Sonakshi Sarkar

In a landmark event celebrating regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation, Sikkim’s Nawang Gyatso Bhutia, widely known as the “Butterfly Man of Sikkim,” represented India at the 1st Bhutan Butterfly Meet, held under the aegis of the Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. The event brought together leading butterfly experts, conservationists, and enthusiasts from Sikkim, West Bengal, South India, Arunachal Pradesh, and Bhutan, marking a new chapter in cross-border ecological collaboration. Bhutia, who also serves as the President of the Butterfly and Moths of Sikkim Nature Conservation Society (BAMOS NCS), played a key role in the meet by sharing his…

The Commerce and Industries Department of Sikkim, in collaboration with the Sikkim Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED) Cell, successfully conducted an awareness programme on State and Central Government MSME schemes at the Rinchenpong constituency. The initiative aimed to educate local entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and aspiring business owners about available financial assistance and business development opportunities under various government schemes. During the programme, officials highlighted key initiatives including the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Scheme, UNNATI Scheme 2024, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme. Participants were…

In a landmark step toward citizen-centric governance, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) on Tuesday launched the ‘Connect to CM’ helpline, a new initiative designed to bridge the gap between the government and the people. The launch ceremony, held at Samman Bhawan, marked a defining moment in the state’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and participatory administration. The service, which became operational immediately after its launch, allows citizens to directly reach the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) through two dedicated numbers — 80016-81188 and 93327-81188. The helpline will remain open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, including on…

The Citizen Action Party-Sikkim (CAP-S) on Monday strongly condemned a violent attack on its Vice President, Kiran Zimba, alleging that miscreants carried out the assault at Rhenock. The party accused the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) of orchestrating the attack, calling it a “cowardly and barbaric act.” In an official statement, CAP-S described the incident as reflective of “the fear and frustration of those in power” and demanded immediate and strict action by the state government and law enforcement agencies against the perpetrators. The party emphasized that violence has no place in a democracy and warned that such acts threaten…

In a move to promote compassion and awareness towards animals, the Sikkim government has made it mandatory for all public transport vehicles to display the slogan “Be Kind to Animals” prominently on their exteriors. The directive, issued by the Motor Vehicles Division of the Transport Department on October 10, aligns with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ advisory and is grounded in Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution, which enjoins citizens to protect the environment and show compassion for living creatures. According to the order, transport operators and vehicle owners must ensure immediate compliance. Authorities have been instructed to…