Showing posts with label mirik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mirik. Show all posts

मिरिकमा फुटबल कोचिङ शुरु हुने

4:44 PM

१ अगस्तदेखि मिरिकमा फुटबल कोचिङ शुरु हुनेछ । प्रत्येक शनिबार र अाईतबार बिहान ७ बजेदेखि ८ बजेसम्म कोचिङ हुनेछ ।

कोचिङ क्लास यहाँको अाले खेल मैदानमा हुनेछ । कोचिङ क्लास सिलगढीको प्रसिद्ध क्लब डायनमिक फुटबल एकाडेमी अनि कञ्चनजंघा फुटबल क्लब ( केएफसी ) को संयुक्त अायोजनमा कोचिङ क्लास हुने मिरिक स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनाएको छ । ८ वर्षदेखि १९ वर्ष उमेरसम्मको ईच्छुक खेलाडीहरुलाई अंश ग्रहण गराएर फुटबल कोचिङ क्लास हुने जानकारी दिदै यी उमेरका खेलाडीहरुले भर्ना लिन सक्ने पनि बताए ।

तृणमूल स्तरबाट नै बलियो अाधार दिन अनि फुटबलको सठीक ज्ञान दिन फुटबल कोचिङ क्लास अायोजन गरिएको अनि कोचिङमा उत्कृष्ट हुनेहरुलाई इण्डियन अाई लीगमा पठाउने लक्ष्य राखेको अनि अण्डर १९को लागि पनि खेलाडी तयार पार्ने उद्धेश्य राखिएको केएफसीले जनाएको छ । फुटबल एकाडेमी पनि सुचारु हुने जानकारी दिदै एकाडेमी ३० जना खेलाडीहरु लिएर शुरु हुने जसकोलागि १२ जनाले भर्ना लिइसकेको अब १८ जनालाई भर्ना लिन बाँकी रहेको पनि मिरिक स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनायो । एक अगस्तदेखि शुरु हुने फुटबल कोचिङ क्लासको निम्ति मिरिक बजारको स्पोर्टस हाउससंग सम्पर्क राख्न अाह्वान गरिएको छ ।कोचिङको लागि २२ जुलाईसम्म नाम दर्ता गराईसक्नु पर्ने पनि स्पोर्टस हाउसले जनाएको छ ।

via Voice of Mirik

MIRIK MURDER CASE, DEAD BODY REACHED MEDICAL COLLEGE

7:31 PM

MIRIK, 19th April: Family discussion resulted to a murder of younger brother at Mirik’s Jaman Singh Gaon under Thurbo Tea Garden.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night around 9 pm when younger brother trying to stop the fight of his two elder brothers was stabbed with sharp broken looking glass.

According to Mirik police Karan Dewan (25) and his Roshan Dewan were having discussion which turned into fight later when Nitesh Dewan alias Bhaichung (18) came and tried to stop them was stabbed by Karan.

Soon the relatives and villagers took blooded Nitesh to the hospital but died on the way.

Karan, Roshan and Nitesh are all cousin brothers and were gathered at aunt’s ‘antesty kria’ (13th day of traditional rites after death).

Mirik police have arrested Karan and booked a murder case while dead body of Nitesh was sent to North Bengal Medical & Hospital for post-mortem.

The reason of discussion and death has not been known so far but police is investigating into the matter.

NBE REPORTS

Bengali optional in hills: CM Mamata Banerjee

4:48 PM

-BIRESWAR BANERJEE

Mirik, June 5: Mamata Banerjee today said Bengali would not be compulsory at schools in the Darjeeling hills and in certain areas of the Dooars and the Terai.

The chief minister's about-turn is perceived to be aimed at meeting the twin objectives of soothing the frayed nerves in the hills and retaining the advantage Trinamul had made in recent civic polls.

Despite Mamata's announcement, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said it would continue to hold processions across the hills till June 8 on the language issue.

Mamata made the announcement at a government programme here amidst an agitation launched by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on the language issue.

"Some persons here are playing politics and trying to divide people. The GTA elections are ahead and as they lack a proper issue, they are spreading rumours. We want to make it clear that Bengali will not be a compulsory language in the hills and in some parts of the Terai and the Dooars," Mamata said.

After the state government had made public its plan to make learning of Bengali compulsory at schools, Mamata and education minister Partha Chatterjee said the decision would be applicable to the hills as well.

However, the chief minister made a U-turn in Mirik today and said Bengali would be the fourth language in the hills.

"If Bengalis can read Nepali, then why can't Gorkhas read Bengali? We want to keep Bengali as an optional language as students in the hills need to know Bengali. In due course, when they will move out to other parts of the state for jobs, this learning will help them. It will be an optional language here," she said.

The change in the decision, observers said, was necessary to ensure that the hills did not shun Trinamul that had just won Mirik municipality and some seats in three other hill civic bodies.

"The decision had led to protests in the hills and the Morcha that was a bit upset after losing Mirik to Trinamul got a pertinent issue to revive its support base. After today's announcement, the situation has again become favourable for Trinamul," an observer said.

Mamata also said the state government would audit the spending of funds by the GTA that is administered by the Morcha.

(Via:Telegraph )

Lights-off protest call in Mirik against bengali language imposition

5:26 PM
TMC

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today asked the residents of Mirik to switch off lights for two hours tomorrow evening when Mamata Banerjee will attend a government programme there.

The Morcha also appealed to students and people to wear black badges during the chief minister's tour of the hills as part of an intensified agitation against the state government's decision to make Bengali learning compulsory at schools.

Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: "We call upon people to switch off lights for two hours from 6pm tomorrow to protest against the imposition of Bengali language on the hill people. We will think that those who don't switch off lights are against Gorkhaland and our language."

The chief minister is slated to attend a government programme at Mirik from 5pm tomorrow.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the blackout would be restricted to Mirik.

Morcha president Bimal Gurung, along with senior leaders, took part in a march from Ghoom railway station to Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling, a distance of about 8km, today to protest against the language issue.

Mamata will be in Darjeeling for four days from Tuesday. The state cabinet is scheduled to meet in Darjeeling on Thursday.

The Morcha has lined up marches across the hills during the chief minister's tour of the region.

"We request students from Class V onwards to wear black badges at schools till June 9. We also appeal to general public to move around with black badges," said Giri.

Amit P. Javalgi, the superintendent of police, Darjeeling, said permission would be denied to the Morcha to take out processions in Darjeeling and Kurseong on June 6, 7 and 8 "since there will be the movement of a lot of ministers for a government event".

"They could hold processions at other places," added Javalgi.

The police chief said: "We had given permission to hold rallies today. We are giving them (Morcha) permission to organise marches tomorrow (even in Mirik) on condition that they should be peaceful and democratic and should not disturb any government programmes."

Giri said the marches would be peaceful and the Morcha would seek permission for the same in Darjeeling and Kurseong on June 6, 7 and 8.

He asked people to attend a rally from Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan to Chowk Bazar in Darjeeling on June 6 in traditional attire. Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan is about 1km from Richmond Hill where Mamata would be staying during her visit.

In Siliguri, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijavargiya said the state government should have held talks with those who had reservation about the language decision.

"Instead, the state decided to impose a language on the hill people which led to the agitation. Their sentiments have been hurt. The state has made an undesirable move in a democratic system," he said.

Minister Gautam Deb today said in Siliguri: "People are not supporting the Morcha's agitation. Trinamul supporters are relentlessly working to build opinion against the movement. Bimal Gurung is fast losing his support base in the hills and is trying to retain it by duping people."

He said Mamata would reach Bagdogra tomorrow and head for Mirik.(TT)

Hill TMC says no to compulsory Bengali

2:36 PM
TMC

Hill TMC says no to compulsory Bengali: To speak to Mamata Banerjee in Mirik

With the opposition to implementing Bengali being spearheaded by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha gaining momentum, the TMC (hills) yesterday said it had spoken to party high commands in Kolkata to not make it mandatory in the hill schools.

The hill TMC leaders finding themselves in an awkward situation given the sentiments attached with the issue organized a public meeting in Darjeeling town today to clear the air. ““Yesterday, I spoke with Partha Chatterjee, the state education minister to know more about the issue and also apprise him about our stand. I told him that the state government should allow the present system under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to continue. Bengali as an option is okay but we will not accept if it is made compulsory,” asserted Rajen Mukhia, the hill TMC president, today.

The local TMC leaders did not find anything amiss to have Bengali as an optional language in the hill schools saying it was important to learn new languages. “We (TMC hill leaders) are also sons of the soil and Gorkhas. Knowing Bengali will stand us in good stead as the language is most spoken in the plains where we often visit. However, we too will not accept if Bengali is made compulsory on us,” reiterated Mukhia.

Schools and colleges remained closed today in the hills. The GJM has asked educational institutions to close for two days on June 1 and 2, in protest against the alleged imposition of Bengali in the region’s schools.

Mukhia though alleged GJM was politicizing the issue by spreading false rumours. “GJM is playing with the sentiments of the people for political gains. No government orders or circulars have been issued so far. I want to tell the heads of schools here that the rumours are false. We will take up the matter with chief minister Mamata Banerjee when she visits Mirik on June 5,” the hill TMC president said.

When asked to comment on the GJM rallies from June 4 to 8 during the Bengal CM’s visit to the region, the hill TMC president said, “We have come to know that they (GJM) will show black flags to the chief minister. We want to say here that she (Banerjee) besides being the state’s CM is also our leader. If she is shown black flags than we too will reciprocate it on their party president (Bimal Gurung ) during his programs,” Mukhia retorted.

[Via: EOCI]

Mirik: Trinamul's launch pad in hills

12:21 PM

Bireswar Banerjee

Mirik, May 29: From today, Mirik will be Trinamul's new signpost in the Darjeeling hills.
The party is expected to announce and implement a slew of schemes for the hill town and showcase Mirik before the hill people as the example of Mamata Banerjee's development agenda.

"So far, Bengal ministers and Trinamul leaders have highlighted the projects taken up by the state government in the hills. But from now onwards, the new civic board will implement projects in Mirik. The entire Mirik subdivision will witness comprehensive development. It is because of the mandate of Mirik residents that our party is tasting power in the hills," a Trinamul leader here said today, soon after the party's L.B. Rai was sworn in as the Mirik chairman.

He said Mirik would provide Trinamul with a launch-pad to penetrate the rest of the hills, especially before the coming polls to the GTA Sabha.

The Morcha will be under pressure to perform at the three other civic bodies in the hills. Morcha president Bimal Gurung had said after the civic poll results that people had given them "one last chance".

If the civic body in Mirik can establish that it is performing better than the three other boards, there will be more trouble for the Morcha.

Trinamul leader and minister Aroop Biswas affirmed that Rai and his colleagues would have a tough task at hand. "People here have huge expectations from Trinamul councillors and our party. It is obvious that they will have to perform and prove that the peoples' mandate was right. We will constantly monitor the civic body's functioning and extend all necessary help to them," Biswas said.

The hill town today wore a look of celebrations, with the flags of Trinamul and GNLF fluttering across Mirik. The six Trinamul councillors were taken to the municipality building in a bike rally organised by the party supporters.

Some of the councillors were riding pillion.

After the chairman and the vice-chairman were sworn in, the Trinamul supporters took out a procession in which the councillors and minister Biswas took part.

The march ended near Sumendu lake.

The three Morcha councillors left soon after they had taken oath and didn't wait to attend the first board meeting.

[via: Telegraph ]

Alert‬ taxi driver foils alleged trafficking bid, 4 Darjeeling girls rescued

10:43 PM
NGO
Writes Amitava Banerjee, 
7 Jul 2016, DARJEELING: Four local girls were rescued from Darjeeling Hills on Saturday just as they were about to be trafficked, thanks to a vigilant taxi driver who alerted authorities in time.
The incident happened at Mirik, a scenic tourist town in Darjeeling surrounded by tea gardens. However, the economically backward condition of people of the tea gardens and surrounding villages makes it highly vulnerable to trafficking. A number of sex rackets operating from private residences and guest houses were unearthed in SIliguri and other towns of North Bengal recently.
Sailesh Subba, the taxi driver at Krishnanagar taxi stand in Mirik, noticed the four girls talking to a man, who looked like an outsider.
“Recently I had attended an anti-trafficking awareness programme conducted by MARG, an NGO, and police,” Subba told HT. Suspecting something wrong, he approached the girls and learnt that they were going to Bangalore for jobs in a beauty parlour and that the man was escorting them to Siliguri railway station.
He immediately informed the NGO which in turn alerted the police. The four girls and the man were taken into custody for questioning.
Alert‬ taxi driver foils alleged trafficking bid, 4 Darjeeling girls rescued
Sailesh Subba, the taxi driver at Krishnanagar taxi stand in Mirik. (HT Photo)
The girls, aged between 18 and 24 years, revealed that they had undergone a beautician course and were offered jobs in a salon in Bangalore through a manpower placement agency in Kolkata. (The name of the manpower agency and the salon has been withheld for investigation purposes.)
“We found a lot of anomalies in the documents,” investigating officer R K Diyali said. “The Kolkata placement agency document claimed that seven girls would be joining as stewards in F&B service department of the Bangalore based organization. However, the girls had no clue they were joining as stewards. The offer letter from the Bangalore salon claimed they would be joining as hairstylists and beauticians.”
Nirnay John Chettri, president of the NGO, Mankind in Action for Rural Growth (MARG), said they got in touch with “our partner NGO, Justice and Care, in Bangalore. They paid a visit to the salon posing as customers. Except for a massage bed, the single room did not have any equipment used in a salon.”
50-year-old Prabal Mohan Bhattacharya from North 24 Parganas has been arrested and charged under Section 370 IPC (trafficking). “We are thoroughly investigating the case,” the Investigating Officer Diyali said.
Recently four students of Darjeeling Hills had unearthed an international flesh trade racket resulting in the arrest of its kingpin from Gurgaon in Haryana. “Along with the four students we will felicitate Sailesh Subba also,” Chettri said.
Source: hindustantimes

Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division

9:55 AM
TMC
DARJEELING 10 Jun 2016 The Trinamool Congress hill unit has submitted to the Darjeeling district administration its suggestions on a new Kalimpong district and Mirik sub-division. The suggestions incorporate a wide range of proposals such as extending the existing boundaries, forming new sub-divisions and blocks, and setting up expert committees to expedite the process in a planned and systematic manner.

The hill TMC has proposed the creation of three sub-divisions under the new Kalimpong district for better administrative functioning. However, the areas to be incorporated in the sub-divisions have not been identified or specified by the party.

The TMC also wants the number of community development blocks to be increased to eight and the formation of a Teesta Highway development block. At present, Kalimpong sub-division has three blocks, Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II and Gorubathan.
Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division
Hill TMC proposals on new Kalimpong district, Mirik sub-division
The proposals also include increasing gram panchayat members to at least 7-10 in each GP for better representation. The Kalimpong sub-division comprises 42 gram panchayats at present. Further, the TMC also wants areas adjacent to Gorubathan block and Kalijhora under Kurseong to be included in the new district, although specifications have not been proposed.

“These are important factors that need to be looked into while forming the new district of Kalimpong. It must be remembered that Kalimpong is a vast area touching some areas of the Dooars in the plains. Administratively too, we want Kalimpong district to be viable to the people, hence the suggestions,” said NB Khawas, the hill TMC general secretary.

Regarding upgrading Mirik to a sub-division, presently one of the eight blocks in the hills, the TMC wants the area of Gopal Dhara tea estate that falls under Sukhaypokhari block in Darjeeling sub-division, and Seyok tea garden under Kurseong sub-division, to be added to the new sub-division.

It has also proposed the formation of three blocks in the new Mirik sub-division, Mirik at present being one of the blocks under Kurseong sub-division. The party also wants gram panchayat members in Mirik to be increased to 10 from the present six.

Another proposal is the bifurcation of the Jorebungalow-Sukhaypokhari development block and creation of a Sonada-Rungbull block with seven existing gram panchayats of Rungbull and Sonada areas. “We have already placed our suggestions before the Panchayat and Rural Development department through the Darjeeling district magistrate,” said Khawas.

The bifurcation of the Kurseong development block with 14 GPs and up-gradation of the Darjeeling-Pulbazar block with 23 gram panchayats to a sub-division is one another proposal of the hill TMC. The party has suggested the formation of a committee comprising experts and political and social organisation representatives to avoid any controversies which could delay the process of creating a Kalimpong district and Mrik sub-division.

Source EOIC

After Kalimpong district demand to upgrade more hill areas

9:37 AM
Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, June 10: The state government's decision to create Kalimpong district and Mirik subdivision has triggered demands to upgrade Bijanbari block to a subdivision and carve out Sonada-Rangbull block out of Sukhiapokhari.

The demand is being raised not only by political parties like the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Trinamul Congress (Hills) but also by local people who have formed organisations like the Bijanbari Subdivision Demand Committee and Block Establishment Co-ordination Committee (of Sonada-Rangbull).

The convener of the Bijanbari committee, L.M. Lama, said: "Bijanbari is one of the biggest blocks in the region. While we welcome the state government's decision to upgrade Mirik to a subdivision, we request the government to look into our demand to make Bijanbari a subdivision."
Darjeeling Map 
The committee wants the government to create three blocks - Bijanbari, Rimbick-Lodhama and Rangneet-Lebong - in the proposed Bijanbari subdivision.

Currently, Bijanbari block is in Darjeeling (Sadar) subdivision.

The Block Establishment Co-ordination Committee has raised a similar demand for Sonada Rangbull.

Committee general secretary Rajesh Chauhan said: "Since 2009, residents of Sonada-Rangbull area have been demanding a separate block. People of areas like Namsu, Balasun and Margaret Hope have to take three vehicles to reach Sukhiapokhri (for administrative work). This causes great hardships to them."

The Morcha and Trinamul (Hills) have backed both the demands.

N.B. Khawash, general secretary of Trinamul (Hills), said: "We have submitted a written request to the district magistrate of Darjeeling (on June 8) for creating a Sonada-Rangbull block, bifurcation of Kurseong block and the upgrade of Bijanbari to a subdivision."

The hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong have eight blocks.

Gorubathan is the largest block (442.72sqkm), followed by Bijanbari (known as Darjeeling-Pulbazar) spread over 416sqkm. The population of Bijanbari (1.26 lakh) is more than Gorubathan (60,663).

Kurseong's Mirik, which is set to become a subdivision, is the smallest block in the hills (119.30sqkm with a population of 46,374 according to the 2011 Census.

Source Telegraph


GJM rally for Scheduled Tribe status to 11 communities in ‪Mirik‬

11:20 PM
Writes - YOWAN GURUNG

The youth wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today called a mass rally to push for the demand of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 11 communities of the Darjeeling hills and the plains of Siliguri.The rally was called upon by Mirik Subdivision GJYM President Yogesh Golay and other party cadres.

The Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha (GJYM) rally started from the Bypess more from eleven in the morning and ended at Receipt Centre Krishnanagar and everyone has been asked to support the demand. The GJM has been demanding tribal status for 10 communities from the hills and one from the Dooars area. The communities from the hills are Bhujel,Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakha (Dewan) and the plains community is the Dhimal.

The Morcha got a boost to its demand after Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed it during an election campaign for party candidates in the north Bengal region recently. Earlier this year a committee was also formed by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to examine and make recommendations.
Rally for Scheduled Tribe status to 11 communities in ‪Mirik‬
“The PM, Narendra Modi, has given a positive response to our demand. A committee has also been formed by the central government. It must be remembered that we are demanding for ST status and therefore, we must take proactive steps to pursue the issue,” said Arun Sigchi, Soureni Sabhasad, today.

The state government too had recommended the inclusion of the 10 hill communities under the tribal status category. At present, the Bhutia, Sherpa, Yolmo, Lepcha and Tamang come under the Scheduled Tribe status. The Bharatiya Gorkha Janjati Sangarsha Mahasangh (BGJSM), an umbrella organisation of the communities demanding tribal status, too has been pursuing the issue with the central government. After the Centre’s initial nod to look into the issue, the Mahasangh has started a mass signature campaign to garner support and make people aware of the demand.

“We Gorkhas have faulted on many occasions with our various demands because of disunity. But the time has come to work together and take forward this demand to its end,” said Arun Ghising, the Thurbu Duptin Samasty Sabhasad .The speakers during the programme were GTA Sabhasads Arun Sigchi,Arun Ghising, Phubu Rai,Mirik Municipality Chairperson Mala Subba,Ladup Ghising and Sunil Ragubangshi in host.


Via VOM

Mirik holds Scholarship distribution programme for Madhyamik and HS

11:24 AM
MIRIK 1 Jun 2016 Mirik Higher Secondary School in collaboration with Bantawa and Sons today organised a scholarship distribution programme for Madhyamik and higher secondary students at the School Auditorium Hall, Mirik.

The programme was inaugurated by school principal YN Dhakal who was the programme chairman. The chief guest, Arun Ghissing of GTA constituency 24, addressed the students and asked them to come forward and strive for higher studies while assuring them of all necessary help.



Eleven students of Mirik High Secondary School were awarded with prizes. Suprita Tamang scored the highest in Nepali, while Sawan Thapa and Arpana Puri of class 9 were awarded for scoring 1st division. Arts topper Sradha Tamang and Science topper Pratik Tamang were the others who got awarded.

EOI

Mirik Idol Auditions kicks-off

9:17 AM
MIRIK 28 May 2016 A singing talent hunt is being organised in Mirik for the first time ever in the history of the sleepy tourist destination in the hills.

The Various Artists' Association of Mirik will hold a two-day audition for the 'Mirik Idol-Sing for your Glory' on May 28 and 29. About 90 contestants from various corners of Mirik turned out for the

preliminary stage at the Tourist Lodge and were judged by a panel comprising Dipen Gurung (Darjeeling T-Idol), Anil Pradhan, Kailash Rai, Milan Rai and Bhawana Thapa. Nearly 45 or 50 per cent of the participants have advanced to the next round of the competition.

“I believe the competition will go a long way in providing a much-needed platform to the hidden talents of the region,” remarked Dawa Tamang, president of the association.

The two-day audition will also be held at the Tourist Lodge conference hall, followed by the second round at Soureni Community hall, third round at Byawasayee hall  and the final at the Donbosco School Auditorium.

EVENT DETAILS MIRIK IDOL: SING FOR YOUR GLORY 

Various Artists of Mirik Presents...

"Mirik Idol-Sing for your Glory"

Audition Dates:
28th & 29th May 2016
Venue: Mirik Tourist Lodge(Youth Hostel)

Registration Fee: Rs. 300/- only
Registration Form will be available from 10 April 2016.

Winning Prize:
Rs. 31,000.00 + Song + Music Video

Contact: 
Car Key'z (Mirik College) - 9851667809
Dawa Tamang (Kashyap Computers,Thana Line)- 9832071343
Buddha Buddy Tamang (Electricity Office, Krishnanagar)- 9775751639
Deep Thokar Tamang (Cultural Deptt., Krishnanagar)- 9832313389
Dipen Basnet (Shadna Kala Kendra,Dushad Gairi)- 9775929219
Mingma Golay (Beithsaida English School,Nij Gaon)

Media Partners:
Himalaya Darpan
Voice of Mirik
Mirik ko sero fero
Darjeeling Chronicle
Darjeeling Times
Chautaree.com
Strings India

Sound Partner
Pathibhara Sound.

*Rules & Regulations 

1. Only Nepali or Hindi songs will be entertained.
2. Time allotted for each performance is max. 4 minutes.
3. Participants are not allowed to refer any lyrical content while singing.
4. Participants are not allowed to sing on music tracks in Audition Round however, they are allowed to play guitar or any musical instruments.
5. Choice of song is open to the participants but the songs should not have any slangs or derogatory language.
6. There is no age bar to participate.
7. Only the participants from Mirik Circle (Including CHENGA, PANIGHATTA & DUDHIA) will be entertained.
8. Participants are required to submit their recent passport size (2nos.) colour photograph along with the photocopy of the following documents (any one) for address proof.
i. VOTER ID CARD
ii. AADHAR CARD
iii. DRIVING LICENCE
iv. RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE
v. BIRTH CERTIFICATE
9. Judges decision will be final.


Chirag Rai first Indian Gorkha to take part in British Stunt Championship

10:32 PM
Writes Milan Pradhan:

Chirag Rai also known as Todo from Mirik Darjeeling will be the first Indian Gorkha to take part in British Stunt Championship.

When Chirag was in India we (Chirag and Milan Pradhan) had done many shows together. He is now in London and owns Kawasaki 636, away from India his passion for stunts has never diminished. A small town boy participating in this giant Championship, you can imagine how big a thing it is for him.

I (Milan Pradhan) hope this will change the perspective of people here in India and Nepal that stunt is a proper form of sports and they will take it seriously like any other sport.

Chirag often tells me how he feels like amateur on his new ride and how he had to start his every move like a beginner, nevertheless he never gave up on his dreams. An important lesson to learn from my brother, no dream is too big for you to pursue, so never give up on your passion.
Chirag Rai also known as Todo from Mirik Darjeeling
I wish Chirag all the very best for his future endeavor, he has made me proud and he will surely make his country proud.

The championship auditions is tomorrow and if gets selected, he will be in finals taking place this Sunday.


Hailstorm, Malgovernance, and Indifferent State – How Safe Are We?

9:38 AM
Writes Shailendra M Pradhan for TheDC

March 31st, 2016, will go down in the collective memory for two, or possibly three, reasons: hailstorm in Darjeeling, the tragedy in Kolkata caused by the collapse of under-construction bridge, and, of not lesser interest to a cricketing nation like ours, the defeat of India in T20 World Cup to Windies, despite Virat’s heroics. Of the previous two, the tragedy in Kolkata claimed more than 30 lives, while many were fear trapped under the rubble of under-construction overpass for hours and, even, days.

The hailstorm in Darjeeling, however, evoked two contradictory responses. First, it came and was received as a pleasant surprise by both the locals and tourists who, denied of the snow in the winters since 2008, were quick to relish in the blanket of almost 6-7 inches of hailstorm. Second, given the timing of the hailstorm, many, especially the farmers and agriculturists in rural Darjeeling, and the planters in tea gardens, feared a loss to their output and productivity, which, as a matter of investigation, deserve more time and research. In both the cases of hailstorm and bridge collapse, the failure of the administration to respond and rescue the people has, however, become more apparent.
Hailstorm, Malgovernance, and Indifferent State – How Safe Are We?
Perhaps, in case of the tragedy in Kolkata, April Fool’s Day came a day before to the state administration, and much before the assembly elections to the Trinamul Congress-govt which has come under scathing criticisms from the opposition, but more importantly, from the people because of its decisions to push through the completion of the bridge in a haphazard manner, much ahead of its scheduled deadline in November this year. Whether or not the tragedy will involve any political cost for the ruling dispensation under TMC is best left to scrutiny once the election results are out.

For now, it would be pertinent to introspect on the administrative response to the plight and hardship of the people caused in the wake of hailstorm.

Disasters and Administration in Darjeeling: An Uneasy Relationship?

Darjeeling, famous for its 3 Ts – tea, tourism, and toy-train, is also equally notorious for its disasters. The landslides in Mirik and Kalimpong in July last year resulted in the death of more than 40 lives. Similarly, the cyclone Aila in 2009 created havoc in different pockets of Darjeeling hills, and disrupted normal life for days together. Given its location in Lesser Himalaya, Darjeeling is prone to landslides, earthquakes, and various other natural hazards. The response of the govt. to these disasters has, however, remained disappointing, and of little help and assistance to the people.

The hailstorm in Darjeeling only deepened our fear of insensible and ill-prepared administration when it was caught completely off-guard to deal with such emergencies. While the thunder-shower and hailstorm lasted for a little more than half an hour, the immediate hardship experienced by the people will remain with them for times to come – the traffic was thrown out of gear for large part of the day; the people, travelling to and from Darjeeling, could not reach their destination on time; and, the students made home – with a starving stomach with nothing to eat for hours – from their schools very late in the night due to unmoving traffic. In the absence of Civil Defence personnel, who are mostly responsible for rescue and relief operations in any hazard situations, the people themselves had to negotiate and make their way through layers and layers of hailstorm.

In fact, the inability of both the district administration and Darjeeling Municipality to deploy even the basic snow-removal equipments and tools such as snowplow, wovel, and blower to clear off the roads highlight the insensitivity of the govt. to the plights of the people in disaster-situations. Unsurprisingly, the people took on themselves to help each other from lending a hand to push the vehicles trapped in hail-covered road to offering teas and biscuits to the starving travelers by the locals. And, while the tourists and locals displayed strong camaraderie in this hour of hardship, the administration remained ignorant of its own shortcomings.

Smart-Phones – But Not-So-Smart Administration!

Better communications can warn the people of the impending disasters, and help them to better prepare and mitigate during their occurrences. The timely evacuation of millions of people in the face of approaching Phailin, known to be the fiercest cyclone to hit coastal Andhra and Odisha in recent times, is perhaps the most glaring example of how information and communication can help avert any major disaster. The boom in the Information and Technology industry (IT, hereafter), and the promptness at which the information can be collected and made available at the touch of one’s phone-screen can improve our preparedness level in disaster mitigation. One of the biggest failures of the successive govts in West Bengal has been its inability to fine-tune its administration and personnel to the prospects available in IT sector – in other words, the coming of smart-phones in the markets in Bengal has not been accompanied by equally smart and technology-oriented local administration. As a result, the people remain deprived of the information on weather-forecasts and impending risks, which if timely relayed as text-messages or calls, can save them from many hardships.

The inability of the state disaster management authority, which is replete with time-consuming bureaucratic process and corruption, and district administration to communicate and warn the people of the impending disasters pierce the very idea of smart-cities which are disaster and risk resilient. In case of hailstorm in Darjeeling, the district administration not only failed to make use of the information available with the metrological department for its own preparedness, but also showed laxity in relaying them to the people. It is a sad fact that the district administration has not been able to capitalize on the smart-phones available with the people in Darjeeling, let alone set-up and strengthen its communication technologies for early-warning of any disaster or weather-related information.

Safety and Social Responsibility: The Missing Link?

When the news of hailstorm in Darjeeling made to social network sites such as Facebook on TheDC, Darjeeling Times, and other local news pages, the people were busy “liking”, responding, or sharing their feelings on possibly every news and photographs related to the event. To the tourists in the town, but also to the locals, Darjeeling, had, perhaps lived up to its expectation as the indisputable “Queen of Hill Stations” in India. Of the many stories on hailstorm that made it to national newspapers and online news portals the following morning, one small bit related to the damages in one of the most prestigious schools in Darjeeling, the Loreto Convent – the roof of its basketball court had apparently collapsed. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The incident, however, puts a big question mark on the safety and reliability of our infrastructures in various schools and institutions: how safe are our infrastructures to withstand hazards like earthquakes and hailstorms? Do we have enough regulatory institutions to ensure that safety-norms and laws are abided and observed? Are we sensitive to our environment and our safety?

Darjeeling can, perhaps, take pride in being the oldest municipality in India, built way back in 1853, with British concerned about the nitty-gritty of building a safe and habitable place on the lines of its own towns in London: building bye-laws, adequate drainage system, and strong road and railway lines. Most of these have either been modified or replaced by new laws and norms, and infrastructures that are apparently better suited to deal with various challenges of our times such as population growth and urbanisation. The safety and the well-being of the people, however, have been compromised in the process, and Darjeeling, as it is today, remains one of the most neglected and vulnerable hill towns in India.

In our collective capacity, we should remind ourselves of the disasters that are in making, largely because of our own insensitivity to the environment and nature – the dumping of our waste almost anywhere and everywhere, building of our houses and other infrastructures almost anywhere and everywhere, even in the most vulnerable and hazard-prone areas, and little or no concern for public property and goods.

The recent hailstorm, despite being largely harmless, should serve as a warning to our representatives, policy-makers, builders, and, above all, to ourselves on the need to introspect on the pace and pattern of our development.


Via TheDC


Drinking water crisis in Barakothi in Mirik’s Panighatta tea estate

1:11 PM
 Queuing up entire nights for a pail of water

PRASHANT ACHARYA

PANIGHATTA (MIRIK) 27 Mar 2016 The apathy of the political leadership and local administration has left the residents of Barakothi in Mirik’s Panighatta tea estate with no other option but to fetch drinking water from a considerable distance as the water available locally is too contaminated to drink.

The situation is expected to worsen in Barakothi in the coming months unless help comes by way of summer showers to replenish the area’s main water source, which is drying up quickly. There are 133 eligible voters in Barakothi from the 44 households in total, and they want to cast all the 133 votes to that candidate who would succeed in ensuring adequate and clean drinking water supply were he to win.

Barakothi has been deprived of potable water since October 10 last year, the day when the garden was shut down by its Kolkata-based owner. And there is no sign of the garden reopening anytime soon despite several rounds of meetings. When the garden was operational, a tractor used to supply water to Barakothi by fetching it from a source downhill some 1.5km away.
Drinking water crisis
Drinking water crisis- file photo
Now, the residents have to trek the entire distance down to the stream where they have to queue up for hours and sometimes even entire nights for their turn. "The water flows in a trickle and it takes nearly an hour to fill a 20-litre jar,” said 65-year-old Maili Tamangni. “Sometimes during the day the water runs dry due to the heat forcing us to fancy our chances at night.”

Anup Thapa, a government teacher with Sishu Siksha Kendra, said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has already sanctioned Rs16 lakh for a water project and engineers have inspected neighbouring Potong tea estate where the main source of water is located. He also informed that work is going on to connect a pipeline to the main source, which is about 20km from Barakothi. However, the locals said such assurances come only before elections and nothing changes afterwards.



Via EOI

"I am not anti-Gorkhaland" - says TMC candidate Shanta Chettri

9:47 AM
TMC
"I am not anti-Gorkhaland... I have raised the demand for Gorkhaland in Bengal legislative assembly... there is a record of that, anyone can verify.... I was labelled as anti-Gorkhaland while I was still an MLA... they burned down my house... and they made my life difficult... but I didn't give up... I am here to serve my people..." with these phrases TMC candidate from Kurseong constituency Ms. Shanta Chettri tried to find an emotional connect with the people in Mirik.

Addressing a press conference, Ms. Chettri stated that, "I am contesting this election for good governance, development and people under the able leadership of Ms. Mamata Banerjee... unlike those who preach Gorkhaland, and yet haven't done one thing to achieve it and are running the hills in a dictatorial fashion... I am commited to ushering in development in our region..."
TMC candidate Shanta Chettri
TMC candidate Shanta Chettri
Ms. Chettri later met with TMC workers in Mirik and exuded confidence that she would win comfortable from her seat.

Via TheDC


Bimal Gurung inaugurated the new building of the upcoming degree college in Bijanbari

7:33 AM

Darjeeling 2 Mar 2016 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Bimal Gurung today inaugurated the new building of the upcoming degree college in Bijanbari, the construction of which started in 2012. Last month, the GTA chief also opened a new building of Mirik College keeping with the hill body’s plan to promote education in the hills.

The college was established in 1995 at Lower Samelbung, 5km from Bijanbari. Students had to face a lot of problems due to the distance. The college has now been shifted near the market area at Chungtung Tar and is spread over 6 acres of land. The new building is three-storeyed and the college offers B.A. general courses in History, English, Political Science, Economics and Nepali.

Sameer Sharma, the teacher in-charge of the college, said, “We had submitted a requirement request to the GTA following which the new building was built. Now that we have a new structure with more space and facilities, we will apply for Honours courses as well, although this will depend on the roll strength.”

The new building, which has been built at a cost of Rs7.3 crore, will be able to accommodate 450 students in 12 classrooms. The students come from areas such as Rimbick, Sukhaypokhari and Goke. The new building also has three staff rooms and a multi-purpose hall. It presently has six teaching and eight non-teaching staff members. “We will shift to the new building at the end of this week. And we hope to start the session in April when the Part 3 exams start,” said the teacher in-charge.

While unveiling the new building, the GTA chief executive said it was a gift to the people of Bijanbari and to the future of the students.

“There is more work to be done in the hills. The GTA will strive to work for the people. This college is a gift to the students of the region as they are our future,” said Gurung.

The GTA has promised to provide two buses to the college as has been done for Mirik College. “This college and the one in Mirik have been built from central government funds and nothing has come from the state government. Vidyasagar High school here will also be converted into a model school,” said Gurung.

The cost of the entire project is pegged at Rs7.3 crore and the new building has been constructed at half the cost, with more work to be taken up in the second phase. An administrative building, fencing of the campus, water supply, a science block, hostel facilities and a playground will be constructed later.

(EOIC)

Landslide victims block road in Mirik over rehabilitation demand

10:17 PM

Those affected by the July 2015 landslide that claimed 32 lives in several parts of the Darjeeling hills today paralysed Mirik and its surrounding areas by setting up a road blockade demanding speedy rehabilitation. The victims have come together under the Tingling United Victim Rehabilitation Committee to raise their voice.
On July 1 last year, heavy landslides due to incessant rainfall caused extensive damage to life and property across the hills, with Limbu Gaon in Tingling alone registering 19 deaths. The landslide in the area displaced more than 350 households of which 150 were directly affected and required rehabilitation. It was decided that the state government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration would work together to rehabilitate the affected people to a tea garden nearby. The GTA has already given away the compensation it had promised to the families of the Tingling landslide victims.
However, even after six months of the tragedy, the victims are yet to be rehabilitated forcing them take the agitation path. “We were promised to be rehabilitated but that has not happened even after so many months. Now, the monsoon will set in soon and this does not augur well for us. This has left us with no options but to agitate,” said Mani Rizal, the secretary of the rehabilitation committee.
According to administrative reports, the July 1, 2015 landslides destroyed 503 houses fully and 1,414 partially in Mirik and Kalimpong. With no rehabilitation, many victims still continue to take shelter in community halls while several others have started living with their relatives. Around 500-600 people from the eight villages in Tingling squatted on the road since morning with placards in their hands. Schools and government offices remained closed and vehicular movement also came to a halt.
According to the TUVRC secretary, the management of Tingling tea garden, which is owned by the Jayshree Group, had promised to shift the workers to another plot of land in block 10 of the estate. “Earlier, the management had assured to shift us to another area of the garden and we had agreed to the proposal. But the management is going against its promise now. And it wants to know whether the state government or the GTA would provide compensation to the residents for parting with their land,” alleged Rizal.
Meanwhile, the district administration said the issue of resettlement rests with the tea garden management and the government cannot intervene in the matter. “There are two issues that need to be addressed. Firstly, to provide a house building grant to the affected and this is already in progress. The issue of resettling the affected arises next. On this count, the state government cannot impose itself on the garden management as it is an internal matter,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Anurag Srivastava.
The district magistrate maintained that the state government leases out land to gardens and it is the responsibility of the management to rehabilitate workers whenever the need arises. The government is not liable to pay compensation to garden owners, according to Srivastava. “We cannot intervene directly but the management can table a proposal saying the workers are being shifted to another plot. If the proposal meets the lease agreement, the matter can be settled with no further hiccups,” he added.
Arun Sigchi, the GTA Sabhasad from Mirik, said he would approach the tea garden management to settle the issue at the earliest. “We are sympathetically looking into this issue as it is a serious matter. We will sit for talks with the management so as to reach to a conclusion,” he said. Neither the owners nor the management of Tingling tea garden were available for comment even after repeated attempts at contacting them.

Source EOI

Centre could announce a central university for the hills - Bimal Gurung

8:27 AM
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Bimal Gurung today said the Centre could announce a central university for the hills during Monday’s Budget session in Parliament. He said so while inaugurating the new building of Mirik College at Kowlay, about 2km away from Mirik town. The GTA has constructed the building at a cost of Rs7.60 crore. "The hills will get to hear some good news soon. I feel that a central university could be announced in tomorrow’s Budget session of Parliament. I am really hopeful about it," said the GTA chief. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has long been demanding a central university for the hills, which also finds mention in the GTA agreement. According to Gurung, the hills’ getting a central university would be half the battle won as far as the statehood demand was concerned. "Getting a university means securing half of Gorkhaland. It will be a step forward towards achieving our statehood demand," he said.

The university nearest to the hills is the North Bengal University in Siliguri sub-division. Students from the hills need to travel more than 80km to Siliguri to attend classes at the NBU, compelling most of them to rent rooms or stay as paying guests leading to additional expenses. Gurung said the GTA would provide two buses and a hostel to Mirik College. "The college will require buses to ferry students as it is some distance from town. We will provide buses and a hostel facility as well. Work will soon start on the fencing around the college premises. We will see what can be done to renew the old building," said the GTA chief executive. The new academic session at Mirik College begins from April and the institution will now be able to accommodate about 1,000 students, up from the previous 750-800.
Centre could announce a central university for the hills - Bimal Gurung
Centre could announce a central university for the hills - Bimal Gurung
The new building is three- storeyed and houses 17 classrooms, two halls for holding general classes and more than 10,000 square feet of space. It is also equipped with 22 computers, an attic for a library and 32 CCTVs to monitor the campus area. In the second phase, the GTA will build staff quarters (the college presently has 35 teaching and non-teaching staff), a hostel, a science laboratory and an administrative building. Gurung today also laid the foundation stone for a Rs3.26-crore tanga road (pathway for the movement of horses) from Thurbo tea garden check-post to SorasalayGaon to promote tourism. "The GTA has several development plans for Mirik. We have started work on a 6km road to promote tourism. We hope to attract more tourists to this place," Gurung said. The state cabinet has agreed to upgrade Mirik into a sub-division. The place comes under Kurseong sub-division and is a major tourist attraction, mainly for the quaint Mirik Lake and the boat rides on offer.

(EOIC)

New building for Mirik College inaugurated by Bimal Gurung

11:22 PM
Mirik 28.Feb.2016 New building for Mirik College was Inaugurated today by Bimal Gurung, the Chief Executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Morcha had invited the governor to inaugurate the college building in the recent past. However, it was Gurung accompanied by Roshan Giri who is also the GTA Sabha member in-charge of the education department Inaugurated the newly constructed building.

Mirik College, established in 2000, is a government-run degree college in Mirik, Darjeeling district, India. It offers undergraduate courses in arts. It is affiliated to the University of North Bengal.

The delegation led by Roshan Giri, including Morcha Study Forum member Swaraj Thapa, former Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma and GTA executive sabha member R.B. Bhujel had approached the governor, Keshari Nath Tripathi, at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.
New building for Mirik College
New building for Mirik College
The grand inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed two storied Mirik Degree College building at Kawlay Dara which was under GTA Department of Education took place on 28th of Feb 2016.


Bimal Gurung inaugurated the newly constructed two storied Mirik Degree College building
Bimal Gurung inaugurating the newly constructed two storied Mirik Degree College building
Gurung hopeful of varsity announcement
Writes: Vivek Chhetri

Bimal Gurung  said he was hopeful that a central university would be announced for the Darjeeling hills in the Union budget today and getting it would be tantamount to accomplishing half of Gorkhaland.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley is scheduled to present the budget in Parliament tomorrow. A central varsity for the hills was promised in the GTA memorandum of agreement signed by the central and state governments and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new building of Mirik Degree College yesterday, Morcha president and GTA chief executive Gurung said: "I am very hopeful that when the budget is placed, a central university will be declared for the hills. This is something that the hill people have wanted for long and in a sense, getting a central university is like getting half of Gorkhaland."

Among the academic circles, there has been much support for a separate central varsity in the hills. This is largely because the academic session in the hills starts from March and ends in November. The hill students lose classes as colleges are closed for three months during the winter vacation from December to February, unlike in the plains. If the central varsity is set up, the academic calendar can be worked out keeping into account this factor.

Observers feel Gurung is putting himself under pressure by giving hope to the people that the central varsity is likely to be announced soon.

Gurung had been saying at public meetings for few days that he was hoping that something good would be announced for the hills in two-three days. "It was obvious that Gurung was talking about a central university that the Morcha has been harping on about for long. However, his sudden decision to specifically say the central varsity is in store for the hills has unnecessarily put himself and the Morcha under pressure," said an observer.
"What if the central university is not declared. The opposition is going to seize on the issue especially because the Morcha is an ally of the BJP. The Morcha is already facing criticism as nothing concrete was declared for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in the railway budget last week," said the observer.


The new building of Mirik Degree College has been built at Kowlay, about 1km from Mirik town, by the GTA at a cost of Rs 7.6 crore.


 
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