Author: Nikita Mukhia

Rangpo, June 01: (IPR) Additional Chief Secretary Finance cum Development Commissioner, Shri V.B. Pathak visited the screening centre at Rangpo today and took stock of the screening process and the arrangements made by the District Administration.
Shri Pathak was accompanied by DC East Shri. Raj Yadav, CMO East Dr. Tshering Laden, and OSD Checkpost Shri Dipen Sharma.

Mangan, June 1 : (IPR)The department of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Government of Sikkim distributed various agricultural inputs and tokens to the Landslide affected households of Upper Lingchom and farmers of Lingchom Tingda Gram Panchayat Unit under Kabi Lunchok constituency, today. The Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Shri Lok Nath Sharma and the Hon’ble Minister-cum-Area MLA Shri Karma Loday Bhutia jointly handed over tokens to the beneficiaries at Community Recreational Centre, Lingchom.

The eleven landslide affected families and beneficiaries of Lingchom Tingda GPU received various inputs including 10 numbers of Syntax Tank, 12 numbers of Polypipe, Two Power Tiller, 10 Richforti plus under Horticulture Department and Two Community vermi compost pit, 12 numbers of Polypipe, Soyabean seeds, green gold manure and Six Knapsack sprayer under Agriculture Department.

Additionally, tokens of three weeks old twenty chickens were handed over to each twenty beneficiaries amongst 125 declared beneficiaries under Rural Backyard Poultry Development programme under Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department. Farmers also received improved seed storing bags and improved Sickles, scientifically designed by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Mangan.

Addressing the affected families and the beneficiaries, Minister Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Shri Lok Nath Sharma expressed heartfelt condolences to the Upper Lingchom Landslide Victim families and wished for speedy recovery of injured persons, on behalf of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the people of Sikkim. He also urged everyone to take optimum benefits of the departmental inputs and tokens in earning their livelihood, sincerely.

Elucidating the importance of agricultural profession, Minister Sharma said that the global crisis of COVID 19 has given a key message to realise human indispensability on agriculture and urged people to adopt farming as an essential component of healthy lifestyle.

He also informed about the provision of subsidised loan dedicated to the farmers in banking sector and shared about the ongoing work progress in developing an effective mechanism and convenient procedure for farmers to avail subsidised loan. While, the interested farmers should come forward with complete commitment, he added.

He also informed that the state government will conduct a survey of uncultivated private land holding for proper utilisation of unused land for farming purpose. Viewing the geographical terrain and resource potential of the locality, he advised educated youths and farmers to adopt fisheries and piggery farming on priority and further elaborated its scope to boost economy and self reliance. Further he assured to provide all possible support from government’s end to support farmers.

Minister Sharma also added that the state of Sikkim is well protected and safe from COVID-19 pandemic because of appropriate preventive measures initiated by the Government in advance stage.

Minister-cum-Area MLA Shri Karma Loday expressed gratitude to the Agriculture, Horticulture and AH&VS Department for distributing various agricultural inputs to the people of the locality and urged them to use technical items carefully and judiciously.

Minister Bhutia underlined low fertility potential of the area and urged for initiation of fisheries, piggery and cattle farming activities in the North District. He also urged to provide training to the farmers. In his brief address Shri Bhutia informed that the state government has provided ex-gratia to the victim family of Upper Lingchom landslide, immediately after the incident.

Secretary Horticulture Shri MT Sherpa also urged for proper utilisation of all technical inputs like power tiller. He also highlighted various schemes under Horticulture Department and assured to provide all guidance and support to the farmers.

Namchi, 1st June(IPR):A total of 25 people were discharged after completing compulsory 14 days at Namchi Government College Quarantine Centre. Their discharge was monitored by a team of doctors and nurses and in presence of Centre In charge. After a short briefing,all the discharged people were sent for mandatory home Quarantine for 14 days in order to complete the Protocol of 28 days Quarantine period. The people left for their homes after filling up the undertaking forms.

I had a very good time at the facility quarantine centre of Namchi Government College. The staff was polite and most importantly they gave us all the basic facilities like face mask, sanitizers, new buckets and the food was also up to the mark says 25 years old Tshering Tashi from Ravangla who was evacuated from Gujarat in view of the ongoing COVID-19 crises. He reached New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP)

railway station on 17th May in the morning hours, afterwhich he boarded a bus provided by Sikkim Nationalised Transport. He along with fellow passengers were given breakfast in the bus, entered Sikkim via Melli Checkpost and then was sent to Quarantine Facility at Namchi Government College after following the standard norms at Melli Screening Centre.

There has been many instances of inadequate facilities being provided in quarantine facility across the country, but the Administration of the South District has set an example by putting utmost efforts in transforming the quarantine facility into a lively and enjoyable place where people can stay for 14 days without any complaints.

Feedback Form at Quarantine Facility Centre for Computers and Communication Technology
(CCCT), Chisopani

Currently, the South District has a total of fourteen quarantine centres out of which nine are free and five are paid. Out of these centres, CCCT Chisopani centre under the guidance of the authorities has commenced on collecting feedback forms from the quarantined people. Till date, the authorities has received a total of 143 feedback out of the 152 discharged people. The most promising part of this feedback form is that people can document their feeling from day one of their quarantined period and can tick on the emojis or smileys, so that even a child can have an option to give the reaction. The form also includes food rating ranging from very bad, bad, ok, good to excellent accompanied with another column where the people can give their remarks. This feedback data is being collected for the authorities to function more efficiently in the future and also to make appropriate changes, if necessary.

Other quarantine facility is also utilising assessment techniques which is being collected from a number of quarantined people leaving the facility. Some people are submitting an essay and some are giving in a brief note on their experience. Similarly, 34 years old Bishal Rai from Namchi who was lodged at IHCAE, Chemchey Facility Quarantine from 8th May, he had completed his 14 days institutional quarantine period and shared his experience as one which was delightful. He appreciated the endeavour of the staff in this institute as they regularly checked upon the quarantined and more importantly their mental well- being was taken up as the top most priority. He added that if he had to assess then the quarantine centre of IHCAE, Chemchey will definitely be one of the best facility centre in South District. As a responsible citizen, he and his companion at the facility followed all the guidelines of COVID-19 which is to maintain social distancing and other standard regulation. However, he adds that musical performances by the frontline warriors and the staff of the centre was very impressive and kept the spirit alive amongst the quarantined people.

These kind of feedback approach can aid the authorities to look into the response of the quarantined individuals in a swift manner thereby allowing them to take decisions and adopt strategies that can help in combating the COVID-19 crises.

The State Government machinery alongwith frontline workers is following the Standard Operating Procedure in all of the quarantined centres. It maybe mentioned that Sikkim was one of the first state which acted in a swift manner during the pre stage of COVID-19 by compulsory screening of vehicles and people at the concerned check-posts from January onwards.

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