The time is ripe for young beauties from Sikkim to step out and enter the contest for the most coveted crown of Miss Sikkim, as PRIMO Events & Entertainment, will be organizing Miss Sikkim 2013, this coming June. To make things easier and accessible for the contestants, a website has been launched by this event management company.   

The theme for this year’s pageant is “Beauty with Compassion”. This is the second beauty contest being organized by PRIMO. Last year, only 25 candidates had turned up for Miss Sikkim 2012 out of which one girl has been crowned Miss North East, the other one figured among the Miss India finalists. It is a great career, also a stepping stone.

The beauty contest would be open for anyone who has been residing in Sikkim for the last 6 months and is above 18 years of age. The upper age limit is 25 years. The registration form and the terms and conditions for the contest are available online at  www.misssikkim.com. 

 Sikkim’s positive shift from urban to rural tourism

Rural tourism is gradually becoming a popular and trendy concept in Sikkim. With its natural beauty and diverse culture and traditions, Sikkim is becoming a hot spot for village tourism drawing tourist from near and far.  At one point of time, Sikkim was known only for adventure travel, monastic tours, trekking and bird watching but now the culture and traditions are also coming into limelight because of rural tourism and home stays. The home stay not only provides the comfort of home to tourists, but also helps villagers generate some extra income.

Village tourism has emerged as a very new concept in the Sikkim tourism industry.   Sikkim government has implemented a brand new concept of village tourism where the guests visit villages and meet local people and understand their culture and stay in their houses as a family member. For that, the government is taking an initiative to construct two rooms with attached bathrooms for the beneficiaries.

The government has identified around 720 home stay projects out of which 400 have already been issued workouts, informed Tourism Secretary. “All these projects are done by village cooperative itself. Each home stay is constructed at an estimated value of 7 lakhs by the government itself. The beneficiaries don’t need to pay. All they need to do is provide space for construction. The model for the home stay has been designed by an engineering team from the state”, he acquainted.

The Sikkim government’s village tourism project showcases the unique traditions and distinctive cultural features of the Sikkimese society; a typical  village where tourists get to see the lifestyle of the state's rural folk, the way they build their houses, their folk dances, handicrafts, their magic and puppet shows etc.

The Sikkim government also hopes to set up a model village with suitable modifications to suit local lifestyles. The government is also providing tourism related trainings to the villagers. Through various central and state programs, the youths are getting training on hospitality, service, food production and hygiene.

Earlier tourism prospered only in urban areas like Gangtok and Pelling but now slowly the gap between the urban and rural areas is being shortened with this rural tourism project. With the village tourism, there are chances to explore the real villages unlike having spent short time in different villages on trek. The accommodation will be in actual home, allowing the guest to feel the cross-cultural exchange in the more authentic way unlike staying at the local lodge filled with other backpackers. Tourist will be observing the real Sikkimese cultural tradition from the closest quarter and intermingle with the locals. Besides, any expenses made at that level directly contribute to the welfare of the local community.

R Ongmu takes over as state’s 1^st woman Chief Secretary

Rinchen Ongmu, (IAS 1979 batch) has taken over the charge of the Chief Secretary of the state, today. Ongmu, during her tenure with the state Government has served as District Collector, West and later as Secretary and Head of various department such as Urban Development and Housing Department, Rural Management and Development Department, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Finance, Planning and Development Department, Ecclesiastical Department and also as Secretary to the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling.

Ongmu’s appointment is significant as she would be the first women to assume the office of Chief Secretary in the State of Sikkim.

people visiting stalls in IFS

heaven scent, arcandian sunrise, ruby rose..all in a pot

 Yes! We can

The cherished dream of Sikkim hosting the top football league was realized just last year when United Sikkim Football Club (USFC), a professional football club started by Bhaichung became one of the fourteen teams to play in the I-League. The state known for producing good footballers in national level, has majority of football lovers. Football has always been dominant in state and this game of ball was always exciting to watch for every generations. Even in the remote villages football tournaments are organized as a festival. Be it 15^th August or Dasai or Gandhi Jayanti or any occasion, they love to play and love to watch.

Being a home team, USFC has always got support of the Sikkimese people, despite of their poor performances. However, now it seems to be losing or rather will lose, if the situation goes this way. Once packed crowds during the start of the season, they are slowly fading away. The fans are slowly losing their trust after continuous defeats faced by the home club. The football lovers in Sikkim are not satisfied who had very high expectations from their local team. But, amidst all these failures it should not be forgotten that the club is very young with few good players and a decent economy. The other football giants in the league like Mohan Bagan and East Bengal have been playing since over 100 years and have very strong budget. USFC trying to make a place in the league itself is a big thing. But again, if they cannot afford to dream high, they even cannot afford to lose. If they cannot hold on to being in the top league it might then be very hard to gain back the place and the respect. Nobody wants to go back and play in second division after having played in the top league. 
At the moment, there is a huge pressure mounting over our USFC players and managements. Couple of months ago a coach was sacked after a poor display by the team. A new one replaces him in the middle of the season. But no changes so far. The team lies at the bottom. Something somewhere seems to be lacking. People can be heard judging, ‘If this had happened’. ‘If he was replaced’. ‘But he has to be there’. There are many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. Everybody is concerned. The new born team is pressurized. They are criticized. Public walks out in between the game. Where is the support? 
The club from Sikkim is heading towards a possible exit from the league although everything not over yet.  Like nothing can be decided until the last moment, none can say it’s all over. We just need to stay calm. We need to support after all its ‘USFC’, our ‘own’ and ‘first ever’ home team. Who knows with our optimistic support and faith there might be a win for USFC and more wins may follow and the home team may bounce back, alive and with zeal. Yes! We can.

Buddha Park in Ravangla, soon to be inaugurated by HH Dalai Lama