STAFF REPORTER
Namchi: The former skipper of Indian football team and co-owner of United Sikkim Football Club, Bhaichung Bhutia, along with USFC manager Arjun Rai and a team of Sikkim Express headed by Mala Rana Patro, visited Jawarharlal Nehru Memorial Institute for the Handicapped (JNMIH), Boomtar, on May 17.
The visiting team was given warm welcome by the staff and members of JNMIH. The visitors interacted with the students and staff of the institute, saw how the students do their studies in classrooms. District Collector South AK Singh, Chairman Namchi Municipal Council, BT Tamang, BDO Namchi, Bimal Rai accompanied the visitors.
While addressing the gathering, Mr. Bhutia expressed his happiness over the way the students are leading a dignified, disciplined and exemplary life despite being blind. He said that they are the source of inspiration for many including him and added that he felt motivated after meeting them.
District Collector Mr. Singh expressed his thanked the visiting team members for their concern for the blind. Mrs. Patro in her brief address assured all help for the students in getting proper treatment.
The visiting team distributed blankets and other necessities among the students, while Mr. Bhutia donated Rs.10,000 cash for the institute.

New Delhi: An amendment bill to provide reservation to other backward classes (OBCs) in the Central educational institutions located in tribal areas was passed by the Parliament on Wednesday.
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Bill, 2010, which seeks to amend the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, was adopted by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill, pending passage for over one and a half years in the Parliament, has already received clearance from the Rajya Sabha.
The amendments proposed in the Bill will allow the Central educational institutions to implement the 27 per cent quota for the OBCs in six years time-frame. It will also exempt some institutions from implementing the OBC quota, where the maximum limit of reservation fixed by the Supreme Court has been exceeded.
The principal Act provides for reservation of seats for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and OBCs in “certain” Central educational institutions. It states that out of the annual permitted seats for a branch of study or faculty, 15 per cent seats shall be reserved for SCs, 7.5 per cent seats for STs and 27 per cent for the OBCs. (Agencies)

STAFF REPORTER
Gangtok: Sikkim Democratic Front will hold camp for party workers in compliance of an announcement by SDF President Mr. Pawan Chamling. This was decided in a meeting of SDF Central Committee held at the party headquarter on May 15, informs a press release.
Presided by the party Vice President (Admn), Mr. K. B. Chamlimg, the meeting deliberated on matters for the party workers to be apprised of, namely, ideology and policy, programmes, schemes and objectives, among others. To finalize the issues, the Committee will meet once again on May 21. The meeting was attended by other Vice Presidents, General Secretaries, secretary of students’ wing and convenors of chelli morcha and other units, informs the release.