Sikkim - The Purbottar

06 Dec

Sikkim MP pushes for cultural preservation and tourism growth in Rajya Sabha speech

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha emphasized the Government’s initiatives for socio-economic development in the Northeast during a Rajya Sabha session on Thursday, focusing on rural livelihoods, tourism, and cultural preservation. Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, lauded the success of the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERP), a World Bank-funded initiative that ended in 2019. He revealed that the project improved livelihoods across Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, benefitting 292,889 households, forming over 28,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and providing skill training to 10,000 individuals. Lepcha also addressed the untapped potential of rural tourism…

06 Dec

Sikkim Democratic Front president wary over reliability of EVMs, demands probe

editorSikkim

During the recent 2024 state assembly elections, Pawan Chamling, the former chief minister and president of the Sikkim Democratic Front, expressed doubts about the accuracy of electronic voting machines. Chamling asserted that possible voting machine manipulation was the reason behind the Sikkim Democratic Party's defeat. Chamling drew a contrast with other nations, pointing out that Japan chose paper ballots over electronic voting machines because of doubts about their dependability. He also brought out the persistent mistrust of EVMs in nations like India and Russia. "There are many experts and scientists in India who claim that voting machines can be hacked…

05 Dec

Sikkim MP seeks support for organic farming growth in meeting with Union Minister

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba met with Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on December 4 to discuss vital issues surrounding the state's organic farming and food processing sectors. The meeting focused on securing grants for the Integrated Processing Unit (IPU) and expanding infrastructure to support Sikkim’s thriving organic industry. Subba highlighted the importance of the IPU, located in Rangpo Pakyong district, which processes organic products such as ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, and buckwheat. This facility plays a key role in promoting Sikkim's organic produce on the global stage. He stressed that previous compliance issues had…

04 Dec

Minister Tshering Bhutia joins Hornbill Festival 2024 to celebrate Northeast heritage

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim’s Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tshering Thendup Bhutia, graced the Hornbill Festival 2024 as a distinguished guest on its third day, held at Kisama Heritage Village in Nagaland. The festival, a vibrant showcase of Northeast India’s diverse cultural heritage, featured performances by cultural troupes representing 18 indigenous tribes. Minister Bhutia was accompanied by notable figures, including Tenzing Dorjee Bhutia, Chairman of SIMFED, and Javier Paulinich, Ambassador of Peru to India. The event also saw the participation of Irena Pal, Project Manager of the Vienna Economic Forum, and Michael Pal, Director of the Cultural Forum at the Austrian Embassy…

03 Dec

Sikkim’s Para-Athletes bring home glory at Guwahati’s Northeast Para-Sports Meet

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim's para-athletes delivered an impressive performance at the 1st Northeast Para-Sports Meet 2024, held in Guwahati, Assam. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang lauded their achievements, calling them a testament to the state’s sporting spirit. Phuntsok Tashi Bhutia made history by clinching a Gold medal in Table Tennis, while Nima Dorjee Tamang earned a Bronze in the 100m Freestyle Swimming event. Adding to the state’s tally, Sher Bahadur Thapa and DB Basnet secured Bronze medals in Shot Put. Congratulating the athletes, Chief Minister Tamang expressed his pride: “Heartiest congratulations to all the participants and medalists for their outstanding accomplishments! Your dedication…

03 Dec

At the 25th Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, Sikkim showcases sustainability and culture

Banasree SarkarNagaland, SikkimHornbill Festival

The Hornbill Festival, also known as the "Festival of Festivals," is celebrating its 25th year at Nagaland's Kisama Heritage Village with a breathtaking display of cultural diversity. One of the year's highlights is Sikkim's participation, which has sent a diverse group to showcase its traditions, handicrafts, and environmental initiatives. The Sikkim team is encouraging rural and eco-tourism endeavors under the direction of Manoj Chettri, Deputy Director of Tourism & Civil Aviation, and TAAS members. Through their distinctive contributions, notable individuals such as bamboo craftsmen and Padmashree recipient Jordan Lepcha and Millet Man Tshering Gyatso Lepcha are demonstrating Sikkim's eco-conscious culture.…

02 Dec

Sikkim CM Tamang highlights the role of Pilgrimage Tourism in state’s economic growth

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated the Cultural Centre and Rinchen Chholing Monastery at the Rabindranath Tagore Complex, Megi Dara, Rinchenpong, on December 1. The event was graced by His Eminence Tulku Sangay Yonten Gyatsho Rinpoche and witnessed by dignitaries and locals alike. In his address, CM Tamang extended congratulations to the Tourism Department, Monastic Committee, and the people of Sikkim for this landmark achievement. He emphasized the project’s potential to bring transformative benefits to local communities by boosting tourism, a critical driver of the state’s economic growth. “This initiative aligns with our vision of promoting Pilgrimage Tourism, which…

30 Nov

Sikkim gears up for its 50th Statehood Day with a grand celebration planned

Banasree SarkarSikkimStatehood Day

Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak went about the plans for the 50th Statehood Day celebration, which is scheduled for May 2025. In order to discuss various arrangements for the massive event on May 16 and the subsequent year-long celebrations, Pathak convened a conference with senior authorities. According to a release, the chief secretary emphasized the significance of coordination in order to guarantee the event's success, which would mark a significant turning point in the state's history. According to the statement, different departments were assigned extra tasks to ensure the state's 50th anniversary celebration went well. According to the release, Prime…

30 Nov

Mangan District in Sikkim rolls out traffic guidelines for smooth tourist access

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim's Mangan District is set to reopen to tourists on December 1, 2024, and to ensure smooth traffic flow, the District Collector-cum-Magistrate, Anant Jain, has announced new traffic regulations. These guidelines, issued under Section 34 (b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, aim to prevent traffic congestion while facilitating ongoing road restoration on the Mangan-Chungthang route. According to the new regulations, vehicles traveling from Mangan to Chungthang via the Toong Naga stretch will be allowed to operate only until 10:00 AM, with necessary permits. From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Mangan-Chungthang road will be closed for vehicular traffic to…

29 Nov

Sikkim begins final expedition to assess high-risk glacier areas

editorSikkim

In order to evaluate high-risk glacial lakes in the high-altitude regions of the province, the Sikkim government embarked on its last expedition of the year. The goal of the fourth expedition is to address climate-induced threats by developing viable glacier flood prevention methods. According to the statement, the expedition team will conduct a lake discharge investigation, subsurface geophysical study, topographical mapping, debri deposition analysis, and flood level observations between November 27 and December 5. A thorough evaluation of a number of high-risk lakes was finished on previous missions. Photographs, water level data, and daily meteorological data are now being provided…