Sikkim CM Announces Under-21 Cigeratte & liquor ban in state

GANGTOK: If you are below 21 you will not be allowed to buy and drink liquor or buy and smoke cigarette anywhere in the state. Fresh restrictions are to be imposed on liquor and cigarette consumption across Sikkim as per the announcement of Sikkim CM Dr. Pawan Chamling on SDF Day in Gangtok.

The legal drinking age for beer, rum, gin, whisky, vodka and country made liquor has been fixed at 21years.No smoking would be allowed for youths below 21. No shop would be allowed to sell these products to buyers if they are below 21 across Sikkim.

This decision would be made into law during state Assembly session as announced by Chief minister Chamling who said that the "future of youths of Sikkim cannot be allowed to be destroyed by alcohol or cigarette consumption".

The legal drinking age for the consumption of liquor would be similarly  fixed at 21 years. The provisions are a part of the government's new de-addiction policy, which would cleared by the cabinet of ministers and Assembly of Sikkim into a law soon.

The Passing Out Parade of Sikkim Excise held at Pangthang

GANGTOK, June 16. The passing out parade of Excise Department was held at Pangthang on 16th June which was attended by Minister for Commerce and Industries also the Minister for Excise department Ms. Neeru Sewa as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering Minister Sewa said that Excise department has been generating highest revenue in the state till date and the same has to be maintained and continued. Further more Minister Sewa even appealed to all the employees to work sincerely and honestly, follow the rules and regulation of the department during their duty. Every employee must maintain discipline and at the same time even upgrade their qualification to avail promotion as promotion chances even rests in the individual qualification, education added Minister Sewa. She further urged to passing out employees to implement the knowledge learnt during the six months training. Adding more She stated that If the employees carries out their duties sincerely and honestly then government will be benefitted in terms of revenue as revenue generation depends on the performance of employees but if the employees neglect their duty then government will face loss, so the employees must understand their responsibilities towards themselves, duty and the government at large while discharging their duty.

During the occasion passing out employees performed a cultural show too where numerous programs like dance, singing and recitation of self written poems were held. On the occasion 14 constables and 3 Sub Inspectors took oath. Like wise Mr. Amar Rai was announced the best shooter whereas Mr. Sangay Kumar Chettri was announced as Best Indoor games Player, Mr. Sandeep Tamang as Best Out Door Player, and Mr. Roman Sunam as Best Discipliner during the training program.

SIKKIM DRY DAYS

Gangtok: The Sikkim excise department has declared dry days on April 17 and 18 in Sikkim East, West and South districts because of Assembly elections in neighbouring north Bengal. All shops and bars will not be permitted to sell or serve alcohol on both the days.

Kingfisher beer Launched at MayFair Resort of Gangtok

Gangtok,Nov 22 :Celebrating the launch of India's most premium beer range KingFisher at the exclusive launch party in MayFair Resort of Gangtok in Sunday evening which saw the presence of D.D Bhutia,Vice President-SDF Party,Hissay Lachungapa, R.B.Subba advisors to Sikkim CM, Officers and staff of Excise Abk.Dept,and liquor vendors from in and around Gangtok.

The launch party enthrall the crowds with nepali and hindi songs from Darjeeling Music Group and dancing ladies from Kolkatta in  red and white kingfisher colours.

Kingfisher traces its history back to 1915 when United Breweries was created out of 5 small breweries in South India. The beer was first distributed to customers in Bangalore, Chennai and in the Nilgiris. In 1980, Kingfisher was the first to launch canned beer and draught beer.KingFisher range of beer is now available across Sikkim in FLR shops and bars.

Sikkimese Girls can run Bar and Liquor Shops now !!

Gangtok, Nov20 : In continuation of its earlier decision of 31st October, 2009, the Cabinet in its meeting on November 17, 2009, approved the proposals of various government departments in state as under:

  Capacity Building: DoPART for the modification of the subjects and the establishment of Livelihood Schools in selected locations as well as the appointment of Secretary and HoDs as in charges of each of the Livelihood Schools.
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the State Level Capacity Building Institute at the Regional Administrative Centre at Karfectar and the appointment of a Chief Administrator.
The Cabinet also decided that Departmental offices presently in occupation of the premises be directed to move their establishment to their own office premises, located at Jorethang and Namchi. The Cabinet directed the Buildings & Housing Department to hand over the vacated premises to the Directorate of Capacity Building under DoPART by 25th of November, 2009.
In its recent meeting the Cabinet also gave approvals and sanctions for several departments.
The Cabinet approved and sanctioned the setting up of a Pharmacy College in the State through the Directorate of Capacity Building. Director, Capacity Building will prepare a project report in consultation with the Secretary, Health Care, HS & FW and identify a suitable site for setting up the Pharmacy College.
Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department :
Sanctioned rupees one crore ninety two lakhs forty five thousand for the production of nutrition food for the quarter ending July, 2009 to September, 2009.
Approved proposal of the Department to issue notification of two ICDS projects and 245 Anganwadi Centres. The Department of SJEWD was also allowed to issue the notification for filling up the posts under the ICDS and converting the Jorethang Urban Project to Jorethang Rural Project and the Mangan Rural Project to Mangan Tribal Project. Financial sanction of Rs.13,91,406 as the 10% state share was also approved which will be made available under the Supplementary Demands.
Urban Development and Housing Department :
Approved and sanctioned the revised project cost amounting to Rs.1,22,57,991 for the work “Improvement of Sonam Tshering Marg, Gangtok”, along with sanction for the additional cost of Rs.17,88,533. The Cabinet also approved payment of balance amount of Rs.64,69,458.
Approved and sanctioned Rs.46.55 lakhs as Grant-in-aid to Sikkim Housing Development Board, for the financial year, 2009-10. The Cabinet directed the department to submit a detailed report pertaining to the loans given by Sikkim Housing & Development Board to the various loanees, indicating the amount recovered and the balance remaining to be recovered.
Approved proposal of the department pertaining to the construction of Covered walk ways including various allied facilities at Nam Nang, Gangtok, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1793.47 lakhs.
Approved proposal of the department pertaining to the project “Integrated Housing and Slum Development for notified slum areas – Rangpo – Gangtok under the basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP)”, a component of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Transport Department :
Approved proposal of the department for purchase of 25 buses from M/s Tata Motor Company, Kolkota, at a cost of Rupees two crores eighty lakhs ninety three thousand.
Excise (Abkari) Department: Approved proposal of the department to issue license for running foreign liquor retail shop and foreign liquor bar shops to women and also allow them to function as sales women in these shops.
Human Resource Development Department:
Approved proposal of the department for the Man Power Management Guidelines and directed that the MPMG as prepared by the department to be followed strictly in future.Approved proposal of the department in rescheduling the school time table keeping in view the guidelines of the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the Affiliation Bye-laws of the Central Board of Secondary Education.
Forest, Environment & Wildlife Management Department:
Approved the proposal of the department and sanctioned Rs.37.15 lakhs to implement the scheme for development of National parks and sanctuaries- Kanchandzonga National Park.
Labour Department:
Approved the implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new ITls and sanctioned Rupees three crore eighty four lakhs sixty one thousand for construction of new ITI complex at Namchi through the Buildings & Housing Department. Also approved the proposal of the department to implement the Centrally Sponsored scheme for establishment of new ITls in the State and sanctioned an amount of Rupees two crore eighty one lakhs forty nine thousand for the construction of an ITI at Gyalshing, West Sikkim, through the Buildings & Housing Department.

The Cabinet also decided that the next session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly be held on 11th & 12th December, 2009.
 (With IPR input)

High numbers of liquor shops plague Sichey ,Gangtok

GANGTOK, October 5: Bothered by the increasing number of liquor shops in the locality, the residents of BR Ambedkar Road, Sichey, a few kilometres away from here have written to the Chief Secretary of Sikkim requesting him for immediate closure of the shops.
According to the source information, there are eight liquor shops and several bars running within a stretch of less than one kilometre in Sichey.
Speaking to media, the residents said, the increase in the number of liquor shops have resulted in the rise of many anti social activities in the area. The letter to the Chief Secretary also mentions that the youth of the area have given into the habit of drinking alcohol and in anti social activities. “Such negative trend has been causing serious threat to the life of the local people,” the letter pointed out.
Prior to this petition, the residents had submitted two letters to the State Excise Minister and the department Secretary but with no concrete steps yet.
However, the complainants said that three more shops have been opened even after complaining to the department. Residents further said that if their request goes unheard, they will be approaching the Chief Minister directly.
Besides, the liquor shop near Thumi Sambhota Tibetan School has been another reason for the residents to worry about. “The liquor shop at the entrance of the school does not send good message to the students,” one of the complainants told media requesting anonymity.
According to him the Principal of the said school had written a letter to the government to shift the shop to somewhere else. The lack of Police booth in the area has also been a long pending demand, he added.

MORE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FILE NOMINATIONS IN SIKKIM PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS

GANGTOK, September 29: Nominations for the forthcoming Panchayat polls have revealed more Independent candidates contesting than the oppositions against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front.
For a total of 27 Zilla Panchayat seats, 47 candidates from the SDF have already filed their nominations while the Congress has only three contestants so far. There are 16 Independent candidates who have filed their nomination papers totaling the number to 66.
This was informed by Vishal Chauhan, District Collector, East during a press conference held today evening.
The filling of the nomination papers for both the Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat polls began on September 24 and will continue till October 1 as per the direction from the State Election Commission. The elections will take place on October 26.
In East district along with the 27 seats for District Panchayat, the election for the 243 seats for Gram Panchayat will be held on the same date.
In regard to this, 57 nominations till the time of filing this report have been filed at the District Administrative Centre, Gangtok from six GPUs including Pacheykhani, Taja, Rhenock Tarpin, Sudunglakha, Linkey, Tareythang and Amba where in 45 candidates are from SDF, one from Congress and 11 Independent candidates.
Similarly, the GPUs of Samlick, Marchak, Namli, Martam Nazitam, Beyong, Phegyong, Khamdong, Singbel, Simik Lingzey saw a total of 77 nominations proposed, out of which 52 are from SDF, 1 from SGPP and 24 from Congress .
From places including Tumin, Samdur Kambal, Rakdong-Tintik, Lingdok, Namphong and Navey Shotak had a total of 52 nominations where 36 of them belonged to SDF, 16 are independent candidates. About 52 candidates from the above five GPUs have still not filed the nominations.
In GPUs like Thekabong, Parakha, Reva, Machong, Changay Senti, Kartok, Namcheybong and Aho, SDF has nominations of 45 against five candidates from the Congress.
Similarly, SDF has made 43 nominations out of the 50 in Regu, Pemalakha, Subaney Dara, Lingtam Padamchen, Rolep Lamaten, Chuzachen, Aritar and Dalapchand GPUs. Only one Congress candidate and six Independent candidates have filed in the above GPUs.
Candidates can withdraw there nominations on October 5.
It has also been reported that the election process is being carried out smoothly and peacefully all over the state.
According to the DC, the Excise department has made mandayory to close all the liquor shops from October 24 to 26 this year in order to maintain peace and order during the elections.