Gorkhaland Territorial Administration contest to help people stay indoors

SNS, DARJEELING/ KURSEONG, 20 APRIL:  As stricter measures are now in place in the administration's bid to enforce proper lockdown in Darjeeling, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is all set to organise an online art and folk song competition to encourage people to stay indoors.

Organised by the GTA Information and Culture Affairs (INCA) department, the two competitions also hope to provide people with something to do to chase away their boredom while staying at home.

"In this ongoing Coved- 19 pandemic, people have been asked to stay home for their safety, but we understand that people do get bored. So the GTA is all set to start two online competitions in which mostly talented students, along with others, can participate while staying at home." the GTA INCA assistant director, Bhanu Kanta Ghisingh, said.

"One of the categories will be art and the other is folk songs. We will provide forms online in a few days time for those interested to participate in them. Other details like age, category and theme will be provided in the form as it has yet to be decided on," he added. To make sure maximum participation, prizes in the form of gift hampers will also be given away to the first three winners.

For the competition which is open only for people under the GTA areas, once can contact 9800694622, 6294417937 (WhatsApp) or 9382479596 for further details.

Thapa adopts a daughter:

Meanwhile, GTA chairman Anit Thapa has adopted a 10 year-old Dikchen Tamang, and brought her home in Kurseong today.

Miss Tamang lost her parents and her brother in a landslide that washed away their house at Rimbick in Darjeeling hills on 14 March.

Mr Anit Thapa had visited the site and taken stock of the situation the same day. He had also announced that he would personally look after the only surviving member of that family."I would keep her in my home as my own daughter and take all responsibilities for her as a father." Mr Thapa had then said.

Several rituals and puja were performed at Mr. Thapa's residence in Kurseong to mark the arrival of the daughter at his home, it is learnt.