SDF’s journey has been momentous and consistent in service to people: Chamling

CM CELEBRATES PARTY FOUNDATION DAY AT NAMCHI
PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 04 March: The 19th foundation day celebration of the Sikkim Democratic Front for Poklok-Kamrang and Namchi-Singithang constituencies was held at the Bhaichung Stadium here today with the SDF party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling [who is also the elected representative from Poklok-Kamrang] hoisting the party flag here and addressing a huge gathering of party supporters.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chamling said that the SDF party was born in 1993 from a felt-need of the Sikkimese people, has been nurtured by their continuing support and remains committed to delivering on all the promises made to the people of Sikkim. The upliftment of the poor of Sikkim remains the motivating factor for the party, he stressed. The party, he said, has enjoyed a momentous success because of its appeal among the people and remains consistent in its service to the Sikkimese people.

The SDF’s tenure in power has been the longest for Sikkim and the CM added that the achievements recorded have not been easy because of the oversights and deliberate compromises of leaders who preceded him as chief ministers.
“If past leaders had worked for genuinely and earnestly for the people, the State would have developed much earlier,” he contended, adding, “At that time [in the initial years of the Merger], the Centre would have granted any demand tabled by Sikkim. If earlier leaders had the vision or even the commitment to the people of Sikkim, much more could have been achieved.”
He shared that when SDF took charge of the State Government in 1994, it had to start from scratch, meticulously building a more positive image for the State and then bringing in more funds to power pro-people schemes in the State. The achievements have been substantial, Mr. Chamling pointed out, inviting people to compare the 16 years of SDF governance with the earlier times.
He also informed that the SDF’s labour front has issued a one month notice to all power project developers, industries and private enterprises in the State to fulfil all the points listed in the MoUs signed with the state government by these units before they began operations here.
In this connection, he announced that if the units failed to deliver on the commitments undertaken in the MoUs, more serious action will be considered against them.
Speaking on the developmental works, he informed that 70% of the budget is routinely invested on rural development. Rs 120 crores have been sanctioned for the construction of carpeted roads, Rs 700 crores for double-lane roads and an alternative highway from Sikkim via Jelapla, Bhutan and West Bengal has also been sanctioned, he further informed.
He also informed that Rs 181 crores has been sanctioned for building 6000 houses for BPL families.
Mr. Chamling further urged the educated unemployed youth to come forward and break free from the traditional mindset of aspiring only for government service, adding that the youth should be “the job-givers now and not just job-seekers”. He highlighted that there were much wider opportunities and scope in the private sector.
Earlier, the Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai, while delivering his welcome speech, recalled the days of struggle following the formation of the SDF party. On the occasion, Mr. Chamling was also felicitated by the SDF’s women’s front, the Cheli Morcha, of Namchi-Singithang and Poklok-Kamrang constituencies.
The SDF party president was accompanied by former CM, Sanchaman Limboo, Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai, vice-president (S), GM Gurung, and the party’s central committee and district committee members and senior party workers.