Adventure tourism in Sikkim

Sikkim is fast emerging as a destination for adventure tourism. Steps to promote it in a big way has ensured employment to many people here. Buddhist monks protest disruption of prayers at Bodhgaya during President's visitSikkim is fast emerging as a destination for adventure tourism. And, the State government's support to promote it in a big way has ensured employment to many people here.

Nesting in the foothills of Himalaya's Sikkim presents a huge potential for adventure tourism, as the River Teesta provides one of the best rafting experiences to the rafters here.And, realizing river rafting's latent potential in the State, Sikkim government with the help of Central government's tourism department has organized a 15 days river-rafting training programme, to generate new source of employment in the state.

Miking A. Lepcha, Trainer, said: "Because our surrounding is filled with flowers and birds, one of our main aims is to include biodiversity eco tourism in our profession."Pem Tshering Lepcha, a river-rafting trainee, said: "I want to do take it up as a profession, which would solve our unemployment problem. This rafting training is very good."

Sikkim doesn't only have one of the best river rafting tracks, it is also the land of third highest peak in the world Mt. Kanchenjunga. The untapped hills are best for promotion of trekking and mountaineering. The State government has carried out a week-long mountaineering training program, giving priorities to the weaker sections of the society.Kazi Sherpa, an instructor with the Sikkim Mountaineering Association, said: "This is the first such course organized by the department of tourism with the technical help of Sikkim mountaineering association. During this course they will learn about how to climb the mountains, fixing the ropes, the variety of food required in mountaineering and other basic techniques."

Amit Taamang, a trainee, said: "We are getting lots of things to learn. This camp is of 15 days. In 15 days, we are going to be taught rock climbing and mountaineering."When, the nature is itself giving so much to one, there is no need of looking for other's help. Sikkim, realizing this fact has started to train its young ones both in the field of river rafting and rock-cum-mountaineering.

Source: The Morung Express

Oscar breaking North East India's Peace

Delhi’s pointsman in the Naga talks, Oscar Fernandez, today said unification of all warring Naga groups was imperative to take the “stalled peace process” forward.

Fernandez, who is in Shillong, to campaign for the party in the forthcoming elections, said disunity among the various Naga factions was the main hurdle in the peace process and that only “unification” would lead to an early solution.

“If all the underground factions join hands, it will be the easiest method to find a solution to the Naga problem,” he said. His statement is likely to give a new dimension to the ongoing controversy in the state over the unification efforts by a breakaway faction of the Isak-Muivah group.

A few members of the NSCN (I-M), led by its former home minister (klo kilonser), Azheto Chophy, recently broke away to form the NSCN (Unification) to try and bring unity among the Naga militant groups. The NSCN (I-M) leadership, however, has questioned the manner the nascent outfit was trying to push the unity agenda and declared a “state of emergency”.

Contradicting national security adviser M.K. Narayanan’s view that the peace process in Nagaland has slowed down, Fernandez said the talks are on the right tracks. “Peace talks are on the right track and we are now dealing with the technical aspects of the talks to arrive at a viable solution.”

He added that a technical committee, comprising government officials and NSCN (I-M) members, has been constituted to arrive at an acceptable formula. “Both sides are working on the technical aspects and we hope that the matter will be discussed in the next meeting to be announced shortly.”

The Congress leader, however, avoided speaking on the manifesto released by the party in Nagaland seeking integration of all Naga inhabited areas, saying he was yet to see the manifesto.

“I have not seen the manifesto and during my trip to Nagaland, I will find out the content of the manifesto.” Asked further on the party’s stand on the matter, Fernandez said, “It is a sensitive issue. If you have a copy of the manifesto, I am eager to see that”. On the spurt of violence in Nagaland, Fernandez said the government was taking steps to check violence.

Source: The telegraph