CM meets Panchayats from his constituency, urges them to take initiative

NAMCHI, 20 Jan: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today met the new and ex panchayats of his constituency Poklok-Kamrang, South Sikkim. At a meeting held here at the Community Hall, the panchayats also placed their demands on behalf of the public of their respective areas.
The problems of drinking water supply and road conditions were the main topics of discussion during the meeting.
The Chief Minister in his address to the gathering of panchayat members said that there is a tradition in the state where the work of panchayat is limited to placing demands with the concerned area MLAs and the Chief Minister, but themselves deliver on the role shouldered on them by the Panchayati Raj Act.
Speaking on decentralization of power, he mentioned that the government has decentralized power to the panchayats which in fact is the decentralization of responsibilities and added that as the Union Government is responsible for the entire country and state governments at the state level, similarly the panchayat is responsible for their respective territories and wards.
Further stating that panchayats should not only be concerned about their rights but become more focussed on their responsibilities; the CM said that neglect of responsibilities by panchayats is a big irony and hurdle in the implementation of Panchayati Raj.
The Chief Minister urged the present panchayat members to be answerable to the people of their respective areas and work as per the vision of the State Government and as per Sikkim Panchayat Act.
Real development comes from the grassroots level up and not from the top, said the CM and added that without the development of villages the development of the state and nation is impossible. Wrong kind of leadership at the panchayat level can lead to the failure of the entire state and country as a whole, he stated.
Speaking on various community-based associations in the state, he said that although there are a number of such associations in the state, they have failed to guide the people of their respective communities on the right path.
He also informed that at present 600 posts as police constable, 200 posts as accounts clerk and LDC are vacant along with other vacancies for teachers and more than 1000 vacancies in Sikkim Scouts Battalion; altogether there are around 2000 employment opportunities at present as per the policies of the SDF Government.
Focusing on the panchayats again he said that the panchayats should be the real caretakers of the people of their areas and congratulated and thanked the former panchayat members for providing their service to the people of Sikkim. He added that he will be meeting all the ex-panchayats of the state soon.
The CM also stated that the SDF government aims to upgrade all the BPL families into APL within the next two years. He also interacted with the panchayat members and conveyed his New Year wishes to them.
The meeting was also attended by the Adakshya and Up-Adakshya South, Vice President of SDF party cum South District In-charge of SDF party, GM Gurung, along with area MLA of Namchi Singithang, Binod Rai, Chairman of various sectors and other members of the party.