Darjeeling college launches FM radio with 20 programmes in Nepali language

PT| Darjeeling, 1 Nov 16:To provide a platform for communities to tell their own stories, a college in Darjeeling has launched a full-fledged FM radio with 20 programmes in Nepali language.

Run by the Salesian College in Sonada, Radio Salesian 90.8 FM is a non-profit venture which enables individuals, groups and communities to become creators and contributors of content that tells their own stories and sharing experiences. Launched on Friday, the FM radio will soon be accessible on computer or mobile phone through the college website www.salesiancollege.in.

"It is our Diwali gift to Nepali people worldwide," said Principal Dr George Thadathil speaking of the possibility of on-demand radio service for people everywhere to access programme of their choice at their own convenience. "Our Community Radio will serve geographic and ethnic communities of the region with broadcast content that is popular, relevant and often overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcasters," he said. A team of six RJs host around 20 shows a week, seven days a week and daily 12 hours.

Gorkha ST Status Committee to Visit Sikkim

PTI:Darjeeling 31 Oct 16:The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has informed that the central committee to look into the demand of granting Scheduled Tribe status to 11 communities from the hills and plains will visit Sikkim and Darjeeling by November 15.

This has come on the heels of RTI reply that revealed the committee formed on April 2 had not held a single meeting till August. The chairman of the panel, Ashok Pai, was recently transferred from the tribal affairs department to the National Commission of Scheduled Tribe.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, said: “On October 26, we met Vishu Maini, the chairperson of the committee, who recently replaced Ashok Pai, in Delhi. During our interaction, the chairperson assured us that the committee is working as per its mandate and he would visit Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills by November 15.”

“We were told by the chairperson that they are at present going through various documents related to the communities. We also submitted additional documents to the committee,” said Giri.

Granting of tribal status to the Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakka (Dewan) and Dhimal communities has been long-standing demand of the Morcha and other hill parties.

The panel under Pai was supposed to submit its observation to the ministry of tribal affairs by June and the RTI reply saying that no meeting of the committee was held till August was an embarrassment for the Morcha.

A positive recommendation by the panel within the stipulated three-month time frame would come as a boost to the Morcha before the GTA elections to be held in August next year, political observers said.

BHAI TIKA - A True Celebration of Women Empowerment in #Gorkhali Society

Writes: Bal Krishna

While in majority of the communities across South Asia - Rakhi is seen as one of the most important festivals, for Gorkhalis its Bhai Tika... and we believe that no other festival in the world celebrates female empowerment more than Bhai Tika.

In Rakhi, the sister ties the string of faith on her brother, and he in turn promises to protect her. In Bhai Tika its just the opposite. Its not the brother protecting the sister, but rather the sister protecting her brother.

So how did it all Began?

This is a story told to us by our Boju and she would tell us this story every Bhai Tika, so I am sharing the same...

A long long time ago, a Kirat King was on his death bed and Yamaraj had come to take him to the next realm. However, the king's sister would not let her younger brother die just yet. So she pleaded with Yamaraj to spare her brother's life, but Yamaraj would not listen to her.

She kept on pleading, but Yamaraj instead of hearing her plea, started to get angry at her and later became infuriated.

So Yamaraj in anger took the King with him towards Patal lok... but the Sister refused to give up. So she challenged Yamaraj to a duel.

Yamaraj was livid, being challenged by a woman and tried to brush her off, but the sister held her ground and told Yamaraj, "I am not moving... either you have to kill me or spare my brother's life."

Infuriated, Yamaraj accepted the challenge and dueled with the Sister.

Yamarj being the God of death was mighty and powerful, and all that sister had on her side was her love for her brother and conviction that she would prevail.

The fight lasted for a long time, and Yamaraj was surprised that try as he could he was unable to defeat this woman.

Towards the end, Yamaraj made a mistake and lifted his hand too high, the Sister took her chance and struck him through the gap.

The blow could have killed any ordinary person, but as her opponent was Yamaraj, he did not die... however Yamaraj's head was cut open and erupted in blood, due to the strong blow meted out by the Sister.

Stunned, Yamaraj pleased and impressed with the valour and conviction of the sister told her, "Ok... I won't take your brother with me now.. you can take your brother back, but this cannot go on forever... he will have to die someday, as that is the Law of Nature..."

The sister was relieved... In addition to being brave, she was a smart thinker... so she said, "I will set some conditions and when that condition is fulfilled only then you can take my brother."

Yamraj said, "As you wish..."

These are the conditions the sister set

"1. You cannot take my brother away, unless the Tika I put on him fades away."

Yamraj said "Ok..."

The sister put Paanch Rangi Tika’ consisting of five colours (red, green, blue, yellow and white) on the forehead of their brother. This way the Tika took forever to fade and her brother continued to live.

"2. You cannot take my brother away, unless the circle I draw around him dries out"

Yamaraj said "Ok"

The sister used Oil instead of water to draw the circle around her brother, which took forever to dry out, and her brother continued to live.

"3. You cannot take my brother away, unless the garland of flower I put on him wilts"

Yamaraj said "Ok"

The sister used Makhmali phool [Globe amaranth] to make the garland, and since this flower lasts and never wilts her brother continued to live forever.

It is said that Yamaraj could take the brother, only after his sister grew very old and died before him.

This, as our boju used to tell us, was why we do the rituals we do on bhai tika...

The Okhar (walnut) which our sisters break today is supposed to symbolize the breaking of Yamaraj's head in that epic battle... so every year our sisters send a signal to Yamaraj... don't come near my brother, else what I did to this Okhar could very easily happen to you.

I personally find this story very powerful and this legend very symbolic of the fact that in Gorkhali community, the woman have not only been equal, but also more stronger, more daring, more loving and caring than the men.

So here's to all the Sisters... THANK YOU FOR BEING YOURSELVES...

HAPPY BHAI TIKA!!

..............................................
This is a re-post, we had shared this story last year too, but guess some stories deserve to be retold

MoS Home Kiren Rijiju Continues to Impress - Plays Football Very Well

When was the last time you saw a Union Minister in the football pitch? perhaps never... but with MoS Home Kiren Rijiju around, people are getting to see a more youthful facade of the Indian politicians...

Representing our region is Footballing legend Bhaichung Bhutia, who was also seen in action today.

Currently the 5th edition of Young Leaders Connect is going on in Arunachal Pradesh and it is great to see that Young leaders are setting the example, not only through their speeches, but also through their actions...

Stay healthy India!!

SC Lawyer Files Plea Requesting UPSC Like Exam for Appointment to Judicial Services.

A Supreme Court advocate has petitioned the top court to create a National Judicial Service Commission to make the appointments of judges more transparent, a thorny issue that recently pitted the judiciary against the Centre.

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay wants the proposed commission to select high court and apex court judges much as the Union Public Service Commission appoints candidates to certain government jobs through an exam and an interview.

Alternatively, he has suggested that the recommendations for appointing advocates as high court judges should come from full court meetings (where all the judges are present) of the high courts themselves.

The Chief Justice of India should then approve or reject them in full court meetings of the Supreme Court, he has added.

"It will minimise the scope of nepotism and instil confidence among lawyers and the public at large," the plea says.

Currently, a Supreme Court collegium of the Chief Justice and the two other senior-most judges decide the appointments of high court judges following an initial recommendation from a panel of senior judges of the high court concerned.

Upadhyay's plea comes a year after the Supreme Court quashed a law that gave the Centre a say in judges' appointments. The government had claimed the law brought "transparency" to a process that is now the sole preserve of the judges' collegium.

"This is also a bitter truth that appointment of judges by the prevailing collegium system has a scope of favouritism ---- that is why an independent National Judicial Service Commission on the lines of (the) Union Public Service Commission is the need of the hour" said Mr. Upadhyay.

[Via: Telegraph]

Another Milestone of Supreme Court says "Equal pay for equal work applicable to temporary employees"

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In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court has held that the principal of 'equal pay for equal work' has to be made applicable to those engaged as daily wagers, casual and contratual employees who perform the same duties as the regulars.

Terming the denial of equal pay for equal work as "exploitative enslavement", "oppressive, suppresive" and "coercive", the apex court said that in a welfare state, the principle has to be extended to temporary employees as well.

"In our considered view, it is fallacious to determine artificial parameters to deny fruits of labour. An employee engaged for the same work, cannot be paid less than another, who performs the same duties and responsibilities. Certainly not, in a welfare state. Such an action besides being demeaning, strikes at the very foundation of human dignity," a bench of Justice J S Khehar and S A Bobde said.

The bench said "anyone, who is compelled to work at a lesser wage, does not do so voluntarily. He does so to provide food and shelter to his family, at the cost of his self respect and dignity, at the cost of his self worth and at the cost of his integrity".

"For he knows, that his dependents would suffer immensely, if he does not accept the lesser wage. Any act of paying less wages, as compared to others similarly situated, constitutes an act of exploitative enslavement, emerging out of a domineering position. Undoubtedly, the action is oppressive, suppressive and coercive, as it compels involuntary subjugation," it said.

Citing Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966, of which India is a signatory and has ratified it on April 10, 1979, the apex court said "there is no escape from the above obligation".

It said in view of different constitutional provisions and the law declared by the Court under Article 141 of the Constitution, the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' constitutes "a clear and unambiguous right and is vested in every employee, whether engaged on regular or temporary basis".

The verdict came as some temporary employees of Punjab government approached the apex court after Punjab and Haryana High Court held that temporary employees were not entitled to the minimum of the regular pay-scale, merely for the reason that activities carried on by them and the regular employees were similar.

The apex court directed the Punjab government to pay the petitioners the minimum of the pay-scale (at the lowest grade, in the regular pay-scale), extended to the regular employees holding the same post.

The petitioners were daily wagers working as Pump Operators, Fitters, Helpers, Drivers, Plumbers, Chowkidars.

The court said there is no room for any doubt that the duties and responsibilities discharged by the temporary employees in the present set of appeals were the same as those being discharged by regular employees.

The Sel Roti Chronicles – An Ode to the Amazing Darjeeling Community Spirit

Writes: Bal Krishna

There are certain food stuff that define a community, the Italians have their pasta and pizza, the Chinese have their noodles, rest of India may have their Idli, Sambar, Dosa or Dal, Roti and Chawal… but in Darjeeling there are so many food that have intermingled, no single food can claim to be numero uno…

For instance, if there was a head to head competition in Darjeeling region, Momo would easily be an all time favourite, unless you get it competing with Gundruk ko jhol, or Kinema, or Thukpa, or Sungur ko Khutta, or Churpi ko Jhol…

I always fluctuate between Momo and Gundruk, uncertain of which one I want the most… while some may swear by Sungur ko Masu and Rayo ko Saag combo, there are many for whom Goru ko Masu is irreplaceable, Chicken competes with Bhainsi, and Khasi is in a class of its own… not to be left out are our vegetarian favourites Ningro, Jara, Sishnu and so on.

I feel that we are lucky to be born in such an amazing place where every food has found its perfection… and this I am saying not out of bravado, but out of experience… there is no match to Darjeeling ko Momo anywhere in the world, and I have travelled enough across India and some parts of the world, to testify for that fact… Nowhere is Aludum and bhuja more celebrated than in Darjeeling , so much so that people swear by that stuff… “Bhola ko alu kassam” bhandai gareko huncha…

Alu Thukpa is a Kalimpong staple and no place on earth can compete with the taste here, such are the passions associated with Alu Thukpa that a young bride from Kalimpong (a friend of mine) nearly broke off her marriage when her in-laws (from Darjeeling) thought Alu Thukpa was uncouth and Alu Dum would be made on their reception… to our delight, they had both Alu Dum and Alu Thukpa in their reception… 

There is no home in our hills which hasn’t been adorned by the sweetness of Kurseong Mistan Bhandar ko Kalakand or by Lapchu ko Peda, and people in Sukey Pokhari have their claim to fame in Aap ki Pasand ko mithai… each town in our hills have their favourites and people in every town or village swear by them… we are a passionate lot… when it comes to food…

But there are certain food that raise above the mundane everyday competition or comparisons… these are our Festival Specials… be it Thekuwa during Chaat Puja, Khichudi during Durga puja, or Sewai during Eid… be it Fruit Cake during Christmas, Khapsyo during Lohsar, or Sel Roti during Tihar… there is a special group of food that holds that coveted place of respect in all of our hearts…

And I am confident that every family living in Darjeeling region has celebrated and enjoyed all these major festivals and foods… thanks to the unique bonding that exist among our people…

But among all the special food we have in our festivals, Sel Roti for me stands out… as that one food item which is the epitome of Darjeeling Spirit and also the Darjeeling Absurdity… Please don’t get me wrong, do read on and I am sure at the end of it all, you will at least sympathize me, if not empathize.

So I must have been all of 13 when I was deputed to Sel Roti duty by Ama… which meant, I was responsible for going to bring Okhali and Musli from a samaj ghar somewhere far, do the shopping for sel-roti ingredients which included Bada-Alinchi, Sonf, Ghiu, Dudh… to washing the “ration ma paako aluwa chamal,” and hanging it to dry on a net ko jhola…

The true test of friendship in Darjeeling is seen on the day you are supposed to Kuttus the Aanta (in LC English)… I could literally see my friends running away on the day before Bhailoni, cuz that is when we traditionally grind the rice for Sel Roti in our village…

Coming from a big family, we would always have the most kilos of chamal to kuttus (rice to grind) and my friends would do all their best to bhagus (run away) that day… and only the true ones remained, cuz they were perhaps obliged by the code of friendship, or the fact that it was them who would end up gobbling up most of the Sel Roti at the end of the festival anyway… so a sense of duty

Either way, a selective group of friends would assemble on the dreaded day… with our bhijako chamal which would be drying on the net ko jhola… with an Okhali… a nanglo and a chalni to accompany… and thus we would start….

With each stroke of the Musli, the neighbours would know Sel Roti preparations are underway, and gradually a small crowd would gather, mostly comprising of younger lot and a healthy mix of those who are always to be found in any functions or events around the village… You know the ones who will attend everything from Nauran to Ghewa, from Marriage to Puja… helping out, not physically, but by being present at the event, telling jokes, sharing stories, keeping the working crowd all cheered up…

A joke, I recall thus…

Once there was a competition harey dudh duney (milking the cow)… farmers from all over the world were attending… last two competitors remaining were a Japanese and an Indian…

The Japanese, fabled for their technology, used it and milked 20 liters in 5 minutes, the highest so far, and the crowd was cheering for him… Then came the Indian farmer and it had to be Gofle da from our village and he used all his skills, sadly at the end of his given 5 minutes he could only milk 500ml… The Japanese won…

So everyone in India, particularly in our village started to curse Gofle da… “kasto Gaon ko naak kaateko… Gofle k bhako” bhandai everyone taunted him, and all he would say was “mero galti haina” (it wasn’t my fault)…

Infuriated, people asked him… ‘if it wasn’t your fault… then whose fault was it??”

To which Gofle da matter of factly replied… “khai kunin ta… kunchaile Gai ko jaga ma Goru rakhi dyechaa… blame it on the one who put a bull instead of a cow”

Gofle daa had ended up milking 500ml from a bull :) :) :) we used to say…

Do hit the LIKE button, if and when you get the joke…

Jokes like these would abound…

After a while, Ama would be kind enough to bring out a round of tea, or orange squash ma pani fitera banako juice for those helping out… generally it would be 5 of us doing the grinding, but come refreshment time around 20 people would have tea or juice in their hands, but no one was complaining, as the other 15 would eventually end up helping as well.

We would often compete to see who would grind the most without stopping… starting from 30 non-stop hits to 100, each would try to outdo the other, and we wouldn’t even realize that the work was getting done faster…

What was tragic though, was the fact that we had to help grind all the chamal, for all the neighbours... Someone would have 5 kgs to grind, someone 15… it was relentless, one or the other would keep on bringing, and along came the tea and juices from their respective homes…

And later we would have to mix the dough for making sel roti… that is when the Ama party would take over and make them delicious round breads… to all of our delights…

The tragedy though, wasn’t in the fact that we had to ground so much of chamal… it was however, in the fact that after Tiwar, when time came for Bhaag badnu (food shared with those families who wouldn’t traditionally celebrate Dasain or Tiwar – say Tibetans, Muslims or Christians)… cuz only our sisters would be allowed to do that…

Growing up, I wished I was a girl on three days
1. Bhailoni – cuz people usually gave more money to girls than boys…
2. Bhai Tika – cuz that is when our hard earned deusi kheleko money would be drained and
3. Bhag Badne din – cuz that is when our neighbours would give some cash to those who had gone to reach the bhaag…

Tihar every year is growing more commercial of late, with people preferring to buy ready made chamal ko pitho, instead of grinding it at home… and with it we are gradually loosing that feeling of each neighbour being an extended part of one’s family… and even though in our village we continue to grind the chamal for making sel roti, most people elsewhere have stopped doing so…

I hope our next generation of youths will continue with this special bonding exercise, which could only be had, when you ground 200kgs of chamal in a go, and no one complained…

Happy Tiwar Everyone… May YOU all, always stay blessed !!

………………………………
This article is dedicated to Ms. Shivangi Thapa who requested a piece on Sel Roti….

पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभाव झेल्दै डुवर्सका नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यार्थीहरू

Writes : लीलाबहादुर छेत्री , डूवर्स

एकातिर तिहार सकिएको लगत्तै माध्यमिक परीक्षाको निम्ति सेन्ट-अप शुरु हुनेछ भने अर्कातिर मातृभाषा नेपाली माध्यम लिएर पढ्दा परीक्षा लेख्न र पठन-पाठनमा कुनै भाषिक असुविधा झेल्न पर्दैन भन्दै नेपाली माध्यम लिने विद्यार्तीहरू अघि सेन्ट-अप ठुलै सङ्कट बन्ने तय देखिँदैछ।

संक्षेपमा यस पटक  सेन्ट-अप परीक्षा मातृभाषा नेपाली माध्यम लिएर लेख्ने विद्यार्थीहरूलाई फलामको चिउरा हुने तय छ। मातृभाषामा शिक्षा पाउनु पर्छ ,मातृभाषाको व्यवहारिकताबारे हामी सचेत हुनुपर्छ भन्ने हल्लाहरूबीच हजारौं निर्दोश विद्यार्थीहरूले मातृभाषा नेपाली माध्यम लिएर पढेकोमा  पहिलो सजाय भोग्नुपर्ने देखिँदैछ यस पटकको सेन्ट-अप परीक्षामा ।

नेपाली भाषा मान्यता दिवसको अवसरहुँदी मातृभाको व्यवहारिकताको कुरोले खुब मान्यता पाउने गर्दछ।  भाषालाई लिएर ठुल्ठुला कुरा हाँकिने गरेको सुनिन्छ। तर  नेपाली माध्यम लिएर आगामी वर्ष 2017 मा माध्यमिक परीक्षा लेख्ने हजारौं नेपाली भाषी विद्यार्थीहरूका पाठ्य-पुस्तकको गम्भीर समस्याबारे भने यस्ता चर्चामा सहभागी बन्ने ,आफ्नो तर्क राख्ने समूह नै कानमा तेल हालेर बसेका आरोप छ।यसबारे आजसम्म कहींकतैबाट पनि विरोधको दह्रिलो आवाज सुनिएको छैन।

समस्या निराकरणको पहलबारे कसैले दावीका साथ बोलेको सुनिएको छैन।विशेष गरी  नेपाली माध्यमका माध्यमिक स्तरका विद्यालयहरू प्राय: जसो डुवर्स इलाकामा स्थापित छन्।

तर यो समस्या केवल डुवर्सको निम्ति मात्रै हो भन्न मिल्दैन।नेपाली भाषामाथि अन्याय हुँदा त्यसबारे अन्य क्षेत्रबाट पनि विरोधका आवाजहरू सुनिँदैआएको हो।तर यतिखेर यो समस्या केवल डुवर्सको मात्रै हो जस्तो गरेर अन्य इलाकाका नेपाली भाषाको व्यवहारिकताका पक्षधरहरू मौन जस्ता नै रहेको आरोप छ। 

डुवर्समा स्थापित नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यालयहरूले डुवर्सका नेपाली भाषीहरूलाई पछिल्ला केही वर्षदेखियता माध्यमिक तहका शिक्षा प्रदान गर्दैआइरहेका छन्।

नेपाली माध्यममा माध्यमिक तहका अझ थुप्रै विद्यालयहरू स्थापना गरिनुपर्ने दिशातिर सचेत नेपाली भाषीहरू आग्रही देखिन्छन्।

केही समय अघिदेखि यसबारे केही सङ्घ-संस्थानले विशेष चासो लिएर प्रक्रिया समेत शुरु गर्नथालेका छन्।यस्तोमा पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभावले डुवर्स इलाकाका नेपाली माध्यमका माध्यमिक विद्यालयका विद्यार्थीहरूले यसपटक कसरी सेन्ट-अप अनि 2017 को माध्यमिक परीक्षा  लेख्ने हुन् भन्ने पिरलोमा विद्यार्थी,अभिभावक र शिक्षक-शिक्षिकाहरू पर्नथालेका छन्।

यस वर्षदेखि परिवर्तित पाठ्यक्रमानुसार परीक्षार्थीहरूले  माध्यमिक परीक्षा लेख्नुपर्ने छ।जुन परिवर्तित पाठ्यक्रम र पुरानो पाठ्यक्रममा धेरै अन्तर रहेको देखिन्छ।त्यसैले माध्यमिक परीक्षाको लागि परिवर्तित पाठ्यक्रम अनुसारको पाठ्य-पुस्तककै पठन-पाठनले मात्रै परीक्षा लेख्न सकिने देखिन्छ।

तर हालसम्म पनि परिवर्तित पाठ्यक्रम अनुरुप बोर्डद्वारा अनुमोदित पाठ्य-पुस्तक नेपाली माध्यमका  विद्यार्थीहरू समक्ष आइपुगेको छैन।नेपाली भाषा बाहेक अरु सबै भाषा माध्यमका पाठ्य-पुस्तक विद्यार्थीहरूको हातमा उचित समयमै आइपुगेको छ।

त्यसैले अन्य भाषी विद्यार्थीहरू सेन्ट-अप र माध्यमिक परीक्षाको तयारीमा निर्धक्क भएर लागिपर्दै आएको देखिन्छ।यसरी  पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभावमा नेपाली भाषी विद्यार्थीहरूले  भने सेन्ट-अप र माध्यमिक परीक्षा कसरी लेख्लान् त जो-कोहीले अनुमान लगाउन सक्छन्।

यदि सेन्ट-अप परीक्षा सकिएको लगत्तै पाठ्य-पुस्तक विद्यार्थीहरूको हातमा नआए यस पटकको माध्यमिक परीक्षामा नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यार्थीहरूको कुन हालात हुने हो चिन्ता व्यक्त गर्न थालिएको छ।

साथै आजको प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक युगमा विद्यारथीहरूले पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभावमा पऱीक्षा लेख्नपरेपछि कुन प्रकारको परिणाम प्राप्त गर्ने हुन् त्यसबारे भनिरहन पर्दैन।ज्ञात रहोस्, पछिल्लो  वर्षको माध्यमिक परीक्षामा उत्तर बङ्गालका नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यालयहरूले त्यसमा पनि डुवर्सका विद्यालयहरूले उत्कृष्ट परिणाम प्राप्त गरेका थिए।

उतिखेरको उत्कृष्ट परिणाम आएको खबरले गर्दा नेपाली माध्यम लिएर आगामी वर्ष 2017 माध्यमिक परीक्षा लेख्ने विद्यार्थीहरूलाई प्रेरित गरेको थियो। नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यालयहरूमा गएर विद्यार्थीहरूसित यसबारे साक्षात्कार गरिँदा विद्यार्थीहरूले उत्साहित हुँदै नेपाली माध्यममा माध्यमिक परीक्षा लेखेर सर्वोत्कृष्ट अङ्क ल्याउने बताएका थिए।

तर यतिखेर नेपाली माध्यमका ती विद्यालयहरूमा पुगेर आगामी 2017 मा माध्यमिक परीक्षा लेख्ने विद्यार्थीहरूसित माध्यमिक परीक्षाको पूर्वतयारीबारे जान्न चाहँदा उनीहरू अहिले नेपाली माध्यम लिएर पढ्नमा ठुलो भुल गरेको र सेन्टप-अपकै निम्ति पनि कुनै तयारी गर्ननसकेको बताउँछन्।

नेपाली मध्यमका माध्यमिक तहका विद्यालयहरूका शिक्षकहरूसित यसबारे कुरा गर्दा उनीहरू नानीहरूको भविश्य मात्रै नभएर पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अबावलाई सम्पूर्ण विद्यालय परिवारकै समस्या रहेको बताउँछन्।

पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभावमा पाठ्यक्रम पूरा गर्नलाई गाह्रो भइरहेको र कोही भने अन्य भाषाका पाठ्य-पुस्तकबाट जबरजस्ती अनुवाद गरी खाँचो टार्ने काम भइरहेको पनि शिक्षक-शिक्षिकाहरू बताउँछन्।यसरी  शिक्षकहरूले पाठ्यक्रम सक्ने कोशिष गरे पनि विद्यार्थीहरूलाई भने नेपाली भाषामा जस्तो सहज बुझाउन नसकिने पनि उनीहरू बताउँछन्।

यस समस्यालाई लिएर केही समय अघि मात्रै डुवर्सका नेपाली माध्यमका माध्यमिक तथा उच्च माध्यमिकतहका प्रधानाध्यपकका टोलीले माध्यमिक परिषद् (उत्तर बङ्गाल)का अध्यक्ष कल्याणमय गाङ्गुलीसित भेट गरेको थियो।

जुन भेटमा टोलीले ज्ञापन चढाउँदै नेपाली माध्यममा पाठ्य-पुस्तक नहुनाले विद्यार्थी र शिक्षक-शिक्षिकहरूले भोग्दैआएको समस्याबहारे अवगत गराएका थिए।

उक्त भेटमा माध्यमिक परिषद् (उत्तर बङ्गाल)का अध्यक्ष कल्याणमय गाङ्गुलीले यस समस्या नेपाली भाषाका अनुवादकको अभावमा पाठ्य-पुस्तक ढिलो तयार भएको र यो समस्या केही दिनभित्रै समाधान गरिने आश्वासन दिएका थिए।तर वास्तविकता के छ भने आजसम्म पनि नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यार्थीहरूका हातमा अङ्ग्रेजी माध्यमको गणितको पुस्तक देखिन्छ।

नेपाली माध्यमका विद्यार्थीहरूले आजसम्ममा बोर्डद्वारा प्रकाशित गरिएको पाठ्य-पुस्तक नपाएपछि केही निजी प्रकाशनहरूले निकालेका पुस्तकहरू किनेर खाँचो टार्ने कोशिष गरिदैआएको देखिन्छ।तर गणित भने निजी प्रकाशनद्वारा पनि प्रकाशित नगरिएको  कारण बजारमा नपाएको विद्यालयपक्षबाट बताइएको छ।भुक्तभोगी विद्यार्थीहरूसित यस समस्याबारे जान्न चाहँदा विद्यार्थीहरू अङ्ग्रेजी माध्यमको किताबबाट गणित बुझ्न गाह्रो परेको बताउँछन्।

यसरी पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभाव झेल्ने विद्यालयहरूमा यहाँको बाग्राकोट उच्चतर माध्यमिक विद्यालय पनि पर्दछ।यस विद्यालयबाट पनि विद्यार्थीहरूले उसरी नै समस्या भोगिरहेको देखिन्छ।

जसरी अन्य विद्यालयका विद्यार्थीहरूले भोगिरहेका छन्।यसै विद्यालयमा अध्ययनरत रोमिया प्रधान र आस्ना छेत्रीले अहिले आफूहरूलाई नेपाली माध्यम लिएर पढेकोमा पछुतो  लागिरहेको बताए।हातको अङ्ग्रेजी माध्यमको गणित पुस्तक देखाउँदै यसै विद्यालयका ऐसालु तामाङ र नितिका मङ्गरले पनि भने,बरु इङ्ग्लिस मिडियम लिएर पढेको भए ढुक्कै हुनेथेछ।

नेपाली माध्यमका माध्यमिक तहका विद्यार्थीहरूले पाठ्य-पुस्तकको अभाव झेल्दैआएको कुरो केही समयदेखियता विभिन्न दैनिक मार्फत प्रकाशमा आइरहेको छ।

तर यतिञ्जेलसम्म यो गम्भीर  समस्याले नेपाली भाषाको व्यवहारिकता ,संवैधानिक मान्यताप्राप्त यस भाषाप्रति न्याय भएको छैन भन्ने अनि नेपाली भाषा माध्यमको शैक्षिक व्यवस्था सुदृढ रहनुपर्छ भन्दै वकालती गर्नेहरूको ध्यानाकर्षण गर्नसकेको छैन भन्ने आरोप छ।

साभार : हिमालय दर्पण

डुवर्समा नया साहित्यिक संस्था डुवर्स नेपाली साहित्य सभाको गठन

        
Writes : बुद्धिमान लामा

जयगाउ नन्नी भट्टाचार्य महाविधालयमा नेपाली विभाग बीरपाड़ा महाविधालयमा नेपाली विभागमा दुई जना प्राध्यपक नियुक्ति बीरपाड़ामा नेपाली बालिका विधालय निर्माणको माग गर्दै साथै शिक्षा अनि साहित्यको विकास साथै मध्य डुवर्समा साहित्यिक माहौल सृजना गराउनको निम्ति मध्य डुवर्समा आज एउटा नया साहित्यिक संस्था डुवर्स नेपाली साहित्य सभा को गठन गरियो l उदेश प्रधानको वासगृहमा बसेको सभामा शिक्षक जनार्दन थापा रविन खवास टीकाराम शर्मा दिलीप शर्मा किरण उपाध्याय उमेश प्रधान नारायण प्रधान आदिको विशेष उपस्थिति रहेको थियो l सभामा शिक्षाविद तथा साहित्यकार  किताबसिंह राईको मृत्यु पश्चात् मध्य डुवर्समा साहित्य छेत्रमा शून्यता छाएको  सबै वक्ताहरूले महशुष गरे l मध्य डुवर्समा यो शून्यतालाई पूरा गर्न एवम् शिक्षा र साहित्यको विकासलाई अघि बड़ाउनका निम्ति साहित्यिक संस्था गठन गरिने निर्णय लिइयो l सभामा संस्थाको नामकरणमाथि लामो छलफल पश्चात् डुवर्स  नेपाली साहित्य सभा नाम राखियो साथै कमिटि गठन गरियो जसमा अध्यक्ष दिलीप शर्मा घिमिरे उपाध्यक्ष बुद्धिमान लामा तामंग सचिव उमेश प्रधान सह सचिव नारायण प्रधान  कोषाध्यक्ष किरण उपाध्याय सह कोषाध्यक्ष शिवराज थापा कार्यकारिणी सदस्य सूरज शर्मा आकाश प्रधान विशाल तामंग किरपेन्द्र गुरूंग आदिलाई चयन गरियो l भविष्यमा विशेष मध्य डुवर्समा साहित्यिक माहौल बनाउने र विशेष यहा भएका स्रष्टाहरूलाई एकत्रित गरेर एउटा मंच दिन अनि युवा वर्ग साथै विद्यार्थीहरूलाई शिक्षा नेपाली भाषा र साहित्यप्रति आकर्षित गर्नु नै यो संस्थाको मूल उद्देश्य हुनेछ संस्थाका कोषाध्यक्ष साथै युवा कवि किरण उपाध्यायले बताए l डुवर्स नेपाली साहित्य विकास समिति हाम्रो माउ संस्था हो साथै यो संस्थाले माउ संस्था  डुवर्स नेपाली साहित्य विकास समिति लगायत बाग्राकोटको साहित्य परिक्रमा लुकसानको साहित्य चक्र दलसिंहपाड़ाको नेपाली साहित्य प्रतिष्ठान नगरकट्टाको भानु सांस्कृतिक संघ अनि सामसिंग जन उत्थान समिति आदि सँग मिलेर साहित्य अनि शिक्षाको विकासमा कार्यक्रमहरू गर्नेछ भने l

WOMAN FROM #SIKKIM FOUND IN GUWAHATI - Please Help Find Her Family

An organization working with elderly people in Guwahati Monalisa Society, Guwahati have stated,

"This Nepali woman was found at Guwahati.. But she is not saying anything about herself.. She only knows Nepali... After a week she told us that She is from Sikkim... She has 3 sons and 3 daughters and many grandsons & granddaughters... Still she doesn't say her name and proper place.. She is now at our Mother Old Age Home, Jyoti Nagar, Guwahati."

If anyone knows her family kindly tell them to contact: 9854330538

Please SHARE someone in your timeline may know her or her family... let us make this Diwali a Happy Wali for our Boju... let us help reunite her with her family...

We THANK our reader Nilutpal Timsina for informing us

CC: Sonam Yankeela

AS GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATOR FOR #DARJEELING TEA KICKS IN - Will Workers Get Higher Wages?

Every year, the world has been imbibing more "Darjeeling Tea" than the picturesque hills in north Bengal have been producing.

Less than a fortnight from now, blending - the process that facilitated the anomaly, nay sacrilege - will be outlawed in European Union countries as far as Darjeeling Tea is concerned.

The EU ban on blending will kick in from the midnight of November 10, the prospect already spreading cheer in Darjeeling, which exports nearly 60 per cent of its tea.

Europe accounts for 65 per cent of the exports, around 10 per cent of which goes to the UK. It is not clear yet how the ban will play itself out in Britain after Brexit, the scheduled exit from the EU.

"The Darjeeling Tea Association welcomes this important recognition of the uniqueness of Darjeeling. The Darjeeling tea is now legally recognised and protected in India and in the EU as a GI," Binod Mohan, chairman of the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), told The Telegraph.

Europe had given Darjeeling Tea the GI (geographical indication) shield five years ago on November 10, 2011. The GI or PGI (protected geographical indication) tag indicates that a product has a unique association with a particular region.

But there was a catch: blenders were given five years to switch to pure content.

"This meant that despite the GI protection in EU, blenders could mix 51 per cent of Darjeeling Tea and 49 per cent of other tea and sell it as Darjeeling Tea till now. However, once the transition period comes to an end, no blended product in EU can be sold as Darjeeling Tea, and the moment has come," said Sandeep Mukherjee, principal adviser, DTA.

"Henceforth, only 100 per cent Darjeeling Tea will be sold as Darjeeling in the EU member states. A deviation or infringement will be a violation of the law, which will attract criminal and civil liability," said Mohan. "The consumers will be able to seek redress in consumer protection forums," said Mohan.

The blending of Darjeeling Tea, rampant across the globe, has hit Darjeeling hard with the volume of the crop taking a knock. In 1992, the industry produced 14.1 million kg of "made tea", which came down to 8.96 million kg in 2015.

However, blending ensured that twice the volume that Darjeeling produced was sold as Darjeeling Tea across the globe, said an industry source.

"With strict enforcement in Europe, we hope to see improved price realisation, which the Darjeeling tea industry badly needs," Mohan said. According to industry estimates, 55,000 permanent workers and 15,000 temporary workers are employed in the industry .

"The average production cost is more than Rs 350 per kg. Profits are dwindling in the gardens," Mukherjee said.

"There are major issues like absenteeism up to 25-30 per cent of the workforce, inclement weather, work culture, old tea bushes, loss of plantation area, increase in wages, input costs and the lack of scale of economy. All of this has raised the production cost."

India passed a Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act in 1999, after which Darjeeling Tea became the first product in the country to be granted GI status in India by 2003. Only 87 hill tea gardens have been given the GI status and their produce is recognised as Darjeeling Tea.

However, that was only the first step towards protecting the generic brand. Protection needed to be secured from other countries as well. In 2007, India invoked a provision in the EU Commission Regulation that will culminate in the November 10 ban.

The other major importers of Darjeeling Tea are Japan and the US, where the industry is seeking similar protection. "We have made applications before the Japanese Property Right Organisation and the Trade Administration Authority of the US," said Sanjay Bansal, chairman of the Ambootia Tea Group, which owns 14 of the 87 gardens that are certified to produce Darjeeling Tea.

[Report by - Vivek Chhetri for The Telegraph]
.............................
As the GI status kicks in the prices of Darjeeling tea are bound to go up... will this translate to higher wages for the workers?? we are not so sure

Jaldapara National Park Gets Sniffer Dog - First canine squad for state forest department to detect wildlife items

A sniffer dog trained to detect wildlife items like animal skin, bones and horns was pressed into service in the Jaldapara National Park from today.

Foresters said the one-year-old German Shepherd was the first dog to be inducted ino the state forest department.

Rani and it's two handlers will stay in Jaldapara and travel to other forests in north Bengal if the need arises.

"It is the first time that a specially-trained dog squad has been engaged by the state forest department to track offenders," the divisional forest officer of Jaldapara wildlife division, Bhashkar J.V, said.

"Forest guard Biplab Kumar Roy and chowkidar Vanu Rava have been selected as the handler and the assistant handler of the dog, respectively," he added.

Both Roy and Rava are from Jaldapara forest division.

[Via: Telegraph]

JUDC Accuses Gorubathan BDO Office of Border Area Development Programme Fund Misuse

The Jordhunga United Development Committe has accused Gorubathan BDO office of misusing the funds allocated for Border areas development programmes.

Labelling the charge, Mr. Sanjay Gurung of JUDC has said, "the BADP funds are meant for developing infrastructure in villages that are within 10kms of the international border, yet out of he 14 projects initiated under the funds, 6 have been undertaken in places that are 40 to 50kms away from the border, because of this misuse of funds, border villages are suffering."

It might be recalled that the only access road connecting Jordhunga to Bindu had been washed away two weeks ago and the district administration is yet to take any steps to restore connectivity.

Mr. Sanjay Gurung further added, "we will soon file and RTI and report to the Home Ministry on how the funds allocated for border village development have been routed to fund projects that are not near the border."

The BADP funds are monitored and utilized by District Magistrate and BDO offices.

[In Pic: road connectivity between Jordhunga and Bindu washed away recently]

TRAGIC: Accident in Gitdabling Leaves 3 Dead, 9 Injured

A vehicle carrying members of a family who were returning after attending a shraddh ceremony of a relative fell down a hill and landed on a stream below a non-asphalted road at Gitdabling village this evening, killing three persons and injuring nine.

Police sources said the accident happened when the vehicle was returning to Samthar village from Nokdara at a place less than 1km short of Gitdabling, around 4pm. Gitdabling is about 30km from here.

"The stretch of the road where the accident took place has no asphalt and is treacherous. The vehicle fell 60ft below the road and landed upside down right in the middle of a stream. There were 15 people in the vehicle, most of them were members of a family from Samthar," said a source

[Via: Telegraph]

ICSE board set to do away with no-detention policy

Mou Chakraborty, HT, 27 Oct 2016, KOLKATA: The ICSE council on Wednesday said it is planning to revert to the ‘no-detention’ policy till Class 5.This comes a day after the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) recommended to the government to go back to the old system. The schools across the country had no-detention policy in place till Class 5. However, after implementation of the RTE in 2009, the ‘no-detention’ policy was extended till Class 8. Now, CABE wants to go back to the old system.
HRD minister Prakash Javadekar has already expressed his intention to amend the RTE Act and drop the ‘no-detention’ clause and give the state governments the power to take a call in this regard.
While West Bengal is yet to express its view on the matter, the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the only private board in the country which conducts ISC and ICSE exams, has welcomed the move.
“We welcome this move. We would be more than happy to go back to the old system of having no detention till Class 5. If the amendment is passed in Parliament, then our executive council will take the decision,” said Gerry Arathoon, chief executive and secretary of CISCE.
“Since the time RTE has been implemented and no-detention policy was extended till Class 8, we had encountered a lot of resentment from teachers, school management, parents and school principals. If a Class 8 student is not doing well and the school still promotes him to Class 9 when the syllabus for board exam starts, we are not doing any good to him. The school will have to detain him in Class 9, which would be unjust. He could have been corrected in a lower class,” Arathoon added.
While CBSE, too, is in favour of the changes, according to its chairman Rajesh Chaturvedi, the CBSE Class 10 board examinations would be revived from 2018 as there is a growing opinion in its favour. Till now, it was optional.
“We will not be able to do it in 2017 as time is short but we will certainly like to go ahead with it from 2018 as it has become important in the context of improving quality. In any case, the state boards are continuing with the board exams,” Chaturvedi had said.
The schools, too, have welcomed the upcoming changes in ‘no detention’ policy. “The students and parents need to understand that detention is not a punishment but it is a way of giving more time to the student to cope with the syllabus. And at the same time, the teachers, too, have to take the responsibility if the child has to be detained,” said John Rafi, principal of La Martinière for Boys’ School.
The schools across the country had no-detention policy in place till Class 5. However, after implementation of the RTE in 2009, the ‘no-detention’ policy was extended till Class 8. Now, CABE wants to go back to the old system HRD minister Prakash Javadekar has already expressed his intention to amend the RTE Act and drop the ‘no-detention’ clause and give the state governments the power to take a call in this regard While West Bengal is yet to express its view on the matter, the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the only private board in the country which conducts ISC and ICSE exams, has welcomed the move While CBSE, too, is in favour of the changes, according to its chairman Rajesh Chaturvedi, the Class 10 CBSE board examinations would be revived from 2018 as there is a growing opinion in its favour. Till now, it was optional.

RENAME ROHINI ROAD AS LATE. SUBASH GHISING ROAD - Requests GNLF Kurseong

The Kurseong town committee of Gorkha National Liberation Front have yesterday submitted a memorandum to DM Darjeeling, and GTA Chief Secretary requesting that the Rohini Road be renamed as Late. Subash Ghising road.

According to GNLF Kurseong Town Committee President Sanjay Chettri, "Subash Ghising is one of the most renowned and loved political figures from our region, following the formation of DGHC he undertook numerous development works across our hills and even the Rohini Road was build due to his visionary leadership... hence it would be appropriate to rename the road after him, in his memory."

They have also requested that a statue of Late. Subash Ghising be built in Chowrasta premises.
Input Via Dc
[In Pic by Purna Gurung: Rohini Road and the foothills of Darjeeling. Pic was originally shared on Darj YesterYears]

जन आन्दोलन पार्टीका युवा प्रकोष्टको शहरमा पोष्टर् सफाई

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ 26 अक्टोबर।जन आन्दोलन पार्टीका युवा प्रकोष्टले शहरमा टाँसेका पार्टीको पुराना पोष्टरहरू हटाउने कार्य गरेको छ। विभिन्न राजनैतिक कार्यक्रमहरूबारे पार्टीले टाँसेका पोष्टरहरू कार्यक्रम सकेपछि शहरमा मैलाका थाक मात्रै बनिरहेको अवस्थामा पार्टीले शहरलाई स्वच्छ अनि सुन्दर राख्नका निम्ति कार्यक्रम सकिसकेका अचाहिँदो पोष्टरहरू राजनैतिक दल तथा संघ संस्थाहरू आफैले निकाल्न आवश्यक रहेको अखिल भारतीय जन आन्दोलन पार्टीका युवा प्रकोष्ठका सचिव अमिर बस्नेतले बताएका छन्।
‘हामीले विभिन्न कार्यक्रमलाई लिएर शहरमा व्यापक पोष्टरिङ गरेका थियौँ। कार्यक्रम सकिएपछि ती पोष्टरहरू अनावश्यक भएको कारण शहरमा मैला थुपारेर राख्नको साटो हामीले आफै टाँसेका पोस्टरहरू हटाएर शहर सुन्दर राख्ने सन्देश दिएका हौँ’ अमिर बस्नेतले भने।
उनले आफ्नो शहरलाई आफैले स्वच्छ राख्न आवश्यक रहेको बताउँदै अन्यले पनि लगाएका पोष्टरहरू कार्यक्रम समाप्त भएपछि सफाई गर्नुपर्ने सुझाव दिए।
यसक्रममा उनीहरूले अक्त पार्टीले टाँसेका अनावश्यक पोष्टरहरू हटाउने कार्य यहाँको डम्बर चौकबाट सुरू गरेका थिए भने शहरको विभिन्न स्थानहरूमा टाँसेका सम्पूर्ण पोष्टरहरू नै उनीहरूले हटाएका छन्।