CBI to probe into Rs 80,000 Sikkim, Bhutan lottery scam in Kerala

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN June 22, 2011

CBI to probe into Rs 80,000 Sikkim, Bhutan lottery scam in Kerala

Himalayan News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, June 21: Clearing the decks for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption in the operations of other State lotteries in Kerala, the UDF government has issued a notification to transfer 32 related cases to the central investigating agency.

The issuance of the notification last week-end fulfilled a legal and procedural step sought by the Centre for paving the way for CBI probe into the allegations, a demand supported by both UDF and LDF leaders.

CBI probe into alleged corruption and irregularities in running of Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries in Kerala by some lottery tycoons has been a long-pending demand of the State, supported by both the ruling UDF and the opposition LDF.

Former chief minister V S Achuthanandan, who headed the previous LDF Ministry, had twice urged the Centre to order the probe holding that a whopping sum of Rs 80,000 crore had been siphoned off Kerala over the last four years through the operation of other-state lotteries.

However, the demand did not materialise as his government did not fulfill the procedural obligation of notifiying the cases under the relevant Act. After assuming office last month, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy renewed the request for the CBI probe and the State was advised that it should issue a notification.

Bhutanese woman receives ‘Entrepreneur Of The Year’ award

Himalayan News Network

Thimphu, June 21: Deki Wangmo (32) of Buddha Tyres was awarded the Woman of the Year award during Youth Business International’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 competition held on June 14 in London.

Buddha Tyres, a tyre re-treading business, employs eight men and supplies tyres to government, corporations and individuals.

She earns USD 400,000 a year, retains a profit of USD 18,667, employs 10 recovering alcoholics and illiterate Bhutanese at her tyre resole workshop and raises her sister’s two children besides her only month-old child.

Wongmo will catch a fully funded trip to London to receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 from Prince Charles followed by a dinner with him in early November this year, Kuensel reported.

With whatever little saving she had, Wangmo started a small tyre repair shop in Thimphu. But that was not what she wanted to settle for.

Inspired by the people running the tyre re-treading business in India, she too dreamed to start a similar business in the capital.

That was when Loden foundation a UK based non-profit organisation that provides financial support to entreprising youth for self-employment.

Deki Wangmo borrowed Nu 800,000  from Loden Foundation, a UK-based NGO, to start her tyre re-soling unit in Thimphu.

 “Such award is a good source of inspiration for young Bhutanese wanting to become an entrepreneur,” she said. “It will ease the country’s unemployment problems to a large extent,” she told Kuensel.

Loden Foundation’s co-ordinator Dorji Tashi said this was the first ever award any Bhutanese entrepreneur received.

“The feeling is overwhelming to have won the award,” Deki Wangmo said. “But it does not compare to the sense of satisfaction I gain from being able to help a few people earn a living from a business I initiated.”

Nepal’s first post-conflict census begins

RP Sharma

Kathmandu, June 21:  Nepal has deployed 46,500 enumerators, including 8,500 supervisors, across the country for the National Census 2011, which began on Friday.

The first such process after end of the decade long civil war in 2006, the census is expected to provide useful insight into impact of the conflict on the country’s population

The results are expected to provide essential database for major socio-political transformations proposed by the post-conflict transitional government for sustainable peace building.

In the 10-day-long National Census 2011 census, held in every 10 years, the officials will count the number of people living in the country and collect information about them, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

The enumerators will work at 3,900 Village Development Committees and 50 municipalities across the country, it said.

President Ram Baran Yadav and his family members were registered as an ordinary citizen for the first time in a century-long history of national census, according to chief of CBS Population Unit Rudra Suwal.

"The president was the first person to be registered on Friday," Suwal said.

CBS has readied questionnaires in 10 languages, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang, Gurung, Newari, Magar, Awadhi, Rai and Limbu for the convenience of respondents.

It has projected an estimated population of 28.5 million — an increase of 5.4 million since the last census in 2001.

EDITORIAL

GRAFT LAWS

Focus On Implementation

   The UPA Government at the Centre may be hesitant to go all-out against combating corruption in public life but it is making steady efforts to clean up the system from within. The government’s proposed electoral reforms meet will not only look into state funding of elections but will check the influence of money power during polls. Efforts are also being made to debar chargesheeted candidates from contesting elections. Corrupt politicians often resort to devious practices of delaying  court proceedings against them on alleged corrupt practices and continue to hang on to power. This not only frustrates the efforts of courts and investigating agencies to nail the culprits but the public at large gradually lose confidence in the rule of law if criminals and corrupt public servants are not punished.

   The Centre is also likely to amend the Indian Penal Code (UPC) to bring private sector and NGOs under the anti-corruption laws. In today’s India these parties, whose role in public life has increased substantially, must also be made accountable to the people. Many NGOs receive huge amount of money from the government and also from abroad for their services. Norms to speed up MPs’ fund release are also part of UPA’s efforts to ensure speedy economic and other projects initiated by local MPs, whose annual funds have now been increased to Rs 5 crore from Rs 2 crore. There are instances where MP funds are kept in banks just to accumulate interest which are shared among interested parties.

   In a democracy laws have to be made for various purposes in the interest of the people. India not only is the world’s largest democracy but also has one of the world’s biggest constitutions. The Prime Minister need not ask all MPs to declare their assets; there is a law on this subject. The tragedy in a developing country such as India is that laws are useless if they are not enforced. If the system of governance fail to abide by the rule of law then the corrupt will go unpunished and the people’s yearning for equality and justice will forever remain just a distant dream.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MAMATA

Tripartite pact to be signed next week in Darjeeling

Himalayan News Network

Kolkata, June 21: The long-awaited tripartite agreement for setting up an interim council in Darjeeling is likely to be signed by the end of this month, according to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

She said the matter will be discussed during her meeting with Central leaders next week in New Delhi. She said the tripartite agreement will be signed between the Centre, West Bengal Government and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai confirmed the Chief Minister’s statement on the interim council. Speaking to a national daily, Pillai said, “The state government is sending the draft agreement to us by Tuesday evening. After all the studies, I hope the agreement is going to be signed in a week’s time.”

Pillai said an additional secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs will come to Darjeeling to sign the agreement on behalf of the Union Government. The State Government delegation is likely to be headed by Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh.

West Bengal Land Reforms Commissioner R D Meena will decide how many tea gardens out of the 103 demanded by GJM could be given to the interim council. Meena, who is in Darjeeling, is likely to submit the report this week.

Four Trinamool Ministers visit Darjeeling, makes more promises

C. Tamang

Sukhiapokhri, June 21: If planting saplings in the hills is an indication of the Trinamool Government’s focus on Darjeeling then the future seems bright as four ministers of the Mamata Cabinet not only actively participated in forest week function, which included planting of saplings,  here on Monday they also made numerous promises to the hill people.

Judging by the new government’s ability to keep its election promises the hills are poised to regain its past glory.

Four TMC Ministers – Gautam Deb, Hiten Barman, Sunil Chandra Tirkey and Bratya Basu – arrived here on Monday to attend the function.

While Barman is the Forests Minister, Tirkey is the Minister for Consumer Affairs. Basu is the Minister for Higher Education.

Deb, the Minister in charge of the development for north Bengal, is also TMC’s Darjeeling district President.

The closeness between them and the newly-elected MLAs from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong – Trilok Dewan, Harka Bahadur Chhetri and Rohit Sharma respectively – was visible as they all shared the same dais during the function.

Together they made several announcements and promises: reopening of Darjeeling ropeway, more educational institutions, including hills university if finance permits, introduction of hill specific subjects in the region’s curriculum and upgradation of Darjeeling zoo.

More promises on development will be announced when Deb returns to the hills with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee next week.

Darjeeling ropeway to be reopened in October

Himalayan News Network

Darjeeling, June 21: The Darjeeling Rungeet Valley Ropeway at North Point in Singamari is likely to be reopened this October.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to announce the reopening of the ropeway, shut down for seven years, when she visits Darjeeling next month.

"The ropeway in Darjeeling will be opened before the Puja. Our honorable CM will herself announce it next month in Darjeeling," said Hiten Barman, State Forest Minister, during a function at Sukhiapokhori on Monday.

 "The Mackenjee Company a US based consultancy service will provide the report to the PWD who will then give the fitness certificate," said Barman.

The passenger ropeway was operated as a joint venture of the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and the Conveyor and Ropeway Services Private Ltd. It had been revamped in 1988. It consisted of sixteen cars and plied between the "North Point" in the town of Darjeeling and Singla the banks of the Ramman River at an elevation of 2134 meters, offering beautiful views of the hills and the valleys around Darjeeling.

Educational institutions to be revived in hills

Himalayan News Network

Darjeeling, June 21: Darjeeling was once not only known as “Queen of Hills” but hub of one of Asia’s finest educational institutions. But due to prolonged neglect, agitational politics and economic discrimination things have deteriorated to a point of no return.

However, the Mamata Government, which put an abrupt end to 34 years of Left Front’s rule in the State, has promised to make sweeping changes in the hills.

According to State Higher Education Minister Bratya Basu, most colleges in the hills are in a “pathetic state.” He promises to change this. To begin with more principals, lecturers, teachers will be appointed, Basu said during his visit here earlier this week.

"There is a need for complete overhaul of these colleges," said the Minister, adding, "We need to look at education afresh and approach it differently.”

Several colleges in the Hills - the Kurseong, Bijenbari, Mirik and the Ghoom-Jorebungalow College - had been functioning without permanent principals despite several requests to the previous state government.

Basu said hill people should not only depend on tourism but also on education. He also spoke of the possibility of starting a separate university in the hills: "We have a vision to go beyond the existing colleges and universities in the State. And, Darjeeling is included in this vision. It is important that people benefit from what we sow now even though we may or may not be in power 10 to 15 years on."

Scribes in Assam working under tremendous pressure: media body

P Ghosh

Guwahati, June 21: Journalists in Assam are increasingly feeling more unsafe and insecure even as investigations into 23 murders or suspected murders in the State in the last 24 years have not made any headway.

While Indra Mohan Hakasam of Amar Asom and Dwijen Das of Ajir Batori, were abducted and are presumed murdered, Ankur Borbora, another journalist went missing from Kolkata, the Indian Express reported.

“Journalists in Assam in fact are working under tremendous pressure, including the risk of life. But, while so many journalists have been murdered, not a single case has been solved till today,” said Prakash Mahanta, secretary of the Journalists’ Action Committee (JAC), Assam.

The first of these murders took place in 1987 when Punarmal Agarwal, a correspondent of The Assam Tribune, was killed at Kampur by suspected ULFA militants. The last murder was that of Bimala Prasad Talukdar, editor of a muffosil newspaper called Swatantra Awaz, who was gunned down at Hojai in 2010.

In several cases, suspected killers have been identified. But the investigating agencies have failed to pin them down and take the cases to their conclusion, Mahanta said. He mentioned specifically the murder of Parag Kumar Das, executive editor of Asomiya Pratidin, the highest-circulated Assamese daily, who was shot in broad daylight on May 16, 1996, while coming out of a school after picking up his minor son.

Though the CBI carried out a long probe into the Parag Das murder, it ultimately failed to pin down the culprits, with the district and sessions court in Guwahati in July 2009 acquitting the main accused, the report said.

 “We were suspicious of the CBI’s inability since the very beginning, so we have moved the High Court with a review petition two months later,” said Pallab Das, younger brother of the slain editor.

Arunachal Guv for reopening of Stilwell trade route

Himalayan News Network

Itanagar, June 21: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh has urged the North Eastern Council (NEC) to impress upon the Centre for developing the historic Stilwell Road and opening of border trade with South East Asian countries across Pangsau Pass.

“By opening the road, we would definitely be providing a valuable route for a boost to the economy of the Northeastern States and for movement of people, tourists in particular,” Singh said in his address at the 60th Plenary session of the NEC in New Delhi on Thursday, according to PTI.

The 1,079-km Stilwell Road, built during the World War II, links Ledo in Assam with Kunming in China through the Pangsau Pass. The road has been heavily damaged in landslides in many places.

“Once the entire stretch of the road is usable, its formal opening is inevitable and is bound to happen sooner or later. The major items of import from Myanmar side would be valuable timber (teak), precious gems, medicinal plants and other agricultural products,” the Governor said, the report added.

The timber could help revive many of the wood-based industries that had to be shut down in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh following the Supreme Court’s restrictions on timber operations in 1996, he said.

He said the opening of this road can transform the economy of the under-developed and insurgency-affected Northeastern region of the country by making it a production hub for feeding the Myanmarese and western Chinese markets.

The opening of the road would reduce transportation cost between China and India by more than 30 per cent as currently, most imports from Myanmar and China were being channelled through Kolkata, a much longer sea-route, he said.