Therefore, it is not surprising that people across India and South East Asia flock here to get the best of primary and secondary/higher secondary education. These schools have long history and old legacy with the oldest school among them coming up as early as in 1844 in the form of Loreto Convent School, Darjeeling.

However, the modern schools for the commoners came only half a century later in the form of Darjeeling Govt High School. The seeds for educational revolution for commoners was started by one of the teachers of Darjeeling Govt. High School – Dr Parasmani Pradhan.

In this write-up, we focus on Education , and the Govt and govt sponsored Educational Institutions in Darjeeling Hills under GTA within the framework of GTA Act 2012 signed among GJM, Bengal Govt and Union Govt, along with the MoU signed on 18th July 2011 while GTA Act coming into play on 14th March 2012.

As per the GTA Act, many departments were being transferred with certain level of autonomy where Govt of West Bengal couldn’t unilaterally take decisions. Education was one of the transferred Dept. We will use sections and subsections of GTA Act in autonomy granted to GTA Sabha and jurisdiction.

Education as Transferred Subject

Under the section 26 of Chapter II of GTA Act, with subtitle “Matter to be under the control and administration of GTA”, the autonomy is expressed as, Subject to the provisions of this act and any other laws for the time being in force and any general or special direction of Govt , GTA shall have administrative, financial and executive powers in the region in the relation to following dept.

Therefore, education is a transferred matter. The subsections 26(V), 26(VI) and 26(VII) are related to educational institutions transferred to the GTA jurisdictions. They are as follows.

• 26(V): School Education including primary education, secondary education, higher secondary education (including vocational training): Physical Education; Government Schools.
• 26(VI): College Education including Agricultural and Technical Colleges, Local Management of Government sponsored Colleges; Mass Education and Physical Education; Engineering, Medical, Management, and Information Technology with Government and Government sponsored colleges for which wings /cells shall have to be created by the GTA for the area under its jurisdiction;
• 26(VII): Adult Education and Library Services;

Mode Of Appointments Of Staffs, Officers and Teachers

Subsections 54(1), 54(2) and 54(3)of chapter IV of GTA Act are related to the mode of appointment under subtitle “Officers and Staffs of the GTA.”
Therefore, I advice Mr Principal Secretary of GTA , IAS to kindly read the the aforesaid subsections of GTA Act while recruiting academician in educational institutions in GTA and value the Act signed among three parties viz. Central govt, West Bengal govt and GJM.(undivided)
Subsections 54(1) and subsection 54(2) says any recruitment to the tune of Group D, Group C and Group B must be made through “Subordinate Service Selection Board” to be set up for this very purpose in consultations with Govt of WB.

Therefore, this definitely means that Recruitment notice must be given in a local NEPALI DAILY clearly mentioning

1. No of posts,
2. Category (unreserved, OBC, SC, ST, PH).

Even short term vacancies like maternity leave vacancy, Deputation for B. Ed are to be advertised, whereas permanent post is definitely to be advertised. The Posts like guard, peon, clerks, job assistant, lab technicians, technical assistants, primary Teacher, trained graduate teacher, etc fall in this category.

Subsections 54(3) says recruitment to Group A can be done in consultations with State PSC.

Group A comprises Post Graduate Trained Teacher, Headmasters, Lecturers in polytechnic colleges and other technical College, general degree colleges , doctors, veterinary doctors, etc.

It is commonplace knowledge that the recruitment to these posts are made through proper advertisement in WBOSC websites clearly visible to naked eyes and don’t need Trinetra (3rdEye)

MoU and Regularisation of Adhoc teachers and contractual workers

As per MoU signed among three parties in 18th July 2011, the ad-hoc teachers and other contractual workers were to be absorbed who have completed ten years’ of continued service. Accordingly they were absorbed. Clearly neither MoU nor GTA Act 2012 mentions “Volunteer Teachers”.

Those contractual workers who have completed 10 years service with appointment prior to signing on MoU are yet to get absorbed deserve permanency as per GTA MoU.

Deficiency of GTA and Devaluing Interference Of GTA by West Bengal Govt

1. Transfer of Govt Schools: As education is transferred matter, the Govt schools like Darjeeling Govt High School, Saedeswari High School, Kalimpong Boys High School, Dow Hill Girls’ School, Victoria Boys, etc were not transferred in true spirit by Govt of WB. Moreover, GTA was never consulted in recruitment of teaching ,non teaching and Principals in these schools.
   [In recruitment process of Principal of Victoria Boys School recently, many senior teachers from GTA region with enough qualification applied for Principal post but only one person among the short listed candidates for interview of principal was from GTA Region. Are we at GTA that incompetent?. Surely, GTA would have influenced to incorporate more candidates to be called for interview in School transferred to its own jurisdiction].
2. Transfer of Polytechnic colleges and Other Technical Institutions:
   The mode of recruitment of Lecturers in polytechnic colleges is directly through PSC examination and they don’t consult GTA Sabha in recruitment process whereas Polytechnic and technical institution is transferred subject. The worst sufferers are just school passed children from vernacular schools who find it difficult to cope up with the non Nepali speaker Teachers and some don’t speak English too.
3. General Degree College: The general Degree colleges are the most visible places where GoWB doesn’t at all consultant GTA Sabha. Whereas General Degree College effect vast majority of Nepali Medium School Students passing out and coming to study at general Degree colleges, the non Nepali speaker Teachers will further make college course quite difficult. As such case if transfers in mid session becomes regular which affects students. Had WB govt consulted GTA Sabha or GTA Sabha acted with concerns for students such difficulty wouldn’t have arised.

GTA body must ensure that the local candidates having minimum educational qualifications fit enough be given priority with regard to the appointment as teachers in Govt abd govt sponsored educational institutions like Schools, Polytechnic colleges and other technical colleges and general degree colleges.

In addition, the GTA body must ensure that any recruitment to the institution in GTA must be specifically mentioned whether it’s PSC, SSC or CSC boards of recruitment. For example, a post in Geography in Darjeeling Govt College must be mentioned as Asst Prof in Darjeeling Govt College to value GTA agreement.

Why No Volunteer Teachers? Yes to GTA Teacher Recruitment Board!

1. Not in spirit with Constitution: The Preamble to the Indian Constitution itself says “Equality of Status and of opportunity.” This means that every eligible candidate in GTA Area have right to apply for specified posts and that should be given equal job opportunity. Volunteer teachers being regularised would violate this provision.
2. Meaning of Volunteer Teachers: Volunteer teachers means those teachers who have voluntarily decided to render his services to any random school without a prior condition of regularisation.
3. Volunteer Teachers dont fit Subject Specification nor 100 point Ruster: Volunteer teachers by name itself means using as stop gap fillers. Therefore, neither School Managing committee nor DI Office look into their academic specifications and maintain 100 point ruster necessitated in govt institutions. Therefore, categories like Unreserved, OBC, SC,ST etc are not valued.
4. Opening Pandoras Box In Rest of Bengal: There are thousands of para teachers in the rest of Bengal who are put in a salary slab with one time appointment sometime in 2006-07 with provision of continued service of 60 years, salary slab and scope of salary every 3 years as well as post termination of that teacher on service switch. However, such para teachers don’t affect the normal or additional vacancies in schools. Regularisation of volunteer teachers would require para teachers to be regularised too.
5. Hill SSC blocked by erstwhile DGHC revoked: When Hill SSC was first implemented in DGHC in 1999 , the erstwhile Chairman Subhash Ghising blocked by citing linguistic minority provision in Rules and Regulations of SSC . However, the teachers who passed 1999 Hill SSC challenged the decision in Calcutta High Court and were able overturn the decision of Subash Ghising in 2007-2008. Therefore, this may have way for Hill SSC.
6. Ethics and Moralities: Teachers ,unlike characters portrayed in Bollywood movies as geeks, are often role models for young kids whom they look upon to shape themselves. As such teacher must have self-esteem, pride, and good character to be a perfect role model. This makes indispensable to have teachers coming through proper examination followed by interview.
7. Let us End Dalal Culture: The volunteer teachers inevitable have to request political leaders and parties for regularisation. As this is being as dalal in such a Noble profession would further detail the Morales of the students who follow them. So, let’s us end dalal culture.
8. Please Stop the Rant of हाम्रै मुन्छेले त काम पायो के को खसखस? It’s often heard cry from commoners whose sons and daughters are working as volunteer teachers. However, closer examinations reveal that even under GTA Teacher recruitment board it requires one to be resident of GTA to be eligible for applying teaching job in GTA region. So, even with advertisement coming up in spirit of equal opportunity, it’s our own people getting job with provision of Nepali as one of the subjects in 10th standard as is case for recruitment in Bengali School in the schools of West Bengal.

Conclusions and Suggestions:

The following can be done in accordance with GTA Act 2012, MoU and present volunteer teachers.

1. Volunteers teachers be placed on the status of para Teachers with pay band , with provision of continued service until 60 years and subsequent terminal benefits and post termination on switching jobs.
2. The New GTA Teacher Recruitment Board be constituted with experts and people of untarnished image. Here, rules and regulations be framed. All eligible candidates can apply and so do volunteer teachers from GTA region.
3. Recruitment of Technical and General Degree College be locally prioritised: As per GTA act and MoU, there’s provision for GTA to actively participate in recruitment process. Therefore, the GTA Sabha must prioritise local recruitment in Higher education colleges, both general degree and technical colleges.
4. Frame Own Syllabus In GTA: GTA Sabha must be able to frame it’s own primary and High School curriculum because Darjeeling Hills is education hub of Northeastern India. As such commoners deserve best of education. Whereas present WBBSE, WBCHSE curriculum are designed based on whole of Bengal whose majority of population live in villages whereas Darjeeling has literary rate almost 100%. As such our kids deserves better education.

[Although Author is a diehard supporter of Gorkhaland , he is of opinion that any institution within proposed Gorkhaland statehood region must function democratically within framework of Acts passed by respective govt.]

Writes: Nahakul Chettri

The post Analysing Education in Darjeeling Hills (GTA) under the preview of GTA Act 2012 appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Among the many comments we received, there was a well meaning but highly misplaced comment by Asst. Prof. Parjanya Sen, himself an educator and an academic associated with Sonada Degree college. Without properly understanding the context, he went onto accuse TheDC team of “vendetta politics,” which we as a portal take high objection to.

But we felt that his misplaced comment stymied from his lack of understanding of the situation. Same may be the case with some of our other readers.

Hence we are doing this short Q and A, in the Dummies Guide to GTA format, which we hope, will help you understand what is it we are trying to achieve here.

Q: What is the fuss about these new appointments?

A: Due to the West Bengal Govt not conducting SSC for hill schools for the past 15 years, most schools in the hills were devoid of proper teachers. Acute shortage in teachers lead many school management to hire/recruit volunteers to teach in these schools for a pittance. They were not given any government facilities, not even a decent salary, but these teachers persisted and taught.

These new appointments have been accorded to these very hard working teachers who have volunteered as teachers in various schools across the hills for pittance, some for over a decade. Had these volunteer teachers not been there, most of our schools would have shut down.

Q. But why would the hills need separate SSC?

A. Point 22 of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement (2011) clearly states, “The State Government will set-up a separate School Service Commission, College Service Commission; open an office of the Regional Pension and Provident Directorate; and set up an office for Registration of land, building etc., marriage, society etc. in the GTA area, subject to extant rules and regulations.”

This is further augmented by the fact that, under Powers and Functions of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in GTA Act of 2011, Section 25 (v) School Education including primary education, secondary education, higher education (including vocational training); Physical Education; Government Schools” confers the running and recruitment into these schools on GTA.

But even after 8 years of GTA formation, the Govt of West Bengal has not formed SSC or CSC bodies for the hills. Because of which, both the hill schools and colleges are suffering.

Q: So the volunteer teachers do deserve to get permanency?

A: Absolutely, these teachers have worked very hard, for almost no money for a long time, and over the course of time them have acquired experience and teaching abilities. They do deserve to be absorbed as permanent teachers.

Q: That means those landing the jobs are our own people, why is DC and Khabar Magazine having a problem?

A: Neither TheDC, nor Khabar Magazine have any problem with the absorption of volunteer teachers as permanent teachers.

Q. Then why are you objecting to these recruitment? why are you indulging in “vendetta politics”?

A: No we are not. We are not a political party to indulge in such. We are merely doing our duty as the fourth pillar of our democracy to get people to talk about the alleged irregularities in these permanent appointments.

Teachers are the foundation on which the future of our children, and thus the society and nation stands. A teacher who is not capable to teach can ruin the future of the children he teaches, and that in turn will jeopardize the future of our community and country. We are therefore doing our duty towards our community, and asking people to point out the anomalies in these teacher’s appointments.

Just as how you wouldn’t want untrained or inexperienced doctors to treat your child, or untrained driver to drive your car, we cannot give the future of your society and country to untrained teachers. It’s as simple as that.

Q: But is it ethical to upload the list of who got appointed?

A: Of course its ethical to publish the list of appointment, because these are not top-secret nuclear codes or sex tapes of individuals. Its the list of Government appointed teachers. People have a right to know who is going to teach their kids. Under normal circumstances, such lists would be posted online by the recruiting agency and concerned department for the whole world to see.

It would have been unethical, had we not posted this list of who got appointed, despite having it in our hands.

Q: So if I finally get it correct, you are not saying all of these appointments are wrong?

A: Yes, thank you for growing some brains finally. We are not objecting to each and every name in that list.

Q: So what are you objecting to?

A: We are not objecting to anything. We are merely attempting to highlight the anomalies and objections raised by our readers, who have repeatedly informed us that there have been massive illegalities in appointing some of these teachers.

Q: What do you mean by illegalities?

A: People are alleging that there are a fraction of people who have been appointed as permanent teacher. They are illegally shown as having worked as volunteer teachers before, but actually they haven’t. In permitting their appointment the school management committee, headmaster/headmistress or teacher-in-charge and appointing authorities are indulging in fraud against those deserving candidates who actually worked as a volunteer teacher.

Most of these people against whom there are allegations either have powerful connection, or have bribed their way into the list. We are merely attempting to highlight such allegations, in the hopes the government authorities will take a note, and prevent such illegal appointments.

Q: Ok, so let me get this straight. What you guys are doing is objecting to those who haven’t volunteered as teachers, but are yet given permanent post, after showing them as volunteer teachers?

A: Yes, thank you for understanding. That is precisely what we are attempting to do

Q: How are you collecting the data?

A: We are crowd sourcing the objections, for which we have started an online datasheet, in which our readers can go and fill the details of the candidates they have objection to. They just need to fill these details

• Name of the School
• Name of the Appointee
• Original Sl No in the Appointment list we shared
• Reasons for controversy

All the data uploaded here are completely anonymous. Once this datasheet is developed, we will be looking at the reasons stated, and try and verify those. So far we have had about 40 submissions, out of the total 313 appointments made in High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools. Which roughly stands at about 12% of the appointments against which people have raised their objections.

Some objections are very precise and can be easily verified, by anyone desiring to do so.

Q: Can you give us an example?

A: Take for instance Ms. Seema Thakuri, she has been appointed to Nagari Farm High School [Sl No 82 in the list].

One of our readers has commented on the – reason for controversy section… “She is from Nagri, Her appointment year is 2008 in the list, while she worked continuously as Science Teacher at Ruhiyah School, Jorebonglow till 2017-18..”

Now this is an allegation, so what we can do is pass this cross check with Ruhiyyah School Jorebunglow, and see if she was employed there or not at the alleged dates. Talk to the students, and their parents if she taught there or not. Talk to her and the school authorities, and inquire about the objections raised against her name. Seek proof for the same.

Or you can take the case of Lopmudra Ghosh, she has been appointed to Judhabir High School, Gorubathan [Sl No: 211 in the list].

One of our readers has commented on the – reason for controversy section, “No one knows in Gorubathan. There is allegation of bribery against the school authorities for including her name.”

We will try and ascertain facts made against these allegations.

Q: All that is fine, but why are you bothered? what’s your interest?

A: Because, to us Darjeeling and its future matters. Our interest is to see that people with power and money and influence do not get a priority at the expense of deserving candidates, many of whom have been deprived to accommodate these 12% side entrants.

Q: Ok, sounds like your objectives are fine, but what happens after you report?

A: That is for our people, elected representatives, and the government to decide. Our duty as news portals are to bring to light the truth, which is our fundamental duty. We hope good people like you will then take it up with the authorities, or court and see that injustice is not allowed to persist.

Q: How can I help you guys?

A: By going to this link, and filling in the details about any illegal appointment you are aware of.

Visit here to fill details: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fApLsOc0zgfSH7DKovbWFfLM5-gIpBetdFCObk4PVCY/edit?usp=sharing

The post Dummies Guide to GTA Teacher’s Appointment Controversy appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

She wishes she could ask her parents for a new school dress. But, how could she dare? She could see her parents sweat and couldn’t burn their pockets more. Sometime her parents would say, “I am full now, you have it.” just to make sure that she doesn’t go to bed hungry. How much they earn working in the tea gardens, the farms or by working as a daily wages workers? They have to take care of education of their children, fulfil their wants, needs and other expenses with small amount of money they earn working all the day-night long. 

Do they deserve this, because they are poor? Some of you may say “yes”. If they were supposed to depend only on what they earn their own. If they were to make all the things themselves without paying taxes directly or indirectly, then I may agree to answer, somehow.  

However, no matter who we are, what we do, we all pay taxes to the government directly or indirectly in the form of service tax, land tax, income tax, etc. Even we pay taxes to use the road and other services meant for us. The condition of roads, schools and hospitals becomes so much bad after sometime. I wonder, taxes paid by so many people in different forms and the fees for services. Are they not enough to maintain the infrastructures build for us to continue providing the same services?

The funds which gets accumulated from taxes are not the treasure found during treasure hunt and it is not the personal properties. The stack of money can invoke greed in saints. Those people sitting on the stack of collected money are no saints. The funds for any government projects meant for public comes from the money paid by public. Be it central funds or the state funds.

What if we ask to improve facilities and services in the hospitals, schools, etc. When someone become MLA’s, MP’s or Councillor’s, they should address more simple little things too. If they could set up MP’s funds club, MLA’s funds club, Council funds club in the constituency to address such small issues, which effects people to the depth. If they could pay for the students bags, school dress, books, exercise books, improve health services and the basic aminities for people, those who all are financially weak in the society.

I know it would be like playing trumpet in front of horse. What if, we ask these kind of things to be done for us to the representative we elect from our ward, council or constituencies during panchayat elections, municipal elections or any elections. The society would have been different. If the representatives elected by us, would not consider taxes paid by us, as their treasure found during treasure hunt. 

Definitely these are the small things, the people may say, “Is this what you ask after electing someone as MP from our place?”  It is the little thing which can bring very big change in people’s life. It gives confidence, courage and support. Everyone works or do things for their families. There are so many people who needs financial help. Especially to take care of the education of their children and to pay their medical bills when they fall sick.The childern are our coming generations who will carry a baton of our culture. They should be capable to bring huge difference in the society. If our kids educations, health of public are taken as a priority. Our future, future of our society, culture and country would be in the safe hands. 

The bootlickers, the one who has sold their soul to devils, evil will play as their ministers to plunder the resources of public. There are lots of things, which needs attention. But it is not bad, if we start with safeguarding our upcoming generations and health of all the public. Mostly for the one, who could not afford much from their small earnings. The government has different ways to implement those funds to public. If they could come up with new ways of implementing the same, I believe there would be no harm at all. They gets elected to sort the grivances, issues of the people of their constituency. Everything needs upgrade and hope we may see it in coming days.

The post Elections 2019: The Common Man’s Issue appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

TeaLeaF, conducted by Darjeeling Prerna and Broadleaf Health and Education Alliance, helps teachers learn new strategies for classroom and behaviour management. The dedication of these teachers to their vocation and their students is amazing – in their winter break they gave their own time and they travelled from across Darjeeling District to the village of Latpanchar for a 10 day residential training. We know that many parents struggle to ensure their children have the best education possible and it is heartwarming to see that our educators are equally passionate about giving their students their best.

Since many small, low-cost, private schools all over the Darjeeling Hills do not receive any government support, it is extremely difficult for them to access training and resources. This programme is one small step towards equipping teachers based on a belief that students will benefit. The participating teachers are excited to take these new skills back into the classrooms in the weeks and months ahead. 

Having started in 6 schools in 2018, and another 6 this winter, now TeaLeaF wants to expand into a total of 46 schools. The team will be reaching out to schools in Bijanbari, Moonda, Rimbick, Mangpoo, Mirik, Sukhia and Tukvar in the coming months, offering a 3-day introductory course on strategies for classroom and behaviour management. The overall goal is to ensure every child can reach their full potential. 

Course trainer and Social Worker, Priscilla Giri explained:“In our society it can be difficult to talk about mental health and challenging behaviours, as there is still a lot of stigma around mental health. In our programme, we want people to understand that when we talk about mental health, it does not just mean mental illness. In the same way that when we try and help our children to be physically healthy, by giving them nutritious food and encouraging them to be active, we can also help our children to be mentally strong, so that they are better prepared for any challenging situations that they may face in their lives.”

“We all have to face challenges in life that can affect our mental health and wellbeing: grief after losing a parent or family member, separation from parents at an early age, stress due to illness, arguments or unemployment in the family, and even alcoholism or violence in the home. For adults, these can be very difficult to deal with. For children who do not have the understanding or maturity to deal with these experiences, it can be even more challenging.”

“The TeaLeaF programme trains primary school teachers to deliver evidence-based mental health care to students, through functional behavioral analysis, basic Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Behaviour Play Therapy (CBPT).”

Ms. Giri added “We have a lot of schools already interested, but we really want to reach out to as many schools as possible. Right now, we want to hear from Low-Cost Private Schools in Rural Areas, especially in Mirik, Kurseong, and Tukdah. After the introductory course this year, schools will be offered the chance to send a number of teachers on the longer course in 2020 and 2021. 

Eligible schools must 1) not receive government aid; 2) have at least 4 full-time teachers; 3) have total annual fees of Rs. 11,500 or less; 4) be located in Mirik, Kurseong or Darjeeling subdivision but outside the towns of Mirik, Kurseong and Darjeeling.

Principals and Directors of schools from these areas are encouraged to get in touch with us if they would like their teachers to be considered for a place in our next batch of trainees. The training is free and all the teachers’ expenses are covered by us. The only thing we ask of the school is that they give us their support and a little bit of their time. While we cannot guarantee that all schools will be accepted, we will do our best to reach as many as we can.”

To find out more, please send an email to priscilla.giri@broadleafhea.org or send a message to @Darjeeling Prerna on Facebook.

Please share with any teachers and schools who may be interested.

*TeaLeaf is a partnership between BroadleafHEA and Darjeeling Prerna, and forms part of a research project that aims to improve the mental health of children in primary schools, funded by the University of North Carolina at Chapel School School of Medicine and led by Dr. Christina Cruz

For more details, please visit: https://dlrprerna.blogspot.com/

The post Opportunity for Rural Primary Schools in Darjeeling Hills appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Here are their stories.

Angu Sewa – Gold Medal in MTech in Optoelectronics and Communication

Angu Sewa – Gold Medal in MTech in Optoelectronics and communication

“I wonder Why our youth today do not struggle for good education these days? Hardly a few who strive for it. We have made history in the past. Now its time to rewrite the history. We the youths from remote places and tea gardens of our Hills are very much capable as the youths in any cities in India and other countries of the world.

My achievement of Gold Medal is small, compared to what we youths can actually achieve. We have immense potential to do great things for our society.

I am from Singla tea garden in outskirts of Darjeeling. I studied in St. Mary’s High school in Singla till 10th standard. This school and my Teachers there have played an important role in this achievement of mine. They built the strongest foundation of education for me to go ahead in life.

My mother Smt. Barati Darjee (Sewa) single handedly has gone through all the hardships in life. Every mother has a dream of seeing her child in highest positions. My only objective in life is to make my mother and people of my place Proud in every aspect.

I did my higher studies from St. Michael’s Higher Secondary school , Singamari, Darjeeling. Teachers here have played a crucial role in imparting knowledge of value in my life. In the beginning, I didn’t even know that I had applied for Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning. I was in dilemma whether to continue my education because my mother could not afford it. But, Lord has his own way of doing things. After all, He is the creator. He knows when to give, what to give and how to give. We just have to trust ourselves.

I got admission in Swami’s hallowed institute and now have completed my B.Sc in Physics (Hon), M.Sc. in Photonics and M Tech. in Optoelectronics and Communication.

In these 7 years, I have had many experiences from which I have learned lessons for life.

The final gift of Gold Medal was the best blessings he has bestowed upon me. I am ever grateful to Swami for this.

My Uncle Santim Sewa has been a great support throughout my struggle. I am grateful to my people of Singla and all my well wishers for the love and support. I Thank you.

Currently I am Software engineer in Analog Devices lndia Pvt ltd. Bangalore”

Rohit Kumar Rajak – Gold Medal BA Economics (Hons)

Prayag Lepcha – All Rounder Gold Medal

Prayag Lepcha, the son of Mrs. Ramita and Pramod Lepcha of Queen’s Hill Darjeeling, completed his schooling from St. Joseph’s School, North Point. He then joined Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Muddenahalli Campus to pursue his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) degree.

At Muddenahalli Campus, Prayag excelled both in academics and sports, making him one of the very people to have been awarded for excellence in both.

Prayag is the proud recipient of All Rounder Gold medal which is given to the candidates excelling both in sports and Academics

…….

On behalf of TheDC team, and our readers we CONGRATULATE our scholars who have made our community so proud. Their excelling in various fields, in one of the best Universities in India showcases how our Gorkha Youths can compete with the best and brightest of India, and the world and still hold their own.

We hope their success will inspire thousands of our youths to pursue excellence in their respective vocations.

[Special report filed by: Wangstuk Lama]

The post Darjeeling Scholars Shine at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.