Police files suo-motu against KSSS for dharna along NH31A

KNE; Kalimpong, October 4 ;The Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan (KKKS) who conducted 15 minutes of the maun dharan along the NH31A on the occasion Gandhi Jayanti concerning the proper implementation of the MGNREGA has cropped up severe problems against them. The Kalimpong police station has filed Suo-motu case against the Sangathan and will be taking legal actions soon. ‘As per the order of the Supreme Court, causing disruption along the National Highway is an offence’, Kalimpong Sub-Division ASP Songmit Lepcha said. The demonstration had disrupted and halted the traffic movements to Sikkim and Kalimpong. A case under Act 143, 341, 186 of the IPC and 8(B) NH Act has been registered against the Sangathan. She also said that the case is under investigation. On the other hand, the KKKS General Secretary Bishnu Chettri said that they have not yet received any official information on the above. He added that the information for the demonstration was beforehand given to the Darjeeling Magistrate, Sub Divisional officer and the police administration. The protesters were more than expected but there were no representatives from the police and the administration, which might have doubled the trouble. ‘Our intention was just to drive the attention of the State and the Central Government on the proper implementation of the MGNREGA’ said Chettri. The Sangathan had stepped out on the road for the first time demanding their grievances that seems to be a problematic twist.

HH the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje in Kalimpong

KNE; Kalimpong, October 4 His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje arrived in Kalimpong today on a brief three day visit to perform special prayers in memory of the Late His Eminence Kyabje Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche of Sikkim. On his arrival at Bagdogra Airport, he was received by the members and officials of the Karmapa Charitable Trust, the official administrator of the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre appointed by the late HH the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa.

 There was huge rush of monks, nuns and lay devotees from Sikkim at Bagdogra. On his arrival at Kalimpong, His Holiness was accorded ceremonial and long reception ‘Serbang’ by the monks amid huge gathering of local lay devotees waiting since long at Kalimpong. His Holiness in his ‘Kalop’

 instructed the Rumtek Monks to conduct special prayers along-with a weekly ritual at Rumtek for the Late His Eminence Kyabje Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche of Sikkim, an outstanding Dzogchen master that Sikkim has rarely witnessed in the recent years. During His stay, His Holiness shall also meet the family of late Dongyer Thupden Gyaltsen Lama who passed away last month when Holiness was in His dharma tour of Europe to condole his passing away.

 Late Thupden Gyaltsen Lama was the Dongyer to the late 16thKarmapa in Rumtek. Before departure, the Rinpoches, Tulkus, monks, nuns and lay devotees offered aspiration prayers for the earliest arrival of His holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje to Sikkim.

World Animal Day observed at Kalimpong

MUKESH; Kalimpong, October 4; The Human Resource Development Department Kalimpong in colloboration with the Kalimpong Animal Center today observed the World Animal Day at the North Bengal Agriculture College hall in Kalimpong. The GTA Sabhasad cum the Animal Husbandry head Ramesh Lama was present as the chief guest along with the AH Department’s Deputy Director YR Tamang as the special guest. Dr Kesang Bomzan at the outset educated the masses on Rabies, which she said that 97% is spread by dog bite, 2% by cats and 1% by the other animals. Dr Bomzan also showed some of the pictures related to the disease. Dr Ismail Mangrati highlighted on the prevention measures of Rabies. Likewise, Dr DP Pandey informed on the Animal birth control. Around 8-10 people has died in the Hills within last 2 years due to Rabies he informed. The MDMOH Kalimpong Dr SR Pradhan also imparted information on the disease to the gathering. Dr Latshering Bhutia also stressed on the control and the prevention measures of the disease, which once was universal in the plains. The programme also had the presence of the representatives of the departments, School heads, Kalimpong Municipality Councilors and others. The day also witnessed open house discussions. The programme, which started with the welcome speech of Dr Devendra Pradhan, winded up with the vote of thanks by Dr J Bhutia

Slide shuts JN Marg

TT; NIRMAL MANGAR Gangtok, Oct. 4: The Jawaharlal Nehru Marg linking Gangtok to Nathu-la and other tourist spots in the border areas of the East district was disrupted by a landslide yesterday afternoon, barely two days after the road was reopened for light vehicles. With the JN Marg being hit by a landslide at 17th Mile near Kyongshala, the state government has stopped issuing permits to tourists to visit Nathu-la, Chhangu lake and Baba Mandir in East Sikkim through the road.

 The JN Marg had been closed since June after multiple landslides and the route was reopened for traffic only on Monday. The alternative route to the border tourist spots, Rangpo-Nathu-la Road, is also closed after it was hit by a landslide on Tuesday. The director of the Border Roads Organisation, A.K. Das, said: “The rain washed away a portion of JN Marg yesterday afternoon. It may take some days to restore the road. Another landslide damaged the Rangpo-Nathu-la Road near Padamchen village on Tuesday and the BRO needs some time to carry out the repair.”

 Vehicles take at least four hours to reach Nathu-la through the RN Road, while 90 minutes are needed for travel through the JN Marg. Still, only a handful of tourists took the JN Marg on Monday when the government resumed issuing permits for the travel via the route. This is largely because most tourists didn’t know that permits would be available from Monday. “On Monday nine tourists took permits to go to Nathu-la and other border places in East Sikkim using JN Marg, while 151 people followed the RN Road,” said additional secretary of the tourism department Chewang Rinzing Bhutia. With the East district spots out of bounds, tourists went to South and West Sikkim.

 The road to Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim is still cut off because of landslides. The Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim has advised tourists to plan the itinerary in consultation with tour operators. “TAAS urges tourists to plan an alternative itinerary in consultation with tour operators in case roads are closed,” said TAAS president Satish Bardewa.

Plans for tourists in Puja season - Help desks, brochures and camps to ensure hassle-free festival

TT; Siliguri, Oct. 4: The state government and tourism stake holders have come up with a plan for holiday makers who will visit the region during the Pujas so that they can have a hassle-free trip. “We are expecting a huge rush during the Durga Puja season (this time) and we have an array of plans for the tourists,” north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb said. Help desks would be set up at important transit points like New Jalpaiguri station and Bagdogra airport. 

“There are tourists who come without making any arrangements beforehand. They can approach the help desks where necessary information on accommodation, transport and suggestions on itineraries would be provided,” said Deb. The helpdesks would be manned by the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association and government officials. “This time, we are opening medical camps to cater for tourists in case they fall ill.

 These camps will be equipped with ambulances and first aid. Paramedics would also be posted there,” said the minister. Officials said over five lakh tourists had visited the region during the summer season this year and there were allegations that some transporters and hoteliers had overcharged them. “We want to stop such malpractices. Transport rates and hotel names with tariff would be mentioned in a brochure. If a tourist notices discrepancy, he can call up the helpline. Dedicated officers will attend the calls,” Deb said. He added:

 “If a taxi driver or hotel owner is found overcharging, steps would be taken. There can be imposition of fines, filing of cases under motor vehicles act and other acts related to hotels, cancellations of driving licences, restriction on running the vehicle or the hotel during tourist season.” Police stations will act as information centres.

 “Tourists can go to the police stations if they need guidance on destinations and routes,” said a stakeholder. “Buses would depart for different tourist destinations in the hills and the plains at regular intervals,” said Deb, who is also the North Bengal State Transport Corporation chairman. “Regarding the hills, we would request the GTA representatives to make similar arrangements for tourists.”

Porters strike to protest fee - Rs 800 for registration with darjeeling civic body

Residents of Darjeeling cart away luggage on Thursday because of the strike by porters. Picture by Suman Tamang

TT;VIVEK CHHETRI; Darjeeling, Oct. 4: Around 2,000 porters, the most indispensable people in the everyday hill life, launched an indefinite strike today to protest a Darjeeling municipality order that asked them to register with the civic body for Rs 800. The hill residents depend on the porters to carry luggage, rations, gas cylinders and building materials among others, apart from loading and unloading. The porters — most of them are from Nepal — are an integral part of the service system in Darjeeling as most of the houses and hotels are inaccessible by roads and are located on hill slopes.

 Today, many residents were seen lugging away goods because of the strike. Amar Singh Rai, the chairperson of the Darjeeling municipality, said a porter had to pay the civic body a one-time amount of Rs 800. “The fee is for registration, a jacket for identification and also an identity card,” he said. Apart from the registration fee, the porters have been asked to pay a monthly tax of Rs 45 also. The civic body made the registration mandatory as most of the luggage carriers are from Nepal.

 “We wanted to keep tabs on the porters as we have found out that most of them are from Nepal and they come to Darjeeling to work for six months. We wanted to keep a data bank of these people and their details can be sent to police stations for references if needed,” said Rai. The municipality said the move would also help deal with any complaint of harassment by the porters. The porters, however, said Rs 800 was too high for them.

 “They are just giving us one jacket and given the nature of work, it will tear within a week. We cannot afford to buy or make jackets continuously. The fees are steep for us,” said Krishna Chhetri, a porter. A porter earns around Rs 5,000 a month on an average. The strike forced the residents to carry goods and do the loading and unloading themselves. Ammole Mani, a gas agency owner here, said 70 per cent of the cylinders were delivered by porters on a given day. “As the porters went on strike, we couldn’t supply the cylinders today. 

If the strike continues, the consumers will face problems in the days to come,” he said. The porters were asked to complete the registration by October 1. They wouldn’t be allowed to work if the registration is not done, though the civic body has taken no such action yet. But the carriers alleged that municipality workers had destroyed a water can of Kavindra Katthay, a porter, at Judge Bazaar for not wearing the jacket. A municipality worker said the water cans had been destroyed because it was unhygienic and had mosses. 

The porters carry water in containers and supply them to houses, teashops and restaurants in hand-pulled carts. Another porter said the municipality workers had forced Ratna Maya Thami to take the load back for not wearing the uniform. The porters say they number around 2,000 and 30 per cent of them are women. “If we are asked to leave, we will go back to Nepal. After all, we have to carry load wherever we go,” said a porter. In the evening, posters appeared in town, telling the striking workers to attend a meeting tomorrow to discuss the future course of action. 

 The municipality said only a fraction of the porters was refusing to register with the civic body. “Already 450 porters have registered. Only a small faction is opposing the move and is instigating others not to work. If the crisis persists, we will have to work out an alternative plan,” said Rai. 

Rice blow in tea belt

MK Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal arrived in Darjeeling on Oct. 3 (Photo: Rabin Rai)

 Siliguri/Jaigaon, Oct. 3: A reported lack of goods train rakes has halted supply of rice to 157 tea gardens in the Dooars just before Pujas, leaving planters and union leaders worried. “Distributors who supply rice to tea gardens in the Dooars have not received a single bag of grain in September from the state food and supplies department. They had deposited the required money on the first of week of last month,” said Amitangshu Chakraborty, convenor of the West Bengal Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations.

 “There is a shortage in supply because goods trains carrying rice to Jalpaiguri and Siliguri from different parts of the state and other states have not come. We have taken up the issue with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) which supplies the grains and we expect the rice to arrive in the next few days,” said Biswajit Biswas, the district controller of the food and supplies in Jalpaiguri. FCI officials said the break in supply was because of lack of goods coaches, which ferry the rice to north Bengal from rice-producing areas.

 “It is because of the shortage of railway rakes that we could not bring rice from other locations within the state and beyond,” said A.R. Gautam, the area manager of FCI in Jalpaiguri. “As a result, distribution of rations has stopped in the gardens. Now that Durga Puja is ahead, we are apprehensive of a law and order problem in the tea estates,” Chakraborty, the convenor of the West Bengal committee of Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations, said. According to tea industry sources, each tea worker gets 6kg of rice and 1kg of wheat every month at a subsidised rate of 40 paise per kg. Every month, around 19,000 quintals of rice and around 3,300 quintals of wheat are required in the brew belts. The non-disbursement of rations has also left trade union leaders irritated and concerned.

 “The workers bank largely on the rations and would face inconvenience if the food grains are not provided to them. The government must intervene and rectify this irregularity,” Chitta Dey, convener of the Co-ordination Committee of Tea Plantation Workers, said. “Considering the exorbitant price hike and the existing wages of tea workers, it is not possible for them to buy rice from the market and run their homes,” said Samir Roy, a trade union leader. 

Govt mulls Sixth Schedule change

NISHIT DHOLABHAI TT;New Delhi, Oct. 3: The Centre will seek an amendment to the Sixth Schedule in a bid to implement accords signed with Northeast outfits and devolve more powers to the grassroots. The schedule lays down provisions for administration of tribal areas in Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura through autonomous district councils and regional councils accountable to the governor. A draft bill piloted by the Union home ministry to amend the schedule has got a nod from most of the ministries concerned, sources said. The government will try to bring it for Parliament’s approval in the winter session. 

 

 The principal feature of the amendment could be the constitution of village councils. “Democracy to the grassroots through elected village councils cannot be ruled out,” a senior official said. The model is believed to be largely based on the concept of village councils and village development boards in Nagaland. Also, there is considerable impatience among Northeast militants who have or will sign settlements with the Centre and state governments. These accords cannot be implemented unless changes are made to the Constitution.

 

 For instance, implementation of the clauses of the memorandum of settlement signed with the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity, a Karbi militant group, is pending because of changes needed in the Sixth Schedule. Similar will be the case with the Dimasa outfit, Dima Halam Daogah, which is set to sign a settlement. As agreed with the outfits, the Centre will introduce a “body” like the state finance commission to take care of the non-plan expenditure of the autonomous councils. 

 

 However, the thrust seems to be on the councils’ demand for “direct funding” from the Centre. Funds for the councils are now sent through state governments and this, the councils feel, hampers their autonomy and fiscal freedom. A commission to look into this, coupled with a standing order that funds should be transferred by the state capitals to the councils within a stipulated time, say a fortnight, is aimed to resolve this grouse. Direct funding literally will not be possible, say officials, as it could endanger the identity of states like Meghalaya as the entire state, with the exception of Shillong town, is under the Sixth Schedule. 

 

 Another salient feature of the amended schedule will be a change in the mechanism of elections to these councils, as demanded by the negotiating tribal groups. Elections to the councils are currently held under the hill areas development department. A separate body on the lines of the state election commission will be created to organise the council elections, sources said. DHD (N) chief Dilip Nunisa said the changes “will benefit all tribes”. The proposed changes do not include the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s demand to bring Gorkha hills under the schedule.

Southfield gates open for now - College allows girls temporary breather

Girls leave Southfield College on Wednesday. Picture by Suman Tamang

TT;VIVEK CHHETRI  Darjeeling, Oct. 3: Southfield College has decided to keep the gates of the institution open for students during class hours as of now. Around 200 girls sat on a dharna on Monday to protest a rule under which students had to obtain permission from the teacher-in-charge to leave the campus. The girls called the system that was introduced a month ago “ridiculous” and demanded that they be treated like “mature individuals”. Ratna Mishra, who is in charge of the college administration in the absence of the teacher-in-charge, Rakashri Rai, today said: “There was no problem on the college campus today. We have decided to keep the college gates open during study hours. There is no question of issuing passes. We will carry on with the practice till the teacher-in-charge returns in a few days.” The teacher-in-charge is now in Kathmandu with 50 geography students on an excursion. Rai is scheduled to rejoin on Monday.

 The students, too, said they would wait for the teacher-in-charge to return to discuss the issue. The gate was opened today and the students could freely step out of the campus. The institution, which had been founded in 1961 by the Darjeeling Loreto Educational Society and was previously called Loreto College, was handed over to the state government in 2007. The girls revolted against the rule after a notice was issued on Saturday, saying no permits would be issued for one week as Rai would be out of station. The girls sat on the road leading to the college from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Monday. After the agitation, the college authorities told the girls that they should ignore the Saturday notice and they would be issued passes. The students, however, wanted the withdrawal of the rule.

Left no-confidence move against Paul

TT; Siliguri, Oct. 3: The CPM has said it will submit a letter of no-confidence against Siliguri Municipal Corporation chairman Nantu Paul tomorrow. Paul, the councillor of ward 11, has switched from the Congress to Trinamul. “During the monthly board meeting, we staged a walkout expressing no confidence against the chairman on Saturday. We will submit a letter to the SMC commissioner tomorrow stating no-confidence,” Nurul Islam, the leader of Opposition at the civic body, said today. He added that the party had walked out of the meeting on Saturday because Paul was presiding over a session during which his removal had to be discussed. 

 

 “By presiding over the meeting, he has contravened Section 55 of the West Bengal Municipal Corporation Act, 2006, which says that a chairman cannot preside over a meeting where a motion on his removal has to be placed, discussed and decided,” Islam said. According to the rules, after receiving a letter of no-confidence against a chairman, the commissioner has to convene a board meeting. A voting would take place and if the majority supports the no-confidence motion, the chairman would be removed. “We do not feel the removal of the chairman will affect the functioning of the board as there are provisions under Section 43 of the act to carry out business at the SMC even in the absence of a chairman,” Islam said. According to Section 43, the deputy mayor can function as the chairman in his absence and he would have all powers and responsibilities of the chairman.

 

 The Congress had sent a letter to the SMC commissioner on Monday, demanding Paul’s removal from the post of councillor. If the commissioner heeds the letter, the post would fall vacant and a bypoll will have to be conducted in that ward. Responding to north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb’s assertion that the state government could appoint an administrator for the civic body, which he alleged was “incompetent”, CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya said: “It cannot be done overnight. The board has to be showcaused and the mayor should be heard by competent authorities if charges of incompetence are brought against the board. If the board is found incompetent, all councillors should be asked to vacate their offices and a notification mentioning the board’s incompetence has to be published in the official gazette according to the West Bengal Municipal Corporation Act, 2006.” The former urban development minister added: “Only then can an administrator be appointed and that too for six months.

 

 After the tenure, a new board can be formed and its tenure will be for the remaining period.” According to observers, if an administrator is appointed, the Left Front would make this an agenda. It would go to the people and say that Trinamul and the Congress had proved incompetent in running the SMC. “It would be uncomfortable for both Trinamul and the Congress if an administrator is appointed. A gazette notification declaring the civic board incompetent, will be an ideal and effective tool for the Left during its campaigns,” said an observer. “Now it is for Trinamul to decide whether it would pull out of the board, withdraw support and participate in the polls or appoint an administrator.”