Panchayats asked to deliver, people invited to keep watch

CM INAUGURATES JORETHANG MAGHEY MELA 2013
JORETHANG, 14 Jan: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling inaugurated the Jorethang Maghey Mela 2013 here at the public play ground today. The CM was present as the chief guest of the opening ceremony.
The Chief Minister was accorded a traditional welcome by the organizing committee near Akar Bridge from where he was escorted till the main venue with traditional jhakis [floats]. Here, the CM officially declared the Jorethang Maghey Mela 2013 open.
While addressing the huge gathering here at Jorethang play ground, the CM congratulated the newly elected Panchayats, especially the women representatives. The SDF Government, he underlined, has spearheaded women’s empowerment and in the political sphere, not only are 50% of panchayat seats reserved for women, but even the Adakshyas and Upadakshyas posts have been equally divided between men and women this time.
He further asked the panchayats to work for the betterment of the people in their respective areas and also asked the public to go through the party manifesto released before the recent panchayat elections and demand of their elected representatives to fulfil all the promises made by the party.
“This is the 21st century where the public is aware and their representatives right from the Chief Minister, Minister, MLAs, Chairman and Panchayats cannot intimidate the people with their posts or positions,” he said.
He further said that till date the government has been providing a number of benefits to the underprivileged of the state and now the panchayats should look at the still unaddressed and overlooked genuine problems of the people, which, he assured, will be taken up in earnest.
The CM also announced that from now onwards he will meet only those people who come to him with the recommendation of area Panchayat and MLA, except in the case of financial assistance for medical emergencies for which he assured to meet the public directly.
Stating that the water supply work of Chakung-Chumbung in West Sikkim sanctioned by the government many years ago is still lying incomplete, the CM said that now people should question the mistakes and lapses made by the Government, officers of the concerned departments, engineers and the contractors. In the case of Chakung and Chumbung also he urged the people to ask the concerned authorities and the contractor regarding the delay in water supply work.
Here he said that people should oppose the government if it fails to sanction the demands of the people and also oppose the concerned department officers, Engineers and contractors if the sanctioned work is not completed within the prescribed timeframe.
He also urged the people to check the quality of the works underway in their respective areas.
Providing an update, he informed that till date, the government has sanctioned 1,400 CMRHM houses and the target has not been achieved, he stated and asked the recently elected panchayats to carry the work forward.  The government has been giving Panchayat Shree award to the best panchayats of the state as per the recommendation of the area MLA and now the recommendation of the people of the area will also be included, said the Chief Minister.
Similarly, the best MLAs and Officers will also be awarded as per the recommendation of the panchayats. These awards will be conferred on the occasion of the state day, he informed.
The CM also noted that the green house construction scheme started under the Horticulture Department last year is still incomplete for which he asked the panchayats to look into the matter. The shortage of teachers in school, doctors and supply of medicines in Medical centres should also be addressed by the panchayats, he added.
Regarding the problem of LPG distribution in the state, the Chief Minister informed the public that besides STCS other private LPG distributors are answerable to the petroleum ministries and not to the state government. If something is wrong in STCS, then the state government is responsible but it is not so in the case of private distributors, he explained.
However, reading out the list of names of private LPG distributors in different parts of the state the CM said that whether it is STCS or the private distributors people of the state should get their rights and there should not be any problem in getting their refilled cylinders in time.
He further informed the gathering that during the year 2012 the state government sent a total of 140 graduate students for IAS and allied service coaching to different parts of the country as well as abroad and this year the target is to even more graduates for the same for which the government has decided to use 10% of the state budget.
He urged parents not to encourage children not to go for ad-hoc and MR service but to cooperate with the government in making them the true rulers of the country. Speaking on the proposal to raise a Sikkim Scouts Battalion, the Chief Minister said that this year 1400 boys will be recruited for the Battalion for which class X passed is the eligibility criteria.
“During the 18 years of SDF government, Sikkim has witnessed real peace and harmony, but now there are some intent on destroying this. To guide people on the right path is tough, but to misguide them is very easy; some people have opted for the latter ploy”, said the CM and added that people should decide whom to choose for the better future of Sikkim.
Speaking on the issue of Adhaar cards diluting the importance of Sikkim Subject as alleged by some, the CM said that the government has always preserved the value of Sikkim Subject and this is evident from the fact that Sikkim Subject holders are exempted from paying Income Tax in Sikkim. While on the Companies Act 1961, he said that the central government is trying to introduce a uniform rule throughout the country, but since this comes in conflict with an existing Old Law in Sikkim, his government has requested the Centre to exclude Sikkim from the same. The SDF Government, he said, will not allow FDI into Sikkim. The Companies Act, it may be recalled, is to facilitate FDI in retail in the country.
He also announced that the two martyrs of the state, Shahid Sanjog Chettri of Namchi and Shahid Binod Rai of Rakdong, East Sikkim will be honoured by the government with the installation of their statues and establishing scholarships in the name of these martyrs besides naming important roads or places after them. He also announced an increase in maternity allowance for women from Rs 3500 to Rs 5000 from April 2013.
The CM also spoke on overcharging by taxis which he said is ruining the state’s image at the national as well as international level. He further said that 90% hotels in the state are run by outsiders, which, he said, was neither good for tourism nor the local economy.
Finally, he said that the recent IBN7 Diamond State Award has highlighted good governance of the state and the peace and harmony here at the national level. He urged the people of Sikkim to help the government to maintain this tempo in the future also.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was felicitated for the IBN7 award by the Jorethang Maghey Mela Organizing Committee and by representatives of 15 major communities of Sikkim.
Area MLA cum chief patron, Jorethang Maghey Mela Organizing Committee, Madan Cintury also addressed the opening function where he highlighted the uniqueness of the Jorethang Mela and thanked the Chief Minister for his support in making this a grand success. He also thanked every individual for their support and wishes.
Earlier, Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh felicitated Deep Raj Rai for his recent achievement in India’s Got Talent and mountaineer Santi Rai. The general secretary of the organizing committee, Kamal Chettri delivered the vote of thanks. The evening session of the opening ceremony witnessed live cultural performances by Deep Raj Rai and others.