Sikkim Express journalist Isabella Gurung is representing India at the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled ‘Call to Climate Action: Building Public Awareness through Media Advocacy’- a project for India at the United States of America (USA) from June 15 -July 6.
In 2024, the contest was between two major party – BJP and TMC, however, the contest had been made interesting by the entry of individuals, who are popular on social media. The interesting equation was made further interesting by the entry of Kurseong MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma, who entered the fray against his own party BJP’s official candidate Raju Bista.
The students from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars used to have hostel rooms given on priority, considering the actual distance needed to travel to NBU, difficul geographical conditions, physical remoteness of the place from where students would come etc. However, students allege that since the past few years, the NBU administration has only noted the distance denoted in the Google Map, without considering the actual time taken for reaching NBU, while allocating the hostel rooms. Because of this, majority of the hill students are being deprived of hotel rooms by NBU authorities.
In a shocking incident, senior nurse from Darjeeling Sr. N. Tamang, who is currently posted in the Maharaja Jirendra Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Cooch Behar was physically assaulted and verbally abused by a first year PGT Dr. Vivek Raj.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday, April 14, released its manifesto or ‘Sankalp Patra’, with the tagline “Modi ki Guarantee”, for the Lok Sabha election 2024. Their 67-page manifesto, which is more of a big canvas policy statement, has avoided mention of all political issues, including – Gorkha aspirations.
There is no mention of PPS, or inclusion of 11 left-out Gorkha sub-tribes as Schedule Tribes.
The Indian Football Association’s (IFA) circular mentioned that the players had to prove that they were born between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2009. GHFA had the responsibility of ensuring children qualified and all documentation was completed. Surprisingly, only 6 of the 20 children met the requirements. The rest were rejected due to lack of proper documentation verifying their date of birth. Subsequently, the entire team was disqualified and they did not play a single game in this important tournament.
Contrary to claims made by Hamro Party Chief Ajoy Edwards and Congress Candidate Munish Tamang, Congress Manifesto is silent on Gorkhas
What is most interesting for our region is that Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) led by Chief Minister P.S Golay encashed Rs 36.50 crores worth of electoral bonds, which is more than Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at Rs 30.50 cr, Janasena Party at Rs 21 cr, Samajvadi Party at Rs 14.10 crore and Jananata Dal (United) at Rs 14 crore.
While chatting with him, I got to know that his name is Biren Ghatani – once healthy until 2003, he progressively lost strength below his waist. Despite a decade-long search for a cure, none could be found. He turned adversity into opportunity, self-learning the art of knitting.
The Teesta Rangeet Rescue Centre (TRRC) volunteers have been playing an important role in rescuing those who face crisis in the Teesta river. In the lack of proper Civil Defence, and other government Rescue Organisations, TRRC has emerged as one of the most important bodies that has been providing rescuing people during natural disasters in the region.
Appreciating their efforts, Kalimpong SP Aparajita Rai, who is herself a daughter of the hills of Sikkim, sponsored a threee day training program conducted by the International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA), for them.