTER 24TH OF JUNE 2008 DARJEELING HILLS WILL BE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND INDEFINITELY” BIMAL GURUNG

“FOUR MEMBER DELEGATION TO LEAVE FOR DELHI TOMORROW. THE DELEGATION TO BE HEADED BY ROSHAN GIRI THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE PARTY. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OR CALL FOR DIALOGUE FROM THE CENTRE ” BIMAL GURUNG

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)

FROM THE HINDU

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-New Democracy staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here on Saturday in support of the demand for Gorkhaland in West Bengal.[Inset: Photo by Jyoti Mukhia]

Speaking on the occasion, party leaders including Delhi Committee secretary Comrade Aparna criticised deployment of troops in the region to suppress the movement when the protesters were using peaceful relay hunger strike to make their point.

‘Originally not part of West Bengal’

The party leaders pointed out that the area for which a separate State was being demanded had never originally been part of West Bengal. The area under question took shape when the British annexed parts of Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim in 1866. It was kept by the British as an “excluded area” till 1935 and “partially excluded area” till 1947. Post-Independence it was given to the State of West Bengal, they contended.

GJM insistent on tipartite talks, life in hills paralysed

FINANCIAL EXPRESS ON SUNDAY

l

Siliguri, Jun 22: Life remained paralysed in the Darjeeling hills for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday due to the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha as it stuck to its demand for tripartite talks and is sending a team to Delhi to meet central leaders.

l

The team would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, opposition leader L K Advani, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and others to convince them of the GJM’s demand for Gorkhaland, GJM President Bimal Gurung said.

l

The delegation, to be led by GJM general secretary Roshan Giri, would also explain the circumstances under which it declined to hold talks with West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in Kolkata after being invited by him, he said. Gurung said the chief minister’s letter urged for maintenance of peace and the state government’s desire for development in the hills.

l

“There is total peace in Darjeeling. Our movement is not for development, but for Gorkhaland. What is the use of such talks then?” he asked.

Gorkha pastors pray for ‘promised land’

Amitava Banerjee, Hindustan Times

Darjeeling , June 22, 2008

They always believed that anything could be achieved through prayers. And much before the political parties took to the streets in Darjeeling, this group, unnoticed, used to congregate at St. Andrew’s Church, the oldest church of the town, to pray for peace, prosperity, unity and, of course, a separate state of Gorkhaland. They call it the “Interdenominational Warfare Prayer.”

l

For, it is a war against the spirit of bondage.

l

Pastors of different Christian denominations have been coming to this church since July 25, 2006 – much before the “We want Gorkhaland” demand once more started reverberating in the hills from endless rallies.

“We sensed that this place was in the grip of a political upheaval and decided to seek divine intervention to prevent the forces of darkness from taking over,” said Col. (retired) HK Ghising, a decorated officer who is also a Pastor.

But why Gorkhaland? “We are like the Israelites, scattered all over India. therefore, we must have our own home – the promised land,” said Col. Ghising, drawing biblical parallels.

Life paralysed, Sikkim cut off, GLP enrolment takes off

From Press Trust of India

Siliguri: Life in Darjeeling hills continued to remain paralysed and Sikkim was cut off from the rest of the country as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)-sponsored indefinite bandh demanding Gorkhaland entered the 7th day on Sunday, officials said.

GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang ruled out any immediate possibility to call off the bandh or declaration of recess to help people buy food and essentials.

Tamang said that hundreds of youths, including girls, volunteered to get themselves enrolled in the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) wing this morning and were undergoing physical fitness test.

The GLP, a proposed force of 5,000 youths would be formed to control traffic, ensure discipline, take up social welfare measures, ensure that tourists were not not harassed and tackle anti-socials for making Darjeeling hills a land of peace, he said.

Tamang congratulated the hill people for observing the bandh peacefully for the greater cause of statehood despite facing hardships. There was no report of any untoward incident, police said.

Darjeeling vehicles to have GL number plates

INDIA TODAY GROUP ONLINE

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung today (June 20) said all vehicles in Darjeeling should bear GL (Gorkhaland) number plates from July 7 as part of a “non-cooperation movement” against the state government. “Numbers of the vehicles would remain the same and only two letters, WB, would be replaced by GL,” Gurung said, adding from July 7 no vehicles in Darjeeling would pay road tax and other dues to the state government.

When asked whether the GJM would collect the dues from the vehicle owners, Gurung said “Absolutely not”. The vehicles would enjoy free movement. District Magistrate, Darjeeling, Rajesh Pandey said the move was illegal. “Vehicle owners would be facing problems.” Reacting to the DM’s comment, Gurung said changing of number plates was a part of the “non-cooperation movement against the state government” called by the GJM. “Non-violence was the only path adopted by GJM to achieve Gorkhaland and GJM did not find anything wrong in it. As a part of the programme, the hill people have already stopped paying electric bill,” he added.

Gurung further said youths would be enrolled in the hills from tomorrow to control traffic for which they would be trained accordingly. On government’s stand regarding non-payment of electric bill, the District Magistrate said hill residents stopped payment of bills since April. When asked why the state electricity board was giving this advantage in the hills by going against the existing norms to cut the power line for non-payment of a single bill, Pandey said the authority was observing the ‘peculiar situation.’ “It-does not mean that the action will never be taken, let us wait and see”, he clarified.

Patients evacuated as hospital building tilts

By Barun Roy [A Beacon Online Exclusive] with inputs from Agencies including Press Trust of India

Siliguri, Jun 2: Patients of the Darjeeling district hospital were evacuated today after the rear of the three-storey building, which developed cracks following a landslide, began tilting.

Darjeeling District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey who visited the hospital said that the patients had been shifted to safety.

The Hospital administration said of the 100 patients, 60 were taken to the nearby Marwari Sahayak Samiti and 40 others to a comparatively safer portion of the hospital building. [Insets: Cracks on Hospital columns and cross beams. Photos by Barun Roy]

lll

The patients would be brought back to the hospital after repairs were carried out, Chief Medical Officer (Health) Dr S Bhowmick said.

The hospital’s sewerage system had also collapsed, the District Magistrate said.

Fifteen families residing below the affected portion were being shifted to a safer place, he said.

Meanwhile, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which has launched an indefinite bandh in the hills in support of a separate Gorkhaland state, engaged volunteers for shifting the patients and allowed hardware shops in the town to supply material for repairing the building.

The hospital building was built by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) with World Bank funds. Engineers had advised construction of a two-storeyed building for the hospital considering the location and altitude.

Its the 7th day today!

Panorama of Nepal and the Himalaya Range into Tibet

Today’s panorama looks north over central Nepal and the Himalaya Range
into Tibet. Kathmandu appear as a large circular smudge in the valley
to the right of center. The dark green ridges in the foreground show
the uncut forests of the Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife
Refuge. The great Tibetan lake Paiku Tso lies to the right center near
the top, north of the Lantang Himal. The extensive snow and ice
covered slopes of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himals appear in the
upper left. The Khumbu Himal and Mount Everest are situated on the far
right side of the panorama.

–
Dr. William A. Bowen
California Geographical Survey (http://geogdata.csun.edu)
10907 Rathburn Avenue
Northridge, CA 91326
william.bowen@csun.edu

WB govt wants to move cautiously on Darjeeling imbroglio

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Kolkata, June 21 (PTI) The West Bengal government with which the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha is disinclined to talk, wants to move cautiously and leave the doors of dialogue open for a political solution to the Darjeeling impasse.
“We have to move cautiously and patiently for a solution to the Darjeeling problem through discussions because it is a very sensitive issue and the question of ethnicity is involved,” Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee told the CPI(M)’s mouthpiece ‘Ganashakti’ in an interview published today.

“The people in hills and the plains can coexist. Peace and amity is a pre-condition for development. The doors for discussions with the leaders of the movement will have to be kept open,” he stressed.

He said that the Centre was being kept informed about developments.

Earlier on June 17, Bhattacharjee had said he was not averse to tripartite talks with the GJM and the Centre.

He had said the government wanted a solution to the problem through a bipartite or tripartite meeting. But this required preparation. There was, therefore, need to exchange views with the Centre and the agitators. PTI Reliance Energy Ltd.,

Puran Thami, the general secretary of the Janmukti Yuva Morcha (Youth Front) addressing the Women Front

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

An Old Man at the road!

Photo by Bikram Sashankar (Himalaya Darpan)

Many non-Gorkhas support movement for separate state

From India Gazette

They are not Gorkhas, yet many Marwaris, Bengalis, Biharis and others who have lived in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal for decades have been braving the rains and the government’s ire to publicly express support for the movement for Gorkhaland.

The three Darjeeling hill subdivisions – Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong – have a total population of 810,000, of which the majority are Gorkhas who are now demanding a separate state. Now several non-Gorkha inhabitants have expressed solidarity with them.

Deepak Kusaryi, a Bengali whose grandfather migrated from Kolkata to Darjeeling, said: ‘I always support the Gorkhaland demand. Though I don’t belong to the Gorkha community, I can easily relate to their problems as I have been born and bred in Darjeeling.’

‘There has been little development and people are deprived of basic facilities,’ said Kusaryi, a teacher at St. Joseph’s School here.

‘There are no water supply lines, no proper sanitation systems. The hills also do not have an adequate number of educational institutes for economically backward local students,’ Kusaryi said.

Several members of the Marwari, Bengali and Bihari communities who have been living in the hills for years have been coming out in the rains to enthusiastically participate in the daily rallies taken out by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, which is spearheading the protests.

The Gorkhaland movement has also found support among many Muslims, who are a religious minority in the hills.

However, West Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who is a senior leader of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), said such a show of support from the non-Gorkhas was only a survival strategy for minority communities in the hills.

CPI Marxist Leninist rally in support of Gorkhaland at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

ALL Photos by Jyoti Mukhia

Gorkha agitation may hit tea exports

By Indrani Dutta [THE HINDU]

KOLKATA: With little signs of a let-up in the Gorkha agitation in the Darjeeling Hills, India’s foreign exchange earnings from tea exports are likely to dip this year.

The finest tea from the slopes of the eastern Himalayas, which once fetched Rs.10,000 a kg through private sales, is lying packed in factories and warehouses, thanks to the indefinite bandh by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha. The organisation has been demanding a separate Gorkhaland state.

Average price

Tea Board chairman Basudeb Banerjee said that while the overall export volume target — 210 million kg in 2007-08 — might not be affected, the value or the average price of the premium tea might be lower. The reason is the output of the best crop — the second flush tea available between May-end and July beginning — is likely to be lower as there is widespread absenteeism in the gardens. “About 25 per cent of workers are not reporting for duty,” Mr. Banerjee told The Hindu.

Major buyers from Japan and Germany, two of the biggest destinations for quality Darjeeling tea, are camping in Kolkata as they have not been able to go to Darjeeling. Normally, they visit the gardens around this time to check quality.

Related News Stories Today

1. West Bengal ‘monitors’ GJM decision to form volunteer force

2. Bandh enters sixth day in hills, Sikkim cut-off

3. Bandh enters sixth day in hills, Sikkim remains cut-off

4. Sikkim remains cut off for the 5th day

5. GJM insistent on tripartite talks

6. GJM insistent on tripartite talks, life in hills paralysed

Darjeeling vehicles to have GL number plates from July 7

FROM SAHARA SAMAY

Siliguri, June 21: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung today said all vehicles in Darjeeling should bear GL (Gorkhaland) number plates from July 7 as part of a “non-cooperation movement” against the state government.

“Numbers of the vehicles would remain the same and only two letters, WB, would be replaced by GL,” Gurung said, adding from July 7 no vehicles in Darjeeling would pay road tax and other dues to the state government.

When asked whether the GJM would collect the dues from the vehicle owners, Gurung said “Absolutely not”. The vehicles would enjoy free movement.

District Magistrate, Darjeeling, Rajesh Pandey said the move was illegal. “Vehicle owners would be facing problems.” Reacting to the DM’s comment, Gurung said changing of number plates was a part of the “non-cooperation movement against the state government” called by the GJM.

“Non-violence was the only path adopted by GJM to achieve Gorkhaland and GJM did not find anything wrong in it. As a part of the programme, the hill people have already stopped paying electric bill,” he added.

Partial ‘permit’ slips for cut-off state

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Gangtok, June 20: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is allowing students with identity cards, patients bound for Siliguri and LPG, diesel and petrol tankers to move in and out of Sikkim since yesterday evening.

The district collector of East Sikkim, Vishal Chauhan, said today that students were being issued slips by Morcha picketers at Rangpo and Melli, the two entry points to the Himalayan state.

“We are further appealing to them (Morcha) to allow the plying of vehicles carrying essential commodities to the state,” Chauhan told The Telegraph.

When contacted, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said there was never any restriction on the movement of students or patients from Sikkim.

In another appeal to the Centre, Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling today said NH31A should be kept open so that the economy of the state does not suffer. The highway is the lifeline of the state.

According to a government communiqué, Chamling has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to tell him that the people of the state were feeling isolated.

The Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim (TAAS) has asked the Morcha to give them a window for the passage of tourists still stranded in Sikkim.

“We humbly appeal to the Morcha leadership to allow relaxations for tourist vehicles on alternate days so that holidaymakers stuck here can return home,” said TAAS president S. K. Pradhan here today.

Rain triggers landslides & red alert – ‘Moderate’ monsoon downpour expected in the next 24 hours – - Cracks appear on hospital walls

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, June 20: Incessant rain throughout north Bengal has led to landslides in the hills and an announcement of red alert on both banks of the Teesta. The alert is meant for the areas starting from Domohoni, on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town, to Bangladesh.

With the south-west monsoon setting in, north Bengal, especially the Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts, and Sikkim witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall since yesterday.

The highest rainfall was recorded at Sevoke (230.8mm), followed by Bagdogra, Siliguri, Gajaldoba, Domohoni and Jalpaiguri (see chart). Of these, Sevoke, Gajaldoba, Domohoni and Jalpaiguri are located on the banks of the Teesta.

According to sources at the Regional Met Office in Jalpaiguri, rainfall above 65mm in 24 hours is considered heavy, above 125mm very heavy and above 250mm extreme heavy rainfall.

“The data of locations close to the Teesta available with us shows very heavy rainfall. This has contributed to the rise of water level in the Teesta,” the sources said.

Last year’s data, however, showed that rainfall on the same date in these areas was low. Sevoke had recorded 25mm, Jalpaiguri 0.1mm, Siliguri 4.4mm, Bagdogra 3.6mm, Domohoni 0.4mm and Gajaldoba 4.6mm. “The less rain was because of the late arrival of the monsoon,” an official at the Met Office said.

Sikkimese students miss crucial admission dates due to bandh

By NIRMAL MANGAR [SIKKIM EXPRESS]

GANGTOK, June 19: The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling Hills has severely affected the student community of the State. It is mostly those students seeking admissions in various colleges across the country who have been most affected by the bandh forced upon the State by the GJMM. Talking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, Ranjana Shilal from Central Pendam said: “I missed the entrance exam for BSc in Scottish College in Kolkata due to the bandh. The exam was scheduled on June 18.”

There are many students like Ranjana who either missed their examination or are running late for the last date of admission in the colleges across the country.  “I have applied for admissions in a few colleges in Bangalore and have to be there on different dates and have to leave soon. But I do not have any choice but to just wait till the bandh is called off,” lamented Karma Bhutia from Gangtok. When KT Chankapa, the Secretary of the State Human Resources Development Department was contacted over the matter, he said that only few such cases were reported to the department.

According to him, the admissions in the colleges within Sikkim including the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences have not been affected by the bandh.  “It is sad to know that many students are missing their tests or are running late in joining their colleges, Mr. Chankapa added. Every year, around 30% of students from Sikkim join various colleges and universities outside of the State for higher studies.