31 July, 2004; tary, SW Tenzing. NOW! 1 a NOW REPORT Sikkim’s official population as per GANGTOK, 30 July: Only Nagaland, with a the 2001 Census stands at 5,40,851, of Sikkim is an attractive controversial 60%, and Delhi, with an understand- which 78,195 are in the 0-6 age-group, able 40%, have recorded a population explosion 2,88,484 males and 2,52,367 females higher than Sikkim’s 32.6% in the last decade [875 females to every 1,000 males], dis- EVEN THE CENSUS [1991-2001]. tributed among 1,14,223 households. destination FIGURES SAY SO This was revealed by the Director of Census While the sharp rise in population Operations, Sikkim, PG Tenzing at the Data Dis- over the last decade should worry some, ONLY NAGALAND AND DELHI HAVE RECORDED semination Day 2001 Census, held here today. The good news comes in the form of the re- POPULATION GROWTHS FASTER THAN SIKKIM’S programme was inaugurated by the Chief Secre- turn to pg 7 Saturday, 31 July, 2004 Vol. 3 No. 112 Gangtok Rs. 3 SBICAR LOAN the most convenient option Sanction & Disbursement in 1 day Lowest interest rate at 9% No prepayment charges No processing charge Loan up to 90% Free accidental death insurance of the borrower Repayment up to 84 months contact PT Bhutia 98320 35786 or Chettri 94340 12824 EAST DELIBERATES ON PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF DECENTRALISATION Rural Management and Development Minister promises solutions for Minister, KN Rai, at the meet held to discuss the problems panchayats, show cause and prospects of decentralisation of power to panchayats notices for absentee officials on 30 July at Chintan Rural Management & Develop- ing their problems mentioned that the ANAND OBEROI Bhavan ment Department. one year of decentralization had its GANGTOK, 30 July: A one-day RM&D Minister, KN Rai, was share of good and bad experiences. programme to commemorate present as the chief guest for the func- Tika Gurung, a gram panchayat “One Year of Decentralization of tion which was also attended and member, while addressing the chair Powers to Panchayati Raj Institu- addressed by Agriculture Minister, mentioned that the panchayats dur- tion” was held at Chintan Bhawan Somnath Poudyal, Deputy Speaker, ing the first year had to work as per today for the East District Mingma Sherpa, DC [East], K. guidelines prepared by the various panchayat members. The day’s Srinivasulu, Secretary, RM&D, VB departments in developmental deliberations delved into the prob- Pathak, Zilla Adhakshya [East], KN works, but the funds, he said, could lems and prospects of the decen- Pradhan, Upadhakshya, Harihar be utilised best if the guidelines tralisation of power process and Poudyal, DDO [East] Tshewang were laid out by the people from many interesting and thought-pro- Gyatso Bhutia and officials from the grass root level instead. voking experiences were shared. other departments. He further mentioned that the The programme was organized by The panchayats, while express- turn to pg 6 BHANDARI WELCOMES CHANGES IN SIBLAC; CLAIMS HE HAS PROOF ON HOW EVMS CAN BE RIGGED a NOW REPORT GANGTOK, 30 July: The SPCC [I] president, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, today made it clear that he had no problems with his party men associating themselves with social organisations. At a press conference today, Bhandari addresses a press conference on 30 July. On his side are Tseten Mr. Bhandari, speaking specifi- Tashi Bhutia and Kunga Nima Lepcha, Congress candidates who lost the cally in the context of SIBLAC last assembly elections, and were recently elected SIBLAC convenors which recently elected Tseten scribed the Congress party as an spreading out but part of the same Tashi Bhutia and Kunga Nima “umbrella organisation” with chain,” he said by way of explana- Lepcha [both, Congress leaders many other organisations and as- tion. Incidentally, at an SPCC [I] who had contested the recent elec- sociations under its wing. press briefing earlier this week, tions as Congress candidates] as “We [the Congress] are like the party spokesperson, Jigme N. Kazi, convenors, Mr. Bhandari de- Himalayas with many smaller hills turn to pg 5 2; NOW!; 31 July, 2004 ED-SPACE Cinchona Directorate has become NOW! nobody’s child allege workers FIRST WITH THE NEWS other things of the Cinchona Plan- ber of a deceased or retired worker a NOW REPORT tation got shelved. Nothing hap- is reappointed in the plantation. Unemployment Blues DARJEELING, 30 July: The pened after that,” informs Sharma. Incidentally, corruption is ram- The SPGA feels that local candidates are being denied in employ- United Forum of Cinchona Plan- Along with this, the Forum pant in the cinchona plantations ment options which should come their way by right. A group of twenty- tation Trade Unions in a rally from demanded that the Government and workers allege that the higher five candidates who appeared in the interviews for selecting the the Darjeeling Railway Station to should immediately do away with ups are involved in it. next batch of Sub-Inspectors in Sikkim Police are threatening to the District Colletorate today com- Ten months ago, 40kgs of ipe- move the courts if their rejections are not countermanded. A person plained that the Cinchona Direc- “THE CINCHONA cac roots were stolen from Labdah denied appointment in the Raj Bhavan Secretariat sat at the Titanic torate had become “No body’s DIRECTORATE HAS and in 1995, 46 kilos of Quinine on a three-day hunger strike. Muster Roll and workcharged em- child.” NO ACCOUNTABILITY Sulphate was stolen from ployees served the yellow slips contest the termination of what are “The cinchona directorate has Mungpoo. essentially temporary jobs. An interview call for an employment no- no accountability and as the Gov- AND AS THE GOV- The Ditrict Magistrate, Dr. tice draws hopefuls by the hundreds for a handful of posts. All these ERNMENT SEEKS NO developments reiterate what too many people have referred to too ernment seeks no explanation Aariz Aftab stated that he would loosely - the problem of unemployment that is now staring Sikkim in from the Directorate for faulty EXPLANATION FROM get in touch with the higher ups. the face. Till some years back, only the bigger jobs would have functioning, the entire industry has THE DIRECTORATE In today’s rally Dawa Narbula the attracted allegations of nepotism and illegalities. Now, everything come to such a sorry state,” said MP from Darjeeling and D.K. from minor appointments to small contract works result in a slew of Luxman Sharma, President. FOR FAULTY FUNC- Pradhan MLA Darjeeling were allegations by the rejected lot. And, in some instances, court cases. In a memorandum to the Dis- TIONING, THE ENTIRE also present. It is obvious that now there are many Sikkimese to whom even the trict Magistrate who also has the INDUSTRY HAS COME Later, at a public meeting at smallest work is important. The emotional reactions to rejections additional charge of being the Di- TO SUCH A SORRY Chowk Bazar, Pradhan stated: stand testimony to this fact. It is not going to get any easier to land rector of the Cinchona Plantations, “We will hold an all party meet- jobs any more. Take the case of the quality of candidates who ap- the Forum demanded appointment STATE,” ing soon to discuss the present peared for the SI selections. Those who carried out the selection of a full time director. its faulty sales policies. condition of the cinchona planta- admit that the candidates were good enough to try for even higher posts. But the higher posts have not been released. While earlier, Incidentally, on 21 August “They should also stop whim- tions. After the meeting we will such candidates would have bided their time or opted for other ca- 2003 the workers had requested sical programmes for cultivation give an ultimatum to the State reers, now, the youth are grabbing at every opportunity that comes the then Minister Shree Kumar and fix accountability on all its Government. It is high time that their way. A post graduate qualified enough to teach in a college Mukherjee for a permanent Direc- employees,” added Sharma. Subash Ghising broke his silence takes up a job as a temporary teacher in a school. This trend in- tor to which he had given his as- Other demands featuring in on the sorry plight of this indus- creases the competition and Sikkim is not yet a very competitive surance to. Even an interview was the memorandum were streamlin- try” added Luxman Sharma. society. The government will obviously do what it has to do, but organized and candidates were ing and reorganizing the whole before that, the youth have to work out solutions for themselves or shortlisted. setup; check rampant corruption continue wallowing in the unemployed blues, signs of which are “However it reached only till and also reintroduce the “Badli already manifesting themselves. the interview stage and as with all system” in which a family mem- REPLY AGAINST THE by the high court during that time. will understand then as to who is baseless remarks may be nothing teacher with the consent of bonafide ALLEGATIONS MADE I have received a sum of Rs. mad and who is sane when he but desperate attempts to escape local guardians of school children AGAINST ME BY SHRI 15,000 given by Mr. TR Sharma stands in the dock. I am approach- himself from his deeds instead to and first semester was conducted. TR SHARMA to go to Kolkata to manipulate the ing the high court regarding the spoil the dignity and integrity of Because at that time code of con- t is a known fact that anyone records.