1. religion and spirituality
2. buddhism

Rumtek Rural Report
Submitted By
Shailendra Mahani (18144)
Summey Hanshika (18156)
AUTHORS
Summey Hanshika
Shailendra Mahani
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank Professor Arbind Sinha for his guide and support and giving us the
opportunity to interact with such nice people and having a journey of life. We would also
like to thank Rashi Pal and Surbhi Tiwari without whom this Rural Research would not have
been complete. We thank Balaram Pandey to make arrangements in Gangtok and helping us
in all possible ways. We thank Vijay Pandey uncle, Arjun uncle, James and Machi for being
very kind and helping all throughout. Last but not the least we also like to thank our parents
for the enormous help and support. It was an amazing and unforgettable journey.
Thank you !!
Rumtek – Some details
Village Code – 261323
Village Name – Rumtek Forest Block
Census 2001 Code – 00040000
Census 2011 Code – 261323
Rumtek is located 24 km from Gangtok, the capital of the Sikkim, at an altitude of about 1500 m.
I – ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE VILLAGE
1. VILLAGE PROFILE

Notional Map
Rumtek has 5 wards:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Routey Rumtek
Sajong Rumtek
Chinzey
Kayathang
Monastery area
Total Population of Rumtek : 4305
Total Houses of Rumtek : 770
Total Number of Households : 890
1 BDO is between 20 wards. The BDO for Rumtek was in Ranka.
Caste :
In Sikkim the caste system is divided into 2 groups :
1. According to State Government
2. According to Central Government
According to State Government :
1.
2.
3.
4.
SC (Scheduled Caste) – Groups like Damay, Kaami
ST (Scheduled Tribe) – Groups like Tamang, Bhutia, Lepcha, Subba
OBC (Other Backward Class) – Groups like Sharma, Chetri
MBC (Most Backward Class) – Groups like Rai, Limbu
According to Central Government :
1.
2.
3.
4.
SC (Scheduled Caste) – Groups like Damay, Kaami
ST (Scheduled Tribe) – Groups like Tamang, Bhutia, Lepcha, Subba
OBC (Other Backward Class) – Groups like Rai, Limbu
General – Groups like Sharma, Chetri (which was OBC in State government)
Block
SC
Bhutia
M
121
F
121
T
242
M
10
Monastery
Area
31
21
52
3
Chinzey
15
14
4
Kayathang
60
5
Sazong
Total
1
Rawtey
Rumtek
2
Lepcha
15
25
M
03
190
208
398
29
31
33
73
133
141
138
05
08
13
129
117
232
237
469
501
511
Block
Rawtey Rumtek
Monastery Area
Chinzey
Kayathang
Sazong
Total
F
T
Subba
Others
04
T
07
M
60
F
75
T
135
M
40
F
46
T
86
M
462
F
447
T
909
07
06
13
13
15
28
08
10
18
118
109
227
64
05
03
08
11
15
26
12
09
21
210
196
406
279
00
00
00
12
10
22
05
07
12
179
176
355
246
121
118
239
18
17
35
10
12
22
127
128
255
1012
136
131
267
11
4
13
2
246
75
84
15
9
1096
105
6
2152
Total Population
1404
736
554
801
810
4305
F
Tamang
Total Houses
278
135
98
101
158
770
Total House Hold
316
170
114
115
175
890
Type of Soil and Type of Terrain
Rumtek has hilly terrain and Paddy fields as lots of Rice are grown here. Terrace farming is
very prevalent. People grow vegetables like Potato, Tomato, Squash ( a very rare vegetable
found only in Sikkim), Bitter gourd, Spinach, Pumpkin, Baby corn. Baby Corn is supplied
outside but rest of the things are consumed by the local people.
Primary Occupation
Government Services, Farming, Teaching, Police and Army
With the village Ex-Panchayat
member
Village Level Worker office
VILLAGE RESOURCES:
The distance from Gangtok (capital of Sikkim is) 23 km. Since Rumtek is a hilly area hence it
takes around 2 hrs to reach Gangtok. Every morning around 8.30 am a bus would go to
Gangtok. The bus would pick up passengers on their way. There was no bus stop as such.
Students of Rumtek Higher Secondary School would also go in that bus. It was free of cost
for them but for others, a very minimal amount was charged.
Types of Crops Grown:
Rice is grown in abundance. Champa (a food item similar to Besan) is produced here. People
mix tea in Champa and eat it. It is generally consumed in breakfast and is very filling.
Rice fields, terrace farming
Government provides 5 kg free Champa every month to kids upto 5 years.
Champa getting produced
Talking about the food habits
they prefer Rice, Potato,
Spinach, Squash (a local
vegetable), Pumpkin, Bitter
Gourd and Dal. All these are
produced and consumed also
by the local people. Baby
Corn is produced but sent
out to places like Gangtok,
West Bengal for
consumption.
PHSC (Primary Health Sub
Centre) is present and is very
much functional. There are
total 7 staff members
including ANM (auxiliary
nurse mid wife) and MPHW
(multipurpose health
worker). PHSC was
established in 1978. PHSC is
open from 9 am till 3 pm. It is
closed on Sundays and
government holidays but in
case of emergency, ANM or MPHW comes to the PHSC centers
There are 3 Asha workers and 10 ICDS which comes under VHNP (Village Health Nutrition
Program) which is a part of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission)
A lot of women heath awareness program like Janini Suraksha Yogna is prevalent up to 2
child. Saiyya/ Asha worker who helps mother to deliver babies are given Rs 600/- per
delivery and the mother is given Rs 700/- per delivery in the hospital.
Under ICDS vaccines like T.T, D.T and D.P.T are given to children. Copper T, Condoms and
Oral Contraceptives were also distributed free of cost in the village. Free folic acid tablets,
iron tablets, calcium tablets are distributed to pregnant women.
The common diseases amongst children were Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Mums, Fever and
tonsillitis.
Common diseases amongst adult were Gastritis and TB. Free medicines for TB are also given
to patients for 6 months. Although small dressings are done by ANM and MPHW, for
caesarean and normal delivery they send the patients to good hospitals in Gangtok. They
also mentioned that around 80-85% women use sanitary napkin but the rest 15-20% still
use cloths during their menstrual cycle.
Image illustrating the importance of Breast Feeding
A report to be submitted by
PHSC to PHC
Details of Death like their name, age,
death date, cause of death and ward
under Rumtek is mentioned.
Budget allocation and the names and contact
details of ANM and MPHW
Utilization certificate of United
Fund
Janini Suraksha Yogna
Image illustration what should
be done in TB (written in Nepali)
Janani Suraksha Yojna
OPD room inside PHSC
MCH Room inside PHSC
Injection and Dressing room inside PHSC
National Rural Health Mission
Image showing the card having details of DT and TT
DOTS awareness – a cure for TB
Image educating about TB
ASHA worker and her responsibilities
Me with Mrs Meena Sharma
(ANM), Sharda Sharma
(ANM) and Laxmi Bhaturai
(MPHW)
There was a monastery health care centre also which was located inside the monastery
area.
TSO-JEY clinic
The doctor came every
Sunday and examined the
patients from 10 am till 12
noon. We could not meet the
doctor but met the nurse,
Rinchin Lamu Gumden. She
told that Flu, Fever, TB, Joint
pain, BP and diabetes were
the prevalent diseases in
people living in Rumtek. She
also said that they provide
free medicines to patients
however for vaccines and
immunisation people go to
PHSC. The clinic was
maintained and built by the
monastery people.
Sister Rinchin Lamu Gumden
and me at the health care
center
Examination room inside the
TSO-JEY clinic
Doctor’s room in TSO-JEY
clinic
Animal Husbandry centre : There was a veterinary hospital in Rumtek which primarily took
care of cows as they were in abundance. Every alternate house has a cow whose milk is
either consumed by the household or is supplied to those who need. We could not take the
picture of the Veterinary hospital because it was rainy heavily the day we reached there.
Educational Institute: There are a total of 10 schools in Rumtek. 6 government schools and
4 private schools. Out of these 10 schools only 1 school is Higher Secondary School which is
a government school and the rest are Primary schools.
We visited 3 schools.
1. Karma Shri Nalanda Institute which was inside the Monastery
Karma Shri Nalanda Institute was
inaugurated on 4th June 1987 and
provided higher Buddhist studies.
There are around 280 students
studying in this institute. Students
from all part like Bhutan, Nepal,
Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh etc come
here to study. Philosophy,
Sanskrit, Tibetian and English
were taught in this institute for
11 years These subjects are also
guided by the sect they belong to
which is the KAGYU sect.
Out of the 6 main schools of
Buddhism teaching, Rumtek
monastery follows Kagyu sect. the
other 5 sect or school of teachings
are Nyingma, Sakya, Zonang, Bon
and Gelug. It is a full residential
course and after 11 years of study
either they stay in the monastery
or go abroad to preach about
Buddhism. Only males study here. .
After completing 11 years in this
institute, a masters degree is given
to the students. This institute is affiliated to Vishwa Vidyalaya institute in Varanasi.
Sanskrit is taught by professors from Varanasi, English is taught by professors from
Darjelling and Buddhist Philosophy is taught by the monks.
Buddhism Prayer Wheel
The hording outside the institute
The class rooms were very different.
Students were not given table and chair.
They sit on the ground. The institute was a
4 floor building having Library, Auditorium,
Directors Offi, Class Rooms, Office of
Student Union, Dispensary, Coffee Shop,
Toilets etc.
A typical class room in
Karma Shri Nalanda Institute
Buddhist Prayer Flag
Karmae Dharma Chakra
School: The school had
classes from L.KG till 8th
standard. Subjects like
English, Nepali, Tibetian,
Maths, Science, Social
Science and Hindi are taught
here. There are
approximately 150 students
and 13 staff members. The
number of girl students is
more than the number of
boy students. School timing was 9.40 am till 3.30 pm
Class rooms in the school
With the teaching staff of
the school
Talking and interacting with
the teacher
With students of the school
Government Senior Secondary
School Rumtek
Main building of school
Staff room and library building
Principal’s room, office, IT lab
and commerce class rooms
Good manners and good habits
chart inside the school
Safety rules and regulations
written
Throw Garbage in the dustbin
instruction
Thought of the day
Class wise attendance just outside
the principal’s office
News
Thoughts and maps drawn on the
wall of the school
Suggestion Box
This school as established in 1949.
Before the assembly every
student from each class has to
clean their room. The rotation is
done every day. If students come
early they play on the area where
assembly happens. No such play
ground was available.
Girl cleaning the room before the
assembly
Kids playing before the assembly
With school kids before the
assembly
The day starts at 9.15 AM with an
assembly. Firstly a Hindi prayer is
recited followed by a pledge,
thought of the day and news
which is in English. Then a short
speech on discipline was given by
a student of class 3rd standard
which was again in English. Then
there was Hindi song “Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain”, followed by National Anthem.
Prayer starts
Pledge being taken
There are around 500 students
and 48 staff members (both
teaching and non teaching). In
school science was introduced last
year so there were only 14
students in science stream in class
11th. In maths there were 34
students including science and
commerce. Mostly students take
up Arts in class 11th and start
working immediately after school
in government jobs. Some students aspire to become Engineers and Doctors and hence plan
to go to Gangtok for higher studies. The infrastructure was very nice and the mode of
communication was English.
We went to library which was not very big but neat and clean. I was amazed by the books
which were there.
Inside library
Hardy boys and Nancy Drew novels,
encyclopaedia and Oxford dictionary
Outlook and other interesting
English books
MBA and other magazines
Manorama year book
Hindi books and novels
Books on biology and biochemistry
Non fictional books like I, Phoolan
Devi
Although the books were very
interesting very less students
availed the facilities of library.
Teachers encourage the students to
use library but the students hardly
came to library.
Mid- Day meal system was very
much followed in this school.
According to mid day meal
system, students till class 8th get
free food but the principal
allowed students till class 12th to
avail the benefits of Mid-Day meal
system. Students till class 8th
were given free uniform which
included dress, shoes, socks, bag,
water bottle and an umbrella.
Sacks of rice and grain in store room for Mid-Day meal
The most amazing
thing which we saw in
the school was the
Sanitary Napkin
Vending Machine.
Girls just have to put
Rs 2/- to collect the
sanitary napkin.
Sanitary Napkin
Vending Machine in
ladies staff room
First aid box at ladies staff
room
Inside a class room
Teacher teaching the students
Inside the IT lab
With History teacher inside the
staff room
Girls playing throw ball in the
ground
Over all the infra structure was very
nice. Campus was very neat and
clean. The toilets and the
washroom area were also
maintained properly. Students
were given a fruit to eat every
morning.
Post Office and PCO
Rumtek Post Office was inside the
monastery area. Since there are no
house numbers and shop numbers,
the post man distributes the letter
based on the name of the person
for whom the letter comes. Either
he gives the letter to the
concerned person directly or gives
it to somebody who knows the
person.
Since everybody had a mobile phone there was no PCO. Connections like Vodafone, Uninor,
BSNL, Docomo where prevalent there.
Rumtek Post Office and
Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yogna
Bank
There was one SBI bank near the monastery area. We met the branch manager
Mr. K.T. Bhutia. He said that around 60% of the total family in Rumtek have bank account in
SBI.
Out of these 60%, around 10-15% are financially sound who are mainly contractors and
employees.
20-25% are availing the facilities of loans like Agricultural loan, Home loans, Personal loans
and Car loans.
Around 5% use mobile and internet banking. There is one internet café in Rumtek but
people generally go to Gangtok for using internet.
This SBI branch covers all the 5 wards of Rumtek, Martham ( a nearby village), Sajong and
Kamdong block.
Agricultural loan is given at 11.4% rate of interest and upto Rs 50,000 it is given at a
subsidised rate of 7%
Nobody has ever taken educational loan from Rumtek SBI branch. The account should have
a minimum balance of Rs 10,000. ATM cards are given to those customers who can read and
write.
In Rumtek there is 100% literacy (those who can sign) and 70% (those who can read and
write).
POWER SUPPLY
All house hold has power supply and they say that electricity is there for 24 hrs. But if there
is a heavy rainfall or any other disturbance like storms, snowfall then the electricity goes off
and nobody knows when it will come back. But generally there is 24 hrs electricity.
OTHER GOVERNMENT SCHMES
Bharat Nirman, Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Environment Conservation
Committee
NABARD PLAN
RASTRIYA SAM VIKAS
YOGANA
Rastriya Sam Vikas Yogana has
the main objective of
improving the life of people
through development and
increase in the growth. Various
types of development works,
e.g., construction of Anganwadi
centers, veterinary health
centers, irrigation structures,
school buildings, roads, culverts,
bridges, fish ponds, rural market
sheds, income generation
schemes, etc. have been taken
up under the programme.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
BSNL telephone exchange
Mobile Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited
3 telephone towers in
Rumtek
SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
According to the hierarchy, the most respectable caste is OBC, then is MBC, then is the ST
and lastly SC.
Scheduled Tribes (ST) are the wealthiest caste. Lepcha group originally belonged to Sikkim
so they have a lot of land and are the wealthiest people.
Non Sikkimese are not allowed to own a land in Sikkim. Even the Chief Minister should be
amongst them and no one from outside.
Buddhists are the most respectable caste because they are learned people. So it is the most
dominant religion.
Bhutia women wear PANGDEN which is a
symbol of marriage. It is like an apron
which is worn above the dress. The dress
is called BHAKHU and the shirt is called
HANJU.
Men’s attire is called TENGAH.
A traditional Bhutia Dress
Nepali men wear DAURASURWAL.
Bhutia people drink Ghola Chai. It’s a
special tea which is made up of salt,
butter, milk and water. Champa is
consumed by almost everybody.
Buddhist monks wear the red dress which
is called the Buddhist robe.
Buddhist monks have a specific food
which is given to them in the monastery
which is made in the monastery mess.
They don’t consume non vegetarian food
and any kind of alcoholic drink whereas
Nepalese (who are maximum in number)
even consume Beef. Beef is their main
non vegetarian dish. One may not get chicken and mutton but beef is available everywhere.
Every evening in the dinner table people mainly Nepalese drink little bit of Rum or Whisky.
And even if we sit beside them and eat dinner, it does not seem awkward. Girls, guys
anyone can serve the drink. There is no barrier.
VILLAGE CULTURE:
The main aspiration of people is to get a good government job. Some of the students aspire
to become pilot, doctor, engineer but maximum want to join a government job. If not
government job the join the army or police force Even girls aspire the same.
One of the very interesting facts which came out was in almost all schools the number of girl
student is more than the number of boy student. Even the girls aspire to have a government
job or join police. If not job then they are happy being a house wife.
People don’t have a tendency to leave Sikkim and go out for job. Girls are not preferred to
be sent out for higher studies outside Sikkim. If they want to pursue higher studies like
engineering or MBBS then they are allowed to go till Gangtok.
People say that they want a girl child rather than a boy child because they said that when
boys grow, they indulge into drugs and extreme alcoholism which girls do not. So they
prefer girl child over a boy child.
The rules for boys and girls are almost the same. Girls are not treated badly. They are
considered equal to boys.
Regarding inter caste marriage, there is not much hassle. If a boy and a girl have decided to
get married then their parents are also agree. There is a little problem for an SC boy to get
married to a Buddhist girl. Since SC are considered to be most backward hence SC boy
getting married to any caste above it generally creates problem But if the girl and boy are
adamant then parents do agree to it. If they don’t agree them they run and get married.
Some parents accept them and some don’t.
Major Festivals:
The major festivals are Dusherra, Diwali, Loosong (a celebration which happens in
Decemeber and is the new year of Sikkemese) and Losar (celebrated by Tibetian especially
Bhutia and Tamang in Rumtek in February). Some of them also celebrate Cham festival
where people dance wearing mask of dragon.
MEDIA CONSUMPTION
1.
Newspaper
Sikkim Herald, Sikkim Express, The Encounter are some of the famous newspaper but they
are not distributed in households every day. If anyone goes to Gangtok them they bring it or
read it over there.
Although in higher senior secondary school Rumtek Sikkim Harold and Sikkim Express comes
every day. If students want to read them, they can read it by asking it from the teachers.
Every day newspaper is kept on principal’s table.
So generally people do not read newspaper on daily basis. Some teachers come to Rumtek
school from Gangtok and hence brings newspaper for the local teachers and students (if
they want to read)
2.
Radio
People do listen to radio. Some of the major radio channels are 93.5 FM,
91.9 FM, Radi Misti – 95.9 FM.
TV viewing has highly reduced the listening of radio. Generally people do not listen to radio.
Even if they do, they listen to music and not for news or any other educational information.
Radio listening habits of boys and girls are almost the same. They mostly listen to music.
3.
Television
Almost every house has a television set with DTH connection. TV is placed in the drawing
room generally (if the family has more than one room) else it is placed in that one room
only.
DTH connection is huge in Rumtek. Since Rumtek is a hilly area hence cable connection
cannot come to households. In DTH connection Tata Sky leads followed by Dish TV and
Airtel.
Males generally watch news like Aaj Tak, India TV and reality shows like Crime Patrol, Dance
India Dance, CID.
Female also watch news but lesser as compared to male. The serial which most of them love
are Crime Patrol, CID, Dance India Dance, Pavitra Rishta, Hitler Didi, Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Female don’t prefer typical Saas Bahu serials.
BRAND CONSUMPTION
All durable goods are purchased from Gangtok. TV, fridge( hardly seen in houses), cars,
home appliances and home décor are all purchased from Gangtok.
Generally people are aware of almost all the brands but purchase those who they feel are
value for money. In TV maximum people had Samsung.
Similarly for FMCG brands kids or youth are aware of almost all the brands whose
advertisement is shown in Television. Like for example in shampoo, they are aware of
almost all brands like Sunsilk, Dove, Clinic Plus etc but generally they use those products
which are cheap and value for money. So most of them use Clinic Plus. With the advent of
television, brand awareness is huge but again they don’t believe in luxuries, instead they
believe in value for money.
They use soaps instead to hand wash and generally its lifebuoy. They don’t consume chips,
cakes often they are easily available in any grocery store. Even the kids of a grocery shop
owner do not prefer to have chips, cold drink and other food items. But they have high
awareness of brands due to the advertisement shown in television.
II – COMMUNICATION NEEDS
ASSESSMENT
What was the immerging major problem in Rumtek and nearby villages was the increasing
rate of Drug Abuse. Many parents had this concern that their kids are indulging into drugs.
This was not the case 5 years ago but with the establishment for many pharmaceutical
companies near Rumtek and other village area, people are taking some raw chemicals and
mix them randomly to produce some kind of drug. They even said that now-a-days drugs
like weed, marijuana etc are sold in open in places near Gangtok. So when young boys go to
Gangtok to either buy some for themselves or to watch a movie or to just hang out with
friends, they indulge into Drugs and hence the rate of Drug Abuse has increased drastically
in last 5 years.
Parents have major concern for this because mainly school kids from age 14-18 years (from
standard 9th till 12th) are prime victims of this. Kids can easily bunk school and go to places
where these drugs are sold. Plus these kids do not have enough maturity to understand
what’s wrong and what’s right for them. They just want to be cool and popular amongst
their peer group. There has also been cases reported of youth committing suicide due to
consumption of drugs.
III – COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
Media Use to spread awareness about Drug Abuse–
a. Radio – Since people in Sikkim love music and have local radio stations which caters to hindi
and nepali music, we believe that it is the right media to reach out to the youth. Music
shows on the radio can be interspersed with messages targeting to the youth and giving
information about harmful effects of drug addiction and drug abuse.
b. Plays and Competitions in Schools and Colleges – Since the major victim of Drug Abuse are
the school and college going youth, it is important to spread awareness about its harmful
effects amongst them. Interschool street plays can be organized which would facilitate the
school kids to think and ponder over this issue and hence caution them about drug usage.
c. Monastery Awareness – Since people are very religious and Buddhism is the dominant
religion, we can ask the monks and the lamas to spread awareness about this issue. Print
posters and other communications by the monastery could play a deterrent and hence
prevent people from consuming drugs.
d. Musical Concerts - Since rock music is very popular among the youth, we can approach
some of the leading rock bands of Sikkim and take their help in organising anti drug rock
concerts. We could also try to create an anti drug jingle or meme which we will try to
popularize amongst the youth.
e. Help from Panchayat and village elderly – With the help of influential people of the village
and the panchayat, we will design catch phrases in their local language and will paint them
as graffiti on walls and government buildings.
Some unforgettable memories and people touched our heart during
Rural Research
Banjharnkri fall and energy
park
Tribes of Sikkim: Jhakri Tribe, Bijuwa Tribe, Banjhakri tribe
Little lamas playing cricket
inside the monastery
Aunty making silver jewellery
Vijay Pandey uncle and his
family
With James
With Machi, James and others
Teaching computer to Biki and
Sidharth
Having dinner at Vijay Pandey
uncle’s house
Waste segregation inside the
monastery area
With Arjun uncle and his
family
THANK YOU!!! 