Sikkim Summit for Tribal Status 2018 was held at Gangtok on May 2018. The summit was organized by Eleven Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim (EIECOS) in collaboration with Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes and Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim. At this summit, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling emphasized on tribal status restored for Sikkim Nepali communities.
Chief Minister Stated that the ‘historical injustice was done to Sikkimese Nepali community. which he wants to restore for 11 left out Nepali communities of Sikkim. The matter which he had placed before all leaders in the nation including Prime Minister Narendra Modiji in his visit to Sikkim in 2016 as well.
Livestock Production Division of the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad jointly organized one day workshop on “Indian Livestock farming and use of biotechnology to understand the problems in animal husbandry and production with the ultimate goal of enhancing the income of the farmers and development in the Livestock sector in the North Eastern Region. A total of 80 livestock farmers and 17 veterinarians from North Eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura participated in the program. This is for the first time that ICAR and NIAB organized a program for the benefit of the farmers of the region. The central idea of the workshop was to understand the recent burning and pending problems of farmers and veterinarians in the grass root level and understanding the scope of modern biotechnology in solving these problems. The farmers who attended the programme were selected from the Prime Minister’s aspiration districts of all the North Eastern states. The PM aspiration district from Arunachal Pradesh is Namsai, from Manipur its Chandel from Meghalaya its Ri- Bhoi from Mizoram its Mamit from Nagaland Kiphire from Sikkim it is West Sikkim and from Tripura its Dhalai.
In the inaugural programme, Dr A. k. K Rawat, Director, Department of biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, New Delhi addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest of the program said that ICAR is the only institute which has direct interaction with the farmers and is in close proximity with them which makes ICAR unique in itself. He further emphasized on the maximum use of technology for the benefit of the farmers. He said that problems vary from region to region and the solution should be region specific and the motive should be prioritizing the farmers. Dr N. Prakash, Director ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, emphasized on the importance of livestock in the region speaking on the occasion he said that the region has high meat consumption rate. At the outset the Guest of Honor Dr Subeer S. Majumdar, Director, NIAB briefed the importance of knowing the real issues of the farmers which needs to be attended seriously to facilitate their livelihood and income. The real issues of the farmers need to be sorted and the programme intends to solve the issues faced by the farmers at the grassroots level. The workshop is the only platform were the famers from all the states are present along with the official and the veterinarians are under one roof which in itself speaks about the outcome of the workshop. He further added that the all the members attending the workshop should make the most out of it. Dr B Mawthoh, Director, Department of A.H & Vety, Meghalaya also participated in the programme and addressing the gathering he said that the need of value chain management in the livestock sector. Dr K. K. Baruah Head Livestock Production gave the welcome address. Dr G Kadirvel Principal Scientist and the organizer of the programme, briefed about the objectives and the aim of the programme. The vote of thanks was presented by Dr Aranab Sen Principal Scientist and Head Animal Health Division.
The technical session witnessed farmers’ scientist interaction in which the existing problems and issues in livestock rearing in the region were comprehensively and systematically discussed with livestock farmer and field veterinarians. The key issues discussed were problems related to animal breeding, breed conservation, climate adaptability, reproduction, nutrition and animal health disease control. The programme has enriched the farmers with latest technologies to solve the problems in livestock rearing. The scientists have understood the existing grass-root problems faced by farmers and field veterinarian of this region and accordingly road map will be laid for future research in the livestock sector. The farmers were moved and elated as they were given a platform to speak and solution provided to their problems.
Yoga in regenerative medicine facilitates better recovery with ease by providing solutions for various diseases that plague mankind. The rebuilding of connective tissue via the technique of yoga and therapy is a highly reliable, natural, cost effective and a non surgical treatment option without any side effect and harm. Yoga is well known form of treatment from ancient days in rebuilding synaptic connection and the treatment of blood related disorder and respiration neuronal disorder in coordinating mind, body and spirit. Yoga and pranayama originated in India and is now being practiced all over the world to harvest its medicinal and therapeutics benefits in health care. Practicing yoga a non-invasive way to promotes trafficking of the stem cells from bone marrow tissue regeneration, repair and to take care of daily wear and tear and degenerating tissues.
A look-out is being made, to track down certain big guns who were behind the scene of the Shillong violence, which badly disturbed normal life in capital city which led to the damage worth crores of rupees to property. The violence was masterminded by certain vested interests or political motivated agencies, providing expensive liquor and cash to the instigators. No stone would be left unturned in identifying the culprits. A magisterial probe is already on in digging the many aspects of the violence. The violence has also interrupted mobile and internet services, as some of such operations were withdrawn. With the return of normalcy, it is expected the usual trade activities would resume and that prices of essential commodities would be brought down as usual.
A decade-long debate for a strategy to fight against non-degradable polymer and synthetic organic materials got an impetus, as India becomes host country to celebrate World Environment Day (WED) 2018. The country had a big role in Stockholm environment conference in 1972 where United Nations announced the day of celebration across the world. The then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi in her historical speech in the plenary session of conference uttered, “The solution of these problems cannot be isolated phenomena of marginal importance but must be an integral part of the unfolding of the very process of development.” The world today realized the context and unfolded concern of Mrs. Gandhi after 46 years. India is the host country this year and has selected the topic to raise awareness among common mass and get involve to - Beat Plastic Pollution. In 2005, India first time realized the impending threat of poly bags on agriculture and marine life. In the technical discourses, it was suggested to the states to put a ban on the use of plastic carry bags and do not allow the industry to grow up. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also held the portfolio of environment had reiterated the concern over growing trend of plastic use in daily life.
