SIKKIM OBSERVER    June 2, 2012

Who’s lying on road building work in Sikkim?

Gangtok, June 1: The tall claim made by the UPA Government at the centre on road construction work in Sikkim has not been supported by the State Government.

According to the State unit of the BJP, the Union Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Lok Sabha recently that a total of 1463.66 km of road is under construction along the national highway. This is a blatant lie, according to the State unit of the BJP.

In a reply to BJP MP Balakrishna Shukla in the Lok Sabha on May 21, Antony said, “A total road length of 1463.66 km is under construction/ improvement to Class-9 (Enhanced)/ National Highway Double Lane specifications in Sikkim State. Out of this 155.72 km length has been completed and works are in progress in remaining length. Further 58 roads of length 828.14 km are also being maintained by BRO in the State”.

Sikkim BJP President Padam B. Chettri in a press statement said Antony’s statement on road construction in the State was “most unfortunate” and added that it was the “third time that a Minister gave wrong information in the Lok Sabha.”

“To support my submission, I quote the Annual Report of the Roads and Bridges Department of the Government of Sikkim for the year 2009-10 which states that a total road length of 873.40 kilometers is under the Border Roads Organization. The break-up of 873.40 km is: National Highway 40 km, North Sikkim Highway 67 km and Others 766.40. The 40 km National Highway is from Rangpo to Gangtok; the 67 km North Sikkim Highway is between Gangtok and Mangan. The remaining 766.40 is covered by the roads from Rangpo to Rorathang and beyond; road beyond Mangan; Gangtok-Nathula road etc.,” Chettri said.

“Thus there is a difference of 590.26 km between the figures of the Sikkim Government and Union Government. One of them is telling lie and I have reason to doubt that the Defence Minister is misleading the people of India.

The BJP leader urged the Centre to immediately probe into the matter and pull up the concerned authorities.

People’s mindset on women health rights has to be changed: Justice Wangdi

Gangtok, June 1: Justice SP Wangdi of the High Court of Sikkim while highlighting on the positive and negative aspects of the ‘Two Child Norm’, expressed his concerns for the poor health situation of women and lack of proper reproductive health facilities.

While speaking at a seminar on human rights here last Saturday, Justice Wangdi, who was the Chief Guest for the function, said law does not seem to be coercive but it is the mindset of the people with regard to the health rights of women that has to be changed. 

Over 100 members of civil society, including lawyers, doctors, activists and students met here to discuss the gender components of a myriad of socio-legal issues. The seminar on “Understanding Gender Specific Rights” was organized by Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) in collaboration with Women’s Forum For Justice Equality and Liberty (SIKKIM).

Rinzing Chewang gave a presentation about the situation of Health Sub- Centre (PHC) in Lachen, north Sikkim. He said that the Sub Center should be upgraded to a PHC because of the population needs and considering the geographical terrain. He shared 4 cases of maternal mortality of his village who died on the way before reaching to referral hospitals.

Gyatso Lepcha, an activist gave a similar presentation about health care in Dzongu, also in north Sikkim, where the PHC is crumbling, understaffed, and inaccessible. Lepcha shared the story of a toddler from Dzongu who was forced to travel seven hours for medical care after a fall.

Renowned health activist, Dr. Mira Shiva, from the Initiative for Health Equality & Society (IHES) and the Third World Network (TWN), provided a larger picture of women’s health in India. Addressing topics ranging from sex ratio to maternal mortality, Shiva called for universal health care and for a deeper understanding of gender in medicine and health care.

HRLN reproductive rights activist Kerry McBroom encouraged activists to file Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to advance health rights in Sikkim. Citing several judgments from Supreme Court and from the High Courts in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, McBroom demonstrated that courts in India have the power to facilitate real change on maternal health and reproductive rights.

Noted social worker Kipu Lepcha, Padma Shree and Dr. Mira Shiva released a book of “Independent People’s Tribunal Report on Dams, Environment and Displacement”, which focuses on Sikkim.

Advocate Raghvendra Kumar of Jabalpur provided participants with an in-depth understanding of the Forest Rights Act 2006 and using the law to secure rights over forest land.

Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) advocate Doma T. Bhutia said the seminar would serve as an introduction to major issues related to gender discrimination.

Bhutia shared the issue of sexual harassment of women at workplace. After showing a documentary on sexual harassment, Bhutia highlighted the Supreme Court’s landmark Vishaka judgment, which defines sexual harassment.

Retired Sikkim High Court Judge, Justice A. P. Subba attended the meeting as a Guest of Honor.

Youth body to host seminar on ‘Sikkim Subject’, corruption

Gangtok, June 1: The All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Un-Employed Association is organizing a symposium on ‘Social Issues in Sikkim’ here on June 3.

The main focus of the symposium is on unemployment, status of Sikkim Subjects/Certificate of Identification, hydel power and corruption, according to the Association’s General Secretary Ritesh Rai.

Many prominent social and political activists and political leaders are likely to participate in the function, Rai said.

Editorial

NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN

United Force Against Corruption

Anna Hazare’s advice to Team Anna member from Assam Akhil Gogoi to call off his ten-day-long fast against mega-dams in the Northeast earlier this week  and undertake a nationwide campaign against mega dams starting from the Northeast is a step in the right direction. Tapping the natural resources of the country in the name of development, particularly in the power sector, has led to massive multi-crore corruption in the Himalayan belt which is the source of major rivers in India. Social organizations and social activists have done much to create more awareness among the people about the harmful aspects of big dams. Many of them have led prolonged campaign against mega dams in the Northeast and the rest of the Himalayan region but with less success.

Team Anna needs to keep a live interest on anti-mega dam campaign in the Northeast, including Sikkim. Gogoi has already done much on the issue in Assam. He now needs to widen his campaign in other parts of the Northeast, where anti-graft activists are looking for a national platform to ventilate their grievances. A national campaign against corruption will be successful if Team Anna forms its core group in every State and Union Territories in the country. So far Team Anna’s focus has been in Delhi and a few other big cities. Formation of an inner circle of Team Anna throughout the country would certainly galvanize the youth into action using the internet and other mode of protest. If autocratic regimes in the Arab world can be toppled through the use of the internet why can’t India do away with a corrupt system that caters to the greed of only a few at the top?

Letter to the Editor

Teachers’ defiance on transfer order disturbing

Sir,

The blatant defiance by the teachers challenging the right of the government to transfer them on flimsy grounds and to politicalise the situation is not a healthy trend.

The recent squabble between the teachers and their parent department over a large scale transfer of primary teachers has bred much bitterness among the parties and resulting in subsequent hardening of their stand. The former has taken refuge in their associations and is leaving no stone unturned to give it a political colour and get the order cancelled so that they may continue to stay in the place of their choice, while the latter sticking to its gun and telling the teachers to join their duties in the interest of the students of backward places in other districts or face disciplinary action.

The teachers in Sikkim are the most pampered lot. The government gives them the highest salary among all category of employees and being a very potent political force having clout in almost every part of the State they have always managed to get what they want. As a consequence, the government always acquiesced to their whims and fancies. As a result, the East District has excess teachers while other districts are reeling under the shortage of teachers. The HRDD has already made public the figures which is rather disturbing. If other members of the teaching fraternity can go and serve in remote villages why can’t the present lot do the same?

It is evident that the action of the department is void of any vindictiveness and taken in the larger public interest and in the interest of the students in the villages. But the teachers associations have taken the unfortunate stand that the transfer in the mid-term hampers the students or the department has no clear cut policy on transfer of teachers.

Are the teachers association trying to further the politics of convenience at the cost of the future of the village students and lock horn with the department?

The government for the first time has taken a bold step in the interest of our future generations instead cowing down to the blackmailing by a strong political segment.

SK Lama

Jorethang

South Sikkim

Inclusion of BL languages in SU courses welcomed

Gangtok, June 1: The minority indigenous Bhutia and Lepcha communities have welcomed the inclusion of their languages in the degree-level honours courses by the Sikkim University.

In a statement, Sonam Lama (Kaleon), President of National Sikkimese Bhutia Organsiation (NASBO, Art.371F) has thanked SU’s Vice-Chancellor and members of the University for the “historic decision.”

“We are elated to hear the news of inclusion of Bhutia and Lepcha languages in the degree level honours courses by the Sikkim University. This remarkable decision would be instrumental in the development of the Bhutia Lepcha’s language, literature and languages,” Kaleon said and added, “We further look forward that similar recognition would also be extended to the Tsong language.”

Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia said the decision to include BL languages in SU degree courses “would go a long way in the literary development of these two ancient languages.”

Bhutia said the BLs would “remain grateful” to SU Vice-Chancellor Mahendra P. Lama for “this remarkable and historic achievement” and for “full-filling this long-cherished aspirations.”

World War II guns adorn Raj Bhavan complex

Gangtok,June 1: The Indian Army at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Saturday, made a presentation of two majestic 5.5 inch guns to the Raj Bhavan.

These guns were manufactured in the United Kingdom and are of vintage 1941-45. They were used by more than a dozen countries including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Iraq, India and Pakistan. These guns were employed during World War-II, the Korean war and many other conflicts. Weighing over 6000 kgs, the gun fired 45 kg shell over 16 kms at the rate of 2 shells per minute, an official release said.

The guns were released after a series of approvals at various levels, with final sanction being given by the Defence Ministry. This was made possible, only due to the keen interest shown by Governor of Sikkim Balmiki Prasad Singh, the 17 Mountain Division and the support and guidance provided by GOC 33 Corps, Lt. General K. Surendranath, AVSM,SM,VSM, the release said.

The ceremony was addressed by the Governor and Surendranath. It was attended by a host of dignitaries, which included the Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly K.T. Gyaltsen, members of the State Council of Ministers, MP- Lok Sabha, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, DGP, Secretaries, besides others.

While thanking the Defence Minister and the Army Chief for the gifts, which would now form an integral part of the Raj Bhavan complex. Singh dwelt on the history of civil-military relations in the State which has always been marked by cordiality and mutual trust. He commended the Army Commander and his jawans for the swift response in undertaking relief and rescue measures and other assistance to the State during the aftermath of  September 18, 2011 earthquake in the State.

Singh expressed his concern for setting up of a small base in Pakyong, east Sikkim, by the Shillong-based Eastern Air Command. This would help in times of emergencies, he said.  He also spoke of the need to set up a Sainik schook in the State.

Chief Secy objects to IT office being shifted to Siliguri

Gangtok, June 1: Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso has opposed the reported bid to shift the income tax office from here to Siliguri.

At a meeting held here earlier this week, Gyatso said the IT office was set up here to help the locals with works related to income tax and the reports of it being shifted to Siliguri in neighbouring West Bengal was illogical, an official release said.

The meeting was attended by C.L.Denzongpa, Commissioner, IT, Siliguri, D.N.Bhutia, Assistant Commissioner, IT, (TDS) Siliguri and L.D.Lepcha, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle Gangtok.

IT officials were urged to review the decision to shift the Gangtok IT office to Siliguri. They have been asked to continue with the process of IT Exemption Certificates being issued from Gangtok.

The Chief Secretary also informed the IT officials that either an officer be posted at Gangtok or the Assistant Commissioner of IT, Circle Gangtok, be delegated with the powers for issuing such IT Exemption Certificates. The matter is now placed before the Commissioner, IT (TDS), Kolkata by the Commissioner, IT, Siliguri.