Sikkim - The Purbottar

11 Jul

Dalai Lama deserves Bharat Ratna for lifelong service to humanity : Nishikant Dubey

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Nishikant Dubey, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (2024–25), called for conferring the Bharat Ratna on the Dalai Lama and confirmed the launch of a new Doordarshan program dedicated to Sikkim’s Bhutia and Lepcha communities.During his four-day visit to Guwahati, Siliguri, and Gangtok, Dubey addressed a range of issues tied to regional culture, national integration, and public broadcasting. Speaking to reporters, he said, “A dedicated program on Bhutia and Lepcha culture will soon be aired on Doordarshan, starting next month. This initiative will offer national visibility to the unique traditions, languages, and customs of these communities.”…

10 Jul

Sikkim promotes women leaders from grassroots to government

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government has appointed 12 women leaders from Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Chairpersons and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) across various state departments. This bold initiative aims to deepen women’s participation in policymaking and administration while recognizing grassroots leadership. The announcement has been widely welcomed as a powerful signal of the state’s commitment to women's empowerment and local development. The appointments are expected to bring fresh community-driven perspectives into public administration and inspire more women across the state to pursue leadership roles. Expressing gratitude, the newly appointed women leaders collectively thanked Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for acknowledging…

09 Jul

All 6 Sikkim districts shine in 2023–24 SDG index

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim has emerged as a regional leader in sustainable development, with all six of its districts securing the prestigious ‘Front Runner’ status in the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023–24. The state now stands among the best-performing states in the Northeast, alongside Mizoram and Tripura, showcasing a balanced and inclusive approach to development. The index, released on July 7 by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), evaluates the performance of districts across 16 thematic SDG areas, including health, education, gender equality,…

08 Jul

CM Prem Singh Tamang empowers SHG women with key posts

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), has appointed 11 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as Chairpersons of various government departments, while another SHG member has been designated as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Panchayati Raj Department. The appointments mark a bold step toward inclusive governance, positioning grassroots women leaders at the heart of policymaking and public administration. The initiative is the first of its kind in India, redefining how SHG members—traditionally engaged in micro-finance and local development—can play formal roles in state governance and administration. The move follows a public pledge…

07 Jul

Tibetans and Sikkimese unite to celebrate Dalai Lama’s 90 years

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the revered Tibetan spiritual leader, was celebrated with deep reverence and festivity in Chandmari, Gangtok, on Saturday. The celebration highlighted not only his spiritual influence, but also his enduring global message of non-violence, compassion, and harmony. The event, organized by the Tibetan Settlement Office and the Tibetan community in Gangtok, drew a large gathering of devotees, local citizens, and dignitaries. The Chief Guest was Sikkim Legislative Assembly Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa, while other prominent attendees included Member of Parliament Indra Hang Subba, Director General of Police Akshay Sachdeva, and Syari…

07 Jul

Sikkim pays glowing tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on 125th birth anniversary

Mohini BarmanSikkim

The 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a towering nationalist figure and architect of India’s cultural unity, was solemnly observed in Sikkim with a commemorative event at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang led the tributes, joined by the Deputy Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Lok Sabha MP, MLAs, dignitaries, and senior officials. In his keynote address, Chief Minister Tamang described Dr. Mookerjee as a “visionary thinker, a dedicated educationist, and a fearless advocate for India’s unity and integrity.” “On this sacred milestone, we solemnly remember a visionary who laid the foundation for a self-reliant and united Bharat,”…

05 Jul

Prem Singh Tamang visits site of Sikkim’s upcoming Peacock Park

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday conducted a detailed inspection of the ambitious Peacock Park project at Baiguney in Soreng district. The project, which is being developed at an estimated cost of ₹15 crore, is envisioned as a major nature-based attraction aimed at reviving interest in ecological tourism and sustainable development in the region. During his visit, the Chief Minister was briefed by officials and engineers about the current status of the project. He reviewed detailed layout plans, examined progress on site, and assessed proposed infrastructure and design elements. The site inspection also included interactions with stakeholders and local…

04 Jul

Renowned writer Shankardev Dhakal honoured with Bhanu Award

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The Government of Sikkim has announced the list of awardees for the 211th Bhanu Jayanti celebration, to be held on July 13. The annual state-level event commemorates the birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, a revered figure in Nepali literature who famously translated the Ramayana from Sanskrit into Nepali, giving the language a spiritual and literary foundation. Every year, Bhanu Jayanti is celebrated with grandeur across Sikkim and other Nepali-speaking regions, bringing together poets, artists, writers, and cultural practitioners. The celebrations include cultural performances, poetry recitations, and public tributes, with awards being the highlight of the event. These honours…

03 Jul

University Offers Full Scholarship

Purbalee DuttaSikkim

The Hero Group's BML Munjal University has granted a full scholarship to Karma Kalzang T. Lepcha, of Singhik, North Sikkim. The scholarship, which is worth around Rs 22 lakh, would pay for his undergraduate tuition at the university for the full time. The Hero Group founded BML Munjal University, which is situated in Sidhrawali in the Gurgaon region of Haryana. Karma intends to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree. He is eligible for financial assistance for all costs, including tuition, housing, meals, and registration fees. Instead of money, the assistance is given in the form of fee exemptions. With…

02 Jul

Illegal gambling sites under scanner in Sikkim

Banasree SarkarSikkim

The Sikkim State Lotteries Directorate, in coordination with the State CID Police and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched a statewide crackdown against illegal online gambling platforms operating in the region. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Mr. Pawan Awasthy, Principal Director of Sikkim State Lotteries, issued a stern public advisory urging citizens to avoid unauthorized and unregulated gambling websites, warning that such platforms are wreaking havoc on families and individuals across the state. “These websites are not licensed by the Sikkim government. They are completely outside the purview of legal and financial regulations,” said Awasthy. “They…