Page 2 - Sikkim

SDF submits memorandum to governor, seeks President's rule in Sikkim

The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has submitted a memorandum to Governor Ganga Prasad, seeking imposition of President's rule in the state in the wake of deteriorating law and order under the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) rule. An SDF delegation, led by former Lok Sabha MP P D Rai, called on the governor at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday and submitted the memorandum to him. "We have, among various demands, urged the governor to ensure safety and protection of socio-economic, political and fundamental rights of Sikkimese people as under Article 371 (F) of the Constitution," an SDF leader said. The delegation also sought assurance from Prasad with regard to a free and fair assembly election in 2024. The SDF leaders alleged that workers of the ruling SKM had attacked their supporters in a village in South Sikkim earlier this week, injuring 15 of them while they were travelling to attend a programme. Meanwhile, the SKM, in a statement, denied the charges and claimed that it was SDF

Army Chief Gen Pande visits Eastern Command HW, reviews situation along LAC

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande carried out a comprehensive review of India's military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during a visit to the headquarters

Sikkim gorge accident: Bodies of 16 Army men sent home after wreath laying

The mortal remains of the 16 Army personnel who were killed in a road accident in Sikkim were sent to their respective homes after a solemn wreath-laying ceremony was held at Bagdogra airport in the northern part of West Bengal on Saturday. Post the wreath-laying ceremony, 15 of the bodies were flown by special Air Force aircraft to various airports in the country, from where they will be taken to the victims' towns or villages, the Army said. The body of Naib Subedar Chandan Kumar Mishra, who belonged to Khagaria in Bihar, was taken to his native place by road. "After the bodies reach the native places of deceased soldiers, local Army authorities will coordinate the handing over of mortal remains to the family members and conduct of funeral with full military honours," an Army official said. The 16 bravehearts lost their lives when the Army truck they were travelling in skidded down a steep slope at Zema in North Sikkim on Friday morning. Wreaths were laid on the mortal remains o

Sikkim should showcase organic farming expertise to G20 delegates: Chamling

Former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has urged the Prem Singh Tamang government to showcase the state's organic farming prowess during two scheduled G20 events in this popular tourist destination in March 2023. "Sikkim has been a world leader in taking up organic farming in a big way during the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) rule, Chamling said in a social media post. Given the underlying benefits of organic farming for the economy and health, the state government should showcase that for the visiting delegates at the G20 events to be held in the Himalayan state in March 2023, the SDF president said. Not only the farmers of Sikkim have benefitted financially by undertaking organic farming, it has been emulated by other states, too, Chamling, a five-term chief minister from 1994 to 2019, said. Chamling had launched organic farming in Sikkim two decades ago, officials said. In November, Indonesia had handed over the G20 presidency to India for the coming year at the Bali

Prez Murmu 'anguished' over death of soldiers in road accident in Sikkim

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said she was anguished to learn about the death of 16 Army personnel in a road accident in Sikkim. She offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Sixteen Army personnel including three Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in the road accident when their truck fell into a gorge while negotiating a sharp turn at Zema in North Sikkim. "Anguished to learn about the loss of lives of brave soldiers of Indian Army in a road accident in Sikkim. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Murmu tweeted.

UTs top performer in Social Progress Index; Bihar, Jharkhand at bottom

Puducherry has the highest SPI score of 65.99 in the country, attributable to its remarkable performance across components like Personal Freedom and Choice, Shelter, and Water and Sanitation

Sikkim CM constitutes panel to examine viability of old pension scheme

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has constituted a committee to examine the viability of restoration of the old pension scheme for the state government employees, an official statement said. The panel will be headed by Personnel Department's Secretary Rinzing Chewang Bhutia. The chief minister took the decision to form the committee, following a meeting with a delegation of the state government employees on Saturday, it said. Tamang has directed the panel to submit its report to the state government within three months, said the statement issued on Saturday. After extensive discussion with the senior officials on the issue, the CM decided to constitute the committee to "examine all the aspects of the issue and to find a solution", it said. Finance Department's Controller of Accounts cum Secretary MCP Pradhan and Pension Division's Additional Director Punita Alley are also part of the panel. The committee can opt for additional members as per requirement, the statement adde

Sikkim to host 2 G20 events to be held next year, says CM Prem Singh Tamang

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday said the Himalayan state has been assigned to host two events of the G-20. India officially assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 and is expected to host over 200 preparatory meetings across the country beginning this month. "Sikkim and Assam have been asked to host two events each of the G20 summit to be held in India next year," he said at a function in West Sikkim. The next G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of heads of states or governments is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10 in 2023 in New Delhi. Tamang said Sikkim has been given a "big opportunity to showcase its rich culture and traditions to the world while hosting the G20 events in the state". He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing the state as one of the venues of the G20 meetings. "I thank the prime minister from the bottom of my heart for showing trust in our state to host global events," he said. Tamang said his government will try its best

President Droupadi Murmu to visit three northeastern states from Wednesday

Officials in Kohima said that on her arrival, the Nagaland government would accord her a civic reception at Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima on Wednesday.

Union Minister lauds Sikkim govt for implementation of flagship programmes

Union Minister Bhagwant Khuba on Friday lauded the Prem Singh Tamang government in Sikkim for successfully implementing the Central flagship programmes in the state. "Sikkim has successfully provided maximum benefits to people by successfully implementing various central flagship programmes, including Jal Jeevan Yojana," the union minister of state for Chemicals and Fertilisers, New and Renewable Energy told reporters here after presiding over a review meeting with senior state government officials here. Khuba also lauded the state government for expanding the educational infrastructure to provide quality education to the students. The Union Minister said that he has taken feedback from various quarters during his visit to the state which will come handy in planning strategies for effective implementation of various central schemes with a focus on the outcome. Khuba said that he would take all queries, suggestions, and demands needed for planning a futuristic strategy, which would

Army chief reviews security situation along northern borders in Sikkim

Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Monday visited forward areas in Sikkim to review the security situation along the northern borders and also greeted soldiers on Diwali. Gen Pande visited military stations in north Bengal and border areas of Sikkim on October 23-24, the defence ministry said in a statement. He wished all ranks on the occasion of Diwali and also reviewed the security situation along the northern borders of Sikkim, the ministry said. The Army chief expressed satisfaction at the pace of infrastructure development along the border areas. He was accompanied by Lt Gen R P Kalita, Army Commander of Eastern Command, and Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich, GOC Trishakti Corps, the statement said. At Sukna Military Station on Sunday, Gen Pande interacted with the troops during a programme showcasing India's cultural heritage and unity in diversity, which was organised on the eve of the festival. On Monday, the Army chief, accompanied by Kalita and Aich, visited forward areas in north

SpiceJet to suspend services in Sikkim due to operational constraints

SpiceJet, the only carrier that runs daily flights to and from the greenfield airport in Sikkim's Pakyong, will suspend services in the hill state from October 30 due to "operational constraints". According to a spokesperson of the budget airline, bad weather and low visibility were bottlenecks that led to the decision. "SpiceJet flights to and from Pakyong airport have been temporarily suspended with effect from October 30, 2022, due to operational constraints owing to the bad weather condition and low visibility at Pakyong. "Pakyong is a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) airport and does not have instrument landing facilities To avoid inconvenience to our passengers, flight operations have been temporarily suspended. We will share an update once the services resume," the spokesperson said. A notice to this effect has been put up at the reception and the ticket counter of the airport. An airport official said on the condition of anonymity that SpiceJet has suffered significant losses dur

Supreme Court rejects plea by Hero MotoCorp for full budgetary support

But suggests GST Council, states consider mechanism for reimbursing eligible units

9 held in Gangtok for trying to show black flag to Amit Shah, says police

Nine people were held in Gangtok for attempting to show black flags to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was on a day-long visit to Sikkim, police said. Those detained were members of the Sikkim Suraksha Samiti (SSS) who have been on a hunger strike for the last 26 days outside the district administrative office here, demanding inner line permit (ILP) for the state. They were held under Section 151 of the CRPC, police said. The SSS members led by their president Madan Tamang were nabbed with black flags when they were on the way to Manan Kendra where the Cooperative Dairy Conclave, which was attended by Shah, was held, police said. They were later released on personal bond.

Team of Indian Army, HMI summit 7,462-metre-high Jonsang peak in Sikkim

A joint mountaineering team of the Indian Army, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) and civilians conquered the difficult Jonsang peak in Sikkim, a Defence official said on Thursday. The 7,462-metre-high peak in the Great Himalayan Region was summited only twice in the past, in 1930 and 2012, he said. The expedition team comprised 24 members, including four civil mountaineers, of whom two were women climbers, and was led by Group Captain Jai Kishan, principal of HMI, Darjeeling, the official said in a statement. The team on September 23 summited Mount Jonsang, which is among the most technically difficult mountain peaks because of approach, frequent avalanches, rock falls and treacherous terrain, he said. The group also conquered the 7,264-metre Mt Domekhang peak on September 22, the official said. The joint expedition was executed as part of multiple adventure activities under the umbrella of Eastern Command Trans Theatre Adventure Activities (ECTTAA)-2022, Lt General Tar

India's 1st Avalanche Monitoring Radar installed in north Sikkim: Officials

The Indian Army and the Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE) have jointly installed the Avalanche Monitoring Radar, first of its kind in India, in north Sikkim

Footballer Bhaichung Bhutia becomes new president of Hamro Sikkim Party

Legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia was on Tuesday elected as the new president of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP). The 45-year-old former India captain was elected unanimously by party leaders and members at a national conference held here, HSP general secretary Biraj Adhikari said. "The HSP is confident that Bhutia will now carry the mantle of leading the fight to rid Sikkim of the present corrupt misrule and provide a transparent and responsive government to the people if elected to power in the future," he said. Bhutia said he will strive to serve the people of Sikkim and represent their hopes and aspirations. "We will work tirelessly towards ensuring social equality and justice and create endless opportunities for every Sikkimese to achieve the true potential of our state," he said. Bhutia thanked outgoing HSP president Bina Basnett for successfully completing her tenure of three years.

Sikkim govt hikes minimum wage for unskilled workers by 67% to Rs 500

The Sikkim government on Wednesday hiked the minimum wage for unskilled workers by 67 per cent to Rs 500. The daily wage for unskilled workers was increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500 with retrospective effect from July 11, 2022, Labour Minister Lok Nath Sharma said. The daily wage for semi-skilled workers was increased to Rs 520 from Rs 320, while skilled workers will get Rs 535 instead of Rs 335 earlier, he said. Highly-skilled workers will now get Rs 565 per day instead of Rs 365, Sharma said. These wages will be applicable for those working at altitude up to 8,000 feet, while 50 per cent more wages will be given to those working at altitudes from 8,001 feet to 12,000 feet, said the minister of the Himalayan state. Those working at altitudes of 12,001 feet to 16,000 feet will be paid 75 per cent more than the normal wage, he said. Those working at places above 16,001 feet will get double the normal wage, Sharma said. The new rates would be effective from July 11, 2022, and the lab

Covid pandemic-induced income blues not yet over for seven states/UTs

Residents of 6 states and a Union Territory are yet to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic-induced income shock, data compiled by the National Statistical Office for 21 states and UTs for FY22 shocks.

No more scheming: Bourses step up scrutiny of investors from Sikkim

Asked to re-verify clients and check order locations, following reports of tax evasion