" Day respite from the political agitation in the Darjeeling/Kalimpong Hill Region.

Life back to normal in hills!   Is it?

KALIMPONG/MIRIK/KURSEONG, 9 Sep 2013: With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha providing a two-day respite, market places across the hill were today swarming with people busy collecting rations. There were long queues before ATM counters even before the sun first peeped through.

The Haat bazaar area and ration shops in Kalimpong saw huge numbers of customers and they kept on coming even in the evening.

Similar scenes were today witnessed in Mirik with residents of the tourist town and its surroundings thronging the market places the entire day. ATM counters had queues snaking long distances and banks hardly had any breathing space.

The scenes in Kurseong were not different either and it appeared almost everyone in town was at the market places buying essential commodities. The arterial Hill Cart Road runs through town and traffic was moving at a snail’s pace all along the day.

Several students who had gone home at the beginning of the agitation were seen returning back to their respective schools.

Schools can reopen BUT!------No transport. Political unrest in the Region penalises their own people. WHY???

GJM allows schools to reopen, seeks Gorkhaland signature drive

Darjeeling hills, Thursday asked students and teachers to do a signature campaign for Gorkhaland and send a copy to the president and the prime minister.

Asserting that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's ongoing agitation for Gorkhaland will continue, its chief Bimal Gurung said all schools of the region will be allowed to reopen from Sep 13.

"The on-going agitation for Gorkhaland will continue as it is our final battle. But considering the priority we accord to education, we have decided to allow all schools in the Darjeeling hills to reopen from Sep 13," he said.

However, the students will have to walk to their schools as no transport will be available for them.

"All students and teachers must also do a signature campaign for Gorkhaland and send a copy to the president of India and prime minister," said Gurung, who earlier asked schools to "discuss the Gorkhaland issue in the morning assembly as students must understand the relevance of the demand".

Gurung, who earlier said that students in the region were ready to sacrifice education for the sake of Gorkhaland, asked the school authorities to hold classes on Saturdays and Sundays to make up for the lost time.

"Students are our future, tomorrow's voice for Gorkhaland. Keeping this in mind, their success in the coming higher secondary and other final examinations need to be ensured by teachers," said Gurung and reiterated that his fight is not against West Bengal but against the central government.

Report taken from news paper from the  Hill Region

Recent update on the political situation in the Darjeeling/Kalimpong Hill Regent and what has happenened to Education for pupils.

     Temporary  "Back to School"  But for how long?

Kurseong, 9 September: Though the GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung has decided and announced the reopening of educational institutions amidst the bandh environment in the Hills, but even after his announcement the educational institutions are likely to be affected.

Due to the ongoing Gorkhaland agitation, all the schools and colleges in the Hills have been closed, since 29 July. Meanwhile, the agitators had also asked the boarding students to leave the Hills. Accordingly, all the boarding students have left the Hills. Not only the boarding students, but reports said some day-scholars have also left the Hills due to the bandh. Hence, after the announcement of the reopening of the educational institutions, now the students are being informed to rejoin their respective schools. But sources, said that not all students will turn up in the Hills and rejoin their schools.

A school authority said that earlier too this type of agitation had occurred and educational institutions were closed. When the institutions were reopened many students did not come back and we fear the same will happen again.

However, we have been trying to contact the students to request them to rejoin school. Some parents fear that even if they send their wards here it is bound to affect their studies as the agitation is still going on while others feel insecure because of the unrest in Darjeeling Hills. But all these worries are baseless since the agitators themselves have emphasised that even if the agitation continues educational institutions should not be affected. It was learnt that not only the boarding students but even a few day-scholar students whose parents have the means who had gone elsewhere due to the bandh might consider to continue studies there even if Darjeeling Hills reopen.

But these problems are not new to the Hills as even in the past educational institutions had to bear the brunt of the frequent Darjeeling Hills bandh and in one such case, in order to continue with the studies of its students normally, a school reportedly shifted base from Kurseong to Siliguri. However, school authorities had denied that such a step had been taken because of the agitation. Notably, from 13 September, all educational institutions in Darjeeling Hills will reopen again after being closed for more than a month since 29 July.

Taken from a local news paper.

Can you help Upasana to continue in school until grade 12

 Every little helps; if you feel you could contribute towards Upsana's education costs, your contribution would be very much appreciated.

I can be contacted at pauline_macinnes@hotmail.com

  Upasna Tamang  Comes from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal,she has a younger brother and a step father and her mother and grandmother both suffer from chronic health problems requiring constant medication,
all Health treatment has to be paid for in India.
Upasna's step father can not afford to continue to let Uspana continue her education, because of the large medical bills he has to pay.  Upsana has 1 more year to complete at St. Joseph's School when she can sit her Board Examinations and if possible then continue on to Grades 11 & 12 in another school to sit her exams which are equivalent to our 6th year examinations.
Upsana really would like to be able to continue in education if possible, she is a good student and works hard.
Fees for St. Joseph's School in the village of Gitdubling are:
Sch. fees Rs.5,000, books Rs. 2,500 and Hostel Rs.18,000
The Indian Rupee is Rs79 to 85 to the £1.

Do you think that Every Child should get the Opportunity to get an Education?

 Winifred Subba is 10yrs old and in Class 6.

If you would like to help  Winifred can you contact me at pauline_macinnes@hotmail.com

 She comes from a village in Central Nepal, the name of the school she goes to is Dayanada Anglo Vedic (DVC). She has a younger brother and her father died when she was 3 and her brother 1. Her mother is illiterate and works as a cleaner in a school.The Cluny Sisters are supporting her and her brother but they have so many children in the same situation that they are finding it very difficult to manage and really need some financial help if children who can not pay anything towards their education are going to continue being educated to at least grade 10 when they sit their Board Examinations which are equivalent to our O-levels.
Cost per month for all expenses 4,500 NPR per month and
actual tuition fees work out at 3000 NPR per month
£1 = 131.965 NPR (Nepalese Rupee)

Thank you to the sponsorers who have promised contributions towards Shophia and Nelson's Education

Thank you to those who have responded to my request for help for Sophia and Nelson.
Elizabeth is now off the list as 2 people have offered to sponsor her; thank you very much.
I have contacted Father Felix D'Souza, and am awaiting his instructions on how to forward monies for the above pupils. He has said that he is sending letters from them to you.
Gitdubling and Lolaygaon are very isolated villages in the Kalimpong hill region of West Bengal,
so please do not get discouraged that you may have to wait a bit longer than we are used to in our "corner of the world"!
Sophia and Nelson will need a little more help, so any donation towards their education costs will be very much appreciated.
Denmit, Winifred and Upasna are still hoping for help so that they can continue to go to school and complete their Education to Grade 12.

Winifred

Upasan

Denmit

Re: Looking for Sponsors or part Sponsors for the 6 pupils listed in this and the next blog post.

 A Special Birthday present or an Anniversary gift to the couple who have every thing they need or maybe a  Social fund raising event with your family and friends to help one of these children continue in Education until Grade 12 when they get the opportunity to sit their Leaving Examinations set by the West Bengal State Education Department. Until 2010 the vast majority of Pupils in the Villages in the Kalimpong Hill Region  had no possibility of continuing in Education even to Grade 10, which is necessary if they wish to be accepted in the Schools in the Hill Towns which have Senior Secondary Schools.

 This is Sophia Lepcha she lives in the village of Gitdubling in the Kalimpon Hill Region.  There are 4 children in her family, her 2 older sisters are still studying as is her younger brother. Sophia's family's only income is from their small plot of land  which her parents plant food for their own consumption. Land for planting in the Hill Region is very limited as much of it is owned by the State Government for tree planting and for Tea Estates. The wages earned by those who do get work on them are minimal-(not a living wage)
Sophia is sitting her Grade 10 Board Examinations at present, If she is successful she hopes to get help to continue in Grades 11&12 in one of the Schools in Kalimpong or Darjeeling with the aspiration of going to College or University to study for a career  Her present need is 2 years funding to finish her schooling.
Amt. needed School fees Rs 5,000  books etc Rs.2,500 ;                       Hostel accommodation and food Rs.18,000.
The Indian Rupee varies between 79 & 85 rupees to the £1.

This is Denmit Gloria Lepcha she comes from a village called Lower byoung Gitdubling, , she is in Class 10 at St. Stephen's School, she will sit her Board Examinations in March 2014 and then hopes to continue in a Senior Secondary School for a further 2 years at which stage pupils sit examinations equivalent to our Grade 6 exams. She won the best Student award in 2012;she is a good leader and would really like to be able to continue at school. Denmit has a younger brother at school also. Her parent have no paid employment and a very small parcel of land so they can not pay anything towards their children's education. St Stephen's School is struggling to support pupils who can not contribute to the cost of their education, but are reluctant to deprive any child of the right to receive an education at least to the age of 16.
Amount need for Denmit for this year at St. Stephen's school is:            Fees Rs.8,500, Books Rs.2,500 and Hostel Rs.24,000

If you feel that you can help any of the pupils even partially or if you want any further information, you can contact me at HCETproject@hotmail.com   

Re Can you help these children to complete their Education please?

(1) Winifred Subba is 10yrs old and in Class 6.
 She comes from a village in Central Nepal, the name of the school she goes to is Dayanada Anglo Vedic (DVC). She has a younger brother and her father died when she was 3 and her brother 1. Her mother is illiterate and works as a cleaner in a school.The Cluny Sisters are supporting her and her brother but they have so many children in the same situation that they are finding it very difficult to manage and really need some financial help if children who can not pay anything towards their education are going to continue being educated to at least grade 10 when they sit their Board Examinations which are equivalent to our O-levels.
Cost per month for all expenses 4,500 NPR per month and
actual tuition fees work out at 3000 NPR per month
£1 = 131.965 NPR (Nepalese Rupee)
(2) Elizabeth Katte is in Class 9 and is 15, she has 3 younger sisters, 2 of whom are also being educated; she attends DVC School also. Elizabeth comes from a village in East Nepal, where her father has a small local shop selling everday clothing items, his wife does not have paid work, their youngest child is still a baby. Elizabeths parents are struggling to educate her and her 2 sisters. They would be very grateful for some help.
Cost per month for all expenses is 4825 NPR. Actual Tuition fees work out at 3100 NPR per month.
£1 = 131.965 NPR (Nepalese Rupee)

(3) Nelson Lepcha is in Class6, his birthday is 21-05-2003, there are 6 children in his family with 3 of them at school at present.
He is a good student and is regularly in the top section of his class.
 Nelson has 4 more years to study in St. Stephen's School, Lolaygaon, a village in the Kalimpong Hill Region of West Bengal, India.
The people of the Darjeeling/Kalimpong Hill Region are poor financially as the infrastucture of the land is very inadequate and there is  minimal paid employment. Much of the land is owned by the State or by the Tea Growers and wages from both groups are minimal.The pesants survive mainly by subsistence farming, which is time consuming and hard manual labour as there is no mechanical equiptment and the land is mountainous, so terraced farming is the rule.Nelson's parents would be very grateful for help to enable Nelson to continue in Education at least until Grade 10, which is equivalent to the stage at which our children sit O-Levels

Fees for St. Stephens:  Rs.8,500books Rs.2,500,     Hostel Rs24,000 The Indian Rupee varies between Rs.79 & 85 to the £1.

(4)  Upasna Tamang  Comes from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal,she has a younger brother and a step father and her mother and grandmother both suffer from chronic health problems requiring constant medication,
all Health treatment has to be paid for in India.
Upasna's step father can not afford to continue to let Uspana continue her education, because of the large medical bills he has to pay.  Upsana has 1 more year to complete at St. Joseph's School when she can sit her Board Examinations and if possible then continue on to Grades 11 & 12 in another school to sit her exams which are equivalent to our 6th year examinations.
Upsana really would like to be able to continue in education if possible, she is a good student and works hard.
Fees for St. Joseph's School in the village of Gitdubling are:
Sch. fees Rs.5,000, books Rs. 2,500 and Hostel Rs.18,000
The Indian Rupee is Rs79 to 85 to the £1.

A Wonderful Opportunity to to Teach Abroad

A wonderful opportunity, to teach in a school in the Darjeeling Hill Region for 3 months as a volunteer.                              Teacher required filling in for the class teacher of class UKG, for 3 months, who will be on maternity leave from the beginning of their new school year starting on the 11th of February. Pupils are approximately 6 years of age, both male and female. The Volunteer will have the help of an assistant to assist with language difficulties; the teaching medium is English and the local language Nepalese. St Stephen’s is a lovely new school, which overlooks Mount Kangchen Dzo nga. The pupils follow a very full curriculum with attention given to extra curriculum activities. The people of the Hill Region value education and there are no serious discipline issues, the children and their parents regard education as a privilege. Food and lodgings will be provided, but the volunteer will have to meet other expenses. The people of the Hill Regions are poor financially but very rich culturally. This is a wonderful opportunity for a teacher who is not in employment at present, and would enjoy the experience of teaching in a foreign country, in a village school, alongside local teachers. The weather is very good at this time of the year and the mountain views spectacular. If you are interested or know anyone who may be can you please contact me at HCETproject@hotmail.com                           Yours sincerely, Pauline MacInnes

Article in the Scottish Catholic Observer by Zoe Keown

Groups of students from St. Joseph's, St. Stephen's & St. Mary's

St. Joseph's School. Gitdubling: Teachers entertain the pupils on Children's Day. Nov 2012

Down by the River in Gitdubling. Enjoying a Sunday Afternoon playing in the sunshine

Going Home from St. Joseph's School for their Winter Holidays, Dec. 2012

A day out with Class X from St' Stephen's School, Kaffer

Our Annual Concert,St. Joseph's School, Gitdubling, Dec. 2012

Parents' Day Dec. 2012, enjoyed by the parents and their children from St. Mary's Tribal School Nok DAra