CM lays foundation stone of EPCS church at PNGS ORIGINAL CHURCH TO BE PRESERVED AS HERITAGE BUILDING

GANGTOK, 03 Oct: The foundation stone of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim [EPCS] was laid by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today here at Paljor Namgyal Girls School complex. On the occasion, the EPCS also presented a letter of gratitude to the CM.
The existing church building here at Church Road will be preserved as a heritage building and the church shifted to the new location upon completion of the new structure, it is informed.
Addressing the function, the CM expressed that as promised the government will extend its full support in the building of the church. He informed that the old church will remain a religious heritage forever.
“Being an impartial government everyone in the state is equal in its eyes and the government strives to provide peace, security, respect and to address the issue of every single person in the state,” said the CM.
He informed that the government has already started working on building the Prayer Tower for which land has been acquired at Martam and in work will commence in the coming financial year. He urged the Christian community to provide technical and other support to build it.
Speaking on the demands placed earlier by the PNG School, the CM announced the provision of Rs 51 lakh to the school as special grant to clear the arrears of the school’s teachers. He further announced that laptops will be distributed to students of class XI and XII of the school and asked the Principal to pursue the matter with the HRDD Secretary. He urged the students to make the best use of these laptops.
“Students need opportunities and facilities and the state government has been doing its best to provide these to the state’s students,” he said. Studying abroad was just a dream earlier but now it has become a reality for students of Sikkim, the CM stated further adding, “I want to give a secure future to the students of Sikkim.”
Speaking on politics, the CM said that change should be for the better as good governance gives democratic dividends to the people, while bad governance leads to democratic deficit.
He also announced an additional Rs 1 lakh to PNG School and Rs 1 lakh to the organizing committee of the function from the CM’s Fund.
Earlier, MLA Menlom Lepcha expressed his gratitude to the CM for his consistent support to the Christian community.
Today’s function also saw choir presentations by Gangtok & Tadong Church Youth Fellowship and PNG School students.