31st March, Siliguri: While the whole Indian sub continent is resonating with “India! India!” NINE was calling it a finale before the final – such was the enthusiasm for the Indo-Pak Cricket Semi Final! As soon as the Indian team showed the Aussies the way to the airport, North Bengal and Sikkim had been gearing up to the much awaited Semi- Final between India and Pakistan. NINE FM has been sharing this excitement with its listeners by being a part of the support drive to the Indian Team.

NINE FM and Bikers Club of Siliguri and Gangtok took to the roads all dressed in blue, garnering support for our beloved Indian team. The bikers took a tour of the city along with the NINE OB Presenters who interacted with the crowd, taking wishes from them for Team India. Believers performed ‘havan’ as an invocation to the Gods to be with the team. The phone lines in the studios of NINE FM were clogged with calls as eager fans queued up to convey their messages to the Men in Blue.

NINE FM has been giving regular updates of all the matches on a half hourly basis and contests based on cricket are being aired. NINE FM is also associated with a daily newspaper for a Special Predict and Win Contest, wherein the readers/listeners have to send their answers through e-mails and fax. Read the rest of this entry »

March 31, 2011: Renowned and inspiring American fashion designer Prabal Gurung has become yet another crusader for Maiti Nepal in their fight against human trafficking. Born in Singapore and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, Gurung began his design career in New Delhi, India, followed by apprenticeships in Melbourne, London and New York. Gurung is celebrated for his beautiful designs, which have been worn by leading ladies including The First Lady Michelle Obama, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, Sonam Kapoor, Carey Mulligan and Oprah Winfrey.

The symbolic agreement between Maiti and Gurung outlines this incredible opportunity for him as an activist against human trafficking to develop greater love, understanding and empathy for humanity around the world. He states, “the suffering of millions of children and women, who have been trafficked and subject to various forms of exploitation can be reduced by those who realize that they have resources and abilities to support anti–trafficking initiatives.” He believes that the campaign against human trafficking can be strengthened by his unique contributions. “A society free from Human Trafficking is possible and we must realize that it is our responsibility to make this world a better place for all mankind. By simply stating our desire, we sow the seeds of great change,” says Gurung.  Read the rest of this entry »

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

Poulush Bedia, 55, hates collecting wood for cooking dinner but it’s a daily chore for him at Dheklapara tea garden. Recently, Bedia visited his relative 10km away. One should never ask guests to fetch wood but things work differently at Dheklapara. The garden closed down nine years ago and food is as scarce as firewood and everybody has to forage.

Dheklapara is about 90km to the northeast of Jalpaiguri town and spread over an area of 1,400 acres. There are 603 workers and the total population stands at 3,500. In nine years, more than 50 people have died of malnutrition and lack of medical treatment. The magnitude of human suffering has twisted life into a four-letter word — food.

Akla Malpaharia is suffering from tuberculosis. After his son Rajeev, dropped out of school, Malpaharia started crushing stones on the banks of Rethi river; a dangerous profession for a tuberculosis patient but R250 a week is too alluring to ignore.

Homemakers go through their own ordeal. After crushing stones, Monika and Bobita Oraon go to the forest to hunt for roots and leaves. “We are often chased by elephants but hunger takes away any fear for life,” said Monika.

Located in a state that is being ruled by nine parties who swear to protect the proletariat, Dheklapara, is not an island in isolation. As politicians make a beeline for votes, the administration’s failure to address poverty and unemployment, becomes the talking point in the gardens.  Read the rest of this entry »

Gangtok: 30th March: There were rumous that the Sikkim Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution that tacitly effects reduction in the ratio of the BL reserved seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Apprehension started prevailing upon the members of this community who started pouring towards Gangtok from across Sikkim since early on Wednesday.

They held a small unscheduled meeting on March 30, 2011. The meeting was presided over by the SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia. Individuals expressed their anger and disappointment over the nature of the resolution. At the end of the meeting, they unanimously discussed, deliberated and resolved as below;

That it is very unfortunate and disappointing that the Sikkim Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution in the House on March 29, 2011 that effects reduction in the present ratio of the BL reserved seats in the Sikkim Assembly. Such developments, if allowed to happen would not only violate the terms of Sikkim’s merger with India but also betrays the Sikkimese people of the commitments of late Indira Gandhi. The Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas would never let this happen. They shall fight tooth and nail against all the overwhelming odds and designs of the authorities. If need be, the Bhutia Lepchas are ready to come down to streets.

Most surprising is the curiosity of both the Governor and the State Government to diminish the political identity of the Sikkimese Bhutia Lepchas from their own land of origin by proposing to reduce the BL seats in the Sikkim Assembly. Read the rest of this entry »