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5th Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav, Review meeting

Aritar, Dalapchand: 27th of April 2011: A review meeting on the 5th Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav [Tourism Festival] was held at Aritar Lampokhari Resort today [i.e. 27th of April 2011] by the members of Aritar Dalapchand Lampokhari Development Socoety. The meeting was chaired by Hon’ble Area M.L.A. 20th Chujachen, Shri Puran Gurung. All the sub divisional officials and the executive members of the society who had actively contributed for the success of the said festival were present in the meeting.
The agendas that were discussed in the meeting were as follows:-
1. Mathematics of expenditure.
2. General opinion of success and failure of the 5th Lampokhari Tourism festival.
3. Panel Discussion.
4. Constitution of election committee for the election of ADLDS.
5. Sharing of opinion by Patron
The meeting head of with a worm welcome speech from Shri. Manikumar Rai [Vice Precedent ADLDS]. Followed by the detailed presentation of income and expenditure incurred during the festival by Shri Madan Rai [H.M. Deoling, cashier ADLDS]. It was clarified that the net expenses incurred during the festival amounted to ` 9,08,965.

A unique technique for evaluating the success and failure of the events of the festival was adopted by Shri. Dhiraj Pradhan, BDO Ronlgi/ Rhenock, Gneral Secretary ADLDS. All the members presented a brief write up on the events that was either liked or disliked by them, individually. With reference to the data collected,the panel judge consisting of SDM, Rongli, Shri Tenzing T. Kelion, D.E. [Power] Shri Sonam Bhutia and Dy. Dir.[Agriculture]Shri. P.K.Subba along with other members present in the meeting, unanimously decided to incorporate the events preferred by majority and do away with the events that were treated as less significant.
Shri. Dhiraj Pradhan, BDO Ronlgi/ Rhenock, Gneral Secretary ADLDS, expressing his view on the festival, also felt the need of dissolving the existing executive members and electing the new and enthusiastic soul.It was decided that the same would be worked out in the forthcoming meeting scheduled to be held on 22nd of MAy 2011.
Hon’ble Area M.L.A. 20th Chujachen, Shri Puran Gurung, expressing his views, thanked every individual who had directly or indirectly contributed for the success of this mega event. Highlighting over some of the drawbacks of the festival, he also suggest some of the remedial measures to be taken in the next festival. He advocated that the 5th Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav was indeed a grand success, comparatively to the festivals organized in the previous years.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Giridhar Dawari, [HM Chandanay, Member ADLDS]

Phusrey Lake & Mulkharga- LAND OF AESTHETIC BEAUTY

Phusrey Lake is one of the sanctified lakes of sikkim. It is situated few miles away from Aritar, a 4 hrs. walk from Aritar for an average hiker. Phusrey Lake is renowned for is spirituality and plasidity. Amidst the dense forest where chirping of birds echoes the serene atmosphere indeed captivates our soul with aesthetic sensation. One can enjoy the peaceful, lush green verdant hills and spectacular atmosphere of this lake. One of the unique features of this lake is the “Half Drowned Tree”, which lies in the middle of the lake, almost half submerged into the water. This tree has been drooping there since many decades, but the mystery is that neither the tree is growing nor it is decaying. The term Phusrey in colloquial means grayish or dull in colour, The Lake which is surrounded by verdant is usually grey and dry due to the freezing mists and snow; hence, in the due course the lake may have evolved with the term Phusrey.
Mulkharge: a place located near Phusrey Lake is indeed an exquisite example of nature's beauty and an ideal place for trekking. The place is usually engulfed with mists and fogs, where chilly gusts of wind with the taste of rain blow over the place. Mulkharga, is a local Nepali term meaning Pasture for grazing herd. A vast stretched area of land mostly covered with verdant facilitates fodder for the herds. Cattles grazing all over the pasture, with the singing of herdsman from distant echoing is the usual pictures one confronts with.

What is RTI? and relevant questions and answers regarding RTI.

RTI stands for Right to Information. Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. Article 19 (1) says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression. As early as in 1976, the Supreme Court said in the case of Raj Narain vs State of UP, that people cannot speak or express themselves unless they know. Therefore, right to information is embedded in article 19. In the same case, Supreme Court further said that India is a democracy. People are the masters. Therefore, the masters have a right to know how the governments, meant to serve them, are functioning. Further, every citizen pays taxes. Even a beggar on the street pays tax (in the form of sales tax, excise duty etc) when he buys a piece of soap from the market. The citizens therefore, have a right to know how their money was being spent. These three principles were laid down by the Supreme Court while saying that RTI is a part of our fundamental rights.
If RTI is a fundamental right, then why do we need an Act to give us this right?
This is because if you went to any Government Department and told the officer there, “RTI is my fundamental right, and that I am the master of this country. Therefore, please show me all your files”, he would not do that. In all probability, he would throw you out of his room. Therefore, we need a machinery or a process through which we can exercise this fundamental right. Right to Information Act 2005, which became effective on 13th October 2005, provides that machinery. Therefore, Right to Information Act does not give us any new right. It simply lays down the process on how to apply for information, where to apply, how much fees etc.
When did RTI Act come into force?
The Central Right to Information Act came into force on the 12th October, 2005. However, before that 9 state Governments had passed state Acts. These were J & K, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam & Goa.
What rights are available under RTI Act 2005?
Right to Information Act 2005 empowers every citizen to
 Ask any questions from the Government or seek any information
 Take copies of any government documents
 Inspect any government documents.
 Inspect any Government works
 Take samples of materials of any Government work.
Who is covered under RTI?
The Central RTI Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. All bodies, which are constituted under the Constitution or under any law or under any Government notification or all bodies, including NGOs, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government are covered.
What is “substantially financed”?
This is neither defined under RTI Act nor under any other Act. So, this issue will evolve with time, maybe through some court orders etc.
Are Private bodies covered under the RTI Act?
All private bodies, which are owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Government are directly covered. Others are indirectly covered. That is, if a government department can access information from any private body under any other Act, the same can be accessed by the citizen under the RTI Act through that government department.
Isn’t Official Secrets Act 1923 an obstacle to the implementation of RTI Act?
No. Sec 22 of the RTI Act 2005 clearly says that RTI Act would over ride all existing Acts including Officials Secrets Act.
Can the PIO refuse to give me information?
A PIO can refuse information on 11 subjects that are listed in section 8 of the RTI Act. These include information received in confidence from foreign governments, information prejudicial to security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the country, breach of privilege of legislatures, etc.
There is a list of 18 agencies given in second schedule of the Act to which RTI Act does not apply. However, they also have to give information if it relates to matters pertaining to allegations of corruption or human rights violations.
Does the Act provide for partial disclosure?
Yes. Under Section 10 of the RTI Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain information which is exempt from disclosure under this Act.
Can access be denied to file notings?
No. File notings are an integral part of the government file and are subject to disclosure under the Act. This has been clarified by the Central Information Commission in one of its orders on 31st Jan 2006.

How to use Right to Information
How do I locate the full Act?
The full Act in Hindi and English is available on the website of Department of Personnel and Training www.persmin.nic.in. It is also available on this website.
Who will give me information?
One or more existing officers in every Government Department have been designated as Public Information Officers (PIO). These PIOs act like nodal officers. You have to file your applications with them. They are responsible for collecting information sought by you from various wings of that Department and providing that information to you. In addition, several officers have been appointed as Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs). Their job is only to accept applications from the public and forward it to the right PIO.

Where do I submit application?

You can do that with the PIO or with APIO. In the case of all Central Government Departments, 629 post offices have been designated as APIOs. This means that you can go to any of these post offices and submit your fee and application at the RTI counter in these post offices. They will issue you a receipt and acknowledgement and it is the responsibility of that post office to deliver it to the right PIO. The list of these post offices is given at http://www.indiapost.gov.in/rtimanual16a.html

Is there any fee? How do I deposit that?

Yes, there is an application fee. For Central Government Departments, it is Rs 10. However, different states have prescribed different fee. For details see rules framed by the states on this website. For getting information, you have to pay Rs 2 per page of information provided for Central Government Departments. It is different for different states. Similarly, there is a fee for inspection of documents. There is no fee for first hour of inspection, but after that, you have to pay Rs. 5 for every subsequent hour or fraction thereof. This is according to Central Rules. For each state, see respective state rules. You can deposit fee wither in cash or through a DD or bankers cheque or postal order drawn in favor of that public authority. In some states, you can buy court fee stamps and affix it on your application. This would be treated as if you have deposited the fee. You can then deposit your application either by post or by hand.

What should I do if the PIO or the concerned Department does not accept my application?

You can send it by post. You should also make a formal complaint to the respective Information Commission under section 18. The Information Commissioner has the power to impose a penalty of Rs 25000 on the concerned officer who refused to accept your application.

Is there an application form for seeking information?

For Central Government Departments, there is no form. You should apply on a plain sheet of paper like an ordinary application. However, many states and some ministries and departments have prescribed formats. You should apply in these formats. Please read rules of respective states to know

How can I apply for information?
Draft your application on a normal sheet of paper and submit it by post or in person to the Public Information Officer (PIO). [Remember to keep a copy of the application for your personal reference]
How can I deposit my application fee?
Every state has a different mode of payment for application fee. Generally, you can deposit your application fee via:
• In person by paying cash [remember to take your receipt]
• By Post through:
• Demand Draft
• Indian Postal Order
• Money orders (only in some states)
• Affixing Court fee Stamp (only in some states)
• Banker’s cheque
• Some state governments have prescribed some head of account. You are required to deposit fee in that account. For that, you can either go to any branch of SBI and despoist cash in that account and attach deposit receipt with your RTI application. Or you can also send a postal order or a DD drawn in favour of that account alongwith your RTI application.
Please see respective state rules for complete details.
Can I submit my application only with the PIO?
No, in case the PIO is not available you can submit your application with the Assistant PIO or any other officer designated to accept the RTI applications.
Where can I locate the concerned PIO?
A list of PIOs/APIOs and Appellate Authorities for all Central and State departments/Ministries is available online at www.rti.gov.in
What if I can not locate my PIO or APIO?
In case you have problems locating your PIO/APIO you can address your RTI application to the PIO C/o Head of Department and send it to the concerned public authority with the requisite application fee. The Head of Department will have to forward your application to the concerned PIO.
Do I have to personally go to deposit my application?
Depending on your state rules for mode of payment you can deposit your application for information from the concerned departments of your state government via post by attaching a DD, Money Order, Postal Order or affixing Court fee Stamp
For all Central government departments the Department of Posts has designated 629 postal offices at the national level. The designated officers in these post offices work as Assistant PIOs and collect the application to forward to the concerned PIO. A list is available on http://www.indiapost.gov.in/rticontents.html
Is there a time limit to receiving information?
Yes. If you file your application with the PIO, you must receive information within 30 days.
In case you have filed your application with Assistant PIO then information has to be made available within 35 days.
In case the matter to which the information pertains affects the life and liberty of an individual, information has to be made available in 48 hours.
Do I have to give reasons why I want a particular information?
Absolutely not! You are not required to give any reasons or additional information other than your contact details (i.e., Name, Address, and Phone No.). Sec 6(2) clearly says that no information other than contact details of the applicant shall be asked.
Can the PIO refuse to accept my RTI application?
No. The PIO can not refuse to accept your application for information under any circumstances. Even if the information does not pertain to his/her department/jurisdiction, s/he has to accept it. If the application does not pertain to that PIO, he would have to transfer it to the right PIO within 5 days under sec 6(2).
Why is it that RTI works when no other law has worked

There have been many good laws in this country but none of those laws worked. Why do you think this law would work?

This law is already working. This is because for the first time in the history of independent India, there is a law which casts a direct accountability on the officer for non-performance. If concerned officer does not provide information in time, a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay can be imposed by the Information Commissioner. If the information provided is false, a penalty of a maximum of Rs 25000 can be imposed. A penalty can also be imposed for providing incomplete or for rejecting your application for malafide reasons. This fine is deducted from the officer’s personal salary.
[compiled]

EASTER CELEBRATION AT ST. JOSEPH [Catholic] PARISH, RHENOCK/ARITAR, EAST SIKKIM

Rhenock/Aritar: 24th April 2011: The St. Joseph’s [Catholic] Parish of Rhenock/ Aritar celebrated Easter with great devotion and ardor this year. Easter, which is generally celebrated on the occasion of crucifixion and resurrection of Lord Jesus, conveys the message of hope and courage to the world. Hope to revive the frailties of world and courage to face the adversities that befalls on us. Rev. Father Francis Banerjee, the parish priest, vice- principal of St. Joseph’s school Rhenock conducted the holy mass along with Rev. Father Paul De’Souza, Principal of St. Joseph School. Brilliant electrical and candle lights that ornamented the church hall, enhanced the aesthetic atmosphere. Prayers were offered for global peace and condolence for the demise soul of Shri Satya Sai Baba,
Following the mass, a small feast was organized by the Parishioners as a mark of sharing love among them.

Collected Quotes from Albert Einstein

• "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."
• "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
• "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."
• "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details."
• "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."
• "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
• "The only real valuable thing is intuition."
• "A person starts to live when he can live outside himself."
• "I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice."
• "God is subtle but he is not malicious."
• "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
• "I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."
• "The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."
• "Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing."
• "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind."
• "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
• "Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
• "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
• "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."
• "Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."
• "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
• "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."
• "God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
• "The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."
• "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."
• "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."
• "The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible."
• "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
• "Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
• "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
• "Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."
• "Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity."
• "If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
• "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
• "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."
• "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."
• "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
• "In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above all, be a sheep."
• "The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."
• "Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves."
• "Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!"
• "No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"
• "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
• "Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever."
• "The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."
• "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."
• "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
• "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
• "The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."
• "Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
• "You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."
• "One had to cram all this stuff into one's mind for the examinations, whether one liked it or not. This coercion had such a deterring effect on me that, after I had passed the final examination, I found the consideration of any scientific problems distasteful to me for an entire year."
• "...one of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one's own ever-shifting desires. A finely tempered nature longs to escape from the personal life into the world of objective perception and thought."
• "He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."
• "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
• "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)

LAMPOKHARI PARYATAN MAHOTSAV A CARNIVAL OF CULTURAL RESTORATION

Today, the world has already stepped into the millennium of 21st Century, where nothing has remained unexplored from the clutches of man’s perception, a century which is indeed a landmark of scientific progression and a manifestation of technological advancement. Be it a common layman or an elite individual, his existence is directly or indirectly inclined towards technological gadgets of the modern world. But, as we give a closer look at the overall present scenario, we have lost more than what we have gained. The closer we approach towards mechanical prosperity, the further we are alienated from the divinity of nature. Mankind is an astounding creation of nature and should live in commune with nature; else his extinction is inevitable. New emerging global problems like global warming, nuclear terror, terrorism and water crisis have already crippled the world to an alarming situation. Under such waves of modernization, Aritar, though, a tiny speck of a place, has been preaching the creeds of nature to the world, to safeguard our natural resources, prosperous culture and traditions endangered by the ravages of time.
Aritar, a place of aesthetic beauty, where nature has bestowed its divinity, where tradition religion and culture are still worshipped with great devotion and humanity engraved into the very blood of people, caters itself for a distinction position. If we go back to history of our Aritar, its significance is much commendable, as it stands profound with historical facts, ethnic possessions and enchanting beauty, but history bearing these testimonies has never been comprehended.
Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsov, a tourism festival celebrated in the month of April, is in- fact a manifesto of cultural and ethnic prosperity; an effort to heal the frailty of modern man and resort him back in commune with nature. The festival offers a platform where we can comprehend about our culture, our society and more specifically about the place where we are living for years, yet known nothing of it; it enlightens us with the virtues of brotherhood and humanity that generates love among our people.
The aspiration focused by Aritar Dalapchand Lampokhari Development
Society (ADLDS) is not only confined to Aritar and Dalapchand, but its objective is to bring the entire Rongli Sub- Division on map of tourism. In order to ascertain this, a lot more is expected from the local people. Goaded with every kind of inherent talents they possess, for the time has come for us to step into the arena and wrestle for achieving desired goals and make Aritar an ultimate eco-tourism destination in the world. At the present period of modernization and globalization, when the world is marching towards scientific & technological advancement, cultural integration and many more, we are undeniably lagging behind somewhere or the other.
It must be realized that a sound change in our attitude should be brought about, reviving our outlook towards the society which is our very own. It must be understood that the sole purpose of this festival is to promote tourism and safeguard the rich ethnic culture and tradition of Sikkim.
Finally, I would like to take this privilege to thank and offer my hearty congratulation to the member of ADLDS, the Department of Tourism, Department of Culture and Heritage, Different companies and every Individual who has directly or indirectly contributed to this noble effort.