IN 19-25WOMEN June, 2002 NOW! 1 NOW! Panorama Color Lab

TSHERING CHODEN Beyond ACTION Competition WEDNESDAY, 19-25 June, 2002 Vol 1 No3  Rs. 5 MG Marg, Gangtok, - 737 101 LADY ph: 25098 / 22488 THE VERDICT’S IN GANGTOK: The controversy over the inventorisation of all the movable and im- movable properties of the Karmapa at the here has finally re- solved. On June 18, Tuesday, Gyaltsab Rimpoche, who handles the affairs at Rumtek at present and who is reported to have objected to inventorisation proc- ess in the past, submitted to the High Court that he and his followers had no objection to the Commissioner appointed by the District Judge in October last from going ahead with the inventorisation. The High Court, too, has passed several di- rectives to the Commissioner on how to conduct the inventorisation without hurt- ing the religious sentiments attached to the Karmapa’s belongings in Sikkim. TURN TO PG 2 FOR DETAILS INVENTORY’S ON WILL THEY RRss.. 1515 CRORECRORE PROJECTPROJECT HANGSHANGS ONON BALBALANCEANCE

NOW! finally tracks down Binod Kumar Gajmer, winner of the Rs. 8.3 crore Playwin Jackpot and finds out how life has shaped up A vegetable vendor at Lall Bazaar, Gangtok, is all smiles on a haat day. The smiles wipe off fast the moment one talks of a possible relocation. ever since he became a The National Building Construction Corpo- crorepati eight-times ration wants Lall Bazaar vacated by the sec- over. ond week of July. People at Lall Bazaar are TURN TO pg 5 not keen on shifting and negotiations in the earnest are yet to begin. There could be con- FOR EXCLUSIVE fusion galore if the authorities don’t wake up INTERVIEW MOVE? soon. TURN TO PG 3 FOR DETAILS 2 NOW! 19-25 June, 2002 RESOLVED. FINALLY INVENTORY PROCESS TO GO AHEAD: RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS

held at Rumtek Monastery at the moment, TO BE RESPECTED and that the Commissioner be allowed to wait till the end of this month to start the inventory process, the Court ordered that the by SARIKAH ATREYA actual inventorisation should take place from or after July 1, 2002. GANGTOK: The High Court on June 18, ORGYEN TRINLEY The Court also directed the State Tuesday, directed the RBI Commissioner, government to render all assistance during KN Sharma, to carry out the process of the inventory process. The Court also inventorisation of the Karmapa properties in DORJEE’S LETTER TO HIS submitted that a senior official from the State the Rumtek Monastery as directed by the Ecclesiastical department should also District Judge. present during the process. In the hearing against the District Judge’s In a major development, the pro-Tai Situ order of October 17, 2001, at the High Court, FOLLOWERS URGES camp, the Appelletants to the case, has Chief Justice R. Dayal observed that the welcomed the inventorisation of the Court-appointed commissioner should be Karmapa properties, saying that it was allowed to carry out the inventory process COMPLAINCE WITH HIGH agreeable to them that the process take place. with the consent of both the parties to the Karmapa Chungyalpa, spokesman of the case. The Court said in its order that the Tsurphu Labrang and JAC, told NOW! that inventorisation process should take place in they have discussed the matter (the the presence of three representatives each COURT’S DIRECTIVES inventorisation) in detail and would go along from either side. The Court also directed that with the Court orders. The change in stance the inventory process should be carried out is also believed to have sprung from a letter in such a manner so as not to hurt the from “their” Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorjee religious sentiments of the people, and that wherein he has directed his followers to the Commissioner should be able to carry abide by the High Court’s directives. out his orders without any delay. “We will accept the judgment of the High It might be recalled that the District Court, as it has been also agreed upon by Judge had granted the Karmapa Charitable His Holiness, Orgyen Trinley Dorjee. We Trust’s plea for inventorisation of all also want to see what is inside the treasure movable and immovable properties room but it should be done according to belonging to the Karmapa. The decision was traditional protocol,” he said. He further immediately protested against by those in clarified that the Tsurphu Labrang was not control of the Rumtek Monastery at present opposed to the inventorisation process per on the grounds that the items in question se. “We have been asking for an inventory were of great religious value to the people since 1995. Our only objection was that the of the Karma Kagyu faith and that their sacred items should not be handled by any handling by non-Buddhists would offend the person other than the Karmapa himself. Now sentiments of the people of the faith. Their that the High Court has laid down the stand has changed since and the party has guidelines, we have no problems any more,” now agreed to the inventorisation process. he told NOW! On the suggestion of the Court, both the Meanwhile, in a letter to Goshir Gyalstab parties to the case agreed to appoint three Rinpoche, a defendant in the suit filed by representatives who would be present along the Karmapa Charitable Trust, Orgyen with the Commissioner during the inventory Trinley Dorjee, recognized by Tai Situ process. The pro-Shamar Rinpoche camp TSURPHU LABRANG CLARIFIES IT HAS Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama as the 17th wanted him to be one of the three member Karmapa, has said that he has been “fully party, which was outrightly rejected by the apprised of the present situation”. He said Joint Action Committee of Buddhist NO OBJECTION TO INVENTORY, that the “case of the Karmapa Charitable Organisations in Sikkim, the pro-Tai Situ Trust is baseless and without foundation and Camp, which was initially opposed to the CLAIMS IT HAS BEEN DEMANDING IT it is not maintainable”. He said that the case idea of inventorisation of the Karmapa’s will have to come to its “natural legal properties, citing reasons that the sacred conclusions” and that “it would not be proper items could not be touched by anyone other SINCE 1995 to try and interrupt this process despite our than the Karmapa himself. The pro-Shamar religious feelings and sentiments” in this camp has agreed on the names of Sherab regard. “As the inventory is a part of the Gyaltsen, Gyanjyoti Khangsar and an whole legal process, we must respect the advocate to represent them during the Court order and not the resist the inventory,” inventory process, while the other camp has he advised. agreed to Phunstok Lama, ADC to Urgyen Orgyen Trinley Dorjee has said that since Trinley Dorjee, Tenzing Namgyal, general their “status in India is that of a refugee, we secretary of the Tsurphu Labrang, the are duty bound to obey and uphold the laws traditional custodians of the Karmapa of the country”. “While respecting the properties and an advocate from their side. judicial system, we should, however, put on Making concessions for the religious record that this compliance on our part to sentiments at stake, the Court directed that co-operate with the inventory must not be the Vajra Mukut or the sacred black hat worn interpreted as an acceptance of the claims by the Karmapa, which is kept inside a box being made in the suit, or any consent to wrapped in a cloth in the “treasure room” at attachment or receivership,” he said. “I Rumtek monastery along with other sacred would like you (Goshir Gyalstab Rinpoche) items of the Karmapa, should not be touched to present these issues before the hon’ble or opened during the inventory process. Gyaltsab Rinpoche Shamarpa Court and the government of Sikkim with “It is submitted on behalf of the the ultimate objective that the inventory is Appellants that anyone other than the The Court also ordered that items The Court has directed the Commissioner to carried out in a peaceful and harmonious Karmapa touching the Black Hat will hurt belonging to the Karmapa and locked inside detail such items by sight. manner and also in deference to the judiciary the religious sentiments of the people. It is boxes bearing the seal of the Karmapa should The Commissioner has been given five and laws of the land,” he said. therefore, agreed that the Commissioner not be touched or the seals broken during weeks from the receipt of the Court Orders On the other hand, Trinley Thaye Dorje, shall not touch this item, although a the inventorisation process. Items inside to report to the District Judge with a status the one recognized by Shamar Rinpoche as photograph can be taken. The outer almirahs with seals intact should not be report on the inventorisation process. the 17th Karmapa has called upon the people description of the item would be listed by broken either, the Court ordered. The same However, upon the suggestion by the of Sikkim to “respect the Court Order and not the Commissioner,” the Court ordered. applies to items placed inside glass cases. Appellants that special prayers were being to hinder or disturb the inventory process.” 19-25 June, 2002 UP-FRONT NOW! 3 WILL THEY MOVE?

There are too many unaddressed issues in the proposed shifting of shopkeepers from Lall Bazaar to make way for an ambitious Rs. 15 crore project of redoing the entire complex. There is also hardly any time left if deadlines have to be met, writes SUMANLATA PRADHAN

GANGTOK: The people with the Rs. 14 crore kitty for the project want the site “vacated” by the second week of July. The people to be relocated still hope that the shifting will not take place. The Department supposed to “negotiate” the shifting process is yet to make any “official” headway. And time is running out. Either the project gets postponed (this offers no lasting solution) or someone should get their act together. The Lall Bazaar reconstruction project is heading slowly into a logjam with none of the three parties - the National Building Construction Corporation, the Urban Development & Housing Department and the shopkeepers at [above] A lady from the busti Lall Bazaar - knowing which arranges her wares during haat direction the other is headed. on Sunday at Lall Bazaar. Will First, the people with the occasional traders like her be contract. accommodated in the mega This is what SC Burman, plans for the complex? Deputy General Manager, NBCC, [right] Sheds under construction posted in Sikkim at present had to at Arithang where part of the Lall say about the project: “The Bazaar business is expected to complex will be an asset for the shift. Traders feel that not only State of Sikkim.” He claims that the is the new address less acces- organization is ready to start the sible, it is also too small to house project by the first week of all of them together. Apart from September. not wanting to get split, they also The only hurdle at the moment fear that they would lose their is the clearing of the site. The regular customers in the two NBCC in its letter dated June 10, years that they will have to spend 2002 to the Urban Development there. “We will have to start all and Housing Department requested over again once we shift back to that the “site” be cleared and Lall Bazaar,” complains one veg- handed over to them by the second etable vendor. week of July, so that they could As things stand, the Department start preliminary works from the appears to have left itself hardly last week of August, or latest by any time for negotiations. the first week of September. The NBCC plans to finish the project within two years. They have for the betterment of the people, set things in order to work 24hrs a and the town. Some of the vendors day, 7 days a week even during the will be shifted to Arithang where cold Gangtok winters. All this, to sheds have been built, other shifting that they will have to shut vendors and 212 shops. The traders the Sunday Haat be accommodated met the 2-year deadline. For that locations are yet to be decided shop. at the Bazaar claim there are almost at subsidised rates at the new to happen, however, they need to upon.” These are points that can be 2,000 shops housed in the complex. complex. start on time and that appears Speaking to NOW, a stall- negotiated to a mutual agreement. The difference of 1400 will be For those distanced from the highly unlikely. owner maintained that the only way What the authorities need to work difficult to adjust even in the multi- whole confusion, the new-look Lall Although Mr. Burman claims they would agree to shift would be on is winning the people’s trust that storeyed complex planned for Lall Bazaar seems appealing. NBCC that UD&HD has “assured” them if all were accommodated together. promises will be kept. A common Bazaar which, informs Mr. Burman plans to utilise the Rs. 14.5 crore a “free site” by the requested date, Those who subscribe to this view fear among the local traders at Lall will house 440 stands for vendors budget sanctioned for the project to officials at the Department, when justify their stand by claiming that Bazaar is that they will not be and 241 shops - a total of 681. This construct a 5-storeyed complex first contacted by NOW, suggested if split, not only would the harmony allowed back into the new complex definitely will come up as a serious housing the regular Lall Bazaar fare that NBCC was yet to make a they share be disturbed, but that it and that stalls earmarked for them point of debate whenever (the 681 shops mentioned earlier) formal representation on the dates would also cause needless would be allotted someone else. negotiations begin in the earnest apart from space for offices and and deadlines. inconvenience for their customers. Even in this regard, there are some between UD&HD and the other shops. The ground floor and The allegation that the While the above stand is still optimistic souls. Says Abdul shopkeepers at Lall Bazaar. terrace would serve as parking lots UD&HD is dragging its feet is one open to negotiations, there are Rehman, a fish vendor, “If UD&HD officials believe this to be with two lifts servicing the complex. borne out by the fact that as of now, some at Lall Bazaar who would everything is done properly, then a “highly exaggerated figure” and Mr. Burman also revealed that it has not even finalised where have nothing of the shifting the people will definitely benefit will, for all practical purposes, NBCC proposes to link the people with business at Lall Bazaar business. “Business will go down. from the project.” stick to the official figure complex’ top floor with MG Marg will be shifted. At least not all of Poor people will suffer. A point escaping most calculated from the number of via Star Cinema hall. Should this them. Undeveloped markets like discussions is the consensus on licences issued in Lall Bazaar. materialise, people would be able Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Development Area and Deorali how many shops there are in Lall A senior official at UD&HD to drive right over Lall Bazaar from UD&HD, LB Rai, while speaking will benefit, but the vendors of Lall Bazaar at present and how many did, however, disclose that the Naya Bazaar, park their cars and to this reporter informed, “The Bazaar will loose out,” says Harke of them would be accommodated Chief Minister Pawan Kumar take a lift down to the lower levels Government is negotiating with the Lama, a vegetable wholesaler. in the new complex. Official Chamling has shown personal for shopping. Sounds humungous representatives of the Lall Bazaar There are some who believe that estimates put the figure at 612 interest in seeing to it that villagers and exciting, but work will have to people. The complex is being built business will be hit so hard by the temporary shops comprising of 400 who put up stalls at Lall Bazaar for begin first. 4 NOW! FROM THE SPOT 19-25 June, 2002 MAIDS WANTED FOR HARDLINE by PANKAJ THAPA SINGAPORE WORLD CUP SUN SETS ON JAPAN IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENT FOR HOUSEMAIDS below 40yrs of age with basic command of English. Salary of S$300 to S$400 per month is being offered. Contact us immediately with 4 photographs, copy of passport and medical report if any. MANPOWER INTERNATIONAL 267, Masjid Moth, Uday Park South Extension Part II New Delhi - 49 Phone: 11-6264716 Fax: 11-6264736 email: [email protected]

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Gangtok Contact: Jiga ph: VAT to come next rabeena All Fools Day Hidetoshi Nakata looks down after Japan were eliminated from the World Cup GANGTOK: Value Added Tax, or would be organising a six-day “in- urkey got an early headed goal from Umit Davala to overcome Japan VAT, is slated to become operational tensive training programme” on Tand secure a spot in the quarter-finals where they will face Senegal. in Sikkim with April 1, 2003. Given VAT from July 2, next month. Despite pushing bravely for an equalizer in the rain in Miyagi, the co- that there is now less than a year This will be followed by a day- hosts were ultimately unable to break down the stubborn Turks. left to get the new tax regime, which long seminar on July 8, it is learnt. With the crowd behind them, the Japanese largely controlled the is touted to reform Sales Taxation The training is reportedly being midfield in the second half, but the Turks were well-organized at the in the country, to debut in Sikkim, organised in collaboration with Na- back and were rarely threatened. Both teams were making their first the Income & Sales Tax Department tional Institute of Public Finance appearance in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup™. is planning to begin familiarisation and Policy and will cover the whole Nishizawa turned well at the edge of the Turkish box in a desperate programmes for the local people. gamut of the new system. Japanese charge toward an equalizer. The well-struck shot though sailed The training programme is open just over the bar as a groan could be heard from the blue-clad supporters A Press communique issued by to the general public and registra- in the ground (80’). the Department informs that the In- tion for the same can be made at But no matter how they tried, the Japanese simply couldn’t find a come Tax and Commercial Tax di- the Department’s office here at way in as they saw their FIFA World Cup dreams dashed in a 0:1 match vision of the Finance Department Tashiling annexe. SENEGAL DREAM RUN CONTINUES enegal’s Henri Camara scored Stwo goals, the second being the deciding golden goal that knocked out Sweden in their round-of-16 meeting at Oita Stadium in Japan. The dramatic goal sends Senegal to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner between Japan and Turkey. Henri Camara, whose golden goal was just the second in finals history, first equalised for Senegal in the first half after Henrik Larsson had opened the scoring for Sweden. Senegal maintained possession well throughout the match and were led in the attack by El Hadji Diouf, who managed good creative work in the absence of the suspended Khalilou Fadiga. Sweden’s Henrik Larsson, meanwhile, scored a goal but had trouble finding chances without the IN help of the injured Fredrik Ljungberg rajdhani NOW! phone: 70949 FEEDBACK - BOUQUETS OR BRICKBATS - INVITED @ NOW! NEAR AYURVEDIC CLINIC, TADONG, EAST SIKKIM email- [email protected] 19-25 June, 2002 ON-RECORD NOW! 5 EXCLUSIVE: BINOD Kr. GAJMER TALKS TO NOW!

The sobriquet of “richest man in Sikkim” does not rest easy on Binod Kumar Gajmer. An almost anonymous person till a month ITSITS ALLALL back, today, he finds himself the cynosure of all attention. The daunting prospect of ABOUTABOUT giving the ‘right’ soundbites all the time GURCHARAN is forcing him into DAS seclusion. Back after a MONEY,MONEY, three-city promotional tour, in an exclusive interview to NOW!- he speaks to MITA ZULCA on HONEY!HONEY! life after the fortune.

First, that fateful Thursday night. I think I’ll know. It’s all a matter of luck. I pot, say something exciting. I was in Siliguri. At 9:30, when the lotto got lucky once with the jackpot. It may I think I’ll buy a Bolero. Are you going to splurge on any- numbers came on, I noted them down happen again with marriage. Basically I thing? on a piece of paper. My ticket was in like homely, simple girls. But mentally What else? Not really. my pocket. After 15 minutes, I milnu paryo. I want to give something to charity, espe- checked it and I couldn’t believe it. cially NGOs who work with the blind and Are you going to do anything Everything just stopped. I was so You still don’t have the money in hand, with children. crazy? nervous. I couldn’t sleep that entire but what is the first thing you’ll do Not really. night. In the morning, I rang up my when you get it? Are you interested in travelling? parents and they asked me to come I don’t know. Maybe I’ll expand my busi- Not really. We are not getting anywhere. Say over. On the 25th morning, I went up ness. something more - have you to Playwin to validate my ticket. After Are you going to build a very big ho- changed in any way since winning that, Zee TV took over. Don’t be boring, everyone expands tel? the Jackpot? business. You’ve just won the Jack- Not really. I don’t think I have changed in my per- You have been hiding since you sonal life, with my friends and family. came back. Why is that? But yes, earlier I liked to be very con- I’m not hiding, but yes, I don’t feel like cerned about the business, about prof- going out. The promotional tour was its. Now I am not so worried. very tiring. We went to Bombay, Chennai and Calcutta. I had to ad- How are you spending time these dress press conference everywhere. days? I am not used to these things. It was I’m watching football all the time. I also also very hot. Ever since I came back, like listening to music. I enjoy the I’ve not been feeling too well that’s songs played on Pratibimba Channel. why I am not meeting anyone. Its a nice mix.

On TV you said, “Now girls will Anything you always wanted to do, come running to me,” but girls are but couldn’t - which you now can? all mad with you for having said I am an artist. I used to do fine arts so. but because of business concerns I It was just a joke. I didn’t mean any- sidelined it. I like painting landscapes, thing bad. Archana Puran Singh kept portraits etc, now I can really indulge talking about girls. I had to say some- myself. thing. Jiske ko only. You’re being called the “richest man in Sikkim”. How does it feel? Do you have a girlfriend? I must have done something good in No I don’t. my past life to have such good fortune. I must do something good in this life Why not? too, so that I get lucky in my next life. I wanted to stand on my own feet be- fore I got involved with anyone. Now You mean win a Jackpot again? I’m in a good position to get married. Yes.

How will you know if she wants you or your money?  On his kind of women (marriage-type)

 On his comment that women Mentally will come running to him now Jiske ko milnu only paryo GANGTOK 19-25 JUNE, 2002 6 NOW! ED-SPACE19-25 June, 2002 BLUFF MASTER – THE GAMES SIKKIM MATTERS PEOPLE PLAY EMPLOY LOGIC; DEPLOY DEVELOPMENT Thirty-eight per cent of Sikkim’s present population of about 5.5 lakhs is below the age of 15. While this gives the State a tremen- DEEP dous resource base of talent, if wasted, it also prepares a gen- eration of misfits. With each passing year this lot inches closer to FOCUS an age when they expect employment - “expect” being the op- by RANJIT SINGH erative word here. Former Chief Secretary, KS Rao, hits the nail on the head in his memoirs when he writes that the “normal ten- Mamata Banerjee and Pervez dency” among the youth here is to get a simple degree and con- Musharaff - Perfect soul-mates or sider themselves to be “eligible and in fact entitled to a govern- stalemates? ment job”. Because the State has been an undemanding em- Whatever, there is an uncanny ployer for so long, people take offence when they are told that resemblance between the two. they are not suitable for the vacancy at hand. In fact, the State machinery has never been too selective when it comes to pick- Mamata, after fuming, fretting, ing the cogs that turn its wheels. Even the document, Sikkim: foaming and frothing and another The People’s Vision, commissioned by the State Government to bandh in her kitty suddenly codify Sikkim’s proposed development curve observes that in the declares she is ready for talks. And past couple of decades, government posts have been peopled Musharaff, after raising the ante of by “large-scale recruitment of under-qualified persons”. Govern- nuclear strikes as an excuse to a ance standards have fallen as a result and corruption has been a ‘moonh tod jawab’ suddenly direct fallout. This does not go to contend that we do not have discounts the possibility of war. enough “good officers”. We do. It is just that they are swamped There seems to be an undercurrent by the lot which has no intentions of rocking the boat. Talk to any of competition between the two to of the younger bureaucrats and one sees the passion of wanting covet the dubious distinction of to make a difference burn in them. The passion may have dimmed being hailed as the ‘Bluff-master over the years of pushing files that no one cares to read, but of the subcontinent’. believe you me, a little prodding and the embers will come alive Here is what they have to say – or again. Perhaps more than the mediocrity that establishments (and shout – on their behalf. You are Sikkim is no different) tend to encourage, its greatest malfea- requested to go through it solemnly sance has been the abject disapproval of personal initiative. This and in good earnest. This is, after again is perhaps a result of the vicious circle that has put so all, a grave attempt, by grave many mediocre personalities in offices of importance. We are all contenders to decide a grave issue. aware of our own shortcomings and it is when we are uncomfort- At the end, please put in your vote able with them that we clamp on the blinkers and refuse to learn. for the winner. We start posturing then. We become paranoid. But enough of Mamata Banerjee and Pervez that. We know why Sikkim missed the development bus (and we Musharaff - Face to face, in all their did, despite whatever official data might claim), what we need to grace: concentrate on is to make sure we don’t get left out again. MB: I can raise a hue and cry, The first task in the government’s hands is to reward intelligent Make mountains of mole advice coming from its own ranks. After all, the implementation hills. part is still controlled by the bureaucracy. The next step will be tough, but worth the effort - motivate the somnolent giant into PM: I can make the sub- dynamism. Give them a job to do, trust them with it and then continent fry make them accountable for the results. We also need to take the With India to foot the bill. negativity out of “accountable”. After all, it also means reward for MB: I can blow hot and cold a job well done. This achieved, the policy makers should frame a Over issues stillborn. good policy and hand it over to the foot-soldiers to implement. It PM Can you pretend to be bold with mundane nuclear tests” “I have integrity, so I resign” is perhaps because one sees a hint of such an initiative in the Selling jehadi porn? MB to death by haranguing The other, he says, “I’m still in Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme that expectations are MB Well, do you know that my I owe my power and my search of mine” so high from it. Even if the scheme meets half of what it has set favourite hobby fame. out to achieve, Sikkim could wear a different look in the next five Is to make the commies PM to nonstop India banging One is fused, the other confused years. It is also an encouraging sign that the first major initiative scamper. Do I owe the same. Both light a spark of the present government has been directed towards tackling PM I’ll tell you what, dear baby Volatile, vitriolic both in speeches For others to defuse unemployment. Too many of our youth are going to finish their I’m the cutie the US loves to While one roars, the other Another thing they have in education and become “educated unemployed” too soon. The pamper! screeches— common time for rhetoric is past and jobs in the government have satu- MB “my life is dedicated to the “I’ll call a bandh at the drop of a Neither can write or speak in rated. Self-employment and the private sector are the only op- masses hat” Roman. tions available any more which is why the present scheme will Through rail-rokos and “I’ll go nuke just like that” If one is a staunch communist have to go beyond the bounds of party politics and embark on a bandhs “I’ll hold a dharna then a baitor pan-Sikkimese initiative. The budget outlay is handsome and the PM mine to dig up Indian procession” The other is a capitalist traitor. nitty-gritties have obviously been worked out fine. All it requires carcasses “I’ll take a swig then make an And a reason why they make bad is the right implementation which is why the mid-rung officers To terrorist’s I furiously address to the nation!” orators become so important. What everyone needs to understand be- pump my funds”. “I have to my name ‘Murder Both act first and leave the talking forehand is that IT boom in India which continues despite 9/11 MB I am the queen of Indian Democracy Day’ for later. started as a silent initiative before exploding as the multi-billion summer “Murder democracy what can I dollar industry that it is today. Sikkim too needs to find its vehicle Drenched in the sacrificial say.” Where else on earth will you find of ‘boom’ and focus all its energies on keeping it on the road to sweat of ephemeral protests “I am a mutant, truant social Two people we love to hate success. The initiative has been taken, whether we deliver or PM I am the king of Pakistani activist’ A pair of perfect soulmates? not, only time will tell. And yes, this time, posterity will also hold “Oh I’m just your regular anti-India us accountable because there is too much at stake now. hunger We’re cannot be satisfied chauvinist”

WELCOME MOVE NEEDS with our Income Tax Laws. It is in prosperity of Sikkim and for gen- gear-up to host the forthcoming PURSUANCE fact unfair on the lower income sala-  LETTERS erations to come? Governor’s Cup Football ef. your article “Closest Yet”, ried group apart from being outdated Tashi Wangdi, Gangtok Tournament at ? Can we RVol 1 No. 2. I am most excited and ill-suited to address many ques- the creed of the tax-wallahs, as much do it? We can! We have to show to learn that the Central Govt. is in tions of today on income, commis- as we need to rationalise the struc- CAN WEST DO IT? that west district is also not far a conciliatory mood and apparently sion, turnover and profit and loss. ture of our present income tax by irst of all, let me congratulate behind. I personally feel that we willing to hear Sikkim’s side of the Since the withdrawal of the In- soliciting the help of tax experts who Fyou for launching NOW! Now have better infrastructure required story on Central Income Tax. The come Tax case from the Supreme must essentially ensure that we en- is really the need of the hour for to host such a tournament. present Govt. is in a unique posi- Court, the subject is no longer joy many advantages over the Cen- Sikkim. Through its columns I Technically speaking, our playing tion to not only create history, but subjudice and therefore open for tral Income Tax. Many countries like would like to place the following ground at Gyalshing is second only also leave a shining legacy for pos- amendments particularly because Singapore and UAE have done won- suggestion: to Paljor Stadium. Numerous hotels terity. If they bungle this opportu- the Central Govt. has adopted a con- ders to their economies by making Last year’s Governor’s Gold Cup in the vicinity of Gyalshing, nity, future generations will never ciliatory tone which must snap us their tax laws very intelligent and Football Tournament at Bhaichung Pemayangtse and can easily forgive them. A pre-emptive deja- out from our stupor. We, however, favourable for foreign investment. Stadium, was a success house the participating teams and vu of how Nepali leaders who re- need a clear vision unobscurated by The day is also not far away when despite all odds. Kudos to SFA and their officials. Our sports loving jected the Schedule Tribe status of- petty and personal considerations Indo-Tibet trade will become a real- all the Ministers, MLAs, District Chief Minister will as usual extend fer in 1950’s (now paying for their but one that encompasses a holistic ity and the gold rush will be but a officials and general public of all possible help if West District myopia) may indeed help all these view for future. natural consequence. South District. In a similar manner, bids to conduct the forthcoming people in positions of power and in- It also means we ought to clearly A once in a lifetime opportu- will the Ministers, MLAs, District Gold Cup. Let us prove that West fluence to widen their horizon. reject any extension of the Central nity has come begging, will the officials and general public of West can also do it. Let us first rid ourselves of the Income Tax and its ensuing harass- powers that be spurn it or hold it District follow the path shown by Bikram H. Subba, Dentam belief that everything is hunky-dory ment which are part and parcel of like a beacon of hope for general their south district counterpart and 19-25 June, 2002 OPINION NOW! 7 All Hail The return of the Game!

ow that World Cup is here, it is al- most with a sense of relief that I PRAVEEN MOKTAN on what makes football so Nsee once again people coming back to the beautiful game. They are talking about special and the World Cup so welcome... it in the offices and schools. They are get- ting excited about it in sitting rooms and tea shops. The housewife supports a team and so does the jeep-driver who supple- ments his Playwin fantasies by riding his luck with the book-keepers (smart thing to do, because the probability factor of a fa- vourable outcome is astronomically higher than what it is for a Playwin Jackpot). Chil- dren who, till a couple of weeks back, had their sporting universes crowded with cricket and WWF (now WWE) are now re- turning like prodigal sons back to the realm of the possible. For, if there is any game that is possible to us hill-folks in terms of temperament and physique it is football in- deed. I would find it almost painful to see kids from Mangan to Tinkitam trying to play cricket with a seriousness of intention as if they were harbouring illusions of future greatness in this complicated game. It suits us like no other game. A lot ar- gue that the abysmally low standard of the game in the country is a deterring factor in drawing more to play the game. This defies logic. Doesn’t it make sense to get involved with playing a game whose entry-level standards are so low in the professional arena that it makes it accessible to all. From France, don’t puzzle over the idiosyncrasy of way the Africans and the Koreans have come Not content with watching it on TV or wast- a snotty-nosed primary school boy kicking it all. It’s a world game. A poetry of our sport- up in the game means there is something in it ing a perfectly good Sunday running around a rag ball in dusty to a premier ing aspirations. for all. Unlike basketball, for which we are in the Sun playing a game that was no sweat league aware rich kid from TNA, it is pos- Football, after all, was not invented by vertically and therefore genetically chal- to even a 42-inch waisted Arjuna Ranatunga sible to all. The idea is to get in, excel and some stiff-lipped, high latitude dwelling lenged, or even unlike cricket which is an (and in a World Cup at that), we started or- raise the bar a little higher. Easier said than Anglo-Saxon whose temperament is as cold acquired taste like a convert’s new religion, ganising tournaments. What an utter waste done. But then, the next best option is as his weather. It is, unlike cricket, not a co- football resonates with our instincts. Every- of time, money and organising skills. We cricket. And here we are, up against a pedi- lonial legacy or a white man’s burden. It is, one can play ball. had to draw the line somewhere and come greed breed in the plains who literally live, not even as in our case, a brown man’s bur- It was indeed frustrating to see the draw- down to earth. To all the rosy-eyed kids who breathe and eat cricket. Their weight of his- den. Football is of the people. You just need ing away of sporting talent as kid after kid were investing so much of their time and tory favours them. Our legacy allows us to balls to play it. No leg guard, no abdominal worked their after-school hours with straight- talent there had to be some way to assure drown our dream. guard, no helmet. In terms of its beauty and drives and bouncers. As if they could smell more tangible returns. This is where the So next time you walk the streets with a simplicity, the invention of football is right in the air, grand prospects in a game that 90 World Cup comes in. Football is our game. four year old deja vu of seeing a Marwari up there with the wheel. Its rhythms are natu- per cent of the world does not understand or That is why we have our Shyam Thapas, raise a Brazilian flag or a hot-headed Rai ral, fluent and fluid. Almost like a dance or a even tries to. It should have stopped at that, Pem Dorjis and Baichung Bhutias and not breaking into a fight because he supports good life. Football is the great leveller. The but then the mobbishness went even further. one Siddhu. THE TAMASHA BEGINS ur Democracy is in a mess. Testimony of such a state Acerbic comments from OTIS on the children who can be lured by dangling a stick of candy. From is the petty politicking involved in the issue of the get-a-Christian-to-cut-a Christian logic, the government Ocandidature of the President of India. Never before state of Indian politics as exposed in degraded to get-a-Muslim-to-appease-a-Muslim one. And has the most august office of our polity been so scandalized the latest shennanigans on deciding we Indians, are expected to forget all else – anti incumbency, by politicians upholding pseudo-secularist credentials. hindutva ideology, non governance, genocide… What’s more, this prestigious, though ceremonial, office has who the next President should be... The Communists outshone the government with been used for the shameless propagation of a propaganda of monumental stupidity in rejecting the consensus on Abul brazen communalism and supposedly ‘subtle’ ideology. quite caustic to say the least. The incumbent President lost Kalam and hunting their own Muslim neutralizer. When PC Alexander to counter the threat posed by Sonia no opportunity in letting his views out which, more often than former Chief Justice Ahmadi could not be pursued – he is Gandhi. The BJP logic has it that you cannot have both the not, were in complete contrast to the shades displayed by the in Canada – they decided upon Lakshmi Sehgal, member of offices of the President and the Prime Minister occupied by NDA. The President may be constitutionally bound to toe the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Cabinet in exile. the member of the same community! They conveniently line of the government, but nothing can take away the Albeit to put up a ‘symbolic’ fight. It is interesting to note forget of such an ‘outrageous catastrophe’ when two fundamental right of an Indian citizen to express his opinions. that the first person to be approached by the erstwhile Brahmins occupied the offices of the President and Prime And the President, to his credit, is the first citizen of India. People’s Front for the office of President was Jyoti Basu Minister – RK Ventakaraghavan and Narashima Rao There are two points here, as far as conventions are who at the proposal retorted, “I am not in good health. But respectively; that wasn’t the first time either. And more concerned, on which the BJP can be made to swallow its my head is alright.” So much for statesmanship and integrity importantly, the Constitution of India does not seem too own words. and a sound head. averse to the idea either. By proposing the name of Firstly, as far as precedent allows, there has never been Secondly, their supposed preponderance to conventions Alexander, the governor of Maharashtra and a Congress old a rat race for the Presidentship of India. The ruling party/ and precedents as evinced from their ‘righteous’ stance timer – he was advisor to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv and Narashima parties’ foibles have resulted in the creation of another such. seems to have escaped them altogether. They seem to forget Rao – the BJP expected the Congress to take the bait. The unofficial emissary of the Prime Minister, Brajesh that for quite a while now it has been an established practice That the Congress did not is another story. Mishra and the unofficial emissary of the leader of the to nominate the vice-president to the Presidential office. Such The BJP refusal to support the present incumbent KR opposition party, Natwar Singh had a meeting in which an elevation would, apart from being a logical extension of Narayanan, too, smacks off wilful hegemony. There is no Alexander’s name popped. No, said Natwar Singh. A the office of Vice-President, save the country and its polity precedent, they say, of a President seeking two consecutive consensus was then arrived at on the name of Vice-president the unceremonious and undignified affair of the highest terms. So, ostensibly, they cannot aver from holy convention. Krishna Kant. A couple of hours later the BJP backtracked constitutional office being desecrated with populist theories. But here again selective amnesia is the culprit. Sanjeeva Reddy and homed in on Abul Kalam. That will redeem our anti- And as for consensus, the VP has more of a chance than any had two terms. But the cause of general astonishment is their minority status, they believed. other on that score. utter disregard for the constitution of India. Our constitution, Now, whether Kalam is or is not the right choice, (at And its not that this is the first time the BJP has flouted which is the ultimate authority and the source of our least the communists think he’s not) is beside the point. The constitutional norms and procedures or even conventions for democracy, clearly provides for a Presidential second term. very logic of his candidature belies the perceptions which that matter. The governors in the states of the Indian Union So what’s convention got to do with it. Conventions only come the BJP have of us - the general public. Will we forget are mostly BJP stooges appointed to serve the party’s interests. into play in the event of ambiguity or understated constitutional Gujarat for the sake of Abul Kalam? Will we be cleansed of Flouting constitutional norms is one way to go about it and in procedures. In any case, ours being the largest constitution in our guilt with a simple Muslim nomination? With PC the process they undermine the prestige of their own office. the world, constitutional provisions should be given Alexander, too, they were playing the communal card. This In the recent Goa Assembly elections, the governor lost no precedence over conventions – established or not. It is no is nothing but an insult to our intellectual perceptions and secret that relations between the NDA and Narayanan were beliefs. We, the people of India, are seen and treated as - turn to pg 9 8 NOW! POWER-PLAY 19-25 June, 2002 RANJIT SINGH gets into  the head of an idea CHIEF MINISTER’S SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME which could turn Sikkim around GANGTOK: The Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme was formally announced in the Sikkim Assembly during the budget A DEVELOPMENT STORY session. The scheme, with an overall budget of Rs. 90 crores, entrepreneurs.” This, according to aims to help 2,400 young boys and WE HAVE INCORPORATED ASPECTS him, is the all-important difference girls of the state to set up their own between this scheme and the other business or means of employment. WHICH WILL ENSURE SUCCESS; PD RAI self-employment schemes. “ They The period between the failed due to the lack of any such announcement in March and the monitoring. Also, our process is proposed implementation from simple. An applicant doesn’t have July was spent setting up the to go through an army of officials various measures and structures before he gets his loan. This was and the streamlining of procedures precisely the case with the other for the successful implementation schemes and cause for the of the scheme. The logistics of the nonpayment of loans, he says. “By scheme down to its implementation the time they get the money they has been chalked out by SIDICO. become so cynical that they decide The main idea behind the to give the government an equally initiative is to provide the youth, hard time in the payments.” mainly the educated unemployed Motivated young people from youth of Sikkim, with an NGOs and other such institutions opportunity at meaningful will be trained to impart training to employment. “Those who are the aspiring entrepreneurs. The educated but just sitting idle and training of these trainers is currently wasting away their life should grab on. “After the training we will have this opportunity,” says PD Rai, a resource base of 70-80 young and Chairman, SIDICO. highly motivated people to provide The aspiring entrepreneur can training to 600 to 1000 take up any business or pick any entrepreneurs. People should realize means of livelihood. “We want a NOW! pic that unemployment is a problem of them to be innovative, to bring out TRAINERS GET TRAINED: The workshop organised by SIDICO to train “micro-monitors” who will in turn the entire society. Everyone is their creativity. There is no end to train and guide young entrepreneurs under the CM’s Self Employment Scheme responsible for efforts towards the kind of work they can choose eradicating it,” says Mr. Rai. This, from,” Mr. Rai adds. to solve operational hurdles. We do identification, counselling and the country and is a vital he says, is capacity building. An applicant has merely to step not want to make the mistakes of training (at state’s expense) and also component for the successful Mr. Rai, himself a product of IT into the SIDICO office for an other such schemes like the Prime identifying the training needs. implementation of our scheme,” industry, sees the government application form. These are also Minister Rozgar Yojna. We have “Training is a must and so is the Mr. Rai stresses. playing the role of a venture available throughout the state incorporated into it such aspects so ability to write a project report, which The function of the micro capitalist. The expected hike in through various agencies and as to ensure its success.” will be imparted in the training,” says monitors is to look after, guide and employment is 60-70% with the panchayats. The applicant has to be The different approach Mr. Rai. Apart from providing the help out the young entrepreneurs. government giving a free hand and a graduate or class X pass. includes believing in the youth of training and money, SIDICO will Apart from verifying the proper putting full faith and money behind The only guarantee sought by Sikkim and making it known to also provide links with other utilization of money loaned, the its youth. This whole movement to SIDICO before processing the loan them that they are trusted with the government programmes and most micro monitors are the first resort mobilize the youth of Sikkim and is a written statement for the money. A graduate can avail of a significantly contacts with marketing of the entrepreneurs in times of dire to believe in their success will repayment of the loan by anyone maximum loan of Rs. 1 lakh while agencies. And with 300-400 micro problems or procedural hindrances. definitely see a rise in the economic willing to support the applicant. for the school pass applicant the monitors throughout the state, they “It’s not as if the monitors are activity of the state and As to the long time taken to maximum is Rs. 50,000. The loans expect to be always informed of the going to be breathing down their subsequently, the willingness of implement it since it was are interest free for the first two problems and obstacles. neck. Their role is that of a guide, donor agencies to provide the money announced, Mr. Rai says “This is a years. Thereafter an interest of 6- An important aspect of the sort of providing incubation and for further development. With the monumental scheme given due 7% is payable annually. entire scheme are the ‘micro informing us so that we can government putting its whole diligence on the part of SIDICO. According to Mr. Rai, there is a monitors’. “Such a concept is being intervene quickly and effectively in weight behind the people it is up to We have discussed at length how nine-step process, which includes implemented for the first time in case of any problem faced by the the people now to show results. CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE SUBMITS REPORT ON DECENTRALISATION TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN PANCHAYATI RAJ AHOY! LAUNCHED FOR EAST SIKKIM a NOW REPORT stressed on the need for 48 gram panchayat units of east of which public participation a NOW REPORT implementation of suitable and cost district under Jawahar Rojgar would account for 10 per cent GANGTOK: The Cabinet subcom- effective technologies in providing Samridhi Yojna. Similarly, the of the cost for schools and 20 mittee chaired by PWD and Parlia- GANGTOK: The importance such areas with sanitation facilities, Speaker, Mrs. Kalawati Subba, per cent for institutional latrines mentary Affairs Minister, RB of sanitation can no longer be speeding sanitation coverage and distributed work orders for elsewhere. Subba, and formed to suggest ways neglected, said the Chief bringing about reduction in the construction of institutional latrines Stressing the need for public and means of decentralisation of Minister Pawan Kumar incidence of water borne diseases for 48 schools falling under the east support, the Chief Minister power to the Zilla Panchayati Raj Chamling while addressing a and most of all creating awareness zilla gram panachayt and low cost maintained that the slogan “afno institutions submitted its report to gathering of ministers, in the masses of ‘healthy living’ household latrines for five BPL gaon, aafai banoun” could the Chief Minister at a function chairpersons, senior through awareness programmes families in east district. translate into reality only if the hosted by the Rural Development government officials and and health education. Introducing the campaign, the public chipped in with its Department here at Community panchayat members from The Campaign, informs an RDD Minister, Girish Chandra Rai, support. He also informed the Hall on June 15, Saturday. around the State at a function official Press release, aims to bring disclosed that it would take under gathering of plans to constitute While presenting the Report, held here at Community Hall on about an improvement in the its folds several households District Planning Committees Mr. Subba lauded the effort as a June 15 to launch the Total general quality of life in rural areas subsisting below the poverty line which sought to involve the “very big step” taken by the SDF Sanitation Programme for East by providing proper sanitation and also provide for schools people in the formulation of Government and informed the gath- Sikkim. facilities there. At the function, the without proper sanitation plans for their areas and gave ering that the State Government had Underlining the necessity of Chief Minister, handed out cheques arrangements. them the power to prioritise set aside 10 per cent of the budget proper sanitation facilities in worth Rs. 11.48 lakhs and supply The cost of institutional latrines projects to suit their needs. of every department for panchayats rural areas, Mr. Chamling orders for procurement of rice for is estimated at Rs.20,000 per unit for development of the villages. Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, while accepting the Re- port assured the gathering of zilla ...the darkness creeps in A heartfelt Thank You to all who were present to share our grief adhakshyas and east zilla panchayat Lord with me abide on the demise of our beloved mother, Mrs. Padma Lucksom. members that he would implement all When other helpers fail and Your presence gave us strength and your sympathy warmed us. the recommendations made in the Thank You comforts flee Report “to the letter”. He also called May God bless you upon the panchayat members to func- Lord Abide with me Persis, Ashneth, Rebecca, Persona & Kezia (daughters of the departed) tion in a more responsible manner. 19-25 June, 2002 DESPATCHES NOW! 9 EVERY SIKKIMESE “WESTERN MUSICAL NITE” TO BE A Auricle Cultural & Sports Club presents CROREPATI BY THE YEAR 2050 Treasury, he said, would introduce by A STAFF REPORTER the element of transparency more strongly. That would mean a GANGTOK: The inaugural decrease in the rate of financial ceremony of the Online Treasury irregularities, duplicity and red Pay & Accounting System was held tape. He also hoped that the at the Treasury Pay & Accounts connectivity with each district over Office on June 18, Tuesday. The satellite would make official function was organized to herald transaction more smooth and easy. “ripples” the introduction of a computerized This, according to him, would be online treasury, pay and accounting in keeping with the government’s system. The occasion was graced policy of transparency and with the presence of the Chief contribute towards making the Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, government machinery more who presided over the occasion, Dr. accountable. N. Vijayaditya, Director General, A part of his address was also NIC, cabinet colleagues, heads of dedicated to the vision he had of various departments, and other Sikkim and its people. “The state eminent personalities. government,” he said, “has In his address, the CM embarked on many schemes with espoused upon the unlimited the vision to make every Sikkimese WATERS opportunities made available in the a lakhpati by 2015 and every wake of globalization and Sikkimese a crorepati by 2050. We liberalization but at the same time have so combined our vision with warned of the accompanying risks. actions that our dreams look within He stressed upon the need to reasonable reach these seven years “lubricate our administrative that we have been in the machinery, modify our archaic government.” It seems now that a approach wherever inevitable and small junction has been built from prepare to face the new Millennium which the IT vehicle can take off STILL with a new face and a new on the visionary highway. attitude”. That information Among others making an technology was the new age mantra address to the gathering was the was well recognized and accepted Director General, NIC. He said that

by the CM. He indicated the steps with the population of the state just the taken by his government in this about 5 lakhs, the creation of a direction, “… there are 40 database of the people was not Community Information Centers impossible. This would help in being set up in different parts of information processing as and the state. We have taken the when required without loss of time. initiative to provide Computer He even extended the support of Education to all schools in the the NIC to the government in this state.” The setting up of Online regard. The Tamasha Begins Are we so bereft as to be concert Contd from pg 7 pimped out by a pseudo-nationalist time in asking the leader of the BJP attempt? Are we so stupid to be legislature party to form the ridden upon by constitutional government since his was the largest morons? single party. Only a few months ago It is a sorry state of affairs but his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh the truth is – we are. We are the ignored Mulayam Singh Yadav, who same people who did not care to had the largest number of seats in raise a voice amidst the Hindu the Assembly, to invite the runner- ‘heroism’ in Gujarat. We are the up, the BSP to form the government. ones to bring to power a party that And last year a party in alliance with centre-staged the demolition of a the BJP was asked to form a mosque. We are so crude as to lap government in Bihar despite the fact up the sectarian juices emanating also featuring that he did not have the numbers. If from the bowels of our leaders. We each governor is going to formulate do not hesitate to elect corrupt and KRYPTIC MUZAK his own theory on constitutional tainted individuals as our leaders, practice then what sort of a nor do we condemn their constitution do we have left to talk installation. We take it in as about? something destined, inevitable, The moot point left breathless normal. We are overcome with VENUE: in the ongoing race is the taken-for- inertia. We are vegetables and like granted-naivety of the voters. Are vegetables we will rot. We, the we so cheap as to be bought up by people of India, have created a SANGRAM HALL a shameless agenda? mess called democracy. DATE: TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ROADS TO CAFE TIBET, NEAR HC, 23RD JUNE 2002 NOWHERE SEVENTY-NINE, TIME: MG MARG, 3PM ONWARDS WEEKEND REVIEW OFFICE, DPH IN SMOKING AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL STRICTLY PROHIBITED INSIDE THE HALL

rajdhani AN EVENT SUPPORTED BY YO!THE YOUTH FORTNIGHTLY 10 NOW! ON-RECORD 19-25 June, 2002 26TH JUNE IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

AS A PARENT, YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO KEEP YOUR KIDS FROM EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS. IT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT EASIER IF THEY CAME WITH INSTRUCTIONS. BUT THEY DON’T. YET, IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH. SAY THANK YOU. REWARD THEIR EFFORTS. CATCH THEM DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, ENCOURAGE THEM. SMILE. KNOW WHO THEIR FRIENDS ARE. TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND ARE PROUD OF THEM.

A MESSAGE IN PUBLIC INTEREST FROM NOW! 19-25 June, 2002 BUSINESS NOW! 11 he frown lines on the Indian G7 Manpower study conducted over 16,000 economy have not vanished yet. firms shows that 21% of the companies But businessmen seem to be a lot interviewed intend to hire in the second Tmore upbeat than they were a few quarter of the year, compared to 10% who months back. Even the market seems to be THE will be reducing staff. That’s far better trying to lose its fears of a war scenario compared to the first quarter when 16% of between India and Pakistan. Alongside a firms were laying off people with an equal higher excise collection so far this year, 16% intending to hire. The worry here is not the April figure of 2.9 per cent growth for RECESSIONARY restricted to friends and family in the US, the Index of Industrial Production is higher both Indian and American, who have lost than the 2.6 witnessed for the same month jobs, or might soon. A sustained depression in 2001. So are things really turning in the US economy doesn’t augur well for around? Or is this the kind of hype we have anyone. It is the largest market for Indian been hearing about the US economy for a TREND goods, products and talents. It is also the while now. largest direct and indirect investor in the Even as people around us here in India Indian economy. are having a tough time finding appropriate One friend could see the brisk for U-Haul in San At the end of the day, in a truly globalised jobs, there’s still news trickling in of friends, writing on the wall in his Francisco, it was losing world, it’s Indian jobs and India’s economic family and other faceless many losing their consulting company and money since it had to revival that depend in part on the American jobs in the US. The tide of bad news has not was making plans of bring in empty trucks into condition. been stemmed it seems, despite contrary putting in his papers BUSINESS the city to keep business reports every now and then that the recession before they asked him to going. BETTER BANKING in the United States is showing signs of an leave. Another had NOW! It’s been a year now The Finance Minister has just announced eminent exit. The stock markets haven’t yet suffered such huge losses by KANKANA DAS and not much has measures that could go a long way in started partying and neither have American in the stock market changed. In fact research strengthening India’s nationalised banks and companies. during the previous year’s stock market bust by the Washington DC-based G7 group showed help them reduce the huge amounts of non- This week, I learnt of yet another friend that he had shut down his company and was that in the second quarter of this year performing assets they are currently saddled losing his job in a rather reputed East Coast waiting tables at a high-end restaurant. investment by businesses in the US would with, without engaging in lengthy, and often technology company. He has apparently At some level I thought I was seeing a shrink further. That isn’t a very good sign since expensive, court battles. received an offer from Lucent Technologies. biased picture. May be my friends were business investment comprises 14% of the US The government is ready with three bills That seems more like temporary good news going through a rough patch and that was GDP and the current recession in largely due that it hopes to introduce in the monsoon for his family, since Lucent itself has been all. Until I reached the West Coast. The rate to a lack of corporate investment, compared to session of Parliament. The Banking Reforms riding some rather rough times since last of joblessness there was something I had the booming levels of the mid-90s. Bill, Securitisation Bill and Foreclosure year. never witnessed. Seventy-five percent of the The bits and pieces of revival in the US Norms and an amendment to the Deposit It’s been a year now since I last visited people I was introduced to weren’t working. were triggered off due to increased Insurance Corporation. These would give the US. In fact last year around this time I Their companies had all shut shop or had government spending by Bush and not banks extra powers to recover dues from went through a rather eye-opening trip of two laid off employees in droves. This was economic fundamentals bouncing back. borrowers. Currently, the non-performing months. Many of my acquaintances and those California – San Francisco and the Silicon Currently, an increasing number of assets or NPAs of nationalised banks and of my friends were out of a job or nearly on Valley – home to the dot com boom and then corporates are beginning to believe that financial institutions stand at a staggering their way out. It started on the East Coast in the huge huge bust. Some of these people better investment opportunities lie in Europe Rs 1,00,000 crores. Even if a part of this is Connecticut where the friend whose had made a bit of money through really high and Asia rather than in their own country. recovered over a period of the next few years marriage we were attending was more salaries. But the demoralised state of not Making the situation further worrisome is it’ll go a long way in dragging some banks worried about the financial software having a job and not being able to find one that the power of the believed to be all- back from hitting the red line, help others in company he’s a part owner in than his either was rather depressing. Many of the powerful US dollar too seems on the wane, posting healthy profits and enable the listed wedding details. On to New York City and young folks were actually moving out of San making it more difficult to draw investments ones to see a better share price value. there was Jonathan - working in a global Francisco to find jobs in other states, creating into the country. Not even the lowest in 40 Here’s to hoping the monsoon session of commodity trading company for years - ready a rather funny problem for U-Haul (the years interest rates - nine rate cuts totalling Parliament isn’t held to ransom by bickering to go out for drinks, lunch or a game of largest interstate moving company) where 4% - has helped in encouraging companies political parties. And even if it is, may be backgammon at any time of the day. He had thousands of trucks were moving out of San to make fresh investments. our Parliamentarians will spend some time been asked to find another job and his trading Francisco every day and not a single one There is but a small glimmer of hope for in passing some much-awaited economic terminal was frozen. Boston was no better. coming back. Even though business was the 5.4% unemployed in the US. The same bills. WTO RECOGNISES SIKKIM, Conservation efforts initiated DECLARES IT AGRICULTURAL EXPORT ZONE for Khecheopalri towards the conservation of this holy otherwise forage for fodder along this work, informs an official Press a NOW REPORT . The Department, keeping the the lake’s banks. a NOW Report release. religious sentiments in mind has taken Ms. Nangpa pointed out that a According to the CM, Sikkim GANGTOK: Khecheopalri Lake in some progressive initiatives in this recent GB Pant Institute report on GANGTOK: Sikkim has been has received an amount of Rs. 24.61 west Sikkim, one of the holiest regard she said. Khecheopalri observed that presence declared an Agriculture Export crores to be used for the export of in the State, is falling victim to its Signboards have been put up of domestic animals near the lake Zone under the purview of the ginger and Rs. 33.11 crores for the own status as a revered lake. The around the lake instructing the was detrimental to the lake and hence World Trade Organisation. This export of flowers and dallay numerous pilgrims who make it to visitors not to throw any form of a wicket-gate is being constructed was made known by the Chief khorsani. The money is to be used the lake’s shores litter the banks puja offerings into the lake since near the Tourist Lodge to stop the Minister Pawan Chamling on June for developing and promoting the with prayer offerings and other most of these offerings are not entry of domestic animals. 15, at a function held at the export potential of such commodities items. However, offerings made in biodegradable. Mud and stone A WWF Report reveals that 34 Community Centre here in which by the setting up of packaging all piety, leave a lasting impact on containers are provided for burning mammal species are found in the he launched the Total Sanitation centres, cold storage facilites, the fragile ecosystem of the lake. incense sticks instead of cemented area in question and hence there Campaign for the East district. nurseries and other related amenities. Now, finally, there is an initiative ones which impact the environment should be no fencing around the Lake With this recognition, Sikkim The Chief Minister is confident from the State Archives Department negatively. A shed has also been to hinder them from drinking water. can now export ginger, flowers and that such opportunities will help to undertake some conservation constructed above the road level for The Joint Secretary also spoke dalley khorsani throughout the increase the purchasing power of measures at Khecheopalri. lighting butter lamps, she disclosed. about the proposal from the world. The Agriculture and the people and also make them Chumden Nangpa, Joint Further, a wicket-gate is also Governor suggesting desilting of Horticulture Departments of the economically independent. He Secretary, State Archives Department, being put up near the tourist lodge the lake. Funds have already been State have been appointed the urged the people to take full told this reporter of the “sincere” near the lake to stop the entry of made available for the desiltation nodal bodies for the execution of advantage of the opportunity. efforts being put in by her Department domestic animals which tend to plan, it is learnt.

Nilesh Taware the first Jackpot winner of the Playwin Sikkim Lotto reads YO!

have you been a lucky? 12 NOW! SPORTS 19-25 June, 2002 THE BALLGAME OF LIFE

Websites or construction sites, football’s percolated every sphere of activity TENZIN CHUKIE in a protest against football in general and the ongoing World Cup in particular

heers, football fever is here! More cheery a thought is that the fever is about to wane and thank Cgod for it. My whole life has been disrupted ever since the wretched World Cup fever ballooned into a full fledged pandemic. My normally obedient infant son insists on hitting his little football with what I presume are headers, my normally willing husband refuses to adandon his permanent roost in front of the television and my normally agreeable father takes his grandson on increasingly shorter drives. So not only do I watch petrified lest my son hurt himself , I don’t get driven around when I need to be and it seems my son is back from his jaunt before I’ve caught my breath. Wait, it gets worse. The papers when I open them are full of football- the sports page I’d gladly suffer but every page, every advertisement is full of football! Seems every advertiser worth his salt is trying to my neck, I get practical and use the share fluttering gaily from the rear view mirrors husband in watching TenSports. I ask the cash in on the craze but how much sales cabbies to get to office way down in Gairi of some local taxis. There’s no escaping from cook for some French fries and suddenly have been boosted in the attempt is Gaon. One would think one would be safe football! this otherwise inert guy beside me goes anyone’s guess. Fact is, the target consumer from football in the Gangtok cabs but would It doesn’t stop there. Go to town, there into overdrive eating them all up and not (or the reader to the layman) is so inundated you believe it, everyone is talking of … are the Brazilian colours sitting smugly, so much as a by your leave. And when I with football related ads that he just does football! Just this morning this dear old snugly, whatever over the New Wonder video finally manage to wrest the bowl away, my not register them any more. Every TV Tibetan lady en route to the Guru Lhakhang parlour’s doorway. The poolroom next to lil son, ‘bin Jorden’ comes back from his channel offers football updates and more was talking of ‘fooball’and how nice it was Golcha was rooting for Argentina but after ‘drive’ and goes ballistic eating up what’s ads, that too in vivid Technicolor! to see Bhaichung up there with the Ten their team’s precipitate exit from the World left ! I’m left holding the bowl-empty! My pool parlour, like all others, is also Sports guys. Cup, methinks the flag landed up in the I tell you, I hate football. It’s giving suffering in the bargain. Whenever there’s Wait, I tell you, it gets worse. Gangtok nearest jhora, never mind the fine! Or even me serious competition. My husband does a good match on telly, the frame-count dips taxi drivers are all for the Japs. Is it the the threat of imprisonment for that matter. not know I exist! Heck, a flesh and blood and my marker is starting to sound physical similarity of features that is the At the NOW! office, we sit down to woman as competition I can understand remarkably like a parrot with his constant reason for this sudden and very public show devise contests and my Ed comes up (can I really?) but a buncha guys hitting a refrain that everyone’s watching this match of support? If only our local youth had the with…....yup, one on Football! I think I’ll ball around? It’s not my ballgame! I think or the other. Blow football! prowess for football that the Japs have been have to migrate to the Tundras temporarily the only way to get even is to go have an Since I am unable to get my dear knocking everybody sideways with this for a much needed respite from football! affair. Anyone who is remotely interested husband to move and there’s no way am I world Cup! Wishful thinking! Anyway I am I’ve tried, believe me, I’ve tried. I get in football is automatically disqualified! going to drive in Gangtok traffic and break sure you must have noticed these lil Jap flags back from work and join my immobile WANTED SUPER DISTRIBUTORS & DISTRIBUTORS Wanted Super Distributor and Distributors in Siliguri (North Bengal), Sikkim, , , , , and by a leading com- NOW! pany having operations in several countries in Food Products and Beverages. Financially sound parties having sound distribution infrastructure in FMCG products should contact Mr. S. K. Jain COMES OUT EVERY Tele-Fax # 0353-641605 Mobile # 98320-67798 E. Mail: [email protected]

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Published by Lt. Col. (retd) P. Dorjee and printed at Baba Offset, Tadong. Editor: Pema Wangchuk. Now! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong. East Sikkim. ph: 03592 70949 email: [email protected]