Gangtok, 18 December: The Dept of Health Care, Human Service and Family Welfare, Govt of Sikkim participated at 10th SAARC International Psychiatry Conference at Kolkata w.e.f 15 to 17 Dec 2017.
Dr Netra Thapa and Dr Satish Rasaily represented from Sikkim, India to present a symposium on " integrating mental health service in primary health care system - Sikkim model".
Dr Gautam Saha ( Hon' ble General Secretary of Indian Psychiatry Society & Organizing Chairperson of SAARC conference 2017) said that SAARC Psychiatric Federation (S.P.F) is an International Psychiatric Association which is constituted with philanthropic, scientific and humanitarian objectives under the name "SAARC Psychiatric Federation" (SPF). The activities of SPF extend to whole of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) region- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan. SAARC Psychiatric Federation is represented by all the 8 countries of the SAARC region SAARC region is gifted by one of the world’s oldest civilizations with huge number of talented people almost making one fourth of the world's population and the region has got the mightiest and the highest peaks of mountains in the world. All SAARC countries have got their own Mental Health Associations and Societies and the mental health services are getting better in these countries. This year , theme is "Psychiatry in developing World" which calls to SAARC nation to develop innovative mental health service delivery system.
We have invited Sikkim to represent India to highlight the innovative mental health activities and services that are being conducted in Sikkim in last several years. The State of Sikkim is one of the first state in India to take mental health services to grassroots rural population. We wanted Sikkim to come and share their experiences in this international platform so that we all can learn from the State of Sikkim.
Dr Netra Thapa and Dr Satish Rasaily thanked the Dept of HC, HS and FW , Govt of Sikkim for giving opportunity to participate the SAARC conference.
भानुराज थापा
रिनाक, 8 दिसम्बर: पूर्व जिल्लाको छुजाचेन क्षेत्रअन्तर्गत एवं रिनाक बीएसी मानव संसाधन विकास विभागअधिनस्त मुलूके निम्न सरकारी माध्यमिक विद्यालयले 7 दिसम्बरको दिन छुट्टै प्रकारले विविध कार्यक्रमको साथमा वार्षिक उत्सव एवं रजत जयन्ती समारोह मनाइयो। क्षेत्र विधायक विक्रम प्रधानसहित पूर्व जिल्ला पञ्चायत अध्यक्ष एसएस बोखिमसहित सुदुङलाखा, आरीटार, दलपचन्दका पञ्चायतगण, एसडीएम रंगेली किशोर प्रधान, रिगु बीडीओ सविन्द्र राई, एसीएफ सुरेश दास, डीई विद्युत अजित प्रधानसहित अन्य अधिकारी, रिनाक वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक स्कूलका प्रधानाचार्य सुरेनकुमार प्रधानसहित अन्य आरीटार, सुदुङलाखा, लोवर सुदुङलाखा, तारपिन, रिनाक बजार स्कूलका प्रमुख, शिक्षक-शिक्षिका, आयोजक स्कूलका प्रधानअध्यापकसहित शिक्षक-शिक्षिका, एसएमसी, विद्यार्थी, आमन्त्रित अतिथिमा प्रेस क्लब सिक्किमका सल्लाहकार भीम रावत, सरकारी ठेकेदार, औद्योगिक एकाइका अधिकारीहरु उपस्थिति रहेका थिए।
कार्यक्रमको शुरु स्कूलको झण्डोत्तोलन, विद्यार्थीको परेड सलामीसहित बन्दना अनि स्वागत गानबाट गरियो। प्रधानअध्यापक आरएम प्रधानले स्वागत मन्तव्यसहित वार्षिक प्रतिवेदन राख्दै स्कूलको प्रगतिशील गतिविधिमाथि प्रकाश पारेपछि विधायक विक्रम प्रधानलाई अभिनन्दन साथै जिल्ला अध्यक्ष शमसेर बोखिम, सुदुङलाखा जिल्ला मधु शर्मासहित ग्राम पञ्चायत अनि अन्यलाई स्कूलले स्मृति चिन्ह साथै ठेकेदार डीबी प्रधान, गति विद्युत कम्पनीलाई प्रंशसा पत्र प्रदान गरियो। मुख्य अतिथिको रुपमा विधायक विक्रम प्रधानले पढ़ाईमा मात्र सीमित नराखेर नानीहरुलाई सशक्त गरिन, सक्षम बनाउन खातिर यस स्कूलले गरेको कामलाई सराहनीय बताउँदै सकारात्मक सोंचले समाज, गाउँको विकास हुने अनि सरकारी स्कूलमा विद्यार्थी संख्या घट्दैछ, यस विषयमा हामी सचेत नागरिक, अभिभावक अनि स्कूल जागरुक हुनपर्ने अपील गरे।
एक मुख्य विषयमा स्कूलले आफ्ना 6 जना वरिष्ठ शिक्षक-शिक्षिका खेम प्रसाद छेत्री, शान्तीराम शर्मा, बीएस झा, टीपी अधिकारी, ममता छेत्री र शशिकला तामङलाई कार्य योगदानप्रति सम्मान जनाइयो। यी सबैले आफ्ना शिक्षण पेशामा 25 वर्ष भन्दा अधिक सेवा प्रदान गरेका छन्। यसका साथै गाइडमा राज्य पुरस्कृत स्कूलका छात्राहरु प्रिया राई, राधिका सुब्बा र प्रेणा सुब्बा अनि राष्ट्रिय किक बक्सिङमा काश्य पदक प्राप्त गरेका छात्र अनुराज सुब्बालाई पनि मेडल प्रदान गरियो।
कार्यक्रममा एक आकर्षणको रुपमा सांस्कृतिक विभागले सिङ्गी र चौरी नृत्यको प्रदर्शन गरे भने विद्यार्थीहरुले नागा नृत्य, लेप्चा नृत्य, शिक्षालाई महत्व दिइन्दै एक प्रोत्साहित नृत्यपनि प्रस्तुत गरियो, यसका साथै शिक्षिका आशा तामङ, शिक्षक कमल सुब्बा, भोइस अफ् लामपोखरी सिजन-2 का प्रतियोगी अरुणा प्रधानले गायन पेश गरे।
विशिष्ठ अतिथिको रुपमा जिल्ला पञ्चायत अध्यक्ष बोखिमले कार्यक्रमको प्रंशसा गर्दै सिक्किम सरकारले शिक्षालाई महत्व दिएर काम गरेको छ। सिक्किममा शान्ति, सुरक्षा, भयमुक्त अनि अन्याय, अत्याचार छैन, यसको कारण सिक्किम सरकारको काम अनि मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङको दिघदर्शनले गर्दा भएको अध्यक्ष बोखिमले भने।
कार्यक्रममा दौड़ प्रतियोगिता साथै सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम अनि शुन्य फोहोर प्रबन्धनमा भाग लिने एसएचजीहरुलाई पारितोषिक, प्रमाण पत्र प्रदान गरियो।
Gangtok, 5 December: The Department of Home organised a meeting in connection with the celebration of the upcoming Republic Day 2018. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary, Shri. Alok Kr. Srivastav, IAS. The meeting was mainly called upon by the Chief Secretary to discuss the preparation for the upcoming Republic day celebration in the state capital.
Various agendas were discussed which included major involvement from all the line departments under the Government of Sikkim. Various topics were discussed for the Republic Day celebration and works were distributed amongst various departments. Agendas included cultural programs, displays, traffic management, power supply, medical facilities and others.
The program was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary Shri.S. C. Gupta and other officers and representatives of the state government machinery.
Gangtok, 5 December: President, Sikkim Viklang Sahayata Samiti Smt. (Dr.) Savitri Hamal receiving the National Award on behalf of SVSS from the Hon'ble President of India today in New Delhi on the occasion of World Disability Day.She was accompanied by Treasurer, SVSS, Smt. Karuna Pradhan.
Gangtok, 29 Novermenr: A policy round table on sustainability of FPO was commenced at the Hotel Tashi Delek in Gangtok, Sikkim. The conference was conducted by Development Alternatives in partnership with the Integrated Mountain Initiatives (IMI), Green Economy Coalition. This initiative is supported by Heinrich Boll Foundation and European Union. The initiative engages with policy makers to design better farmer producer organizations for livelihood security and environmental sustainability of agriculture systems.
Sikkim is declared as the first organic state in the country, therefore moving towards sustainable agriculture. Government of Sikkim has recently launched Sikkim Organic Mission 2.0. As a part of this phase, Sikkim aims to enable better market access, pricing for organic produce to farmers in Sikkim. In the same context, this consultation gathered challenges that small farmers in Sikkim faces and the opportunity in farmer producer organizations to enable better livelihood security and environment sustainability of agriculture.
The consultation witnessed participation from Department of Agriculture, NABARD, various service providers and farmer producer members from Sikkim. There were key experts and practitioners from other parts of India who also joined to share their experiences with Sikkim stakeholders.
Honorable Minister of Parliament, Mr PD Rai addressed the participants to give insight on vision and aspirations of the Government of Sikkim in this context. In his opening address, Mr Rai highlighted the context of the Himalayan states as critical in determining any design of FPOs for Sikkim. The Government of Sikkim has taken various initiatives to support small holder farmers and FPOs in Sikkim. Mr PD Rai emphasized the need to critically assess and understand challenges faced by FPOs and device ways to address them, where the experience of participants at the round table must explore. Sikkim Government is leaders in taking forth initiative for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the state; and food and agriculture systems will play an instrumental role in its success.
Dr Anbalagan Sundaram, Executive Director, Sikkim Organic Mission, elaborated on various initiatives that government of Sikkim has taken and plans to take up for supporting organic agriculture and better incomes for the small farmers in Sikkim. The recent announcement of Vegetable ban from outside Sikkim, in order to promote local agriculture production is seen as a challenge as well as a big opportunity for Sikkim farmers to access local markets with their produce.
FPOs and promoting agencies shared major challenges faced by farmers and FPOs in Sikkim. Tshering Ongmu, Secretary, FPO East Sikkim elaborated on inaccessibility of organic inputs and lack of awareness amongst farmers on organic practices.
FPOs find it challenging to identify the ‘right’ price for their produce and generally loose out to competitive prices from produce of other states. Karma Dechen Bhutia, President FPO East, shared the incapacities of the technical know-how especially for management and marketing in the FPOs of Sikkim. Mr Rajesh Gupta from EDA Rural Service Private Limited, raised the concern of unfriendly nature of financial institutions to the FPOs. Most of the banks in Sikkim are not aware of FPOs and are therefore reluctant to finance them. This is a major hindrance in growth of FPOs in Sikkim.
There were insights on possible innovations at ground and policy level that can support in enabling better functioning of FPOs in Sikkim. Prof Shambhu Prasad, IRMA suggested to build a cadre of professionals within Sikkim that have technical capacities for management and marketing decisions for the FPO. Ashish Gupta, a farmer and leading Bhoomika Campaign across the country, suggested FPOs in Sikkim to connect to network of organic FPOs to reach out wider markets in the country. He also emphasized the need for transparency in costs incurred by the FPOs in marketing to its farmer members for building faith amongst the members towards the institution. Regarding organic certification, it was suggested to explore Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) as the certification approach. This system certifies the farmer and not the land; therefore filling various lacunas of the conventional organic certification.
Major emphasis was also made on producing data on organic agriculture production and productivity to attract scientific research temperament and evidence generation from the state. Ms Vijaylakshmi Das emphasized the need of behavior change of banks towards FPOs which is not very easy, as she elaborates from her experience. It was suggested if the Government of Sikkim can build a credit guarantee fund or a revolving fund to enhance investments towards FPOs and also provide directives to the banks to prioritise easy FPO lending. Mr MV Ashok, former CGM, NABARD, Mumbai identified a critical need to transform KVKs and extension system to the needs of organic agriculture production. Mr Rangu Rao, Safe Harvest Private Limited shared formal designed processes as instrumental for setting up FPOs at scale.
The policy round table was successful in knowledge sharing amongst network of FPOs from across the country and potentials for Sikkim to build FPOs in the state with strong institutional ownership and business performance. It is believed that such initiatives will build finance and marketing networks amongst FPOs of Sikkim and boost the income of the small farmers in the State of Sikkim and promote sustainable agriculture.
चीन, 28 नोभेम्बरः हाम्रो छिमेकी राष्ट्र चीनमा एकै परिवारका दुई बालकले आफ्ना अभिभाव भेट्न बसको पछिल्लो चक्काको छेउमा लुकेर ८० किलोमिटरको जोखिमपूर्ण यात्रा गरेको खबर अहिले सामाजिक सञ्जालमा व्यापक चर्चाको विषय बनेको छ भने यो घटना प्रकाशमा आएपछि चीनमा बाल-बालिकाहरूको अधिकारी अनि उनीहरूको सुरक्षा सम्बन्धी विषयलाई लिएर सामाजिक सञ्चालमा चर्चा पनि शुरू भएको छ ।
उनीहरु चीनको दक्षिणी गुएङझीबाट आफ्ना माता-पिता भेट्न उक्त बसमा लुगेर गुएङदोङ प्रान्त पुगेका थइए। यी दुई बालक गत नोभेम्बर २३ 2017 को दिन हराएको उनीहरुका शिक्षकले बताएका थिए । ती दुई बालक त्यही दिन बस पार्कमा बसको तल भेटिएका हुन् । तस्बिर तथा भिडियोमा दुई बालक हिलोले लत्तपतिएको देखिन्छ । उनीहरु बसको तल्लोभागमा रहेको भागमा बसेर ८० किलोमिटर यात्रा गरेका हुन् ।
साउथर्न मर्निङ पोस्टका अनुसार दुई बालक ८ वा ९ वर्षका छन् । ती बालकलाई सुरक्षाकर्मीले गाडी जाँचका लागि रोकेका बेला देखेका हुन् । बसको तल बालक देखेपछि बसका कर्मचारी अचम्मित भएका थिए । दुई बालकले आफ्नो बुवाआमालाई निकै सम्झिएको र उनीहरुलाई भेट्नका लागि बसको डिक्कीको सहारा लिएको पत्रिकाले उल्लेख गरेको छ।
उनीहरुको आर्थिक अवस्था कमजोर रहेको पनि जनाइएको छ । ती बालकलाई नोभेम्बर २३ कै दिन आफन्तको जिम्ममा लगाइएको थियो । तर त्यसपछि उनीहरुको तस्बिर सामाजिक सञ्जालमा सेयर भएको छ र यसले बालबालिकाको सुरक्षाको विषयलाई लिएर चर्चा सुरु भएको छ । यद्यपि चीनको सरकारी सञ्चारमाध्यमले बसको तल बसेर यात्रा गर्ने दुई बालकको नाम सार्वजनिक गरेको छैन ।
Gangtok, 19 November: Doctors Academic Society of Singtam District Hospital (DASSH) conducted comprehensive health check up at Bojoghari Children's ( Orphanage) Home on 18 Nov 2017. Team of specialist Dr Rigzing Lepcha ( Dental) , Dr Tika Gurung ( Dental), Dr Diki Wangmo ( Pathology), Dr Tshering Ongmo ( Microbiology), Dr Chultim Lepcha ( Chest), Dr Mayal T Lepcha ( Eye), Dr Upashna Rai ( ENT), Dr Sandeep Chandra Pradhan ( Paediatric), Dr Satish Rasaily ( Addiction Psychiatrist), Mr Basant ( Eye Technician) were resource person. 
Dr Rigzing Lepcha ( Captain of Social Welfare initiative of DASSH) said that the society was initially started for organizing continue medical education (CME) on a monthly basis to develop skills of junior doctors and colleagues to upgrade knowledge in recent advances to meet the ever changing academic needs of specialist and medical officers for improving quality of medical service in 2015. 
Dr Diki Wangmo ( DASSH Treasurer) shared that the society have extended the activities to sports activities and social responsibility initiative to provide medical services to special population staying at old age homes and children home.
Team conducted comprehensive health check up consisting of eye, ENT, Dental, chest, psychiatry and general check up. Team also provided free medicine , deworming agent, iron and folic acid and vitamins along with study items and groceries.
The Center was started by Miss Sonam Chuki Lepcha who was an orphan herself raised by foster parent. Her childhood experience of being raised as an orphan motivate her to establish the Center to extend support, love, affection and care to special children in need of special care. There are 29 children ranging from 5 to 15 years from different parts of sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling. There are lots of opportunities for good Samaritans to support these children at Bojoghari Children Home ..Please pay visit and help this divine initiative.
गान्तोक: सिक्किम अमेच्योर ताईक्वाण्डो एसोसिएशन (साटा) द्वारा गत 29 अक्टोबरको दिन गान्तोकस्थित व्हाइट हलमा आयोजित प्रथम ‘बिगेनर ताईक्वाण्डो स्टेट च्याम्पियनशीप’ मा ताथाङ्चेनस्थित नशामुक्ति केन्द्र ‘फ्रिडम फेसेलिटी’ का खेलाड़ीहरूले उत्कृष्ट प्रदर्शन गरेका छन्। केवल सेतो अनि पहेंलो बेल्टधारी खेलाड़ीहरूको निम्ति आयोजित उक्त च्याम्पियनशीपमा नशामुक्ति केन्द्रका खेलाड़ीहरूले एक स्वर्णसहित कूल 6 वटा पदक हत्याएर समग्रमा दोस्रो स्थान प्राप्त गर्यो भने प्रथम स्थान गान्तोकको एमसीएम दोजाङले प्राप्त गरेको थियो।
प्रशिक्षक निमा शेर्पाको प्रशिक्षणमा रहेका नशामुक्ति केन्द्र ‘फ्रिडम फेसेलिटी’ का जिगी वाङ्चुकले स्वर्ण पदक हत्याए भने नितिश दोर्जा, सरोज राई अनि स्माइल हसदले रजत पदक अनि विक्रम छेत्री र रोशन ढुङ्गेलले काँस्य पदक हत्याए। नशामुक्ति केन्द्रका खेलाड़ीहरूलाई यसरी ताईक्वाण्डो खेलप्रति प्रोत्साहित गराएर सही मार्गमा अग्रसर गराउने प्रयास प्रशिक्षण अनि केन्द्रको वास्तवमै सराहनीय कार्य मान्नु पर्छ।
यस अतिरिक्त च्याम्पियनशीपमा प्रशिक्षक सुमन तामाङको प्रशिक्षणमा रहेको ग्रिनडेल स्कूल दोजाङका खेलाड़ीहरू देव्यम तामाङ, तरूण राई अनि पवन राईले पनि स्वर्ण पदक हत्याएका थिए।
गान्तोक, 22 अगस्तः यहाँको ताथाङ्चेनस्थित फ्रिडम फेसेलिटी नशामुक्ति केन्द्र (रिहेभ सेन्टर) मा नशालु पदार्थ सेवनमाथि जागरूकता फैलाउने तथा केन्द्रमा उपचारधीन रोगीहरूलाई ताईक्वाण्डो खेलप्रति प्रोत्साहित गराउने उद्देश्यका साथ 20 अगस्तको दिन एक कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भयो।फ्रिडम फेसेलिटी रिहेभ सेन्टरद्वारा आयोजित उक्त जागरूकता कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथिको रूपमा सिक्किम अमेच्योर ताईक्वाण्डो एसोसिएशन (साटा) का संयुक्त सचिव तथा उपप्रमुख प्रशिक्षक राजेन सुब्बा उपस्थित थिए भने विशिष्ट अतिथिमा स्वास्थ्य विभागका उपसचिव सुश्री पेमा ल्हमु तामाङ उपस्थित रहेकी थिइन्। यसरी नै अन्य अतिथिहरूमा साटाका वरिष्ठ ताईक्वाण्डो प्रशिक्षकहरू फुर्बा शेर्पा, विजय गुरूङ, प्रितुमन थापा, सुमन तामाङ, सोही केन्द्रका सञ्चालक के.सी. निमा भोटिया आदिको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।
उक्त कार्यक्रमको अवसरमा ग्रिनडेल स्कूल ताईक्वाण्डो डोजाङका कोच सुमन तामाङको नेतृत्वमा डोजाङका खेलाड़ीहरूले आफ्नो खेल कौशलको प्रदर्शन गर्दै केन्द्रका उपचारधीन रोगीहरूलाई ताईक्वाण्डो खेलप्रति प्रोत्साहित गराए।
उल्लेख्य, फ्रिडम फेसेलिटी रिहेभ सेन्टरमा प्रशिक्षक निमा शेर्पाको अगुवाईमा त्यहाँ उपचार गरिरहेका रोगीहरूले ताईक्वाण्डोको प्रशिक्षण लिइरहेका छन् भने यो कार्यक्रम आयोजनाको मुख्य उद्देश्य पनि उनीहरूलाई खेलप्रति प्रोत्साहित गरेर नशालु पदार्थदेखि टाढ़ा राख्नु रहेको थियो।
