www.facebook.com/himalayan.mirror ♦ A C C U R A T E B A L A N C E D ♦ C R E D I B L E VOL 9 No 33 RNI No: SIKENG/2006/18384 NEWS BRIEFS 9 Bangla nationals detained BSF jawans of 96 Battalion, Saturday morning detained 9 Bangladeshi nationals including a female from Hili on the Indo-Bangla border. They were about to sneak into the Indian side through the border's unfenced stretch. 6 mobile phones and certain amount of Bangladeshi Taka have been recovered from them. The arrested persons upon interrogation informed the BSF that they had attempted to enter India in search of better livelihood. The police and BSF have intensified vigil along the border after the recent Burdwan blast and number of such arrests are being made on a daily basis, informed a BSF source. The detained 9 will be handed over to Border Guards of Bangladesh, informed the Battalion commander, Sangram Vishal. (HS) Two suicides Sikkim Police reported two suicide cases in the state on Friday. A 52 yrs old woman committed suicide by hanging herself from an overhead plank in a cowshed near her house at Gitang Busty, Dentam, West Sikkim on Thursday night. The body was discovered by the husband of the deceased on Friday morning. In another incident, a 24-year old man committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in an isolated forest land of Khongsee, Namchaybong, East Sikkim. The deceased was a teacher by profession and had gone missing since Wednesday. One of the villagers discovered the body early this morning. The dead body has been sent to STNM Hospital for post mortem. (HS) GANGTOK, SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2014 Prevention more important than rescue: Charimaya on Human Trafficking MARG observes International Day of Girl Child HM Correspondent Darjeeling, Oct 11: Charimaya Tamang recipient of the “Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award 2011” (USA), speaking today on the occasion of International Day of Girl Child said that 'prevention' is more important than 'rescue' in case of trafficked victims. She was in Darjeeling to attend the International Day of Girl Child programme organized by MARG- an NGO working in the anti trafficking sector. Since 2012 Marg has rescued around 100 trafficked girls hailing from the Darjeeling Hills and other places like Delhii, Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and even Himachal Pradesh. Tamang gave a clarion call to Government departments, NGOs and Society to work in close coordination to prevent traf- ficking. She feels that the 100 km open border between Nepal and India is a blessing for citizens of both countries, but is also a route frequented by traffickers, to carry out their illegal activities taking advantage of the open border. The border guards should remain more vigilant said Tamang and stressed that stringent punishment be meted out to those engaged in illegal activities including human trafficking. She also laid stress on the need for protection of rights and privacy of the rescued victims of human traficking and appealed to society and family members of victims to be more receptive. Tamang had founded an NGO "Shakti Samuha" in Nepal in 1996 which was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2013. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Founda- tion based in Manila, Philippines, selected the NGO for its contribution in rooting out human trafficking and improving the lives of trafficking survivors. She herself is a victim of human trafficking. “As far as rescuing a trafficked girl from a brothel is concerned, time is an important factor. With the passage of time the victim is weighed down by negativity. She starts feeling that everyone including the entire society is against her. The fear of ostracism looms large. All this put together, hampers the rescue” stated 37 year old Tamang. Charimaya was a victim of trafficking at the age of 16. In 1994 she had been abducted from the Shivapur jungles near her village in Sindupal Chowk of Nepal, where she had gone Veterans Rally felicitates ex-servicemen HM Report Gangtok, Oct 11: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling announced enhancement in Cash Rewards to Gallantry Award Winners of the State from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh. He was addressing the Veterans Rally organized by the Black Cat Division here today at Chintan Bhavan in the Capital. Chamling addressing the conglomeration of ex-servicemen also announced to increase the pension of World War II Veterans from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000 per month. Sanction of Rs 4.5 Crore for construction of rest houses and reward of Rs 15 lakh to Battle Casualties including assistance in jobs was also announced. Chamling further added that special priority to families of ex-servicemen in providing special government grants including Housing Schemes, land bank scheme etc. will be given. Encouraging the veterans to venture into entrepreneur- ship, Chief Minister also asserted special consideration and support to entrepreneur who will take up service sector as their profession by providing soft loans, taxi permits, licences for business etc. Chief Minister also requested all the ex-armymen to encourage the younger generation people to go for various training courses sponsored by the State Government. The Veterans Rally was organised by Black Cat Division under the aegis of Tr- ishakti Corps at Chintan Bhawan Complex, Gangtok. Black Cat Division organizes Veteran Rally every year to communicate the schemes and facilities available to the Veterans and Veer Naris for their selfless service to the nation. Besides it also targets to provide a dedicated platform for addressing the grievances through civil and military liaison by providing pension, Medical, miscellaneous services at State and Central Government level. Lt Gen GS Chandel, , GOC, Trishakti Corps said “the veterans dedicated their golden years guarding the nation now it’s the duty of the State and the Nation to fulfil their requirement”. Maj Gen YVK Mohan, , GOC Black Cat Division apprised the veterans regarding various schemes available to them. Additional Chief Secretary SC Gupta along with senior Government officials were also present to interact with the Veterans of the State of Sikkim. Approx 500 Veterans and their families attended the function and 32 Veterans were felicitated on the occasion. Malala, Saty ar thi, Nobel Prize and Sikkim Satyar arthi, - Shashibhushan Dwivedi O nly 19 year old young est Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousufzai can be an example for the youth throughout the globe; but Sikkim’s people feel that she can be best example for the young men in Sikkim, who are often negatively criticized for being indulged in drugs and other “showy” activities; leaving aside vital problems in life. Malala, a Pakistani has been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace with social activites Kailash Satyarthi for our country and both of them are known for doing remarkable works for children. It is well-known fact that in the rehabilitation centre, she witnessed the death of many of the rescued girls. Finally, after 6 months, NGOs and Human Rights organizations working in Nepal facilitated the return of 128 trafficked victims to Nepal. In Nepal most of the victims returned to their families but Tamang decided to use the bitter experience she had acquired to the advantage of others. She undertook various training programmes (gender, reproductive health and trafficking) and along with 14 other rescued girls started the NGO "Shakti Samuha" in 1996. Shakti Samuha is known as the first organization of trafficking survivors in the world. Their main aim is to organize and empower trafficking survivors. “Our vision is to ensure that the women and children who are survivors of trafficking get to lead a dignified life in society” Tamang says. At present there are 169 registered members in Shakti Samuha along with 500 survivors associated with it. Speaking further Tamang narrates her ordeal back home after returning from India. “When I first returned home after returning from India, I was ostracized by the society. The whole village had gathered to drive me out. I pleaded with them that they should first hear me out. I told them how I was abducted and sold in a brothel and about traffickers, customers and how the whole chain operates. After the two hour long talk I could see tears rolling down their eyes” added Tamang. Arun Pandey of Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZa Goa based NGO) who was also in Darjeeling to attend the MARG programme said “the traditional way of sex-slavery is changing in the present world. The traffickers are making use of technology including social sites to lure the girls. Dingy brothels are now being replaced by high-end hotels, massage parlours and discos. Our recent study has revealed that though the Indo-Nepal cross border human trafficking is on the decline, the demand for girls with 'mongoloid features' has increased. Hence, trafficking from the Darjeeling Hills and North East region is more rampant". They are being passed off as girls from Thailand, informed Pandey. UK couple gifts Sikkim’s historic pictures to Governor Sikkim to award 20 Lakh for gallantry winners Husband arrested One Thutop Namgyal Bhutia (30), resident of Old Mangan Bazaar, North Sikkim has been arrested by Mangan Police for physically and mentally torturing his wife. Bhutia had also been cheating his wife by withdrawing money from the bank account of his wife by forging signature. A case under section 498'A'/420 of IPC has been registered against him and the case is under investigation. (HS) to collect grass for the cows. From there she was taken to Gorakhpur and then landed up in a brothel in Mumbai. “At first I tried to commit suicide,but failed. Next was an attempt to escape but fate denied me that too. Then I prayed to God to give me the courage to face the situation along with prayers of being rescued" stated Tamang. Finally her prayers were answered on February 5 1996, when the Government launched the first ever major raid in the red light district of Kamathipura, Mumbai. 500 girls below the age of 18 were rescued. They were from India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Out of the 500, more than 200 girls were from Nepal. “I was among the 200. I had spent 22 months in the brothel” added Tamang, reminiscing her much awaited freedom from the brothel. But the rescue however did not end her woes. The Nepal Government did not want to take the victims back. In India the rehabilitation homes failed to provide even the basic requirements like food, clothes and even medical aid. During the 6 months of her stay Sikkim youngster are very sensitive and curious for the outside world but the “east money” and uncaring attitude of parents make them a bit “uncared”; as says a professor who teaches Psychology in the local university. He adds that parents give them money whenever they ask but never ask them where and how they spend it. This leads boys and girls to unnecessary expenditure including drugs and allied ills. “Money is the best thing if spent properly and it is the worst if spent uselessly”; he adds. Malala fought for a cause and won international acclaim with the Noble Prize. It may be recalled that there have been many Noble Proie winners, since its inception in 1901, who have also generated and caused controversies. The most im- portant and often-mentioned name in this regard is that of French writer and journalist Albert Kammus who had been awarded the prize only at the young age of 42 for Literature. Another Turkish writer Novelist Orhan Pamuk got it at the age of 41 and he was the first 21st century youngest writer in 2004 when he was awarded thus. Not only that; this prize which makes one an international hero overnight has been less controversial since 1901; when everybody was expecting this to go to Leo Tolstoy who was the latest literary figure of the days with his internationally acclaimed books like War and peace and Anna Karenina. But the prize was given to a little known French Writer Sully Prudhomme who was not even well known in his native France. Besides, there have been writers and social workers who never got it; though they deserved it fully. Graham Greene, Ayn Rand never got it; though they been the pioneer in literary field. And yes, the prize in peace has also not been without controversy with Henry Kissinger getting it and Gandhiji being deprived of it. It is even a madman’s thinking that there was no greater person in the world politics than Mahatma Gandhi in the 20th Century. His name was proposed on a number of occasions in 1940s, for the Peace Noble but the Englishmen in the Noble Committee always opposed because he was leading the movement against Britishers. Finally, it was decided that he be awarded the prize in 1948 but Alas! He was shot dead in January that year and the prize is awarded in October and it is not given posthumously. Thus Gandhi did not get it but the Noble Committee washed its sin by giving it to none in 1948 with the comment, “no living person deserves the prize this years”. It was a clear indication that Bapu deserved it but “politics” deprived him of it. Since Tagore, who got it in 1913, many great Indians like CB Raman, Hargovind Khurana, C.P Chandrashekhar, Dr. Pachouri and Kailash Satyarthi” have got it but there have been many like Ajyeya, Nirmal Varma, Shivaji Sawanta and others who deserved it but did not get. Malala is a source to acquaint Sikkim with all that. HM Report Gangtok, Oct 11: In a goodwill gesture, a Somerset, UK based couple, Jenifer Mary Hill and Andrew John Hill, called on Sikkim Governor Srinivas Patil and presented him pictures and documents of the state holding significant historical importance. The Hill couple are in their maiden visit to India and will be in Sikkim for a week. Among the pictures include a rare autographed wedding picture of late Chogyal of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal and Gyalmo Maharani Kunzang. Jenifer’s grandfather, late Fedrik Bucknor was the Chogyal’s personal assistant from 1920 to 1924. The pictures presented to the Governor was of that era. Mary’s father had also spent time with late Fedrik Bucknor in Sikkim’s Royal Palace as a young kid. Mary also presented the personal diary of her grandfather containing various important events of that era to the Governor. The Governor on his part thanked the couple for the items presented to the state and presented them with an official citation appreciating their generosity. (HS) GTA Poll: DDTWA lauds GTA move for SC, ST reservation HM Correspondent Kalimpong, Oct 11: Darjeeling District Tribal Welfare Association has welcomed GTA's demand for the inclusion of a legal amendment to allow reservation for SC and ST communities in all the 45 wards of GTA in the recently held 6th Bipartite meet with the state. A press release issued by the association mentions that despite provision of political safeguard articulated in the Indian constitution for reservation in all elections, the same was overlooked during the GTA election process. Hence, the Association has demanded res- ervation for Tribals at the earliest in the GTA election too, reads the release. It has also said that the proportion of reservation must be based on the total population as per 2011 Census to that of total population of GTA.Since the grant of Tribal Status to Tamang and Limbus in 2003, the association have claimed that the tribal population within the jurisdiction of GTA is around 31.4% of total populations. In the other hand, besides implementing reservation for ST for all electoral process DDTWA has also requested reservation of vacancies for employment in GTA group B,C and D posts in accordance with the proportion of the population ratio existing within the GTA where ST population comprises of 33.72% and SC at 9.32%. Any attempt to Subvert the ratio of reservation to any other figure or by WB 100 piont Roster, would impinge the constitutional rights and will also be a contravention to basic ethics of GTA Act since the 100 point roster system is a format devised for the entire state of WB wherein ST populations comprises 6% and SC at 22% of the total population of the state, informed N.W Sherpa, secretary of Kalimpong Wing of DDTWA. CMYK CMYK www.himalayanmirror.net 2.00
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