JANTA MELA 2013-14 KICKS OFF FROM EAST DISTRICT

Govt has been fair in selecting beneficiaries, CM reassures
GANGTOK, 02 Jan: Gram Swaraj Mela 2013-014 under the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan kicked off from East Sikkim today. The Gram Swaraj Mela, earlier known as Janta Mela, was organized by the Rural Management and Development Department today here at Tashi Namgyal Academy playground and had Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chief guest. The CM handed over tokens of various schemes to beneficiaries of the East District. The schemes included car loans, house up-gradation grants, induction stoves, pensions, cattle, GCI sheets, solar lights etc.
Addressing people who had come in from the from different parts of the East district, the CM mentioned that the government would be providing benefits to all beneficiaries named in the list prepared by the Panchayat and MLA and then passed in the Gram Sabha.
He added that in some areas, a section of people were misleading people where they are being told that their names are not in the list or are being erased from the beneficiaries list. On the same, he urged the people not to listen to such elements and to have full faith in the government.
“I know all the difficulties of the poor as I have my roots in the village. I wanted to uplift the poor and have been working on it for the past 20 years”, said the CM. He listed out various works done by the SDF government in its 20 years to uplift the poor in the state.
On the distribution of induction stove this time, he again stated that there are some trying to mislead people by saying that the induction stove would increase their electricity bill and this section, he alleged, had even tried to stop this Janta Mela by writing to the Election Commission. Here, the CM announced to provide free electricity upto 100 units and 50% subsidy from 100 to 300 units.
He also announced to provide ½ acre of land to all landless people under the land bank scheme. He stated that GCI sheets and rice at the subsidized rate of Rs 2 per kg would also be provided to all voters. He also mentioned that Sikkim is the first state to provide social allowance and pensions for disability, and other sections.
“The government wanted to start cervical cancer vaccination in Sikkim in order to make the state cervical cancer free but some sections here created doubt among the people so the programme had to be kept in abeyance,” he informed.
On the same, he stated that people should speak and write more responsibly so the people are better informed instead of being misled. He also called on the people to stay on alert against concerted attempts afoot to spread misinformation and confusion among them.
On the sanctioned works, the CM directed that all works should be people-centric and not contractor-centric. “We wanted to make people self-governed and self-reliant,” he added. He stated that the government has been supporting the youth to make them self reliant in different sectors.
Speaking on the fire at Rhenock bazaar, he expressed his deep grief and assured to extend all possible support from the government. He announced to provide Rs 2 lakh for fully damaged house, Rs 1 lakh for partially damaged house and Rs 50, 000 to the injured. He mentioned that the government had been trying to set up a Fire Brigade in Rhenock for some years but it has not happened because land could not be acquired for it. However, he announced that a Fire Brigade will be established in Rhenock this year.
“The SDF government is in the process of developing Sikkim and showing the right and productive way to the youth but at present another power is also working actively to mislead people and to damage the state. In such a situation people should choose the right path to help the government in developing Sikkim and to move forward on a constructive path”, said the CM.
Stating that the government has given equal right and status to all communities in the state, Mr Chamling alleged that the opposition party is trying to create communal disharmony, terror and unrest in the state. He added that people should not tolerate such action and should stay united otherwise there will be widespread unrest in the state.
The CM further alleged that the opposition is full of outsiders and if the people support such a party then there would be no security in the state.
“The election is approaching and the people have seen the good governance in these 20 years, so forgetting all differences you should work towards the victory of the Sikkimese people in the coming election,” he urged.
Earlier, RMDD Minister, CB Karki mentioned that the Janta Mela was started by the SDF government to uplift the status of the people in all fields. He added that the government has been organizing this Mela in all four districts to uplift the economical, political, social status of the people and the government is committed towards working for the people.
The programme started with the welcome address by RMDD Secretary, DR Nepal and concluded with the vote of thanks by DC [East].