Maniram-Singithang celebrates GPU Annual Day with proactive transparency, releases White Paper covering last 4 years

NAMCHI, 01 Dec: Maniram-Singithang Gram Panchayat Unit celebrated its “GPU Annual Day” here at the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan today with Namchi-Singithang MLA Binod Rai was chief guest. In a welcome towards proactive transparency, the GPU released a White Paper covering the tenure of the present panchayats from 2008 to 2011. This document carries details of all developmental works, benefits provided, programmes and activities initiated in the GPU during this period.

Also on the occasion, seven ICDS Centres of the GPU, one PHSC and a Gram Prashasan Kendra were provided with the free LPG cooking sets, and with the issue of a Trade License to Mani Kr. Tamang of Maniram-Bhanjhyang, the GPU also became the first Gram Panchayat Unit in South Sikkim to issue Trade Licenses from the Panchayat level itself.
The Panchayat President, Topda Bhutia, in his address, stressed that to genuinely strengthen Panchayati Raj in Sikkim and to achieve its true potential, wider and more proactive cooperation and participation of line departments was necessary. Unfortunately, till date, these line departments have displayed no inclination to cooperate more effectively, he rued. This, he stressed, was the sector putting a drag on the effectiveness and delivery of PRIs in the State.
The chief guest echoed similar sentiments and stressed that power decentralisation required transparency and cooperation to become more meaningful.
He also commented that he has received complaints of some engineers demanding bribes from minor contractors engaged in village-level contract works and warned them not to do so.
He directed the concerned authorities not to harass contractors, stressing that strict action will be initiated because such obstruction hampered the vision of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for an empowered and well provided for rural Sikkim.
Additional District Collector (Development), South, DK Pradhan, in turn, focused his address on MGNREGA and the role of panchayats in it. He also praised the Maniram-Singithang GPU’s initiative of releasing a White Paper on its developmental works.
The programe was also addressed by former Minister, Advisor to the Tourism Department, GM Gurung, and SIMFED Chairperson Girish Chandra Rai.