8 H I M A L AYA N M I R R O R GANGTOK, SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2014 Tata Football Academy Minister Ugen inaugurates National SMTWA postpones taxi strike bows out of Gold Cup Level Special Handloom Expo Gangtok, Oct 11: Tata Football Academy today bowed out of the 35th All India Sikkim Governor’s Gold Cup Tournament at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. In a trilling encounter, TFA lost to Army XI by 0-1. Both the teams were tied at 0-0 till the end of initial 90 minutes, leading to allotment of an additional 30 minutes of extra time. Ironically, TFA lost the match due to a same-side goal by jersey no. 25, Sugham Ghosh. During the second 15 minutes of the extra time play, Ghosh back-passed a header towards the goalkeeper, but the ball sailed over him and slipped into the nets. With the win, Army XI have entered into the quarterfinals of the tournament. In tomorrow’s match, SFA (White) will clash with Manag Marsyandi Club from Nepal in the second round play to make place for the quarterfinals. (HS) North Bengal Joint Trade Union threatens agitation Siliguri, Oct 11: The Joint Trade Union under the aegis of CITU is scheduled to stage dharnas in Terai, Doars, and the Hills of Darjeeling district on October 13 on matters pertaining to multiple demands of the tea-garden workers in the hills, informed CITU leader Ajit Sarkar on Saturday during a press conference. He said that the agitation which will have participation of over 22 trade unions will be held in the premises of Matigara/ Naxalbari police station, and Khoribari police station near the Bagdogra IC office area. Sarkar further informed that despite the agitation, in case the concerned department fails to meet the demands, the workers will boycott work from November 11 and the Joint Trade Union on the other hand will call a North Bengal strike on November 12. According to a Trade Union official, the workers whose salary have been held since the March 31 this year have had 5 rounds of discussion with the tea-garden administration earlier, but their daily wage has not been increased yet. They will also hold a citizen’s forum meeting where all the tea-garden top brass and intellects will be invited to discuss on the issue. “If the demands of the workers are still not met after the meeting then we shall heighten the agitation. Six of the tea gardens have already been closed and more such closures might result if the current situation prevails” stated Sarkar. (HS) Associations demand removal of Totos Jalpaiguri, Oct 11: Various Rickshaw and Auto Drivers Owners Association in Jalpaiguri District today agitated in front of Kotwali Thana demanding the removal of Toto-the battery powered rickshaws from the municipality areas. The leaders of various associations alleged the municipality of giving permission to Toto owners to ply their electronic rickshaws within the municipality area without holding discussions with association members. The Toto's intrusion has created apprehension among the cycle rickshaw and auto owners as it has decreased their daily income. Meanwhile, Jalpaiguri Municipality chairman Mo- han Bose said that the Totos have not been given permission to ply due to legal obligations. “Recently, the High Court had passed an ordinance to designate Totos as Rickshaws and would need special permission,” he added. Bose said the Totos have a maximum speed of 20 kms per hour, which makes it necessary to follow the protocol. He however did not comment on the Totos which are currently plying on the municipality areas. “The municipality board has already received the ordinance from the high court. However, there’s huge public demand for Totos so we are currently discussing about the next step,” Bose added. (HS) Cipla Scholarship for students Gangtok, Oct 11: Two weeks long National Level Special Handloom Expo was inaugurated by Ugen T. Gyatso, Minister for Commerce and Industries Department at Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Complex, Gangtok. The expo was organized by Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom (DHH) sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handloom), Ministry of Textiles under North East Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS). A total of 80 stalls have been placed where weavers, Self Help Groups and Cooperative Societies from host state, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi , Him- achal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmi and Gujarat. Minster, Ugen T.Gyatso visited the stalls and interacted with participants and conveyed his happiness and shows his keen interest in Handloom products.The expo will continue till October 23. Secretary for Commerce & Industries, D Anandan, Secretary Science and Technology, P.T Euthenpa, Director of DHH, Ganga D Prdahan, Assistant Director of Weavers Service Centre, Kolkata, Lakshuman Chandra Basak and other dignitaries were present during inaugural day. The National Level Special Handloom Expo is an Annual calendar event of Sikkim which provides a platform for weavers, sellers and buyers to converge and create awareness vis-a-vis the handloom sector as an employment and income generating industry. (IPR) MLA Dr. Mechung concern on Gayzing district hospital woes HM Report Gangtok, Oct 11: Opposition Sikkim Krantikari Morcha MLA, Dr. Mechung Bhutia has expressed his concern and indicated negligence of the state government over the dilapidating condition of the Geyzing District Hospital, West Sikkim. “The district Hospital for the West District is in acute shortage of manpower, and lacks specialist in surgery ophthalmology orthopaedic and many other area along with obsolete and old equipments” claimed Dr. Bhutia who is back in capital after his tour to the West District Criticizing the Government, for the negligence and the difficulties faced by the people, Bhutia claimed “ due to pathetic condition of the roads, many patient dies on the way to STNM Hospital in Gangtok”. “The District Hospital is in urgent need of skilled staffs with the specialist, Medical Officers, Nursing Staffs and technicians” he added. I suggest the State Government on behalf of the people of West and North District to provide airlifting facilities for critically serious patients and worse road condition often becomes the reason for the delay in treatment and thereby a casualty” maintained Bhutia. He further suggests the State Health Department to come up with a triage system to facilitate immediate transfers and more lives can be saved. Demanding replacement of the old equipment, Bhutia a doctor himself, suggested the Health Department to provide Continuous Medical Education ME to all doctors and in turn impart same to all so they are updated with all the latest of medical research. Besides, the Health Secretary should visit the District hospitals and Public Health Centres to access the health service of our state. Dr.Bhutia MLA, Martam Rumtek in East Sikkim had visited District Hospital of West Sikkim on October 10 located at Geyzing. Nature Club of SGC launched cleanup campaign ues of clean and hygienic surrounding to a huge gathering of students, teaching and non-teaching staff. Campaign was the first step towards the environment awareness programme of the newly formed Nature Club of Sikkim Government College, Tadong. HM Report Gangtok, Oct 11: The Nature Club of Sikkim Government College, Tadong organized a cleanup campaign of the College Campus on Saturday. The campaign had an active participation of the NSS and the NCC wing of the college. The campaign was supported by Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) and STNM hospital. The Principal of the college, Dr. Bina Pradhan, flagged off the campaign with an encouraging note on the val- Gangtok, Oct 11: Considering the festive season, the Sikkim Motor Transport Workers Association issued a press release today informing about its decision to further postpone the taxi strike in the state till Diwali. The decision was made after complaints of commuters' facing problem during the peak season of Dasai, the release reads. The association had called the taxi strike for indefinite period in the state starting September 30 protesting the state government’s decision to allow cooperative societies to run the ticket booths in taxi stands; the privilege which was solely enjoyed by the associa- tion till the day the government issued notification to transfer the rights to the cooperative society, henceforth. Association president, Tinku Adhikari said that chief minister Pawan Chamling being the guardian of the state should also be considerate towards the drivers as they too are the state's subjects. "The Chief Minister must think over the problems faced by drivers and we believe that he comes up with a positive response. We want to meet him to discuss on this issue," Adhikari added. The association's release further mentions that about 80 percent of the drivers in the state NGO rues dismal govt support Gangtok, Oct 11: "There is a world of difference between precept and practice in Chief Minister's statement of making Sikkim a drug free state by 2015 as it does not match the ground reality", lamented K.C. Nima the team leader of Mirikai Rehabilitation Centre under Drishya Foundation, Aho East Sikkim. Speaking at a press conference here today, Nima highlighted the plight of the NGO saying there is a lack of support from the government and various departments towards the initiatives taken up by the NGO and questioned the credibility of the heads of various departments in fulfilling the objective of making Sikkim a drug free state. "We are working earnestly and tirelessly towards the goal of saving the younger generation from the ill effects of drugs and substance abuse but feel very disappointed and disheartened by the dismal support and lack of positive response from the heads of various departments, private companies and stake holders.", he lamented. He also added that most of the people who are serving jail terms under Sikkim Anti Drugs Act (SADA) Rangpo, Oct 11: To encourage the students for stud- Electric Crematorium after Kali Puja: Deb Siliguri, Oct 11: North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb today said that the construction of an electric crematorium in Ramghat will start after the Kali Puja. He added that he will conduct a door-to-door visit in the area to make the local people understand the benefits of having the facility. Addressing a TMC rally at Jalpai More today, Deb came down heavily over the Left Front saying that the opposition party has always posed impediments in the path of development of the state. “In their 34 years in power, they did nothing and now they are stopping us from doing 'their' work,” Deb claimed. He also said that the latest hindrance posed at Ramghat on Sept 27 during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the upcoming electric crematorium project was also plotted by the CPM; the party which Deb accused of being in secret alliance with the Maoists. ies, Cipla Limited, Kumrek awarded scholarship to three students of Rangpo Mining Senior Secondary School in a function on Saturday. As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a pharmaceutical company, Cipla Limited awarded scholarship to CBSE topper of Rangpo Mining School; Susmita Saha, Chandni Taayal and Bhavna Rai. They are the topper in CBSE-2014 in school. come from lower strata of the society and called for an amendment in the act. "First time offenders should not be punished but should be sent to rehab centres instead. The provision of Rehab should be added in the act as punishing the offenders are not a solution to the problem as drug addiction is a disease and not a crime." he opined. NSS unit organized cleanliness drive HM Report Gangtok, Oct 11: As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the NSS Unit of Holy Cross School, Tadong initiated the cleanliness drive in 6th Mile, Tadong area on Saturday. Over 100 NSS member along with the school teachers had participated the drive where cleaned the footpath and cleaned the surrounding which included the cleaning and collecting the garbage; weeding and all. The NSS co-ordinator of the school, Verghese Ambrose took the pain to coordinate the students to initiate the cleanliness drive and also informed that this is just the beginning and the students will continue the cleanliness drive in the coming days also. Looking at the hardwork of the students, the passer-by and few well-wishers sponsored refreshments for them and also encour- TMC int er par ty rif inter party riftt widens HM Report are COI holders. Earlier, the Chief Minister had claimed that the taxi strike was called by drivers who were not from Sikkim and are from 'outside the state'. Commuters who are the end sufferers of the tussle between the association and government are the worried lot and have been complaining over the inconvenience and the extra money that they had to shell out during the taxi strike in Dasai season. "This time, we are not going to support the association's call for strike because we were over-charged by the same drivers who asks us to support their cause," said Suresh Rai, a local commuter. Balurghat, Oct 11: Thirteen TMC Councillors today disrupted the day's normal work in Balurghat municipality. All thirteen Councillors in the middle of an ongoing meeting, started revolting against chairperson Chanakya Laha of TMC led Balurghat municipality demanding his removal from the post. They have also planned to move a no-confidence motion against the chairperson. The TMC had formed the board after winning 14 seats in the Balurghat civic body elections held on August 21 this year. The left front had managed to win 11 seats. From the very beginning 2 councilors said to be supporters of Biplab Mitra faction, a rival of chairperson Laha had been opposing every decisions taken by Laha. Later, with the passage of time, 11 more Councillors joined the two. The row further got impetus over the recruitment of Satyabrata Chakraborty, son of Shankar Chakraborty, state law minister, in the post of retainer lawyer of the municipality. Chakraborty then resigned from his post. (HS) Edited, Published, Printed and Owned by Anjan Upadhyaya from Gairi Gaon, Tadong, Gangtok, Printed at Pabi Publication House, Ranipool, Gangtok. Telephone: 98512-22787, Email: [email protected] / [email protected]. aged for the kind of work they are doing. NSS Coordinator on behalf of all the students would like to thank all of them for their kind support. He also added that this drive was organised to promote awareness about sanitation and cleanliness among the students and help them to realize their potential.