'भारत र चीनसँग समदूरीको सम्बन्ध छैन'

राजनीतिशास्त्रका प्राध्यापक तथा भारतका लागि नेपालका पूर्वराजदूत लोकराज बराल विदेश मामिलामा गहिरो दख्खल राख्छन् । दक्षिण छिमेकको मात्रै होइन, उत्तर छिमेकको पनि नेपाल चासो बढिरहेको सतहमै देखिन थालेको सन्दर्भलाई बराल कसरी हेरिरहेका छन् ? कान्तिपुरका देवेन्द्र भट्टराईले गरेको कुराकानीको संक्षेप-

हाम्रा उत्तर र दक्षिणका छिमेकीको बढ्दो नेपाल चासोलाई कसरी हेर्नुभएको छ ?

हाम्रो समाजमा धेरै कुरालाई गहिराइमा नलगी बाहिरी सतहमा हेर्दै तर्कवितर्क गर्ने गरिएको छ । यो स्वाभाविक पनि हो । अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय राजनीतिमा शक्तिले कसरी काम गर्छ भन्ने विषय बुझ्न गहिरो अध्ययन जरुरी हुने रहेछ । शक्तिहरूलाई कसरी सन्तुलनमा राख्ने, कसरी तिनलाई बुझ्ने भन्ने पनि सिकाइको विषय रहेछ । नेपालमा अहिलेसम्म, विशेषगरी २००७ सालदेखि नै दक्षिणको छिमेकी भारतसँगको सम्बन्धको कुरा गर्नासाथ 'इमोसनल' हुने र यथार्थको धरातलमा नआउने प्रवृत्ति यथावत छ । कुराहरू नभएका होइनन्, सन् १९५० को मैत्री सन्धिदेखि सुपुर्दगी सन्धिसम्म । मैत्री सन्धिलाई असमान सन्धि भनिन्छ । मेरा विचारमा अरूले भन्ने गरेझैं यो असमान सन्धि खारेज गर्ने हो भने पनि नेपाल-भारत सम्बन्धमा कुनै तात्त्विक अन्तर आउनेवाला छैन । खुला सीमा, सम्बन्धको हाम्रो प्राचीन आधार कायम रहने हो भने यस्ता सन्धि रहनु/नरहनुको कुनै अर्थ छैन । हाम्रो सम्बन्ध विशिष्ट र भिन्न छ ।

भारत र चीनसग दुवैतिर समदूरीको सम्बन्ध रहेको भनिन्छ नि ?

यसो भन्न मिल्दैन । हामीजस्तो सानो मुलुकलाई 'सिम्बोल' पनि चाहिन्छ पक्कै । स्वाधीनता, स्वतन्त्रता र अखण्डताको व्याख्या गरिराख्न पनि 'सिम्बोल' चाहिन्छ । तर यही आधार खोज्दै सधैं विरोध वा समर्थनको कुरा गरिरहनुको अर्थ छैन । भन्नुको अर्थ हामी अलि गहिराइमा जानुपर्छ, राजनीतिक नाराका रूपमा सम्बन्धको व्याख्या वा अपव्याख्या गरिरहनुको अर्थ छैन । चीनसँग १९५५ मा नेपालको कूटनीतिक साइनो गाँसियो । त्यसअघि सन् १९५० मा साम्यवादको विभाजन आएपछि, शीतयुद्धको कुरा उठेको हो । भारत र चीनसँगको सम्बन्ध एकअर्कामा तुलनै गर्न मिल्दैन । चीनसँगको सम्बन्ध एकदम राम्रो हुनुपर्छ, सौहार्दपूर्ण र सुमधुर हुनुपर्छ । उसको चासो र तिब्बतसँग जोडिएको सुरक्षाको संवेदनशीलतालाई बुझिदिनैपर्छ । यसो भन्दैमा भारतसँगको जस्तै सम्बन्ध चीनसँग हुनुपर्छ, रहनुपर्छ भन्ने होइन ।

भारतसँग धेरै व्यापक, गहिरो र सबैतिर फैलिएको छ । राजनीतिक, सामाजिक, भौगोलिक र सांस्कृतिक सम्बन्ध कायम छ । खुला सिमानादेखि दक्षिणतिर फर्किएको साइनो छ । त्यसकारण भारत र चीनसँग समदूरीको सम्बन्ध छ भन्न मिल्दैन । अघिल्लो दिन भारत गएर अर्को दिन चीन पुग्दैमा समदूरीको सम्बन्ध भन्न मिल्दैन । अहिलेका परराष्ट्र मन्त्री नारायणकाजी श्रेष्ठले यही त्रुटिपूर्ण कुरा गरेको मैले सुनेको छु । यसकारण शब्द प्रयोग गर्दा पनि ख्याल पुर्‍याउनु जरुरी छ ।

हालै भारतसँग भएको बिप्पा सम्झौताका आधारमा प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराई ँभारत-शरणागत’ भएको आरोपबारे के भन्नुहुन्छ ? 

प्रधानमन्त्री भएपछि कार्यकारी तहमा केही त गर्नैपर्‍यो, हात बाँधेर बस्ने कुरा त पक्कै आएन । यो नेपाली परम्परा र मनोगत स्थिति हो कि बीपी कोइरालादेखि बाबुराम भट्टराईसम्मलाई अनेक 'बात' लाग्दै आएका छन् । सुरुमा विश्वेश्वरलाई भारतविरोधी भनेका थिए । पछि चीनको सांघाइमा सन् १९७२ मा चीन-भारत कूटनीतिक सम्बन्ध स्थापना भएपछिको कुरा अर्कै छ । त्यसअघि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय शक्तिको दबाब र आग्रहमा तिब्बतबाट भागेर आएका खम्पा विद्रोहीलाई हामीले संरक्षण दिएका थियौं भने पछि तिनलाई मुस्ताङ क्षेत्रबाट लखेट्न थालियो । यसकारण अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय शक्तिको काम र प्रभावबारे पनि हामी सचेत हुनुपर्छ । हामी आफूले आफैंलाई निणर्ायक शक्ति मान्नु हुन्न, जहिल्यै हामी 'सहायक' मात्रै हुन सक्छौं । बिप्पा सम्झौताको कुरा पनि यही हो । केही कुरामा आश्वस्त पार्ने काम ठीकै हो, कुनै प्रत्याभूति नदिई कसैलाई लगानी गर्न आओ भन्नु युक्तिसंगत

हुँदैन । यसकारण भारतसँग जे भयो, ठीकै भयो । अब सकिन्छ भने चीनसँग पनि बिप्पाजस्तै सहमति हुनुपर्छ । यहाँ भारतसँग भएमा होहल्ला हुने, अन्यत्र भने थाहै नहुने, यो पनि विरोधाभास हो ।

भारत र चीनका लागि नेपाल पुल बन्न सक्छ ?

अब पुरानै रणनीतिमा मौका मिल्दा चीन उचाल्ने अथवा भारत उचाल्ने रणनीति अब सम्भव छैन । पुल बन्ने दृष्टिकोण आफैंमा नराम्रो होइन । भारतले सबै उत्तरतिरको हिमालयलाई आफ्नो 'प|mन्टियर' भनेको छ, सुरक्षागेटका रूपमा । यही कारण विगतमा कोदारी राजमार्ग बन्दा भारतले आपत्ति जनाएको थियो । अब भने भारत-चीनको सम्बन्ध अर्कै बनेको छ । यसबेला हामीले 'भारतमुखी' वा 'चीनमुखी' बनिरहनुको तुक र अर्थ छैन । अहिले भारत-चीनबीच वाषिर्क ६२ करोड डलरभन्दा बढीको व्यापार छ । हामीले त यसबाट जतिसक्दो फाइदा लिन सक्नुपर्छ । हाम्रो राष्ट्रियता एकातिर भताभुंग छ, अर्कातिर राष्ट्रवादको नारा भने चर्को रूपमा लागिरहेको छ । यो विरोधाभासले चल्दैन अब ।

भारतको छायालाई र क्षेत्रीय सम्बन्धको अर्थमा पनि ँजेठो दाइ’ को बढ्दो दक्षिण एसियाली प्रभावलाईर् नकार्न सकिन्छ र ?

यो हामी आफैंमा निर्भर कुरा हो । अरूलाई दोष दिएर मात्रै हुँदैन । एउटा कुरा के भने एउटा स्वतन्त्र र स्वाधीन मुलुकको प्रधानमन्त्रीको पहिलो भ्रमण भारतबाटै किन सुरु गर्ने ? मैले प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहालको प्रशंसा गरेर लेखेको थिएँ, जब उनी प्रधानमन्त्री बने पनि ओलम्पिक खेलको समापनमा पहिलो विदेश भ्रमणका रूपमा बेइजिङ उत्रेका थिए । हाम्रो हीन मानसिकता र लघुताभास फेरिनु जरुरी छ । भारत रिसाउँछ वा चीन रिसाउँछ भनेर शीतयुद्धकालीन मानसिकता राखेर हुँदैन । हाम्रा नेताहरू प्रधानमन्त्री वा मन्त्री बनाइदिन्छ कि भनेर दिल्ली वरपर घुमिरहनुको के अर्थ ?

भारतले प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल वा बाबुराम दुवैलाई उत्तिकै साथसहयोग दिएको छ । झलनाथ खनालका बेलामा भने मधेसी दलदेखि एमाले पार्टीभित्रकै अन्तरविरोध र अन्य कठिनाइ देखेर भारतले साथ नदिएको हुन सक्छ । बाबुराम तुलनात्मक रूपमा परिपक्व देखिन्छन् । भारतले बाबुराममार्फत माओवादी पक्षसँग सम्बन्ध सुधार्न चाहेको देखिन्छ । नेपालमा माओवादी सबैभन्दा ठूलो राजनीतिक दल देखिएकाले पनि यसलाई 'मिनिमाइज' गरेर नहुने भारत र चीनले बुझेका छन् । फेरि अहिले शक्ति-केन्द्रहरू विभाजित र बाँडिएको स्थिति छ । पहिलेजस्तो 'दरबार' वा 'राजा' भन्ने समय रहेन । अहिले माओवादी एक्लो शक्ति पनि होइन, कांग्रेस, एमाले, मधेसी मोर्चा वा जनजाति समुदाय- सबैलाई बाहिरी दुनियाँले एकसाथ सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने स्थिति छ ।

तर, विगतको प्रधानमन्त्री चुनावमा पूर्वराजदूत श्यामशरणले देखाएको 'ठाडो हस्तक्षेप' को हामी सबैले विरोध गर्नुपर्छ । कूटनीतिमा 'शान्त हस्तक्षेप' हुन्छ तर ठाडो प्रवृत्ति भने सधैं अस्वीकार्य हुन्छ, म यो ठाडो कूटनीतिको विरोधी छु । के महसुस भयो भने भारतले पनि माओवादीबिना अहिलेको स्थितिमा नेपाल-सम्बन्धमा अघि बढ्न सकिँदैन भन्ने बोध गरेको छ भने माओवादीले पनि भारतलाई पन्छाएर केही गर्न नसकिने यथार्थ बुझ्न सकेको छ । 'मातृकाप्रसाद हुन्छ,' 'बीपी हुँदैन' भन्ने भारतीय नीति २००७ सालदेखिकै हो । तर अनावश्यक रूपमा भारतविरोधी भएर हामी नारामा उत्रनुको अर्थ पनि छैन ।

नेपालमा भइरहेको बढ्दो भारतीय विशिष्ट पदाधिकारीको भ्रमणलाई कसरी लिनुहुन्छ ?

अहिले भारतीय विदेश सचिव रञ्जन मथाइ र अर्थमन्त्री प्रणव मुखर्जीको भ्रमण सन्दर्भमा यो जिज्ञासा आएको होला । तर पहिलोपटक शिष्टाचार भ्रमणमा आएका हुन् विदेश सचिव । यो सामान्य कुरा हो । यसलाई अनावश्यक उचाइ दिने हाम्रो मनस्थिति ठीक होइन । अर्को कुरा, राष्ट्रवाद भनेको भारतको विरोध गर्नु भन्ने मानसिकता हट्नु हटाउनु जरुरी छ । राष्ट्रियता भनेको नेपाली जनतासँगको कुरा हो । यो भारत वा चीनसँगको कुरा होइन । 

तर तिब्बती शरणार्थीसँगको कुरामा त हामीलाईर् अप्ठ्यारो स्थिति छ नि ?

हाम्रो राज्य कमजोर छ । अमेरिकाले 'युनिभर्सल' रूपमा भन्दै आएको हो कि तिब्बती स्वतन्त्रताका पक्षमा ऊ छ । उसले ह्वाइट हाउसमा दलाइ लामालाई भेट गर्दै आएको छ । यसकारण उसले स्वतन्त्रताको कुरा गर्नु स्वाभाविक हो । यता हामी भने दलाइ लामालाइ धर्मशालामा गएर भेट गर्ने एकजना सभासदलाई मन्त्री बनाइरहेका छौं, तर केही भन्न/गर्न सकिरहेका छैनौं । हो, यहीँनेर ठूलो विरोधाभास छ । हामीले सुरुमा आफ्नो घर दह्रो पार्नुपर्‍यो, हामी ठीक छौं भन्न सक्नुपर्‍यो । केवल नाराबाट परराष्ट्र र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध चल्दैन ।

नेपाली मनस्थिति सधैं भारतविरेाधी हुनाको कारण के हुन सक्छ ?

हाम्रो सबैभन्दा नजिकको छिमेकी त्यही हो । जो नजिक हुन्छ, त्यहीसँग बढी कटुता हुन्छ । तर विगतमा मैले जुन देखेको थिएँ, भारतविरोधी चिन्तन- त्यसमा अहिले धेरै कमी आएको छ । किनभने अहिले चिन्तन धेरै परिपक्व भएको छ ।

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'राजनीतिक महत्त्व'

नयाँदिल्ली ,
भारतीय अर्थमन्त्री प्रणव मुखर्जीको भ्रमण डीटीएए सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गर्ने प्रयोजनका लागि भए पनि त्यसको राजनीतिक महत्त्वसमेत रहेको स्रोतहरूले जनाएका छन् ।

'मुखर्जीको भ्रमणको मूल उद्देश्य डीटीएएमा हस्ताक्षर गर्नु भए पनि यसको अत्यन्तै महत्त्वपूर्ण राजनीतिक अर्थ छ,' नेपाल मामिला नजिकबाट नियाल्ने सत्तारूढ दलका एक नेताले भने, 'उनको भ्रमणले वर्तमान सरकार र जारी शान्ति तथा संविधान निर्माण प्रक्रियाप्रति भारतको निरन्तर समर्थन तथा सद्भाव झल्काउँछ ।'

आफ्नो काठमाडौं बसाइमा मुखर्जीले राष्ट्रपति रामवरण यादव, प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराई तथा नेपाली समकक्षी वर्षमान पुनसँग छुट्टाछुट्टै भेटवार्ता गर्नेछन् ।

मुखर्जी निकट सूत्रहरूका अनुसार उनले माओवादी अध्यक्ष दाहाल, कांग्रेस सभापति कोइराला, एमाले अध्यक्ष खनाललगायत शीर्ष नेतासँग पनि भेटी नेपालको पछिल्लो राजनीतिक अवस्थाबारे छलफल गर्नेछन् ।

मुखर्जी आइतबार विशेष एम्ब्रेयर विमानमा नयाँदिल्लीबाट काठमाडौं उड्नेछन् । आइतबारै साँझ उनी स्वदेश र्फकने कार्यक्रम छ । मुखर्जीको काठमाडौं यात्रामा केही उच्च भारतीय अधिकारी साथमा हुनेछन् । अर्थसचिव आरएस गुजराल, डाइरेक्ट ट्याक्स सेन्ट्रल बोर्डका अध्यक्ष एमसी जोशी, अर्थ मन्त्रालयका निर्देशक सुरेश यादवलगायत भारतीय अधिकारी मुखर्जीसँगै काठमाडौं पुग्दैछन् । भारतीय विदेश सचिव रन्जन मथाई मुखर्जीको भ्रमणको आधार तयार पार्न शनिबारै काठमाडौं पुगेका छन् । उनले विमानस्थलमा सञ्चारकर्मीमाझ भने, 'नेपालको शान्ति र स्थिरतासँग भारत सधैं जोडिएको छ ।'

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चौतारी: प्रेमको सार समर्पण

जनार्दन आचार्य(नेपाल) 23.11.2011आजको दिन भगवान् श्री सत्य साई बाबाले यस धरतीमा मानव रूपमा अवतार लिनुभएको शुभ दिन हो । उहाँको साकार मानव देहले महासमाधि लिइसकेको छ तर उहाँ विश्वका करोडौं भक्तका हृदयमा स्थायी रूपमा स्थापित हुनुहुन्छ । निराकार साई सर्वव्यापक हुनुहुन्छ । श्री सत्य साई बाबाले प्रतिस्थापन गर्नुभएको श्री सत्य साई संगठन एक विराट स्वरूप हो र यो अनन्तसम्म जीवन्त रहनेछ । श्री सत्य साई संगठन एक आध्यात्मिक संगठन हो । यसले गर्ने प्रत्येक कार्य आध्यात्मिक उत्थानमा आधारित हुन्छ । यहाँबाट जेजस्ता कार्य हुन्छन् सबै मानवसेवा र कल्याणका लागि मात्र हुन्छन् । कामको परिमाणभन्दा काम गर्दाको भावलाई महत्त्व दिइन्छ । कार्य गर्दा वा सेवामा संलग्न हुँदाको भाव नै भगवान्को पूजा हो । निःस्वार्थ तथा पवित्र भावले मानवसेवामा संलग्न भई आफ्नो आध्यात्मिक विकास गर्नु नै श्री सत्य साई संगठनको मूल उद्देश्य हो ।

भगवान् श्री सत्य साई बाबा भन्नुहुन्छ, 'गीतामा उल्लिखित भक्तियोग, कर्मयोग, ज्ञानयोग आदि योगको लक्ष्य भक्त र भगवान्लाई जोड्नु हो । सबै योगको एक मात्र लक्ष्य जीवात्मालाई परमात्मासँग मिलन अथवा एकाकार गराउनु हो । यहाँ केही मानिस हठयोग, क्रियायोग र राजयोगप्रति आकषिर्त भएका छन् । उनीहरूको विचारमा मात्र यी योगद्वारा भगवान्सँग साक्षात्कार हुन सकिन्छ भन्ने छ तर सबै योगहरूले हृदय स्वच्छ गर्न र सांसारिक बन्धनबाट मुक्त गर्न मद्दत मात्र गर्ने हो । यी कुनै पनि योगले परमात्माकहाँ पुर्‍याउन सक्दैनन् । प्रेमयोगले मात्र परमात्मासँग मिलन गराउन सक्छ ।'  तसर्थ प्रेमयोग नै साईयोग हो । प्रेमपथ नै साईपथ हो । सत्य, धर्म, शान्ति, प्रेम र अहिंसा नै साईपथ हो । यस पथमा पथिकका लागि कर्म नै पूजा हो र कर्तव्य भगवान् । श्री सत्य साई बाबाको आदर्शपथ यही हो । मानिस कर्मबेगर एक पल पनि रहन

सक्दैन । तिमीले आफ्ना कर्म पनि पवित्र, स्वच्छ, निर्मल, प्रेमपूर्ण र सुवासयोग्य बनाएर भगवान्लाई चढाउनुपर्छ अर्थात् तिम्रो कार्य चोखो, असल र उत्कृष्ट हुनुपर्छ । यस्तो कार्य नै कर्मयोग हो भनी भगवान् श्री सत्य साई बाबाले भन्नुभएको छ । 

बाबा भन्नुहुन्छ, 'गीताले तिमीलाई यस्तै कर्म भगवान्लाई अर्पण गर्न प्रेरित गरेको छ । जब तिमी यस्तै स्वच्छ कर्म कर्ता भावरहित भई निःस्वार्थ भावले भगवान्का चरणमा अर्पण गर्छौ, तिमी सबै कर्म बन्धनबाट मुक्त हुनेछौं । यसलाई नै अनाशक्तियोग भनिन्छ । गीताले तिमीलाई कर्म गर्न प्रोत्साहन मात्र होइन, गरिने कर्म भगवान्लाई अर्पणयोग्य बनाउन पनि प्रोत्साहित गरेको छ । अनाशक्तियोग बुद्धियोगभन्दा पनि कयौं गुना महान् र उच्च छ । तिमीले प्रयास गर्‍यौ भने तिम्रा सम्पूर्ण कर्म अनाशक्तियोगमा परिणत गर्न सक्छौं । बाबा भन्नुहुन्छ, 'प्रत्येक कर्म भगवान्लाई समर्पण गर र प्रत्येक सेवाका अवसरलाई भगवान्को प्रसादका रूपमा ग्रहण गर । यस प्रकारको निःस्वार्थ र आध्यात्मपरक सेवा नै आजको आवश्यकता हो । तिमीहरू यही पथबाट भौतिक अन्नमयबाट विज्ञानमय र त्यसबाट पनि अझ उच्च दैविक आनन्दमय स्थितिमा पुग्नु छ । प्रत्येकको हृदयमा एउटै परमात्मा निवास गर्नुहुन्छ । तसर्थ, निःस्वार्थ प्रेमपूर्वक गरिएको मानवसेवा नै माधव सेवा हो । यसरी गरिएको कर्म नै पूजा हो ।' बाबाका शब्दमा, 'तिमीलाई तोकिएको कार्य वा पेसालाई बोझ नठान, भगवान्को प्रसाद सम्झ । तोकिएको कर्मलाई प्रसन्नता तथा इमानदारीसाथ सम्पन्न गर । प्रेमपूर्वक सम्पन्न गर । तिम्रो कर्म पूजामा परिणत हुनेछ ।' जब हाम्रो मन, वचन र कर्म स्वःस्फूर्त रूपमा प्रेमले ओतप्रोत हुन्छ तब हामी आफूलाई दैवत्वका रूपमा पहिचान गर्न सक्छौं । बाबा भन्नुहुन्छ, 'आज विश्वमा दुष्टता तथा पापकर्मको रोकथाम र विनाश गर्ने सबैभन्दा शक्तिशाली हतियार- प्रेम हो ।'

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CM trip to break ice with Cong OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Nov. 21: Mamata Banerjee will reach Delhi tomorrow on a four-day trip that is being seen as aimed at removing the perception that Trinamul is considering parting ways with the Congress. Today, the Trinamul chief instructed her party leaders to refrain from commenting on yesterday’s Congress panchayati raj convention in Calcutta, where state Congress leaders criticised the ally. Although officially, the chief minister will visit Delhi to take part in the Bengal “State Day” celebrations at the India International Trade Fair on November 24, sources said she would reach two days earlier to “build bridges” with the Congress and also to seek the co-operation of bureaucrats for the development of Bengal. Trinamul sources ruled out the possibility of further escalating the tension with the Congress, saying Mamata was likely to meet the Prime Minister and other key central ministers and make it clear that she was not considering the possibility of pulling out of the UPA government. “Mamata is not going to spoil her relations with the Centre because of the tension with Bengal Congress leaders. Such things happen in politics,” a Trinamul MP said. “The Congress and Trinamul need each other and none would gain anything by precipitating a minor crisis,” he added. The chief minister will organise a dinner for Bengal-cadre IAS officers, including Manmohan Singh’s principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee, and other prominent Bengali bureaucrats in Delhi on Thursday to “seek their assistance” for Bengal’s development. Mamata had organised such dinners as railway minister but Thursday’s event gains significance because of Chatterjee’s inclusion in the guest list.

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Plea to rework tea loan period

 VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, Nov. 21: The Darjeeling tea growers have appealed to the Centre to extend the moratorium on the repayment of loan to replant bushes from five to 10 years.

According to the Special Purpose Tea Fund scheme launched by the Union commerce and industry ministry in 2007, growers who want to replant their gardens can get 50 per cent of the total cost as loan. The government gives 25 per cent of the cost as subsidy.

The scheme has provision for a moratorium of five years on the payment of the loans. The planters have to start repaying the loan from the sixth year onwards in eight equal instalments annually.

The planters have said the scheme has very few takers in the hills as the bushes become viable only after 10 to 12 years of replanting.

“In the plains, tea bushes become economically viable within five years. However, in the Darjeeling hills, tea is produced only after 10-12 years of replanting. We want the government to announce a moratorium of at least eight to 10 years to make the scheme attractive for the hill gardens,” Sanjay Bansal, the former chairperson of the Darjeeling Tea Association, told The Telegraph.

The growers have also objected to the mandatory clause of uprooting all bushes that are over 50 years old.

“Unlike the plains where the yield starts to decline after the bush crosses 50 years, the yield of tea bushes in Darjeeling do not decline till it reaches the age of 75 years. This aspect should also be considered by the government,” said Bansal.

The hill planters also objected to the government’s cost estimate for uprooting and replanting bushes.

According the ministry, the total expenditure incurred by the planters in undertaking the exercise would stand at around Rs 3.27 lakh per hectare.

“The calculations are wrong for the Darjeeling industry. The expenditure (of uprooting and replanting) touches the Rs 8 lakh per hectare mark and the government should also revise this figure if it (the scheme) is to be made attractive,” Bansal said.

According to Bansal, the scheme had a target area of 9,000 hectares in Darjeeling.

“Only 12 per cent of the target has been availed by the industry according to the 2010 end figures,” he said.

The DTA had organised a programme here today to hand over a cheque for Rs 20 lakh to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung for the relatives of the Bijanbari bridge collapse victims.

The association also handed over a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to the organisers of the Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival that will start on December 20.

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Rafters stare at job loss - Teesta rapids to drown in dams

RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, Nov. 21: More than 300 people eking out a living by operating rafts on the Teesta fear they will lose their income once dam projects on the river are completed next year. The owners and workers of rafting units in Teesta Bazar and Melli said the river would become staid and rapids would disappear upon the completion of the dams. “The NHPC is slated to commission one dam at Rambi in March. The thrill of rafting lies in riding the rapids. Once the rapids are gone, the water will be as staid as that of a lake. People will not be able to experience the thrill any more,” said Roshan Bhujel, the vice-president of the Teesta-Rangeet Raft Owners’ Association. A 10km-long stretch of the Teesta between Labarbote near Melli and 29th Mile is used for the rafting. Apart from the dam at Rambi, another one will come up at Kalijhora, 12km downstream. Rambi is 3km downstream 29th Mile. “Many more dams are being constructed upstream in Sikkim. The entire length of the Teesta will become unsuitable for rafting. We have been voicing our concerns regarding rafting ever since power projects were conceptualised. However, our concerns fell on deaf ears then and even now our pleas are not being heard,” lamented Bhujel. Given the fact that the dams are now a fait accompli, Bhujel said the least the authorities could do was provide them with an alternative source of livelihood. “Although we have taken up the matter with the NHPC and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, no satisfactory response has come from either of them. We are open to the idea of any kind of compensation. That could be in the form of jobs to the educated amongst us or monetary compensation for the loss of business we are certain to suffer from,” he said. Teesta Bazaar and Melli together have 45 to 50 rafts. According to Bhujel, the rafts provide direct employment to about150 people and over 200 villagers benefit indirectly. The rafting season lasts for about nine months from mid-September to May. While NHPC officials could not be reached for their comment, Morcha secretary Roshan Giri said his party was aware of the issue and the future of the villagers would have to be taken care of. “When we first took up the matter, the then NHPC official (at Rambi) had spoken about introducing boating in lieu of rafting. An alternative source of livelihood must be found for the people living off rafting,” he said.

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ribes seek council for growth - Totos: GTA won’t solve development problems

Totopara (Jalpaiguri), Nov. 21: The Totos have teamed up with four other tribes in the Dooars to seek a council to look after the development demands of the communities.

The tribes said the council had been sought, as they would continue to be neglected even if their areas of dominance came under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

The initiative to raise the demand was taken by the Totos and they were joined by Bodo, Mechh, Garo and Rabha tribes. While the Totos, notified as a primitive tribe by the Union government, number just over 1,400, the combined population of the other communities comes to around two lakh.

“For the past 35 years, we have remained neglected under the Left Front regime. Our land has been taken away; although our youths are educated, they are deprived of jobs. We are all reduced to labourers in the dolomite mines and the orange orchards in Bhutan,” Bakul Toto, the secretary of the Toto Kalyan Samiti, said today.

“The Mamata Banerjee government is announcing development programmes for the Darjeeling hills and Jungle Mahal. We also demand similar plans,” he said.

The Kalyan Samiti is the sole decision-making body of the primitive tribe.

Being a small community, the Totos said, they were not interested in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. “We have no other option but to demand a separate development council that will include other tribes which dominate the area around Totopara,” said Ashok Toto, a Samiti member.

Totopara is 115km from Jalpaiguri.

Asked about the composition of the council, Ashok said it would be run by the government and consist of elected representatives of all the five tribes. He added that the council would have neither constitutional powers nor territorial jurisdiction.

He pointed out that according to records drawn up in the early sixties, the Totos had 1,996 acres of land. “But till now, the state government has only registered 333 acres in our names. The rest of the land is being occupied illegally by other people and as a farming community, we are suffering,” Ashok said.

The president of the samiti, Dhaniram Toto, said their demands would be communicated in writing to Mamata Banerjee and north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb.

Dilip Thakur, the president of the West Bengal Bodo People’s Forum, which also includes the Rabha, Mechh and Garo tribes, said they totally backed the Totos’s demand. “We support the call for a particular development council , not on territorial lines but as a community-oriented development cell. There is no other way to ensure our development,” Thakur said.

Minister Deb said the demand was unjustified and made it clear that the government would not form any such council. “We are fully aware of the problems being faced by the tribes like the Totos. I will soon visit Totopara and the surrounding areas to know the living conditions of the people there. I can assure them that their problems will be solved in phases and we will ensure development there.”

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Lady death abroad reveals home truth - Fake passport holds up body in Saudi

VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, Nov. 21: The death of a young Panthabari woman in Saudi Arabia has brought to fore the existence of a racket that sends people from the Darjeeling hills to Arab countries on fake Nepali passports.

Anu Darzi, a mother of three in her late twenties, had died in the oil-rich Kingdom eight months ago. But her body couldn’t be brought home as she had gone to Saudi Arabia on a fake Nepali passport.

In Saudi Arabia, Darzi was known by the name Ratna Kumari Chand, a resident of Dailekh in Nepal. “She was sent to Saudi Arabia on a Nepal passport. The photograph on the passport was hers, but the name and the address were those of Ratna Kumari Chand. There is a spurt in the use of fake passports by agents who send people abroad,” said Rangu Shouria, the chairperson of the Siliguri-based Kanchenjungha Uddhar Kendra.

Shouria was speaking at a seminar on human trafficking here on Friday. The conference was organised by Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG) and the Goa-based Anyay Rahit Zindagi.

“Darzi was from Panthabari near Mirik. Her husband Bijay Mazumdar, who breaks stone on the riverbed in the Tarabari-Panthabari belt, was told in March this year by an unknown person that his wife had died in Saudi Arabia. However, we have not been able to get her body till date. We got to hear that she had probably been murdered on the night of February 28,” said Milan Chhetri with the Kendra.

The Siliguri-based organisation has not been able to help much as officially Darzi was not an Indian citizen in the eyes of the Saudi officials.

“We even went to Nepal and with the help of an NGO, Maiti Nepal, met government officials there. The problem lies in the fact that one Ratna Kumari Chand is alive in Dailekh. Her husband Bhim Bahadur Chand is also alive. Darzi’s husband had been mentioned as Bhim Bahadur Chand in the passport. For obvious reasons, the Saudi authorities wouldn’t send the body to India,” said Chhetri.

Darzi’s family in India hasn’t been able to do much. “The husband has lodged an FIR with Darjeeling police but Darzi’s agent Vikram Rai, who stays at Panitanki (a border town along the Indo-Nepal border near Kakarivitta ) is untraceable,” said Chhetri.

The Kanchenjungha Uddhar Kendra simply hopes that Darzi’s body will be handed over to her family members.

The incident has highlighted how the use of fake Nepalese passport is rampant. “Actually, a group of around 12 people had gone abroad using fake passports. One of them managed to come back seven days ago but the rest are still untraceable,” said Shouria.

People in the hills are assured of a passport and visa free of cost by the agents. The people who dream of a decent living in the Arab countries are also given anything between Rs10,000 and Rs 20,000 before they fly abroad from Nepal.

“The victims are told that the amount would be deducted from their salaries once they get jobs abroad. They do not get any help if they land in trouble, as the passports are bogus. People must stop thinking that just because someone managed to go and return home using such passports, everything is fine,” said Shouria.

Nirnay John Chhetri of MARG said a lot of people from the hills were being trafficked. “Since there is only one rehabilitation home for the three districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in Cooch Behar, we are facing a lot of problems in arranging accommodation for the rescued people.”

The case was handed over to the CID on August 25, an officer of the Mirik police station said. Ratnakumari Chand was the name mentioned in the FIR. Darjeeling police superintendent, Anant Kumar, said the police had come across such cases. “We have sent a report to the CID on fake passport rackets and also on this particular case. We are keeping a watch on the situation,” Kumar said.

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Recently crowned Sikkimese sensation North-East Superstar Singer Remanti Rai is inducted in Suresh K. Lama “SAMMAN”

Gangtok: Recently crowned Sikkimese sensation North-East Superstar Singer Remanti Rai is inducted in Suresh K. Lama “SAMMAN” (A honor to Nepali Singing Superstars from Nepalese Speaking communities of the world) music album along with Indian Idol 3 Prashant Tamang, Indian Idol 4 Runners up Kapil Thapa, Zee SaareGA maa Singing Superstar Karma Sherpa, Star Chote Ustad Pragriti Giri, South Asian Superstar Asushen Lama of Nepal, Himalayan Idol Banika Pradhan and introduced singer from Sikkim Ganga Mukhia.

Lyrics for Remanti Rai will be penned down by Technical Advisor and a Lyricist of this Music Album Mahendra Gurung supported by Ruben Shahi who is the Music Director of this album. All the songs is being recorded at DB Studio, Deorali-Gangtok.

Remanti Rai who had recently adjusted the winner of North East Superstar contest among the top singers of 8 North Eastern states of India told to the correspondent that “she is very much happy and proud to be a team of prestigious “SAMMAN” album in which she will featuring with internationally acclaimed singers among Nepali Speaking peoples and it’s a really a great honor to me given by producer himself”.

“SAMMAN” Music Album is in completing stage and after the voice over from North East Superstar Remanti Rai it will be released anytime. Producer Suresh K. Lama speaks out “I am very much happy when I had seen Remanti Rai performing at Guwahati in North East Superstar final, her song had really mesmerized judges and the audiences, she is now our superstar singer in much awaited prestigious music album and I will try my best to promote her around the globe” he further added that “she deserves the honor as well as title and our best wishes will always there for her future success in the field of music. “SAMMAN” album is postponed for release because of sad demise of Producer mother and recent Earthquakes damages which caused havoc in the state which is yet to be materialize.

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New states’ movement gets fresh impetus

UP chief minister Mayawati’s proposal to split UP into four states has given the much-needed impetus to the National Federation of New States (NFNS) which now plans to move ahead on the slogan “News states for New India”.

“Ms Mayawati’s approval for creation of Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh and Avadh Pradesh has lent weight to our demand for small states. If Ms Mayawati decides to lend her support to Telangana and Vidharbha, she can gain acceptability n the south also because Vidharbha is Ambedkar’s home state and Telangana has only 10 per upper caste population,” said Mr P. Niroop Reddy, convenor of the NFNS, here on Thursday.
Mr Reddy said that Ms Mayawati’s announcement had certainly given credibility to the movement for new states and was bound to have an impact on the political scenario. The fact that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has supported her proposal was an added advantage.
“Her specific announcement will definitely give momentum to our movement because till now most political parties have been dilly-dallying on the issue,” he said.
The NFNS now plans to gain wider political acceptability to their demand for Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh (or Paschim Pradesh), Telangana, Vidharbha and Gorkhaland by meeting other top politicians and seeking their support.
“We will be meeting in Delhi early next month to draw up our future strategy now that Ms Mayawati has taken a concrete step in the direction of creating small states. Elections are due in most states where we can pressing for creation of new states over the next two years and we hope to use this to our advantage,” said Mr Raja Bundela, who heads the Bundelkhand Congress.
Other leaders who are now preparing to give momentum to their movement include Anil Bhonde (Vidharbha), Sanjayan Tripathi (Purvanchal), Prof. Manish Tamang (Gorkhaland) and Dr R.S. Rana (Brij Pradesh in Uttar Pradesh).

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कालेबुङ प्रेस क्लबले आज आफ्नो 13औ स्थापना दिवसको अवसरमा मिसन कम्पाउण्ड निवासी ववीता घतानी (धमलालाई) चोथौ कालेबुङ रतन पुरस्कारले सम्मन जनाइयो ।

फेंसी बुटिककी संस्थापिका बबीता घतानी दमालाले व्यवासय साथ साथै वेरोजगार युवतीहरुलाई रोजगारको अवसार प्रदान गर्दै आइरहेकोमा आज कालेबुङ प्रेस क्लबले आफ्नो 13 औ स्थापना दिवसको अवसरमा सम्मान जनाइयो । आज स्थानिय रमाकृष्ण रंगमञ्च भवानमा प्रेस क्लबले 13 औ स्थापना दिवस अनि कालेबुङ रत्न पुरस्कार समारोह आयोजना गरेको थियो। कार्यक्रमा कालेबुङका विधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्री मुख्य अथिति रहेका थिए। उक्त कार्यक्रमा शिक्षा वित पीआर प्रधान , पीबी घतानी , कालेबुङ विक्ष्यान केन्द्रका किउरेटर बी बी गुरुङ आदि विशिष्ट अतिथिको रुपमा उपस्थित थिए।

      कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित भएका मुख्य अतिथि डा छेत्रीको बहुली बाट फेंसी बुटीककी संस्थापीका बबिता घतानी धमालालाई अंग वस्त्र . स्मृती चिन्ह अनि प्रसस्ती पत्र प्रदान गरी सम्वर्धना जनाइयो।

यसै कार्यक्रममा यहाँको एसयुएमाइ विधालय अनि सप्तश्री क्ष्यानपीट विधालयलाई पनि शिक्षाको क्षेत्रमा पुर्याएको योगदानको मुल्याङ्कन गर्दै आज सम्मान जनाइयो। यसै कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित भएका टी भी पत्रकार अरुण कुमारको वाहुलीबाट दैनन्दनी समाचार च्यानलका भिडियो ग्राफर एवम तकनिकी सम्पादक मनोज राईलाई पनि प्रसस्ती पत्र प्रदान गर्दै सम्मान जनाइयो ।कार्यक्रममा क्लबका अध्याक्ष अरुण कुमार रसाइली सचिव अरुण कुमार राई अनि सदस्यहरुको पनि उपस्थित रहेको थियो । कार्यक्रमलाई क्लबका सद्स्य एवम शिक्षक सिताराम काफ्लेले सञ्चालन गरेका थिए।

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Morcha rebels stay put in polls

VIVEK CHHETRI

Darjeeling, Nov. 18: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s dream of winning elections to all four hill municipalities uncontested received a jolt with Independents remaining in the fray in five wards of the Mirik civic body.

When the withdrawal of the nominations closed today, the Morcha acted swiftly and announced the expulsion of three Independents.

“Of the five candidates who did not withdraw the nominations, three were our party members. We have expelled them for going against the party decision. The other two candidates don’t belong to the Morcha and are probably backed by the GNLF,” said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.

Eight persons had filed papers as Independents in six of the nine seats in Mirik. While Saraswati Tamang (ward 3), Nima Singh Tamang (ward 6) and Sunil Bomzom (ward 7) withdrew their nominations this afternoon, the other Independents decided to stay in the fray. The five are Bijay Tamang (ward 6), Roshan Tamang (ward 7), Krishna Sarkri (ward 8), Bijay Tamang (ward 9) and Pemba Tshering Bhutia (ward 2).

The candidates expelled from the Morcha are Bijay Tamang, Roshan Tamang and Krishna Sarki. “Bijay Tamang was a member of the party’s town committee, while Roshan Tamang was with the Yuva Morcha. Krishna Sarki belonged to the Nari Morcha,” said Giri.

The municipal elections will be held on December 11 and Morcha candidates will take on the Independents in five seats. The rest of the wards have been won by M.K. Zimba (ward 3), Manikala Ghalay (ward 1), Mala Subba (ward 4) and Barun Subba (ward 5). This essentially means that the Morcha needs to win one more seat to take control of the municipality.

If the Morcha loses all the five seats, it will have to sit in the Opposition and this could come as a major blow to the party in Mirik. Notable leaders who have to fight the elections are Arun Ghisingh (ward 2), the vice-president of the Morcha’s Mirik Mahakuma Parishad, and L.B. Rai (ward 7), a central committee member of the party and a former chairperson of the Mirik municipality.

The Morcha has declared that Rai will be the chairperson of the Mirik municipality if the party wins the polls.

After retreating from the contest, Saraswati Tamang said she had filed the papers to drive home the point that no leader could carry on without taking others on board.

“Even though I was an ex-commissioner of the Mirik municipality and a member of the Morcha, certain leaders of the branch committee used to domineer over me. I was never against the party but wanted to prove a point. As I am convinced with the assurances of the central committee members, I decided to withdraw the nomination in the interest of the party,” she said.

Bijay Tamang, one of the expelled Morcha members, said: “We do not have any negative attitude towards the party but since this is a democratic country, we have decided to contest the elections.”

Although the Morcha has won all the seats uncontested in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, the boards there can be formed only after the election process in Mirik is over. Counting of votes in Mirik will take place on December 13.

(The Telegraph)

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Tribal rebels vow to defy state leaders

Kalchini (Alipurduar), Nov. 18: The dissident Adivasi leaders who wanted to join the hill administration today said they would not accept any action against them by the state leadership.

The state committee of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad is slated to meet in Calcutta on November 26 to decide on the action to be taken against five leaders from the Terai and the Dooars.

“Before signing the agreement with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha at Mungpoo, we had conferred with more than 300 members of our units in the Terai and Dooars. We will attend the meeting in Calcutta on November 26 when the state committee takes a decision on our replies to the showcause notices. The state committee will have to declare their decision for or against us. We will not abide by any decision against us,” said John Barla, the former president of the Dooars-Terai regional unit of the Parishad.

Barla, Parishad state secretary Tezkumar Toppo and Sukra Munda, the president of the Progressive Tea Workers Union, an affiliate of the forum, were among the five leaders showcaused by the state committee.

The five were asked to explain why they had entered into an agreement with the Morcha to include the Adivasi-dominated regions in the GTA.

Today, Barla and Munda convened a meeting at the Kalchini Athletic Club where they explained their stand to about 300 Parishad members. Parishad state president Birsa Tirkey came under severe criticism at the meeting. Some supporters even said Tirkey had no right to take decisions on the Adivasis in the Terai and the Dooars.

(The Telegraph)

“We explained to the Parishad members at the meeting that why we had signed the agreement with the Morcha. While Birsa Tirkey was sitting in Calcutta, it was we who had fought the Morcha. Tirkey says the Parishad is not willing to yield an inch of land to the GTA, but he can’t say how development can take place here,” said Barla.

Contacted over the phone, Tirkey said: “Barla has been suspended from his post and he cannot convene a meeting. He is trying to fool the people of our community who are largely illiterate.”

An observer said the rebels know well that the state committee will take stern action against them. “Prior to that, the dissidents are trying to consolidate their position in the Terai and the Dooars.”

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Plea to stall work on power projects

BIJOY GURUNG

Gangtok, Nov. 18: A section of villagers from West Sikkim today pleaded to the governor to stop work on the two power projects on the Rathong Chu till a review was completed. Three mega projects had been proposed on the Rathong Chu, considered sacred by the Buddhists. While the 96 MW Lethang project has already been rejected by the National Board for Wildlife under the Union ministry for environment and forest, the 99 MW Ting Ting project has received environmental clearance and work on the 97 MW Tashiding power project started six months ago. Today residents of Tashiding, Yangthang and the adjoining areas under the banner of Save Sikkim told governor B.P. Singh that “a wide crack has appeared on the land surface” above the under-construction tunnel at the Tashiding project in Amblok village after the September 18 quake. “The crack, some 5km above the tunnel, was noticed after the earthquake and it is wide and deep enough to swallow a person or cattle. People of 11 villages under Yangtey gram panchayat, over which the tunnel passes, fear an impending disaster,” said Save Sikkim member Prabhu Ram Kharka. “The projects are being reviewed by both the state and the Centre and we demand that the tunnel construction be stopped till the assessment is over,” he said. The members have said if the work is not stopped in a week, they will organise protests. “We have support from most parts of West Sikkim and one youth from every house in Yangtey will join the protest,” said Kharka.(the telegraph)

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Tie-up call for hills, UK garden - Cross-country bond beckons tea & tourism

Siliguri, Nov. 18: A delegation of industrialists from north Bengal has proposed to twin Darjeeling hills with England’s only tea garden, Tregothnan, for free flow of tourists and exchange of tea. The proposal came from the North Bengal zonal council of the Confederation of Indian Industry, when a team visited the Tregothnan estate in September. The estate in Cornwall in the south-west of England comprises tea plantation, dense woods and several tourist attractions. “It was nice to visit the estate that is spread over two counties of Cornwall and Kent. Tea is cultivated on around 100 acres on the estate. We proposed that Tregothnan can be twinned with Darjeeling hills, especially with focus on Darjeeling tea. There can be exchange of information, different species of tea and other flora between the two places,” said Ramgopal Jajodia, the chairperson of the zonal council of the CII. Jonathon Jones, a director of the Tregothnan estate, told the delegation that he would take a positive look at the proposal. “He (Jones) seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea and said joint efforts need to be made to forge the tie-up by including the stakeholders of the Darjeeling tea industry and the governments of India and the UK,” said Jajodia. The delegates had recounted during their interaction with the Tregothnan officials that the bond between India and England with regard to tea go back to when the British had set up gardens in north Bengal and other parts of the country centuries back. The CII feels the tie-up between the hills and the Tregothnan estate that came up in 1335 can give global exposure to Indian tea. “Our intention is to augment the international market of Indian tea. If we can forge a relationship with the UK-based estate, it will go a long way in promoting Darjeeling as a tourist destination and the producer of best brew. This is because a lot of people from different parts of the UK and other countries visit Tregothnan and they can be told about Darjeeling. Similarly, Tregothnan can also be promoted among the tourists coming to Darjeeling,” said Jajodia. The CII officials said they were eagerly looking forward to a reply from Tregothnan official Jones on the proposal when he attended the three-day Indian Tea Forum here next month. The event will be organised by the CII from December 17 to 19. “Jones has confirmed his participation at the event and will make a presentation on December 18. We can hear from him what exactly they want. The matter can be discussed with the tea stakeholders and government officials as well at the forum,” said Laxmi Limbu Kaushal, the administrative head of the CII zonal council and one of the delegates to the UK. The forum is being organised to promote the beverage and tourism internationally, and will see experts discuss various issues related to the tea industry. Kaushal said Tregothnan resembled Darjeeling in terms of flora. “Like Darjeeling, the estate has tea plants, rhododendrons and shrubs. We saw in Tregothnan tea plants brought from Sikkim and Darjeeling. One of the Sikkim plants was 100 years old,” she said.(the Telegraph)

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District level sadbhawna sammelan was organised by manav uthan sewa samiti south Sikkim at nandugaon school playground.

District level sadbhawna sammelan  was organised  by  manav uthan sewa samiti  south Sikkim at nandugaon  school playground.programe organised under the guidance of namchi tahasil of MUSS  Mr. madan cinturi MLA zoom salghari was present as a chief guest of the programme.spritual function conducted by Mr. t b rai ,simfed chairman  Mr. girish Chandra rai ,MUSS north East region president  mahatma viraknandji,SDM namchi Mr. purna yonzon, mahatma hariboddhanandji,mahatma puja baiji, mahatma gyan baiji,smriti  baiji,headmaster sagar moktan,MUSS Sikkim state president Mr. lax man rai,panchayats ,teachers ,students and local residents was specially present in the programme.spritual leader addressing the function specially urged the peoples   to come forward  for making good society.spritual lesson is most compulsory to make a good and clean society,mr madan ccintury MLA  as a chief guest addressing specially requested the organising committee to organise such type of programme more and more in the state and specially in villages.

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The State Government vide Gazettee Notification

The State Government vide Gazettee Notification no. 83/Home/2011 dated 14.11.2011 has constituted a committee chaired by Chief Secretary which shall examine the damages caused to the monasteries, other Religious institutions and heritage sites of Sikkim by the earthquake of 18^th September 2011, with the help of experts and submit a detail report to the Government for repair and restoration of the damages. This has been done to ensure that the damaged monasteries are restored to their original shape for which opinion and recommendation of a High Level Committee consisting of technical experts on the subject is required. The eleven member committee headed by Chief Secretary of the state has Secretary, Cultural and Heritage Department as Member Secretary.

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NABARD conducts District Level Awareness Programme for Farmers Clubs on the Scheme for Development / Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization at Namchi

 PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU-CUM-IC

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

GANGTOK

***

 

NABARD conducts District Level Awareness Programme for Farmers Clubs  on  the Scheme for Development / Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization   at Namchi

 

Gangtok 18^th November, 2011

                                                                  

A District Awareness Programme for Farmers Clubs  on  the Scheme for Development / Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization  was conducted at   Namchi by NABCONS, a subsidiary of NABARD.

 

Shri Mahesh Goyal, Assistant .Gen.eral Manager, NABARD,Gangtok inaugurated the programme and briefed the participants on the Scheme and and apprised the house that Farmers Clubs can play a very important role in popularizing this Scheme for Development / Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization so that the farmers can come forward to take the benefit of credit linked back ended subsidy. Further he also emphasized the  importance of cleaning & grading for getting better price for agriculture commodity. Further the farmer could also create storage alongwith the cleaning & grading. Shri Goyal informed that this scheme is reform linked and Sikkim State has amended the APMC act as such all benefits can be taken under the scheme.

Shri J. C. Biswas, DDM, NABARD, Namchi made detailed presentation on the various aspects of  the scheme and its relevance in increasing incomes of farmers.  He informed that assistance under the scheme is available to individuals, groups of farmers, growers, SHGs, Cooperative Marketing Federations etc. Under the scheme subsidy  @ 33.33 %  of the capital cost of the project subject to upper ceiling of Rs 60.00 Lakhs is available for North eastern states. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, is the nodal agency to operate the scheme. NABARD will be administering the subsidy and monitoring the progress of the scheme. The participants were very happy on knowing about this scheme and assured to popularize it so that maximum farmers could take benefit of it.

The programme was attended by Shri Kamal Thatal, Deputy Project Director, ATMA, Food Security & Agriculture Development Department, Govt of Sikkim, Namchi, South Sikkim, members of Farmers Clubs, NGOs, Bankers  and KVK Officials.

 (PIB)

  ******

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पुस्तकालय निमार्णको निम्ति कलेजमा आएको सरकारी राशीको व्यक्तिगतरुपमा प्रयोग हुन्दैँ छ। -शुन्दाश..

युवासङ्गम

कालेबुङ 18 नोभेम्बर : कालेबुङ महाविधालयको पुस्तकालय निर्माण बिषय लाई गारजेंस फोरम फर एडुकेशनका तारा सुन्दाशले हाल एउटा जटिल मुद्दा नै बनाएका छ्न्।सुन्दाशले पुस्तकालय निर्माणको निम्ति महाविधालयमा आएको सरकारी राशी कलेज सञ्चालन समितिले व्यक्तीगतरुपम प्रयोग गरिरहेको आरोप लगाएका छ्न।पुस्तकालय निमार्णको निम्ति कलेज सञ्चालन समितिले खुल्ला टेण्डर गर्नु पर्छ भन्ने बिषयमा तारा सुन्दाश अडिक रहेका छन । गत केहि दिन अघि पनि सुन्दाशले यसै बिषय लिएर महाविधालय पक्षा लाई विभिन्न प्रकारको आरोपहरु लगाएका थिए। आज पनि सुन्दाशले स्थानिय एउटा होटलमा पत्रकार सम्मेलनको आयोजना गरि कालेबुङ सरकारी महाविधालयले जारी गरेको स्पष्टीकरण सबै झुठो रहेको दावी गरेका छन।आफ्नो पार्टी सीपी(आइ)एम को जिल्ला समितिको प्रयासले नै कालेबुङ सरकारी महाविधालयले पुस्तकालय निमार्ण फण्ड पाएको बताउँदै सुन्दाशले गत वर्षाको 9 सेप्टेम्बरको दिन जारी गरेको आधिकारीक विक्ष्याप्तीको आधारमा कलेजले खण्ड विकाश अधिकारी अथवा महकुमा अधिकारीको सहयोगले मात्र पुस्तकालय निमार्ण गर्नु सक्ने निर्णय लिएको तर आज आएर कलेज पक्षाले नगरपालिका अभियंत को दिलाइले गर्दा पुस्तकालय निमार्णमा पनि दिलो भएको भन्नु झुठो कुरा रहेको उनले आरोप लगाएका छन।युजीसीले गठ्न गरेको निमार्ण समितिमा सरकारी अभियंत हुन्छ तर पनि कालेबुङ कलेजले किन महकुमा अधिकारी कार्यालयको अभियंत पर्खीरहेको भन्दै सुन्दाशले कलेज पक्षालाई प्रशन उठाएका छन।अन्य विभागको अभियंतहरु नहालेर केवल एसडीओ को अभियंतलाई मात्र पुस्तकालय निमार्ण समितिमा हाल्नु मिलिभगत विषय रहेको सुन्दाशको आरोप छ।सरकारी पैसाको टेण्डर गर्नुमा कलेज पक्षा किन दराउँदै छ भन्दै सुन्दाशले कलेजको निमार्ण समितिलाई केवल काम हेर्ने अधिकार मात्र छ तर काम गर्ने अधिकार सरकारले दिएको छैन भन्दै उनले पुन एक चोटी पुस्तकालय निर्माणको निम्ति खुल्ला टेण्डर गर्ने माग गरेका छन ।सुन्दाशले आज उत्तर बंगाल विश्वविधालयको सन 1981 सालको एमाण्डमेन्ट एक्ट पत्रकारहरुलाई देखाउँदै त्यस एक्ट भित्र भएको क्षमता भन्दा अधिक क्षमता कालेबुङ सरकारी महाविधालय सञ्चालन समितिका सचिउले उपभोक गरीरहेको बताएका छन।यदी पुस्तकालय निमार्णको निम्ति टेण्डर नगराए कलेज सञ्चालन समितिका सभापती अनि सचिउलाई न्यायलयमा उभाउने शुन्दाशले चुनौती दिएका छन्।

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