WORKSHOP: ‘Climate Change and Multimedia Communications Workshop’ 17 – 24 August 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal

Panos South Asia (PSA) is a part of a family of Panos Institute worldwide that encourages and facilitates public discourse on a wide range of issues, particularly those that have a direct impact on the least privileged and most marginalized sections of society. Panos works through media to bring neglected subjects to the fore in developmental debate, so as to give a platform for voices and perspectives, which are often rendered voiceless in the public sphere.

In this endeavour, besides other activities, PSA is implementing a project that aims to facilitate information and communication technology (ICT) driven empowerment of the marginalized people at the grassroots in development processes in South Asian countries, to mainstream their local voices and perspectives, in order to facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and learning on various issues such as ‘climate change’ that directly or indirectly affect their livelihood.

In this regard, Panos South Asia is organising an 8 day South Asian ‘Climate Change and Multimedia Communications Workshop’ from 17 – 24 August 2009, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Workshop aims to build the capacity of media and other communication practitioners on climate change issues and the role of communications by applying ICTs for local content development, networking, knowledge sharing, to enable them to produce multimedia local contents on climate change communications in South Asia. It also aims to identify possible areas of synergy between media and civil society organizations (CSOs) on multimedia local content development on climate change communications.

NATIONAL: Tripartite meeting on Gorkhaland issue Aug 24

FROM BLOG.TARAGANA.COM

KOLKATA - The central government has convened a meeting Aug 24 with the state government and the pro-Gorkhaland parties to discuss the Gorkhaland issue in West Bengal, state Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said here Tuesday.

“A tripartite meeting has been called by the centre Aug 24 and union home secretary has already informed the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders about the scheduled talks through the office of the district magistrate of Darjeeling,” Chakraborty told reporters at state secretariat Writers’ Buildings.

He said that the union home secretary also made an appeal to the pro-Gorkhaland political outfit to withdraw their indefinite shutdown before participating in the dialogue.

“If GJM would continue their agitation in the hills it might affect the healthy environment of the tripartite talks. Thus the centre has made an appeal to GJM leaders to withdraw the indefinite shutdown and participate in the dialogue process,” Chakraborty said.

In the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, normal life has been affected since the indefinite shutdown began Monday noon. Shops and offices remained closed, tourist vehicles stayed off the roads and hundreds of tourists and students moved down to the plains.

NEW DELHI: Bhanu Jayanti in Delhi

[Please note. This report was submitted legitimately by a fellow blogger however, a blogger by the same name has offered his resentment at having his name used for nefarious purposes. I do not believe that to be the case. There simply could be the possibility of two individuals with the same name. Still, I have stricken out the name of the contributing blogger so that no one is made to suffer. Regs. Barun]

“Dawn fires the surface into Gold, gold eyed herons stilt and stalks, at silver noon the water lie still wheeling of a mirrored hawk”

Break through – an awesome job done by the young versatile you this comprising from Naga Hill to Khasi Hills from terai of Assam to the lush and green Darjeeling and Sikkim Hills.

No one even had the idea of celebrating the Bhanu Jayanti at the Capital of India. Last year a street in Kolkata was named after the poet Late. Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

The Himalaya Yuva Forum took the pains and courtesy to father all the Nepali / Gorkha speaking youths from across Delhi to celebrate Bhanu Bhakta Jayanti at Safdarjung Community Hall.

Everything went smoothly with amateur anchors taking the stage, though amateur both looked professional on their approach. Yozna and Sameer took the proceeding forward and Kamal Pradhan took on the podium to relate the true life story of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, being a resident of Assam. Kamal Pradhan has been actively participating in the social events in an around Delhi.

Though Bhanu Bhakta was born on the 13th day of July, the celebration was held on 12th July (Sunday) to manage time factor. Evening time and the auspicious occasion of Bhanu Bhakta with placing the cultural Khada and lighting the deo on the poets photo.

BENGAL: House erupts over Hill stir

FROM THE STATESMAN

KOLKATA: Noisy scenes marked the proceedings of the state Assembly today after Opposition members alleged that the state government lacks “willingness” to solve the ongoing stir in the Hills and accused the ruling party of desperately “looking for elements” out of the “ethnic problems” in Darjeeling for petty politics.

The Treasury bench members came up with strong protest levelling the counter allegation that Opposition parties are “fanning” the violence in the Hills. The heated exchange between the legislators broke out during a discussion on Budget for the department of Hill affairs.

Supporting a cut motion moved by the Opposition, Mr Partha Chattopadhyay, its leader, alleged the state government is trying to rule Darjeeling using “gun, bullet and baton” instead of “preparing a ground” for holding discussions. The state government has failed to solve the problems of safe drinking water and electrification. Indicating that the state government is trying to shift the focus from Lalgarh, he sought an explanation from the chief minister why fresh trouble erupted in Darjeeling at a time when Lalgarh is on the boil.

“The chief minister is visiting districts, but he has no time for the people of Darjeeling who are suffering from damage caused by Aila. There is no system to combat disaster in the Hills. No initiative was taken to install new water pipeline or repair the defunct ones,” Mr Chattopadhyay told the Assembly.

The Congress legislative party leader, Dr Manas Bhuinya, also took a dig at the Left Front government saying that it lacks “sensibility” to deal with the problems.

SIKKIM: Sikkim to lose Rs.87.3 million daily due to Darjeeling shutdown

FROM NEW DELHI NEWS.NET

Snaking queues were seen at petrol stations here Tuesday as Sikkim got cut off from the outside world due to the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) sponsored indefinite shutdown in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district and stood to lose an estimated Rs.87.3 million daily.

The financial loss estimate — including transportation, bookings of hotels and travel operators, toll taxes, businesses, offices, banks — was made by the Sikkim government’s Directorate of Survey last year after the GJM activists blockaded National Highway 31 A, the state’s road link to the outside world, for almost a week.

The latest round of indefinite strike called by the GJM, which began at noon Monday, is already taking a toll on everyday life in this mountain state as all major towns saw a rush of traffic at petrol stations Tuesday morning with people waiting for hours to fill their tanks to the brim.

With the GJM calling three indefinite shutdowns since last year in support of its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland in the northern part of West Bengal, loss to the economy is a major problem in Sikkim due to the closure of the highway and the disruption of everyday life of the locals here.

For Sikkim, Siliguri is the main commercial hub, including bringing in of all essential commodities. With many of the trucks still on the highway when the shutdown began, emergency rations at the last moment did not reach the godowns.

However, the administration claimed there was no shortage of essential commodities with the state-owned godowns having stocked essential foodgrains that can last for a month.

DARJEELING HILLS: Pro-Gorkhaland shutdown cuts off Sikkim, affects life in Darjeeling

FROM NEW DELHI NEWS

Hundreds of pro-Gorkhaland activists blockaded a crucial highway linking Sikkim to the rest of the country while shops and offices remained closed in Darjeeling district Tuesday, on day two of an indefinite shutdown called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to demand a separate state in the northern part of West Bengal.

Hundreds of the GJM activists put up a blockade on National Highway-31A, the only road link between Sikkim and the rest of the country, cutting off road connectivity with neighbouring states.

Kalimpong Additional Superintendent of Police Krishnabahadur Dorji said: ‘GJM activists put up a blockade on National Highway 31A since today (Tuesday) morning at the Bengal-Sikkim border of Rongpo. They also staged blockades on two other national highways, NH-31 and NH-55, which pass through Darjeeling.

‘We are sending reinforcements to remove the blockade as the highway is the lifeline of Sikkim. Vehicular movement has come to a halt on this highway since early morning.’

In the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, normal life has been affected since the indefinite shutdown began Monday noon. Shops and offices remained closed, tourist vehicles stayed off the roads and hundreds of tourists and students moved down to the plains.

Ambulances and vehicles belonging to the army or carrying essential items like cooking gas have been kept out of the purview of the GJM protest.

DARJEELING HILLS: Traffic stalled on day 2 of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM) bandh; Sikkim cut off

FROM NEW KERALA.COM

Darjeeling, Jul 14 : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM)-sponsored indefinite bandh entered its second day today stalling traffic on three vital National Highways in this district since morning, including the one that connects land-locked Sikkim.

”The National Highways 55, 31, 31A are blocked derailing the transportation link with Sikkim since morning,” Additional SP Kurseong KB Dorji said.

Educational institutions, tea gardens, shops, markets and business establishments remained shut while a few government offices registered low attendance. Roads wore a deserted look.

”The bandh, however, is peaceful with no untoward incident reported so far,” the SP added.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the Darjeeling district administration to ensure that NH 31A – the lifeline of the Himalayan state of Sikkim – was not blocked under any circumstances, be it for political movement or any agitation.

But justifying the blockade, GJM assistant General Secretary Binoy Tamang said, ”The GJM has got nothing to do with the SC verdict and the blockade will continue at 24 places.” Altogether 4,500 Gorkha Land Personnel (GLP), a voluntary organisation of GJM, had been deployed to enforce the bandh.

The GJM had called the bandh yesterday in support of its various demands, including creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland and arrest of GNLF leader Rajen Mukhiya.

Prohibitory orders were already in force in Panighata and its adjoining areas following last Friday’s clash between GJM activists and police personnel. 

DARJEELING HILLS: Strike affects Indian tea region

FROM BBC NEWS

BY SUBIR BHAUMIK

Protesters say talks have failed to help so far

An indefinite strike called by a regional political party has affected life in India’s tea-producing Darjeeling hills in West Bengal state.

The strike, called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), began on Monday.

State Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has appealed to the GJM to call the strike off and negotiate.

The GJM is demanding a separate state and fairer treatment for Darjeeling’s Nepali-speaking Gorkha community. Its leaders have rejected calls for talks.

‘Great restraint’

“Negotiation so far has yielded no result. And how can we respond to the Bengal government’s appeal when they refuse to shift police officers who are oppressing us?” GJM chairman Bimal Gurung told the BBC.

But the state’s chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarty refused to shift the police officials the GJM wants out of Darjeeling region.

“The police have so far acted with great restraint but they have to do their duty. And we have to back them,” he said.

The GJM campaign has led to much violence and many deaths this year.

It was suspended when elections to the Indian parliament were announced.

SIKKIM: ‘Ten Minutes to Greenery’ to create ‘world record’ on July 15

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 13: Sikkim will create ‘world record’ when its six lakh population plant six lakh saplings as part of Sikkim’s Earth Hour: ‘Ten Minutes to Greenery’ slated for July 15.

Ten minutes to greenery has been conceived by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and is proposed to be celebrated on a mass scale like people’s movement. The department has aimed for world record by planting six lakh saplings in 10 minutes, said an official statement.

“As the clock will tick 10:30 AM on July 15, 2009, the whole population of Sikkim will commit itself to mother earth. The people will pledge themselves to nature for 10 minutes by planting

trees, flowering and non flowering plants,” said the statement.

This initiative, the department said will also support The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) worldwide tree planting campaign; Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.

The seedlings equivalent to the population of Sikkim (approx. 600000) would be planted throughout Sikkim. The people of Sikkim, communities, industries, government officials, civil society organizations and religious institutions have been requested to participate on mass scale.

‘Ten minutes to greenery’ is in addition to ongoing program of State Green Mission. The idea, it is informed is to make tree planting as a Sikkimese way of life. The plantation proposed in every nook and corner of Sikkim has species like oak, rhododendron, champ and other native wild fruit varieties.

SIKKIM: State celebrates 195th Bhanu Jayanti CM appeals people to follow the works of Adikavi

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Sikkimese Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling offering a garland to the statue of Adhi Kavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya. Photo by Sikkim Express

GANGTOK, July 13: Referring to Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya’s role intranslating the great epic Ramayana into simple Nepali language, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today appealed the people of the State to follow the works of the Adikavi in terms of promoting Nepali language, culture and literature.

He was addressing the 195th birth anniversary of the great poet here today.

Addressing the student community, the Chief Minister advised them to nurture dreams like that of Einstein or Barack Obama. The Chief Minster further urged the students to develop competitive spirit to keep up with the pace of globalisation. Mr. Chamling also took sometime to explain the importance of “10 minutes of greenery programme” conceived by him at the time of global climate change.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister conferred Bhanu Puraskar to Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, a reputed poet and academician. The award consisted of a shawl, shield, certificate and a sum of Rs 21,000.

The State Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, State HRDD minister cum president of 195th Bhanu Jayanti Samaroh NK Pradhan were also present on the occasion.

The 195th birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanibhakta was also organised at Pakyong in East Sikkim by Sikkim Prativa Pratisthan Pakyong where State Forest and Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel was present as the chief guest. Also present were MLA Namcheybong BB Rai, former MLA Manita Mangar, President of Sikkim Prativa Pratisthan PN Kazi and sub-division level officers, Panchayats and the local people. Renowned litterateur Mahananda Paudyal was present as the chairman of the programme.

The day’s programme started at Bhanu Batika by lightning the lamp and offering khadas on the statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya by the chief guest and other guests followed by cultural rally up to St. Xavier’s School Hall where the programme began with a welcome song.

SIKKIM/DARJEELING HILLS: GJM exempts LPG services for Sikkim Special GJM cell constituted for Sikkimese persons needing to reach Siliguri on emergencies

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

DARJEELING, July 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has exempted the movement of LPG tankers for Sikkim along the National Highway 31A during its indefinite Darjeeling bandh.

GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang told SIKKIM EXPRESS that only the LPG tankers for Sikkim will be allowed to ply along the NH 31A while movement of other vehicles will be blocked.

The GJM has also set up a special cell to facilitate the movement of those Sikkimese persons who have urgent works at Siliguri.

Mr. Tamang informed that the cell has been formed in Kalimpong and is headed by Sunil Pradhan, the party in-charge of the NH 31A unit of GJM. Persons in Sikkim who need to reach Siliguri on an emergency basis or have urgent works can contact Mr. Pradhan who will make arrangements for their smooth travel to Siliguri along the NH 31A, he said.

Mr. Pradhan can be reached at 980041167. The GJM assistant secretary stressed that this facility for Sikkimese persons is only for emergencies.

At the same time, Sikkimese people struck at Siliguri can contact the GJM party functionary Bishal Chettri who is based at Siliguri.

SIKKIM: INDEFINITE DARJEELING BANDH

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

ISOLATION OF SIKKIM BEGINS

Govt appeals people not to go for panic buying Monitoring committee to be formed to prevent hoarding, arbitrary price hike

GANGTOK, July 13: The State Government has appealed the people here not to go for panic buying as adequate measures have been taken to stock essential items in view of the total indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the neighbouring Darjeeling hills from tomorrow.

The indefinite Darjeeling bandh began from Monday but GJM had allowed vehicular movement only for today and the total indefinite bandh will be enforced from tomorrow where all roads will be blocked including NH 31A, the only connectivity link of Sikkim.

With the vehicular movement along NH 31A being shut down by GJM from tomorrow for an indefinite period, the respective district administrations of all the four districts has mobilized to prevent any shortage or price hike of essential commodities.

The East District Administration which looks after the most populated District of the State is calling a meeting tomorrow of all relevant organizations and line departments to set in motion all the measures outlined by the State Government some ten days ago in view of the bandh called by GJM.

The first line of action of the district administration is to not to allow hoarding and black marketing by unscrupulous businessmen and to prevent people from going in a panic buying mode.

“We are trying our best and appeal the people not to panic. We appeal the people not to go for panic buying as other with less financial resources will be affected”, said DC (East) D Anandan while speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS.

The DC also said that the administration will be keeping a strict tab on the business enterprises to prevent hoarding, black marketing or arbitrary price hike on essential items and vegetables.

The East District administration had some ten days ago met all the LPG distributors, petrol pump owners, hawkers, wholesale dealers and other business enterprises for buying and keeping sufficient stock of all essential items in the District.

SILIGURI: Rival groups ready to retaliate

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 13 JULY: Throwing down the gauntlet to the GJMM leadership for convening an indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling Hills, the Siliguri-based anti-Gorkhaland pressure groups today threatened to block roads leading to the Hills the day the GJMM withdrew its bandh.

“Our patience is running thin with the GJMM challenging the authority of the State and the state government mollycoddling with the statehood agitators,” said the spokespersons of the “Bangla O Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee” and the “Aamra Bangali”.

Another pressure group, “Jana Chetana”, however, opted for a legal redress for the continuous “violation of the Constitution” with the migration issue remaining unaddressed.

The BOBBBC president, Dr Mukunda Majumder, said that his organisation would move for a “tit for tat” strategy to stymie the agitators for statehood. “We might convene a north Bengal bandh and resort to blocking all the roads leading to the hills from Siliguri the day the GJMM withdraws the shutdown agitation,” he said.

Slamming the state government, Dr Majumder said that it seemed fawning on the challenge being posed by the Nepalese migrants.

“The GJMM is throwing challenge to the constitutional machinery in the form of indulging in vengeful campaigning against the efficient police officials. The role of the state government is that of an indulgent spectator,” Dr Majumder said.

SILIGURI: GJMM leaders fly off to meet Jaswant

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 13 JULY: A four-member Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) delegation flew off to New Delhi today to meet BJP leader, Mr Jaswant Singh, who won a landslide victory in Darjeeling in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.

According to GJMM sources, the delegation will apprise Mr Singh about the latest political situation in the Hills. After been elected an MP from Darjeeling in April, the BJP stalwart has visited the constituency only once, in late May.

The GJMM delegation, which is headed by the party general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri, will also try to meet the Union home minister, Mr P Chidambaram, and attempt to convince the Centre to convene the third round of tripartite talks over the Darjeeling statehood demand.

Other than Mr Giri, party spokespersons Mr Harkabahadur Chhetri, Mr Rohit Sharma and vice president Mr RP Waiba make up the delegation.

“The delegation will also circulate literature amongst MPs, cutting across party lines, explaining the background and justification of the Gorkhaland demand. This particular literature has been prepared by our party’s study group, which is headed by Mr Trilok Dewan,” informed party assistant general secretary, Mr Binay Tamang.

In addition, he said that Mr Dewan is in New Delhi now, along with Mr CK Rai and Mr LB Parihar, all of whom are members of the study group.

DARJEELING HILLS: Bandh worsens tea industry

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 13 JULY: Already limping due to a series of unwanted events this year, the tea industry in Darjeeling now faces another adverse situation it can ill afford. The GJMM sponsored indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills has caught the tea industry off balance, with the captains of the industry sending an SOS to the GJMM leadership to reconsider its decision, and exempt the industry from the bandh.

Bad weather conditions, such as the erratic winter and spring rain which affected the first flush, and the devastations caused by Aila, have meant that the Darjeeling tea industry has had to grapple with a substantial drop in exports. “The effect has been ruinous for the tea industry in Darjeeling,” said the Darjeeling Tea Association secretary, Mr Sandeep Mukherjee.

According to him, 283 workers’ quarters were destroyed in the Aila carnage and 1,941 quarters were partially damaged. “The catastrophe also took a toll of over 7.5 lakh tea bushes in the Hills, affecting production, inflow of revenue, and issues pertaining to the plantations’ and workers’ prosperity,” he said.

Already heavily engaged in fighting off the odds steeped against it this year, the industry now faces another bout of production loss, courtesy the GJMM sponsored indefinite bandh. The bandh, which came into effect today, encompasses the tea plantations as well. Production came to a grinding halt in all the Hill-based tea plantations today. The bandh, whilst in force, also makes the despatch of already made teas impossible.

DARJEELING HILLS: Tourism takes a hit

FROM THE STATESMAN

JALPAIGURI, 13 JULY: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha sponsored indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling hills has jeopardised tourism prospects for the queen of hill stations this Puja, or so it seems.

Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in the Darjeeling hills, the president of Eastern Himalaya Tour and Travel Operators’ Association Mr Supratim Basu said today that they had already started to feel the pinch.

“The bandh comes at a time when Asia’s largest fair on travel and tourism is going on in Kolkata. The fair provides us with almost 75 per cent of the bookings for the Puja holidays in the Darjeeling hill hotels. The trend of bookings for Darjeeling and the Dooars was strong this year too but the indefinite bandh call in the hills has had an adverse impact and the tourists have started to turn away from Darjeeling. A large number of hotel reservations for Darjeeling and the Dooars were cancelled in the last three days. We fear a setback this festive season,” Mr Basu said.

According to him, people are now opting for alterative hill stations like Sikkim, Kathmandu, Shimla etc. to spend their Puja vacations.

SILIGURI: Counterfeiting trio arrested in Siliguri

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, 13 JULY: A trio, comprising a mother, daughter and son, were arrested in Siliguri on 13 July with 66,000 fake Indian rupees in their possession.

The three were trying to use the counterfeit notes to purchase a motorbike from an automobile showroom at Burdwan Road in Siliguri, but finally ended up in police custody.

The arrested trio have been identified as Mrs Shanti Choudhury, aged 48, Mr Bijoy Choudhury, aged 20, and Mrs Mithu Singh, aged 27. Mrs Choudhury claims to be a resident of Government Colony, Matigara, near Siliguri, and Mithu claims to be married to a businessman at Kalagoch, Chopra, in North Dinajpur district.

According to the DSP Siliguri, Mr Sitaram Sinha, the trio went to the Burdwan Road automobile showroom at around 1 pm, and tried to buy a bike for the son, Mr Bijoy Choudhury.

“But the manager of the showroom became suspicious when they offered 66 currency notes of 1,000 rupee denomination towards the cost of the bike, and he called the police instantly. Personnel from the Siliguri police station reached the showroom, and, upon verification, found the notes to be fake. The trio was arrested immediately,” the DSP said.

Under the initial interrogation, the trio claimed to have received the counterfeit notes from an unknown person.

SIKKIM: Dr. Bhandari receives Bhanu Puruskar 2009

Dr. Rajendra Bhandari being awarded Bhanu Award 2009 by Sikkimese Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling at Gangtok. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

BENGAL: Traffic woes – Subhas likens city to New York

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

The state government has set up a committee to probe into the reasons behind the spate of accidents on Kolkata roads and suggest measures to check them. The 12-member committee headed by former chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb has been asked to submit its report to the government in 45 days.

This was announced today by Minister for Transport Subhas Chakraborty in the state Assembly, where the transport budget was passed.

Chakraborty also said it was becoming increasingly difficult for the state government to handle the traffic problem as the number of people using transport is increasing day by day. “Every day, one crore people use transport in the city and on this count Kolkata can be compared with New York city. However, we are buying 1,300 new buses with financial assistance from the Central government. The buses will start plying on the roads by the end of this year,” the minister said.

The minister also issued a statement on the accident that took place at Bankim Setu near Howrah station on July 4 in which 12 people died and 10 people were injured.

“A case has been filed against the driver who is now undergoing treatment at a hospital. If the owner, the driver or anybody else is found guilty, stringent action will be taken against them,” the minister said.

NAGALAND: Gorkhas celebrate 195th Bhanu Jayanti with pomp

FROM MORUNG EXPRESS

GORKHAS AT THE 195TH BHANU JAYANTI CELEBRATION AT DIMAPUR TOWN HALL. (MORUNG PHOTO )

Dimapur, July 13 (MExN): Hundreds of Gorkhas celebrated the 195th Bhanu Jayanti at Dimapur Town Hall today with glittering cultural dances and songs. The programme organised by the Gorkha Students’ Union, Dimapur was graced by the Chief Manager of State Bank of India, L B Pradhan as the chief guest.

Speaking at the programme, the chief guest emphasized on the need of peace and harmony in the society, and urged the students to be conscious in all the social activities in creating a society full of peace and harmony.

Lamenting that the people has lost their culture, the chief guest cited the programme leaflet being printed in English. Terming it as a “silly mistake” Pradhan questioned: “what is the use of celebrating Bhanu Jayanti when the people are not worried of silly mistakes that become a unique habit?” The chief guest maintained that Bhanu Jayanti is not only for cultural dances since Bhanu Bhakta have sacrificed a lot for the people and that his sacrifices would be in vain if we forget his legacy.

The guest of honour at the programme, the Dimapur Gorkha Union vice chairman, Loknath Lopchan urged the students to study hard and work for the welfare of the society. He also requested the parents to encourage their children to go to schools and colleges so that they can grow up to be responsible citizens of the society.

NATIONAL: UPA to name 3 troubleshooters for J and K, Nagaland, Gorkhaland

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

The UPA government is activelyconsidering appointing interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir, the Gorkhaland agitation and has decided to replace its Nagaland interlocutor K. Padamanabhaiah.

Sources said former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, who tackled the Charar-e-Sharif crisis in 1995 as Joint Secretary, is front-runner for the job of Centre’s Kashmir interlocutor, a post lying vacant since N N Vohra became Governor in June 2008. The new appointment may renew New Delhi’s political process with the separatists. The Cabinet Secretary will lead a team of Secretaries to Srinagar next month.

Former Home Secretary Padamanabhaiah, sources said, may not get an extension when his term expires. He was appointed by the Vajpayee government on July 28, 1999 and after a decade of engagement with the Naga leadership, New Delhi feels the ground situation has not changed much. Moreover, the Naga groups are also seen to be supporting other movements in the North-East.

The Muivah-Swu group was involved in trouble in the Tirap-Changlang sector of Arunachal Pradesh and found to be encouraging groups in the North Cachar hills as well as Left wing extremists.

DARJEELING HILLS: Sleepless in city over shutdown in the hills – Security and food shortage prime concern of guardians with wards in strike-hit Darjeeling schools

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY MEGHDEEP BHATTACHARYYA

Schoolchildren during a previous shutdown in the hills

Anirban Chakraborty (name changed) took a “very difficult decision” last weekend: to pull his son out of the Kurseong school where he has studied from Class III to VIII.

“I had first contemplated shifting him from St Anthony’s in Kurseong to St Michael’s in Siliguri during a weeklong strike a year ago. My mind was made up when the latest indefinite strike was announced,” said Chakraborty, the general manager of a publishing firm in Calcutta.

But Chakraborty, who could not beat the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s deadline to “evacuate” children from hostels by Monday noon, will have to wait for the strike to end for his son to switch schools. Till then, he can only worry.

Chakraborty is not the only city-based parent spending sleepless nights worrying about children studying in schools in the Darjeeling hills.

Edwina Payne, 44, said she would have brought back son Matthew from Darjeeling for good — he is a Class VII student of St Joseph’s School at North Point — had he been guaranteed a seat in a Calcutta school “of the same standard”.

“I am really worried about Matty. He’s had a lot of trouble adjusting to the turmoil in the hills over the past year. I want him back but which good school in the city will take him midway through an academic session?” she wondered.

The number of schoolchildren from Calcutta studying in the hills has dwindled over the years, but they still constitute more than 25 per cent of the nearly 6,000 students staying in hostels there. Sources in Darjeeling said the majority of boarders remained in their hostels when the shutdown began on Monday.

PARLIAMENT WATCH: Gorkhaland issue raised by Rudy at Rajya Sabha yesterday

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY (BIHAR)*: Sir, I would like to make a Special Mention on the issue of Gorkhaland. Sir, Darjeeling was struck by Cyclone Aila on 25-26th May, 2009  causing extensive damage in terms of property destroyed and roads and  highways washed away and more than thirty two lives were lost in the  devastating landslides. The damage to the hill district’s infrastructure has  been immense and deserves a special consideration for relief and rehabilitation. Hence, the Prime Minister must send a special team separately and earmark separate funds for the Darjeeling catastrophe, carving it out from the grant sanctioned in the Union Budget for the State of West Bengal. More so, this has added to the woes of the Queen of Hills which is already battling with other issues of development giving voice to their long-pending demand for a Gorkhaland. While similar sized hill destinations have the status of a State with a population much lesser like Sikkim and other States, the education and health infrastructure in Darjeeling is almost non-existent. The Hills do not have a single university for higher education. Absence of any medical college for health and education is another glaring example of its backwardness.

The hills do not have a single technical or professional institution thereby compelling large scale migration of unskilled youth to other parts of the country. The Gorkhas of the Hill districts have made enormous contributions as a premiere fighting force not only in India, but abroad as well and now the persistent neglect is compelling them to press for their long-standing demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Hence…(Interruptions)..

SHRI MOINUL HASSAN*: Sir, this is a Special Mention. (Interruptions)

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (PROF. P.J. KURIEN)*: Have you stuck to the draft, Mr. Rudy? Have you deviated from the approved draft?

SHRI MOINUL HASSAN: *Sir, he has deviated from the draft.

ASSAM: Tea tourism introduced at Ayur Sanjeeva, Jorhat

FROM THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

By Suryya Kumar Chetia

JORHAT, July 13 – As tourism has got prominence in the north eastern states of India, the novel concept of tea-tourism has added a new dimension to it which has been introduced in Ayur Sanjeeva, here at Tilikiam, Charingia. Ayur Sanjeeva, which is a unit of Puranimati Plantation Pvt. Ltd., has established a health resort inside the tea garden which is going to be inaugurated officially soon.

Amidst the greenery of the tea garden and having the vast open land Malow Pathar behind it and with the perpetual cool breeze coming from the nearby Brahamaputra, this resort is going to be the dreamland for nature lovers. The outsiders who have the curiosity for Assamese tea gardens can easily access the beauty and knowledge about it.

It is for the first time in north-east the tea-tourism has been introduced here. “We are expecting good response from the tourists. We have many ambitious plans to execute,” said BN Pathak, manager of the Puranimati Tea Estate.

The resort comprising an air-conditioned conference hall with sitting capacity for 100 persons and a dining hall for 40 persons is also an ideal place for conferences. The flower garden with various seasonal flowers, 15 fisheries, and the fruit garden with mango, banana, orange, litchi, guava and jackfruit trees add beauty to the landscape. A childrens park and a boating point are also two attractions of the place.

BN Pathak further informed this Correspondent that they are planning to construct a swimming pool, a gym and introduce some angling points for the tourists. Though the resort hasn’t been formally inaugurated till now, accommodations have been provided to many a tourist from abroad and outside the State.

DEHRADUN: District Football League-2009 faces controversy – Cantt Blues, BC Milan settle for draw

FROM GARHWAL POST

Dehradun: Cantt Blues settled for a goalless draw against BC Milan at the District Football League here on Saturday. The second match of the day between Nagar Nigam and Sunderwala Boys ended in a 1-1 draw. A controversy broke out in the Cantt Blues versus BC Milan tie. The Cantt Blues alleged that their rival team had fielded many fake players.

The match between the Nagar Nigam and Sunderwala Boys offered a lot of action. After a goalless first half, the second half touched dizzy heights. Sandeep, the hero of the Inter Departmental Football Championship for the Nagar Nigam, found the back of the goal to give his side a 1-0 lead. With the Nagar Nigam leading, the Sunderwala Boys too lifted the standard of their game. They found the equaliser through Himanshu in the 20th minute of the second half. The match ended with 1-1 on the scoreboard.

Cantt Blues gave a dismal performance on Saturday. Making a mess of many great openings, they scored a goalless draw against BC Milan. After the match was over, Govind Thapa (Manager, Cantt Blues) alleged that BC Milan had included some unregistered players in their side. He asked the fourth referee to check the identity cards of the players and verify them. His move was considered motivated by the rift withing the referee association. Incidentally, Govind Thapa heads one group. Thapa’s group has now decided to stay away from the league due to the controversy.