ADDRESS OF CHIEF MINISTER PAWAN CHAMLING AT CONFERENCE OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS OF NE STATES, CHINTAN BHAWAN, 28 NOVEMBER, 2013 “Make rational use of available scientific tools to make our agricultural activities round-the-year engagement”

Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries respected Shri Sharad Pawarji; Hon’ble Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Ministers of Agriculture from North-Eastern States; my Cabinet Colleagues; Parliamentary Secretaries, Union Secretaries, Secretary North East Council, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of the North Eastern States; distinguished officers from Government of India; officers from North-eastern States; distinguished guests, media persons; ladies and gentlemen,
At the outset, I take the privilege of extending my warm greetings and hearty welcome to Hon’ble Union Minister and all the delegates to the Land of Orchids and a State known for its peaceful ambience, neat and clean and one of the most progressive in the Country. The North East endowed with immense natural resources with similar climatic variation and a gateway to the South East Asian Nations, is well positioned to play significant role in market extension, product diversification and knowledge sharing with the rest of the Country and the World. As we come together to deliberate on the agriculture scenario in the North East, we utilize this opportunity to evolve common strategies to promote the North East region as a composite entity to develop this sector for a common goal and outcome.
And present with us today is respected Pawar-ji, Union Minister of Agriculture, himself an avid agriculturist and a distinguished national leader, to support our cause and overcome some specific problems we face while promoting this sector in the region. I join all of you to thank him for sparing his valuable time to be with us today.
The significance of agriculture in Indian economy needs no further explanation. You are aware that Sikkim joined the mainstream much late and was not part of the country’s development saga as in the case of other States. And in the overall context of the North East, the region also lagged behind in mainstreaming of agriculture and allied sectors. However, people in the region are more dependent on land, forest and its resources for their livelihood, and as such the present Conference has added significance for the region.
Sikkim is a land blessed by Mother Nature with bountiful resources. Recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots, the region hosts diverse forms of flora and fauna with approximately 4,500 species of flowering plants in the State. The climate is highly varied with wide ranging agro-ecological situations varying from sub-tropical in the lower valleys to alpine in higher elevations.
In spite of limited cultivable land area, agriculture and horticulture continue to dominate the rural economy with over 65% of the people directly or indirectly being dependent for their livelihood on land resources. Our primary strength lies in highly developed mountain agriculture system inherited from the age old wisdom of our forefathers. Due to variety of reasons and small land holdings, agricultural activities need to be further expanded and diversified in the State to come out of the subsistence level.
Under Agriculture, the State Government has scaled up initiatives to attain higher level of growth. Various programmes have been launched in adequate measure to promote these sectors to their fullest potential by providing the most enabling environment for sustainable growth. The unstinted support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India under various schemes have always played critical role in the transformation of these sectors giving much needed boost. I take this opportunity to record our sincere thanks and gratitude for all the support from the Central Ministry. It is with generous support from the Central Ministry that we have accomplished many success stories in the field of off-season vegetables, floriculture, protected cultivation, fruits and spices, cereals and pulses.
With protection of fragile Himalayan ecology in mind, the State Government has adopted organic policy by launching Sikkim Organic Mission to make Sikkim a fully Organic State by 2015. Environmental security, product branding, health safety and enhancement in farm returns are some of the important objectives of this challenging decision, now converted into our flagship programme. We are working in the farm and off the farm to make Sikkim organic. The process of organic certification of our land is going on together with extensive training for our farmers and officials. We are also building up awareness programme across the State among all the stakeholders with effective shift from use of chemical fertilizers to organic manure.
We are happy that the Union Minister Shri Sharad Pawar-ji has kindly released the book “Organic Sikkim-Leading the Change” written by Dr. Tej Partap and Dr. CS Vaidya a short while ago, appreciating our leadership in organic field.
With Floriculture emerging as a major sector having tremendous scope for commercialization, we are focusing on Cymbidium orchid which is our natural strength. I also take the privilege to share our pride with the visiting dignitaries that the Cymbidium hybrid which has become a multi-billion dollar industry today, the first mother plant was taken from Sikkim.
For providing the much-needed impetus to the emerging cymbidium industry, Chief Minister’s Special Orchid Development Programme in 18 constituencies has been launched which has benefited our farmers and the educated youths. The programme needs further expansion and consolidation with import of first release hybrid mother plants which in the coming years shall establish Sikkim as a major grower in the national and international sphere. We have formulated an ambitious plan for an Integrated Development of Orchid which, in the long run, could become a model for others.
Sikkim is a natural home for growing orchid and other species of flowers. In fact, Floriculture is being developed on top priority in the State, to be promoted as the new occupation of the Sikkimese people. We have been successful to a great extent as large numbers of our people spread across the State are today engaged in the floriculture activities. We are moving ahead with a mission mode to be just as efficient as Holland in the production and marketing of flower in the Country and abroad. Therefore, the Central Government is requested to further support us in our endeavour.
As part of the convergence initiatives, the State government has introduced the scheme of providing minimum support price in vegetables, transport subsidy for vegetables upto Siliguri and for flowers to any destination within the country. In order to add special thrust on the development of marginalized farmers of the State, the government identified dry, backward and remote areas. Special programme have been devised to uplift the farmers in these villages by providing suitable incentives and technology support.
Further, being a bio-diversity hotspot, Sikkim provides a unique landscape to utilize the indigenous species for breeding programmes to evolve hybrids of different crops suited to Himalayan climate. Developing such varieties would ensure more resilience to climatic uncertainties and its adverse effect.
There are certain common areas where the North Eastern region may seek the generous intervention of the Union Minister with special package to tackle food security issue and sustainability of mountain farming system. Based on inherent strengths of each State, we need to form a large network of cold chain system, bring about farm mechanization, more liberal crop insurance policy, protected cultivation, water harvesting and micro irrigation etc.
With the potential of its immeasurable wealth ideal for growth and development of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture crops, the State Government would seek kind indulgence of the Hon’ble Union Minister to the many initiatives undertaken by us. I would specifically flag off the following areas of activities and confident of your blessing and assistance to carry forward our program in the interest of the farming community in the State.

1. Establishment of Horticulture College: The establishment of Horticulture College in Sikkim would provide a large institutional support with promotion of research studies to augment and diversify our activities under this sector. Therefore, I am sure that the proposal already forwarded to the central ministry will receive highest consideration by the Hon’ble Union Minister for positive outcome. The State Government shall be glad to provide suitable land which is available.
2. Sikkim Institute of Food Technology: The farmers of Sikkim generate various agricultural, horticultural and animal-origin produce which, on majority of cases, does not fetch the farmer desirable monetary returns. This situation is just suitable for the creation of a facility for post-harvest technology and value addition. The facility may be called Sikkim Institute of Food Technology (SIFT) – a Centre of Excellence with facilities including Physical Grading Centre, Food Processing Laboratory, Food Micro-biology Laboratory, Food Analysis Laboratory, Quality Control and Assurance Laboratory, Nano-technology Application Laboratory, Packaging Research Facility, Market Research Centre, Business and Farmers’ Assistance Centre etc. Besides developing wide range of premium quality processed food products, it will also be the Centre of frontier research in this niche area being unique in the entire North East region and also generate employment for the highly qualified young professional of Sikkim.
The Institute could be an independent entity or a Centre of Excellence within the proposed College of Horticulture.
3. Cold Chain System: With the allied agriculture sector being thrust area of the government, the famers in Sikkim are now producing marketable surplus in the field which cannot be consumed locally. Therefore, the Government has planned an Electronic Auction Centre and integrated pack houses under APEDA. To support the programme and for successful implementation, cold chain system is extremely necessary. A project has been drawn to install cold chain facilities right from farm gate to the terminal market. Therefore, support for laying of cold chain system in the State has also been proposed.
For this purpose, 22 number of multi-facility cold storage at primary collection centres and four district level processing units and adequate number of refrigeration plants have been proposed for which a sum of Rs.32.00 crores has been estimated.
4. Re-designation of ICAR to NRC Organic Farming: As Sikkim is the first State to go organic in totality, the Government has submitted proposal to the Central Ministry with request to re-designate the present ICAR Centre at Tadong as National Research Centre in Organic Farming. Due to scarcity of land, may I also take this opportunity to request the Union Minister to spare the surplus land available with ICAR at Tadong, Gangtok for building of range of infrastructural facilities for our farmers. The State Government will be grateful to the Union Ministry for the same.
5. Integrated Development of Orchid: Cymbidium is indigenous to Sikkim and many a first generation hybrids of Cymbidium world over was developed from the mother plants taken from Sikkim. Therefore, taking advantage of the conducive natural atmosphere, Sikkim has embarked on the development of Cymbidium in a big way besides development of other floriculture crops. Sikkim is the only State which has taken Cymbidium for commercial cultivation systematically with an eye for the international market. The Government has drawn an ambitious plan for development of Cymbidium and other tropical orchids covering 2000 educated youths in the next 5 years.
A sum of Rs. 60.00 crores has been estimated spread over a period of four years to achieve the objective which is required to provide tissue culture planting material to farmers, construction of green houses, training and input support and host of other related facilities.
6. Rejuvenation of Large Cardamom: The Large Cardamom is indigenous to Sikkim which suffered a major setback. Due to terminal viral disease, production of large cardamom has come down drastically. This may need a combined effort from various agencies including ICAR, Spices Board and the Horticulture Department. A huge re-plantation and rejuvenation programme is required to retrieve the lost glory of Sikkim as the biggest producer of Large Cardamom which is mostly exported to other countries. It is estimated that we would require a sum of Rs.25.00 crores spread over a period of 5 years to take up massive re-plantation and rejuvenation work of Large Cardamom.
7. Special Package for Organic Farming: Since, Sikkim will become the first fully organic State in the Country, the Government of India is requested to provide a special package of Rs. 100 crores to boost the ongoing programme. Agriculture requires organic inputs in the form of bio-fertilizers and manure. I may state that Sikkim’s withdrawal from the use of chemical fertilizers implies that it no longer avails associated subsidies. To provide alterative to farmers, rural compost units and vermi-compost units are being constructed. More investment is necessary on these inputs to achieve the State’s Organic Mission.
8. Mega Food Park: The Central Ministry has been pleased to sanction establishment of one Mega Food Park for the State of Sikkim. However, due to scarcity of land certain existing guidelines may be relaxed for State like Sikkim. The 50 acres of land required may be made 30 acres due to the land terrain which the State Government will arrange as per guidelines of the Ministry.

The State Government has also represented to the Hon’ble Union Minister for construction of one Abattoir each in South and North Sikkim. Hon’ble Sir, we are confident of positive outcome.  
In view of the emerging global challenges of climate change and its impact on our eco-system, dedicated research aimed at evolving location specific technologies is necessary. What we generally observe is that our farming practices has largely remained archaic, say some 300 years old, following seasonal farming practices. Annual cycle of sowing, reaping and harvesting largely depends on Nature. And many a time, it is influenced by erratic monsoon, lack of or excessive rainfall and other forms of natural phenomena. This puts us again at the mercy of nature and farm production is good only when climate is favourable. Hence, given the global trend, we may ask ‘would traditional farming methodology still hold good? can we make our farming practices economically sustainable?
Therefore, with all these in mind and recent development regionally, nationally and internationally we adopted organic farming. In the world elsewhere, they are augmenting farming output by creating artificial environment, creating congenial environment for off-season agricultural products.
With excessive dependency on Nature alone, we may not be able to harness our full potential. Therefore, as per changed circumstances and change in natural condition, we may need to strike a fine balance between nature and application of science and technology into our farmland. This we can accomplish by making rational use of available scientific tools and mechanism to undertake off-seasonal cultivation and make our agricultural activities round-the-year engagement.
This is the need of the hour. If we also adopt similar technique, we can be a leading country in the world where the majority of people are dependent on agricultural activities. And in the same context, the North East states can effectively come together to finalize strategies to develop this region into an Organic Zone, Floriculture Zone, Horticulture Zone and Apiculture Zone etc.
At the end, I would like to once again extend my warm welcome to the Hon’ble Union Minister and all delegates of the Conference and express my sincere thanks and gratitude for having chosen Sikkim as the venue for this historical event. I am confident that the outcome of the deliberations that is to follow will surely make larger impression on the overall agriculture, horticulture and floriculture output in the region.
With these words, I wish all of you a very comfortable stay in Sikkim and wish the Conference a grand success.

Thank you
Jai Hind

“Those spoilt for choice are not allowed to oppress those who cannot make two ends meet” Intro: The valedictory function of the door to door exercise of the SDF party in the West district was held on 28 June 2011 in the presence of Ministers, MLAs and the people. The SDF party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling addressed the gathering. At the outset, he paid tribute to the late Pem Dorjee Bhutia, who was with the party right since its formation. He said that once a person becomes a member of the party, he becomes family. “We have always tried to help our friends in the party. You must also help each other,” he said. Shedding light on the door to door exercise in the West district to spread the 16 point mission, he said:

CM Speaks:-
I am going to speak on my dreams for tomorrow with my focus on tomorrow’s Sikkim. We will try to fulfill all the suggestions placed by the people during this interactive exercise.
It is the work of the enemies of the people to take advantage of the weaknesses of the people. They try to keep themselves alive by spreading false propagandas. But such people will perish the day people understand the truth and start to debate and discuss with them. The people must retaliate and debate with them.
I have come here for you and not for myself. I am a leader who gets restless thinking as to how to transform your sufferings into happiness. The issues I am raising are the issues raised by a responsible leader. They are not propagandas. There is a lot of difference in yesterday’s Sikkim and today’s Sikkim. It is said that actions speak louder than words. The work we have done in Sikkim speaks for us. Let’s decide on what else we have to do now onwards.
This world runs on love. I am a Chief Minister like many others but I am different from the rest because I love you a lot. Our Government has introduced loans for industries and agriculture. We have opened an Apex Co-operative Bank for this purpose. We also provide loans through SABCO and Sikkim Bank. But the loan has to be repaid after you start earning.
Now people must be conscious and awakened. All the work should be done well whether it is roads, electricity or contract work. Recently a young boy died of electrocution. He died because the Department and the contractor did not do the work properly. Those who do injustice will keep taking birth as long as people tolerate injustice. People must not tolerate injustice. People must oppose if work is not done properly. The youth must also think about Sikkim and not only about themselves. The youth must react if the quality of work is compromised. People must not tolerate.
There is information that the Muster Roll employees working for many years in the Forest Department in West district have not received their salaries for a long time. If these employees do not receive their salaries by the 10th of the coming month, they must gherao the officer. I know how much sufferings the poor have. It is difficult for the poor to make the two ends meet while the rich are spoilt for choice. What is this disparity? These rich people are really dominating the poor. Now we must not accept this. Money is there but where does it go? It is not done when the poor suffer in the Government of the poor. Now we must not be dominated.
I request the people and the party workers to ensure that the saplings we plant survive. Now the party will also start plantation and protection of plants. The rich leave behind hefty bank balance for their children. We, the poor must leave behind saplings for our children. Tomorrow the saplings will grow into tress and become like bank balance.
We must not enrol people from outside in the voters list. They take our rights. We all must be careful not to let this happen.
An issue has been raised that the party workers must reflect and contemplate on the party’s programme. This is a good issue that came up in the interactive session in the West district. I request all party workers to read the party literature and the party’s guiding philosophy. You must understand the principles of the party and remain firm. We must make this party the protective shield for the people of Sikkim. Ministers, MLAs, office bearers, everyone must be used for the party. To be used for the party means to be used for the people. The weakness of our party is that our party workers are using the party for themselves and not using themselves for the party. We must be able to dwell in peoples’ heart by being of use to the party and the people.
We are now doing the repairs of roads. The work should be done properly. All the work in Sikkim is our work and not of the contractor or the engineer. I always say that the quality of work should not be compromised under any circumstances. We will take action for poor quality of work. We want work. Let’s not compromise on public interest at any cost.
We will complete the bridge at Dethang. We will also do the carpeting of the road. We have received a grievance that people face harassment for Domicile, Employment Card etc. From the Chief Minister to the Chief Secretary, from peon to chowkidar, everyone is here to work for the people. People must not tolerate if somebody is not doing his work. People must react if their work is not done. People will keep experiencing harassment in offices if they keep tolerating. You must not tolerate. Some people will sell Sikkim if it falls into the wrong hands.
We have issued an order that old age pension should be disbursed by the 10th of every month. If an officer does not comply, then we must take all the senior citizens to him. People must remain vigilant if employees harass them when executing Government schemes. The party must translate my words into actions.
We might face problems for two or three years with regard to organic farming. After that Sikkim will become a fully organic State. Our products will fetch good prices. The status of our farmers will improve and agriculture will be transformed into a lucrative business. There is no other organic State in our country. Our products will enjoy monopoly in the national market. We want to create professions that will give monopoly to the Sikkimese people. We have tried to take floriculture and horticulture in this direction. We will be successful in this by 2013. After this we can start organic tourism. We must think of agriculture as an industry.
Now on the basis of power decentralisation, we will deduct money from the source and from the budget and send it in the Panchayat. Panchayats can be rest assured. We have started the Land Bank Scheme to construct houses for the poor bonafide Sikkimese. But the sad part is that the money kept aside for this Scheme comes back. Party workers and Panchayats must be active and look into this.
I also request you on the issue of party membership. It is because of your support and participation that the party becomes stronger. Stronger party means stronger Sikkimese people. So you must take the party membership with pride. You must renew and renovate. This party is running on the leadership of a principled leader who honours his word. That is why you must become a member of this great party.
We have done almost everything in the last 17 years being in the Government. We earmarked 70 percent of the budget for rural development. We have given basic facilities to the people. We will make houses for the homeless in the next three years. Local materials should be used in construction of the houses. We will also carry out major repairs of damaged houses. We will make Sikkim a kutcha-house free State in the next three years. Every village will have road, electricity and water. But people should be able to earn al livelihood and they must decide what kind of livelihood they want to take up.
Education is the best medium for freedom from poverty. That is why we have given utmost priority to education. We have done a lot for higher education. But only education is not enough to survive in today’s world. We have to be skilled and capable as well. We want our children to be skilled, educated and capable. It is difficult to survive in this world if we are not self-reliant. That is why we have a programme to make our students capable and skilled. We must be independent. We must become our own masters. There is no alternative to merit in this world. We can be ahead of even Japan and Singapore if we are self-reliant. This is a big dream for which we have to work hard. We must understand education in a broad sense. Sikkim is of the Sikkimese. Sikkim is yours. That is why you should be capable to take the responsibility of Sikkim. All the opportunities in Sikkim are yours. The future of Sikkim is also yours. The youth must not stay idle. They must engage in Sikkim Nirman. Our office bearers of the party must not mislead the youth. You must give appropriate suggestion to everyone.
Our mothers and fathers who do not know how to read or write must become literate at the earliest. We have started the Total Literacy Campaign. Students must help in this campaign.
I will not allow the dreams of Sikkimese people to die. I am a leader who protects your dreams. We will give loan for education. Only the children of the poor will get education loan. SDF party favours the poor and teaches a lesson to those who dominate the poor.
The children of the poor study in ICDS Centres. We provide nutritious meals to such children. But there are people who eye the meals of these children. You should not do that. We are distributing sweaters from the party to the children who come to ICDS Centres. We are trying to increase the salaries of the teachers and ASHA workers of ICDS Centres from coming April. We have started the Annual Health Check up programme to ensure people do not fall ill. The Government is bearing the expenses of treatment for people who are extremely ill.
The party must pay attention to the things that are in a mess. Work is sanctioned for the people and not for the personal gain of the contractor.
Our youth must now become servants but masters. They should be job providers and not job seekers. The Sikkimese youth are born to be masters. That is why we need to change our professions. We also need to change our mindset according to the time. We have brought opportunities like that of Japan and Singapore to Sikkim. The youth have to come forward to avail of these opportunities.
The SDF Government has done a lot in the tourism sector as well. Agriculture is the number one industry in the world followed by tourism. We have given importance to both these industries in the process of their development. We have already done a lot in eco-tourism, heritage tourism and spiritual tourism. We want to develop tourism as a sustainable profession. Tourist attractions like the statue of Chen Rezi, Bhanu Bhakta Study Centre, bird sanctuary, Shirijunga Study Centre will lead to increase in tourism in West Sikkim.
We have made the Chaar Dhaam and the Shirdi Sai temple. We have made the statue of Guru Padmasambhava. We have made the Buddha Park in Ravangla. Siddhi Vinayak temple is being constructed in Rhenock. There is Thakurbari in Gangtok. in this way we have done a lot of work in spiritual tourism.
We have an ambitious plan to construct a skywalk in Bhaley Dhunga in South Sikkim. We must now make tourism a new profession.
The history of industrialisation is 220 years old. In India, industrialisation started only from 1956. SDF started the process of industrialisation in Sikkim only ten years ago. Now there are many industries in Sikkim. But all the work should be done by our people. We brought hydel power projects for the people of Sikkim. Sikkim will become richer from the income earned from these projects. They are for the Sikkimese community. We are the ones to bring hydel projects in Sikkim. We will certainly be remembered in the future for the work we have done.
We have signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the condition that our people must get jobs in all industries and factories. If somebody does not comply with this condition, then we must not accept it. We must immediately retaliate and fight for our rights.
We have done a lot for the environment too. India is distributing 1900 crore on the basis of carbon rating and the good news is that Sikkim is the first State that is entitled. The other States come later. The real home of mankind is jungles. Mankind will perish the day jungles will disappear from the planet. To save the forests is to save mankind. Had all the countries of the world worked to save the forests like us, there would have been no fear of green house effect. We have done that.
The model that we have created through our work has created resources that will last for one hundred years and will create opportunities for the youth that will last a hundred years. The youth must enhance their capabilities and use these opportunities. We have guaranteed a safe future of the Sikkimese people. SDF party and SDF Government has done this. Now it is the job of the Sikkimese people to protect it. We are working to ensure independence in the financial sector. The per capita income of Sikkim will be Rs. 1 lakh by 2015. But it is necessary for everyone to work. We will make Sikkim a poverty-free State by 2015. But people should be independent not only financially but mentally as well. They must be physically healthy. Sikkimese people must be independent mentally and physically healthy. We cannot be poverty-free unless we are free from mental poverty.
We are the third generation in education and the first generation in business. That is why we are facing difficulties. We must be able to change our third world mindset. We must be able to migrate from old thoughts to new thoughts, old professions to new age professions. We must be able to come to the forefront in the world that runs on knowledge.
Sikkimese should get jobs in all industries, banks and educational institutes in Sikkim. Outsiders should not get the jobs. Our people should get jobs in Universities. According to the Employment Exchange Compulsory Vacancy Act, 1959, Sikkim Subject holders should get the job. Establishment Rule 4/4 should be enforced in other institutes. Every Sikkimese should buckle up. The youth must be the protectors of Sikkim. We want to make Sikkimese people their masters.
Some people are making a lot of noise regarding Residential Certificate. Once Residential Certificates are issued, influx will be reduced. Those residing here will be protected. That way Sikkim will belong to the Sikkimese even after 100 hundred years. Sikkim will be in the hands of the Sikkimese.
Similarly, Pink Card will be given to those who have Sikkim Subjects and hold ancestral land. We thought of issuing Pink Cards to avoid misuse of Sikkim Subject. We have been exempted from Income Tax. The idea of Pink Card is to prevent misuse of Income Tax exemption. We have been granted Income Tax exemption on the basis of Sikkim Subject. The Sikkim Subject was actually repealed in 1975 but we revived it. It has been 17 years since we have been running the Government. We are firm in our stand today the way we were 17 years ago.
The opposition parties are going around saying that Sikkim Subject has been done away with. They had done the same thing in 1997. How can Sikkim Subject be done away with now if it was already done away with in 1997? Our youth must not listen to them. Let’s do debatable politics. They will dominate us as long as we tolerate. We must not believe in lies. Leaders must not talk at random. This means that they take people for granted. A leader must respect the people and do only those things that are appropriate.
We give the highest salaries to our employees. They must do their work with honesty and dedication. It will be anti-people if people suffer because of officers and employees. We should not accept this. We must take our responsibilities and fulfil them honestly. Whoever does not do this is anti-Sikkim. People are the rulers in peoples rule. But people must be able to live with their rights and responsibilities like a king.
We have protected the freedom and trust of the Sikkimese people. The identity of all communities is protected. If anyone goes around talking about caste or community, he is being communal. We all are Sikkimese community. We must move forward with a positive attitude. We want to bring everyone on a common platform. But some regressive people are trying to divide us. You have a Government that gives you respect and equal justice.
We acknowledge the fact that nobody’s upliftment is possible without the upliftment of the poor. That is why our party wants to uplift the poor and uplift Sikkim because without uplifting them we cannot uplift the Sikkimese community and Sikkim. We have a programme to make Sikkim a poverty-free State by 2015.
The day anti-Sikkim people, drug addicts say that Pawan Chamling is good, then you can presume that Pawan Chamling has become bad. But as long as they oppose me, you can safely say that I am with you, I am with the Sikkimese people. We have emerged victorious in all the issues and cases that they have raised. We cannot work for you with one pointed focus as we have to constantly fight such elements. But even then we have done so much for you. We will complete all the missions that we have started. We have been fighting with them for 17 long years. We still have the strength to fight them for another 17 years. We do everything in your interest. Please do not believe those who hoodwink you. Let’s come together and take forward the exercise of making Sikkim like a paradise on earth.
Thank you!

“A Leader Must Be Able to Feel Each and Every Problem of the People” .

Intro: Kranti Diwas of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front was held in the party office on 22 June, 2013. Extracted below is the address of the SDF party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on the occasion:
I extend my greetings and welcome to all my friends from the party. I want to say a few things today. But before that I would like to welcome those who have joined our party from today. I am confident that they will serve and contribute towards the welfare of the people of Sikkim.  
The former speakers spoke on some historical components regarding our party. SDF is not a party of a particular caste. It is a party of all the Sikkimese people. It has taken thousands of years for the Sikkimese community to be built. Society needs to be formed before the formation of a caste and a group needs to be formed before forming a society. A community comes into existence only after completing these steps. Development of caste leads to community. In this way, caste, community, society develops. We must also possess knowledge about the formation of the Sikkimese community. We will not be misguided because of our ignorance if we have knowledge about such things. Our party is a party of all the Sikkimese people. We must know this. If we don’t have knowledge about this, we will be misled on the basis of caste/ community. Even many of our party workers are not clear about the philosophy, views about social justice and other things about our party. Some of our party workers have no knowledge about the stand that our party has taken for the upliftment of the Sikkimese community which results in these things being confined only to words. Sikkimese society is possible only when we mix Bhutia, Lepcha, Nepali, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and businessmen.
But saying Bhutia, Lepcha, Nepali is not enough. Not all Bhutias are the same. Some Bhutias are affluent and related to the Chogyals while some Bhutias are farmers, some are poor and downtrodden. This kind of social inequality has existed for a long time. There were feudals among the Bhutias too. Similarly, there were rich Lepchas and poor Lepchas. There was class difference. In the Nepali community also, there were the high class Brahmins and low caste Scheduled Castes. There were rich landlords and poor farmers too. The class difference was stark in the Nepali community. Similarly, there are also religious differences in the Sikkimese community. There are Bhutia Christians, there are Lepcha Christians and Buddhist and Christians among Nepalis. Another difference is the gender difference. Women in our society since time immemorial have been at the receiving end of sufferings and torture. They had developed the habit of tolerance. We are working to free our society from such social exploitation and oppression. Our party did and is doing the kind of politics that would do away with social exploitation and class exploitation. Our revolution is to end the class difference. Our revolution is a process of building anew. Our revolution will continue unless our society becomes the way we want it to become. But these differences and inequalities will not be removed by merely issuing verbal message against them. We need to continually waken our society to remove these evils. That is why we must not let our revolutionary programmes and our revolution die.
We have given equal rights to women. We have provided reservation for women and in elections in the local bodies. If we go to see, women are safe. On the contrary, men seem to be unsafe. We have established Women’s Commission, Women’s Court and Atrocities Court. But our women are still victims of injustice. Why is this happening? The reason is that our women have not become capable, conscious and aware as yet. Our revolution is to make women capable, aware and conscious. It is a big thing to change an incapable girl from a village to a capable, educated and an aware one. Women should be capable of taking responsibilities. So our struggle is a long one. It takes thousands of years to develop human society. We have done so much in the last 20 years. Education is the greatest medium that makes women capable. We must educate our women. Hen our party workers interact with the people, they must talk about the principles, policies and philosophy of the party. Our party workers must speak the language of social justice, pro-democracy, pro-poor and pro-people. You must be responsible in your speech. You must not believe in hearsay. I want the leaders of our party to be honest and committed. You must take the responsibility of the Government, party and the society. You all are very sensitive. I have faith in you.
The Sikkim Democratic Front is a party of the Sikkimese community. We must think about the ordinary poor people who live in villages. We must think about their problems and their families. Our party must think about nutrition for children, treatment for the ill and post- childbirth care. Our party must think why our children drop out from school. They must think as to how our children can be made skilled and independent. Our party must think about the senior citizens and women because SDF is their party too. Ministers, MLAs and party workers on all levels must think this way. Government, party and leader must be able to feel every problem of the people. All our party workers must be humane and sensitive. Only then our party will become the party of the Sikkimese people and it will become the party of the Sikkimese community. Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalis who are well off can manage without our help. But we have to think about the rights, opportunities for those poor Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalis. We have been providing many conveniences for the poor. But this does not make them wealthy overnight because they lack knowledge and capability. This is the basic problem and it leads to class discrimination. It is a daunting challenge and a Herculean task for us to uplift all the poor people in the society. It may take hundreds of years to accomplish this. Our job is to bring the sub standard people to a higher level and develop their knowledge and intellect. This will be possible only when the new generation of the poor are educated and their intellect reaches a higher level. That is why we are working to uplift the poor. Great personalities like Lenin, Marx and Lincoln also did not become immediately successful. Whatever you say but we have been considerably successful. That is why our revolution is a revolution to make the ignorant knowledgeable. Our revolution is a revolution to make the poor rich, to make the helpless independent. Our revolution is a revolution to make every Sikkimese their owner and their master.
We must take our party to the villages. Our party workers must follow the direction and philosophy of the party. We all have to work to strengthen Sikkim and the Sikkimese people. The Constitution gives equal rights to everyone but it cannot give equal results. Only the educated and able people can transform their rights into results. We are on a mission to make our people capable. We want to make Sikkimese people capable of enjoying the rights given to them by the Constitution. People are not being able to take advantage of their status despite being Scheduled Tribes. Nobody, whether Other Backward Classes, Most Backward Class, Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes cannot enjoy equal rights unless the poor are at par with the rich. We can call this a democratic paradox.
We have a development model that is designed to uplift the poor.  This is our biggest programme. The biggest programme of the SDF party is to make a classless society of the Sikkimese community. If you ask anyone about the problem in Sikkim, he will say unemployment is a problem. Some political traders and reactionaries are trying to politicise the unemployed people. We are worried about this. Today the literacy rate in Sikkim is 83%. Ten percent are elderly citizens and seven percent are children. We can say that we have almost 100 percent literacy. Nowhere in the world do all educated people get jobs. It is impossible for 100 percent of the people to get government jobs. We have to accept this reality. We cannot solve unemployment problem only with government job. Many countries have accepted this truth. But in Sikkim, Sikkimese people get all the jobs. We have safeguarded it. But we must make our society aware. There is cut throat competition for jobs. There is reservation for everyone.  No injustice has been done to anyone on the basis of caste, birth or religion.
Now you get jobs on the basis of your merit in the interview and not on the basis of certificate. You must prepare well for the interview. You must develop your personality. This message should go to everyone. The job of the government is to provide alternatives for government jobs. And we are doing that. But some people cannot accept this and they go around talking about unemployment. We want to train our drop outs and convert them into capable human resource. Our party workers must spread this kind of messages to the people the way I do. You must see into the problems of the people. Educated youth must also give advice. You must encourage people to engage in tourism, floriculture, agriculture related professions.   There is a huge demand for candidates in pharmacy. We must advice the youth to study pharmacy. Some people allege that we have sold our rivers etc but nobody talks about the benefits that power projects and the advantages of organic farming. We have done such work that a revenue of Rs. 1,00000 crore will be generated in the next 35 years. People will get to enjoy the fruit of all our hard work. But we must do the work by ourselves otherwise people from outside will come and reap the benefits. We must bring a change in our mindset. We need a revolution, a revolution that will bring a change in our profession.  We need a revolution in our thoughts.
Now nobody will be poor in Sikkim. Nobody will be hungry. But everybody will have to work. Everyone must make use of the opportunities. That is our dream and programme. It is a revolution to make Sikkim poverty-free and a producer State. You are in the party high command. So you need to take the responsibility of the party and the Government. People complain that they don’t get anything. Founder workers must be more concerned about all these things. Seniors must work with greater responsibility. Seniors have a big contribution towards a better Sikkim. You must not have grievances. You must take the responsibility of the village, party and the Government. MLAs, party office bearers, Panchayats must look up to the founder members.
All our friends from the party must look towards the villages. Now we have party offices in every ward. We must run these offices properly. You must study the party literature and also distribute them. The people of the village have to take the responsibility of the village. Gram Panchayats must resolve the problems at the village level, district level Panchayats and party workers must handle the problems of the districts and constituency level workers should handle the problems of the constituencies. The problems of the women’s wing and other fronts of the party must be solved then and there. SDF party is the party of the poor. It is a party of the Scheduled Castes, it is a party of the Scheduled Tribes. It is a party of the OBCs and MBCs. SDF is the last party of all the Sikkimese people.
Our party is not a party of goondaism. And it is not a party that tolerates goondaism. It is a party which teaches a lesson to people who do injustice. But we must not have resentment against each other in the party. We are in the mission for building anew. We all are members of this great campaign. We have been working with our focus on villages. We will further strengthen our focus. We must give an answer to the rumours floated by the opposition. We must ensure timely completion of all sanctioned work and schemes. All the work must be qualitative. People have a grievance that there is no OAP in villages. Our party workers must find out why people are not getting it. Sometimes I hear that our friends from the party have grievances against the Government. Ninety nine percent of the work of the Government is to make policies. The work of the bureaucracy is to implement the policies. It is the work of the employees. People have not suffered because of the policies, programmes and schemes of the Government.  We are the number one State in the country in these things. If people are suffering, it is only from the level of the bureaucracy. Our party must look into such things. If people are the masters of the Government then they are also the masters of the officers and employees as well. We see delay in implementation of work. There should be a debate on this in the whole of Sikkim. The message should go to employees that people should not suffer. We have not given any trouble to the people.
Different kinds of pamphlets are being circulated in villages. Lots of things are said on social media. We must condemn false accusations immediately. I want to request you to work hard like I do. We will soon have youth meetings and youth awareness programmes in all the four districts.  We must include everyone in our campaign. The youth need Sikkim more than I do. The youth will be more affected if something goes wrong with Sikkim. If our youth are not aware about politics then who will run Sikkim in the future?  SDF is a mutual party of the Sikkimese community. Let’s include all youth in the SDF party. You all are leaders like me. That is why all of you have to take the same amount of responsibility that I take. If somebody falls sick in a village then the party must help that person. Let’s run the party like a big society, a big family. Let this Kranti Diwas be historic.
Thank you!

“A leader must experience the life of everyone… That is sensitivity”

CM Speaks:-
Intro: The seventh phase of the State Green Mission commenced officially from the premises of Dentam Senior Secondary School on the 15th of June, 2012. Dentam Senior Secondary has been recently awarded as a Green School at the national level. The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, was the chief guest for the programme. His speech is reproduced below:
I am here to place my views in front of you all. We have not had our lunch yet. Let’s have some food for thought today. There is an acute dearth of mental contemplation in Sikkim. Let’s look at ways to address this problem. I want you to understand what I am going to say without any prejudice.
Today I am going to focus more on students. I am going to talk on the aims, dreams, environment and responsibilities. Religious teachers and science have different theories about the origin of the earth. Some scientists advocate the Big Bang Theory while Darwin proposed the Theory of Evolution. We are regarded as children of Adam and Eve while some consider humans to be the off springs of Manu and Satrupa. But we must accept the fact that we live on earth. The earth is our mutual home. Sikkim is situated in one corner of the earth. Whatever happens on earth has both direct and indirect impact on us as well.
We all talk about global warming. But nobody makes any effort to understand the reasons for global warming. The Vice-President of America, Al Gore received the Nobel Prize for his work on global warming. He received the Nobel Prize for having for his efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"
We cannot expect only two or three people to work miracles to counter global warming. The efforts of all seven billion people on earth are required to save the earth from the ill-effects of global warming. We must live in unison with the environment. It is only then that we can save the earth.
We started Green Mission as a baby step towards conservation of the environment. We declared 1996 as the Green Revolution Year. We gradually took this programme to the people. But there was a lot of opposition from the people. When we banned grazing in forests, irresponsible politicians instigated the people and herders even formed associations! People protested against such environment-friendly initiatives. But people gradually understood and accepted it. Today, masses have become more conscious about the environment than people in the Government.
After that we started the Green Mission. Today is the launch of the seventh phase. This initiative that we have taken will find a place in history. Man will have to live in harmony with Nature. May be Sikkim will provide inspiration for love of the environment. I found Los Angeles city barren and dull. May be it is because of the season. We humans are an inseparable part of Nature so we like to live in harmony with Nature and live in flow of Nature. When this flow breaks, then people become monotonous like the monotony that is caused by the same season throughout the year.
We have four seasons. Spring is lively while winter is dull. But it is different in Los Angeles. We are interdependent and interrelated in Nature. We are living on earth because of the sun, water and air. I love trees. We give carbon dioxide to them. They give us oxygen. If we harm the environment, we will also suffer. We launched Ten Minutes to Earth programme to spread the message of living in harmony with nature. This is our pavitra kranti. In the past there were tree huggers in India. We should not sacrifice our age old principles. If we do this, our civilisation will come under threat. We must retain and protect our identity. We have a wonderful tradition of revering our elders.
Sikkim perhaps is the first State in the world to ban grazing and killing of wild animals. We banned the use of non-biodegradable materials. We banned the felling of trees. We started the concept of Smriti Van. We all must keep our premises clean, whether it is our houses, offices or schools. This way the whole of Sikkim will become clean. Nowadays, we look for safaikarmacharis to clean our houses. This is an irony. Sikkim is ours. We must take its responsibility. There has been a demand for a peon for this school. Keeping peons is a trend in third world countries. We must do our work by ourselves if we want to make Sikkim better and richer. We have started Green Fund. We have done this to make people responsible. We want a scientific mind to develop in Sikkim. You are the owner of this earth and you must protect it as well. We are the pioneers in many green initiatives. I have bagged the Greenest Chief Minister Award. Sikkim has been rated as the ‘most sustainable State.’ You all deserve congratulations for this. This is development. Anything that brings name and fame for Sikkim is development.
This world runs on knowledge and science. We have started organic farming. This is an environment-friendly activity. Organic farming is pavitra kranti for us. A floriculturist can teach about flowers but he cannot say for whom the flower blossoms. Does a flower blossom for itself? Flowers follow the law of nature. Bees come and pollination occurs. We pluck flowers thinking that they blossom for us. Every creature in this world has its own purpose. I agree with what Einstein has said. Einstein has said that there is infinite power in nature. Scientists can make flowers out of flowers but they cannot make a different kind of flower. We have to live in harmony with nature.
There has been an increase in the forest cover of Sikkim in 1994, it was 44.2 percent and now it has increased to 59 percent. This kind of increase has not happened anywhere in the world! I am a responsible Chief Minister. I work for both the present and future of Sikkim. Our society must be debatable. I want to tell the teachers and students to know us through the work we have done. And please work responsibly.
I came across two students who were selling totola flowers. I was startled to see this! We are giving all kinds of support to the people since the last 18 years!  Where are the resources going? Why are people still in pitiable condition in villages? In the first Assembly session in 1994, we had announced that 70 percent of the budget would be spent for rural development. Other States in our country does not have such a policy. In accordance with this policy, 70 percent of the budget has to come to the villages no matter what.
Injustice is injustice, whoever does it. We must protest. There are some people in villages who deprive the masses of development. We must not be hypocrites. Outer beauty and inner beauty should go hand in hand. A person who can speak the truth is great! He Who Knows Himself Can Alone Speak the Truth!
Buddha became God. We don’t ask for his Sikkim Subject. Nobody says that Tenzing Sherpa was a citizen of Nepal. But people say that his children are from Nepal. Apart from Lord Buddha, his children are considered to be from Nepal. A successful person is a global citizen. That is why we must acquire the ability to become global citizens.
I will fulfil all the demands that have come to me from the school. This is the third generation of educated lot in Sikkim. When we formed the Government, the literacy rate of Sikkim was 57 percent. Today it has increased to 86 percent. You must be able to give continuity to the work that we have started in Sikkim. You must take things to a logical conclusion. The per capita debt in our country as of now is Rs. 33,000. America is the country that takes the highest amount of loan. The per capita debt on every American is $ 55,000. This is the state of affairs in the world. But Sikkim is doing well. The per capita income in Sikkim is Rs. one lakh. When we came to power, the per capita income was Rs. 9,000.
The rate of development has trebled since the Second World War. But there has not been proportionate increase in our happiness. Material development alone does not provide happiness. A man becomes happy only when he becomes responsible. But our people do not become sad when Sikkim becomes spoilt or when Sikkim becomes better. The Government provides free education. Health and education are very expensive in America. But people are becoming educated and knowledgeable. But it is an irony that students here do not study well despite getting education for free. We have so many schools and colleges.
Dentam School has fared well in the Board examinations. I congratulate the teachers, students and everyone for this feat. We are starting a new degree college in Gangtok. Sacrifice is a prerequisite for success. It is difficult but not impossible to become successful. We must take life as a challenge and not as a liability. You are born with a lot of potentials. You can become Einstein. You can become Pawan Chamling. I am successful but I try to be a good human being. Ravan and Hitler were successful but they were not good human beings. Ram, Buddha, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln were good human beings. The philosophy of Abraham Lincoln is held in high regard even today. He gave the idea that rule should be by, for and of the people.
Politics is an intellectual competition to determine which competitor can run the society, State and country in the best possible manner. Politics is guiding those who are lost. Students must understand politics. Our students must be like Grace Bedell. America is what it is today because of students like Grace Bedell. Sikkim must also become like America. Students must keep an eye on politics and politicians. They should not stay away from politics saying “politics is a dirty game.” The quality of politics in Sikkim has improved and we are enjoying democratic dividends.
Students also have a responsibility to ensure that Sikkim is not spoilt. You see Nepal and Darjeeling. These places have not developed because the leaders are irresponsible. We work in coordination with Delhi. We have not switched parties or flags. We engage in responsible politics.
I am a living history. I am the person who shouted “we want democracy” in Singtam on 5th April, 1976. All three communities had reservation in the Sikkim State Council before Sikkim merged with India. After the merger, in 1978, Bhutia-Lepcha communities were given recognition and seat reservation. The rest became General. Four communities got Scheduled Castes statues. After we formed the Government, we accorded OBC status to all the left out communities. We gave Tribal status to Limbu-Tamang communities. But they are yet to get Tribal seat reservation because there is no reservation of Tribal seat in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. There are twelve seats for Bhutia-Lepcha communities. They have special protection. We have constantly demanded seat reservation for Limbu-Tamang communities in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. We have also demanded Income Tax exemption for the old businessmen of Sikkim. We must have the feeling that we are Sikkimese and we are Indians.
Development, wealth, knowledge, wisdom, everything is for man. Life is the most precious asset in this world. Knowledge, religion, law, rules, politics are for humans and not vice versa. But we are misusing a lot of things in this world. You must first confirm things before you believe in them. There is no alternative to education to alleviate poverty. Education gives knowledge and knowledge gives power.
There is a lot of competition in the world.  You don’t get jobs easily. You must become your own masters. The Government has created a lot of opportunities and people need to avail of them. We are opening SRM University in Sikkim. Tenzing Hillary Park is coming up in this place. A road is being connected to Nepal. Tourism will flourish here. We must make Sikkim a State of clean professions. To earn a livelihood by working hard is a clean profession. The airport will be ready by 2013. A skywalk is coming up in West Sikkim. This will enhance the image of Sikkim.
People are welcome to do politics and float new political parties but they are not allowed to mislead the people. They must be able to provide alternative solutions to the problems of the people.
We have opened Agriculture College, Pharmacy College and NIT. We will open model schools in every district. We will conduct aptitude test for students from next year. We will make health check up for students mandatory. Please run the Literacy campaign in schools properly.
The world is going from bad to worse. We must keep Sikkim pure. Today, around 30 percent of children in the world are born out of wedlock. Barrack Obama has endorsed gay and lesbian marriages. A leader must work to save mankind. Politics is the job of giving happiness, peace and security to the people. This is science and this is the truth.
Students must think how their homes and villages should be like. The Greeks thought 25 thousand years ago about how their country should be. Greece is considered to be the Mecca of knowledge. Plato was born in Greece. He has said that a leader should be philosophical. We become what we think. Winston Churchill had once said “never, never, never give up.” I have not politicised students. students must not jeopardise their career and studies by joining political associations. You must keep your studies untouched by such things.
I have a lot of respect for teachers. But I request you to be responsible. Please be exemplary. You can ask for my help whenever you are in trouble. I am for you.
The Plan budget of Sikkim is just Rs. 1700 crore out of which Rs. 247 crore is spent on pension, Rs. 13,00 crore on salaries, Rs. 100 crore on fuel and travelling allowance of employees. The total expenditure is around Rs. 1347 crore. Government employees must understand this and make more contribution to the development of Sikkim. If the people of Sikkim don’t understand, then a day might come when we will not have money to pay salaries. Some people talk about change. But change has to be for the better. Reactionaries don’t let us work for the people. They create hurdles for us at every step. But sadly people do not speak up.
If a person is poor at heart, he cannot do anything. A leader must be honest. I request all Government officials to spend every rupee for the work of the people. We started the Co-operative movement to help the poor. Natural calamity work should be done properly. Our work should be qualitative. Our teachers, engineers, students, leaders, opposition parties and everyone must be like that of Switzerland. We have made the action plan for tomorrow and people must make it successful.
We have done a lot for the policemen. We have made a provision to make them ASIs and upgrade them. Police must be for the people. You should not be caste or religion police. We will do the same for Forest and Excise Departments. A leader must experience the life of everyone. That is sensitivity. That is pavitra kranti. All of us must come together to save our society from afflictions like drugs, AIDS, MDR etc.
Thank you!

“Let us not only restrain the heartless, but also change their hearts” Intro: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s address at the inauguration of Sikkim High Court Auditorium in Gangtok on 15 June, 2011…

Respected Mr Justice P.D.Dinakaran Saheb, Hon’ble Chief Justice of High Court of Sikkim, respected Mr. Justice S.P.Wangdi Saheb, Hon’ble Judge, High Court of Sikkim, Members of the Sikkim Superior Judicial Service, Members of Sikkim Judicial Service, Members of Sikkim State Legal Services Authority, Officers and staff of the Sikkim High Court, President, Bar Association of Sikkim and Members of the esteemed legal fraternity, ladies and gentlemen.
At the outset, I would like to thank all of you for providing me this opportunity and honour to inaugurate the Sikkim High Court Auditorium which inter alia would further promote the cause of peace, tranquility and communal harmony in Sikkim.
Sikkim, by general consensus, is the most peaceful State in the Country. Over the decades, we have been able to provide the best example in terms of maintenance of law and order, citizens’ security and social cohesiveness. Besides being surrounded by three international borders, we have offered the best case of how people living in the border State remain immune to all the fluid socio-political atmosphere prevailing across the border.
Sikkim is the youngest member of the North Eastern Council dedicated towards development of this isolated region connected with the mainland India only through the chicken neck corridor. There still remains this general feeling of neglect among people in the region. However, ever since our inclusion into the Council, we have been able to fulfill the twin objectives of emotional integration of Sikkimese people with the mainstream. And secondly, promote the atmosphere of peace and competitive developmental scenario in the region.
Through our own innovation, we have conceived range of development strategies based on rich natural resources found in the State which is being replicated in many other sister states. This way, we have been able to stabilize hill economy, making significant improvement in all the socio-economic indices of the State and the region.
Rule of law is paramount in the functioning of State Government. In addition to all the democratic dividends, we have devised special program for the deprived section of the people, the poor and the vulnerable. This explains as to why we earmarked 70 percent budget for rural upliftment ever since 1994. This is important in the context of keeping peace anywhere in the world. When there is justice rendered and development happened for all sections of people, peace is the obvious by-product.
All the democratic institutions like the Executive, Judiciary, Legislative and the Fourth Estate are meant to serve the larger interest of the people and the Nation at large. We are all servants to give service to the people and Nation. All these institutions should be utilized for common good and not misused for some sectarian purpose or individual interest. All of us should be responsible including the Indian citizens so that the various provisions available could be properly used for greater well being as part of the democratic dividend.  However, it pains me to recount how in many cases, the democratic provisions are being misused by some vested interest groups. Like for example, in majority of cases, misusing the provision, information under RTI is being sought by vested parties without any real interest to secure any genuine information for any genuine purpose.
When there is good thing happening in the society and the nation, there are multi-dimensional factors acting upon one another to bring about desired socio-economic changes. Collectively all of us must work together and what we gain out of this collective endeavour is the democratic dividend. However, in the contrary, when we fail to act responsibly or any of the democratic organs cares less to act its part fully, we have to collectively suffer democratic deficit to de-stabilize our homes, society, State and the Nation. Therefore, all of us, wherever we are and in whatever role, must be responsible and accountable to the larger interest of the society and the Nation.    
Sikkim, through the active participation of the Hon’ble High Court, the State Government and the        peace-loving citizens, has always remained an oasis of peace, oasis of development and an oasis of progress. I am thankful for the pro-active role played by the Hon’ble High Court in ensuring justice and fairplay in the life of the people.  
With the inauguration of this new Auditorium, we have added one durable infrastructure for the general use and happiness of all the Legal fraternity.  This Auditorium, fully equipped with acoustic system, totally air conditioned with a Judges’ Lounge will help our fellow friends celebrate life in the right ambience and the right spirit.
We are happy about the fact that the Hon’ble High Court of Sikkim has the unique distinction for the speedy and quick disposal of cases in the entire country which itself is an achievement. The other notable feature apart from the speedy and quick disposal of the cases has been that the Members of the Bar are given full opportunity to express their submissions in detail for consideration of the Hon’ble High Court. I am happy that the Hon’ble High Court of Sikkim has been instrumental in over seeing smooth legal redressal to all those seeking justice. The Hon’ble High Court has delivered quick justice to one and all. I am thankful to the Hon’ble High Court for guiding the judicial system in the State.
I am also happy to know that the aggressive movement of legal literacy and awareness programmes embarked upon by the State Legal Services Authority throughout the State, has greatly helped one and all sections of the society to become aware of their rights by creating legal awareness amongst the people.
With the advancement of time and with all the modern means of development instruments, there has been manifold increase in the people’s expectation, their hopes and aspiration. Owing to the process of globalization and liberalization, the Sikkimese society opened itself to outside influence brought about by IT revolution, Home theatre, modern gadgets, mobile phones et al. This is, of course, inevitable in a world which is known more as a global village.
Amidst all the changes, we are essentially the Sikkimese people bound by history, ethnicity, socio-cultural richness and that civilizational legacy of mutual respect, harmony, peace and tranquility.
Martin Luther King, once said: “Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless”
As we move ahead together with our shared value and our shared commitment, we must continue to remain that agent and that force to not only restrain the heartless but also change the heart of the heartless. During the last 17 years, I daresay, we have won the hearts of the heartless and change our society for the better through political fair play, decency in public life and through granting of honourable space to one and all. That means, we have fully honoured the conditions as envisaged under the democratic form of government and the Hon’ble High Court has further added strength and support to all of us in the smooth functioning of government in Sikkim.
We believe in the rule of law and as a democrat I always honour the sanctity of the Honourable High Court. During the last 17 years, we have created many judicial infrastructures both in the capital and in other districts. The sanctity of rule of law being supreme in our mind, the requirements of the Hon’ble Judiciary have always been uppermost in our mind for quick fulfillment as ultimately they are all meant for the welfare of the common man. I assure you of my full cooperation in fulfilling all other requirements to further strengthen the delivery system under the judicial services.
As I record my sincere thanks to the Hon’ble Chief Justice Shri PD Dinakaran Saheb, Hon’ble Justice Shri SP Wangdi Saheb and the entire High Court fraternity, I also seek to congratulate the Hon’ble Chief Justice for providing social services throughout the State apart from regular case disposal. I would also like to congratulate Sikkim State Legal Services Authority for their informative film and also for their praiseworthy services rendered to the common man of the State.
Thank you.
Jai Hind

“Our work culture needs to become relevant to the time and age”

CM Speaks -
Intro: A meeting with the Chief Secretary, Heads of Departments, Principal Directors, Directors and Chief Engineers was held at Samman Bhavan on 18 June 2013. The Chief Minister addressed the meeting after the Secretaries and Heads of different Departments presented reports of their respective Departments. The CM’s address is excerpted below:
Chief Secretary Madam, DGP, Principal  Secretary, Special Secretaries, Principal Directors, Directors, Chief Engineers and Heads of Departments.
This is a high level meeting of the officers of the State. That is why we have called Directors, Chief Engineers and high ranking officials to this meeting. People have given us the mandate to run the Government. We have called this meeting to discuss the welfare of the people. We will talk on our accountability and responsibility. You must take it seriously. We will talk and discuss on the responsibilities and accountability of the employee mechanism and the responsibilities and accountability of the Governmental mechanism. In a democratic set up, people are the powerhouse. People have provided us the power to run the Government. They have empowered us. People have empowered us to make policies, projects and schemes and we are doing exactly that.
Finance Bill is passed in the Legislative Assembly. After the Council of Ministers passes the plan then the bureaucracy has one hundred percent responsibility for its implementation. You must be responsible to the Government the way we are answerable to the State, country and the people. But the weakness of the Indian bureaucracy is that it lacks the feeling that it has 99 percent responsibility for the implementation of the policies made by the Government. Our Indian bureaucratic mechanism is capable and good but it is due to the lack of this feeling that we lag behind when compared to most of the countries. But we tend to blame the Government for our backwardness. Nobody thinks why the policies, rules, schemes of the Government are not implemented. The Tourism Secretary, Forest Secretary and IPR Secretary just now talked regarding environmental clearance for the Bhaley Dhunga skywalk project. We have brought such a unique project like the sky walk but we are not being able to start it on time. The reason for the delay is that we need to procure environmental clearance and clear other formalities from the Supreme Court.
We are working in the interest of the country and the State. This will benefit both the State and the country. Schemes and projects that will be beneficial for both the State and the country should not be lost in the web of the framework of rules. Bureaucracy only shows rules and nobody thinks about the welfare of the State and the country. Bureaucracy must not become a hurdle for development.  I want the bureaucracy of Sikkim to be the best bureaucracy in the country. Let our bureaucracy be a model and let this message go out in the whole country. Every officer should take a personal interest in the policies and programmes of the Government. Please work in the interest of the people, State and the country. You must work with a feeling of generosity.
Rule can be changed. Any rule can be changed if people want or if it is in the interest of the people. The employee mechanism must be able to use rules for mass welfare. But now if we go to see, rules have become a hindrance for mass welfare. I request the bureaucracy of Sikkim to set an example by working for mass welfare. We have been running the Government for twenty years. We have made this Government the Government of the bureaucracy, Government of the poor and the Government of a State of India. We have been running this Government as a Government of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. Everybody should be protected in a Government. Let the poor, businessmen, bureaucracy, everyone say that it is their Government. We have worked for the welfare of the Government employees in twenty years. We have been giving timely promotion to everyone. We changed the Service Rules for the welfare of the employees. We give the best perks and facilities and salaries to employees. We have given respect and honour to bureaucracy. Nobody threatens anybody in the name of the ruling party. This is what intellectuals need. You need peace and security and the Government has provided them. So you must work with enthusiasm. Let our administration be alive. Bureaucracy is the cream of the society. So it must be lively and vibrant. I feel sad when I don’t see that happening. We have everything. I wish everyone shared my passion and my enthusiasm. Please work with enthusiasm.
The Chief Secretary presented a report on the previous coordination meeting. Let’s decide what all we need to do.
Our implementation factor is weak. We all have to pay attention to this. All work must be completed within the stipulated time frame. All our work should be time bound. But for this, we all need to be honest, right from a peon to the Chief Secretary, from a Panchayat to the Chief Minister.
Our work is often delayed on all levels. Tender process is delayed, work order is issued late, and contractor delays the commencement of work. Stock materials arrive late and there is delay in the payment of the bill. Agencies on all levels are responsible for the delay. So I request the Heads of the Departments to stop this cycle of delay.
The 42 day tour was also discussed today. Whatever work the Government sanctioned during that period, the budget is the same. Irrigation Department has been sanctioned 63 crore for the schemes sanctioned during the 42 day tour but just now we don’t have the money to give. You must understand that there is no separate budget for the 42 day tour.
I request all the Heads of the Departments to meet the public at least for one hour from 11 am to 12 noon. I request you all to bring a change in your behavioural attitude. People are the masters. They are our kings and queens. So you must behave in a humble manner while dealing with them. Let there be a paradigm shift in your work culture and conduct. We hear a lot of complaints against doctors. We must democratize our thought process as we are in a democratic system. We have to serve the people. We have to give them qualitative service. We must change ourselves for this. We must be ready for this. Our administration must now become people-centric and people-friendly.
- There is a system of e-tender for tender work above Rs. 3 crore. We must make everyone understand this. This is a step to take our State towards the cyber age. We must tell everyone clearly that we have to do e-tender. If we still do paper tender, then it is a regressive act for the State.
- The Secretaries of Forest and Tourism Departments must work to make the sky walk project successful by obtaining all the necessary clearances. Other Departments must also coordinate and help with this.
- Forest Department must look into the requirement for Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Scheme. There should be no hindrance of any kind.
- Let’s celebrate the fortnight from 15th June-30th June from this year as Environment Festival. All Departments must engage their labourers and plant trees. Let’s take the Green Mission on a war footing. The Forest Department should provide saplings to everyone.
- It is a healthy imagination to develop our roads as green roads. It is possible to do this. The Buildings Department must take this forward.
- The Secretary of HRD Department in his report said that excess teachers have been sent to schools which have a dearth of teachers. I thank him. Every year we hear that there is a lack of money to give salaries to employees and teachers under HRD Department. The Department must decide on time and properly on the requirement of teachers and their salaries. We also hear that there is still dearth of teachers in some schools. I heard that the teachers of Blind School at Namchi have not received their salaries. I have also heard that there is a dearth of teachers in Tikpur. The HRD Department must look into these issues.
- All ongoing schemes must be completed on scheduled time.
- We have recently revised the tender schedule. Now no recommendation should be brought for 20 percent above tender. This kind of wrong things should not happen.
- We had given money for building, quarter, canal, road repairs under NDRF, PM’s Relief package. But the repairs have not been satisfactory. The work under NDRF, PM’s Relief Package and 13th Finance Commission must be completed immediately. The work is being done in a slack manner. We must also utilise the grant received from the 13th Finance Commission at the earliest.
- There is a need for a ring road in Gangtok given the traffic congestion. The Chief Secretary must bring all the Departments together for this work.
- There is duplication among Departments with regard to some schemes. Distribution of milch cows is an example. The Animal Husbandry Department must be the certifying Department for distribution of cattle no matter under which Department the scheme comes.  Similarly, construction of roads is the work of the Roads & Bridges Department (Public Works Department). But RMD D is also doing it. This may lead to the completed work being sanctioned again. This must not happen. There should be understanding and coordination between all the Departments.
- Stock materials procurement should be looked into at the beginning itself. The work is delayed if the stock material is not available on time. People suffer if there is delay in the work. People should not suffer because of such petty issues. Sikkim should not suffer.
- Let’s not bring seeds and seedlings from outside from now onwards.
- Cases should not be filed just because you have to achieve the revenue target. If somebody says that revenue target has been determined from a higher level, then it is misleading. Drivers should not suffer because of such things. Revenue target is achieved through excise and sales tax etc.
- We need a lot of reforms in Power & Energy Department. Power projects must be completed in stipulated time. All the schemes and projects of the Government must finish on time. We hear about linesmen dying due to electrocution. We must give justice in such cases. Training must be provided to untrained linesmen.
- People try to raise hue and cry regarding power projects. Political parties and non Governmental organisations always have something to say about power projects. They try to make people see the disadvantages of power projects. But nobody talks about the advantages. We will earn 500 crore per annum once the Teesta hydel project is completed. This will increase to 17500 crore in the next 35 years. All the projects will come back to the Government. Teesta Stage III is the second biggest project under PPP mode in India. This is an example in itself. We will have a readymade income of around 1,00000 crore in the next 35 years through hydel projects, tourism and pharmaceutical. But nobody speaks on this. Bureaucrats must speak on such issues. You all must speak.
- Education, health, tourism, hotel industry, industries, power projects, agro-based industries, organic farming is our priority sectors. The Government has an investment friendly policy. I request our officials also to be investment friendly. We must understand that investors come to give us something. But we Indians have a tendency to scare investors away. We in Sikkim scare investors with things like Revenue Order Number 1 and Sikkim Subject. We must save Revenue Order Number 1 and see our benefit at the same time. All Departments must have an investment friendly attitude. All Departments must appoint a separate Officer to deal with investors. Everyone must coordinate. A big hotel chain wanted to invest in Sikkim but the delays and the hindrances deterred them so they finally did not come to Sikkim.
- License for companies and trade licences should be issued immediately if all the required papers are in order. We must encourage our educated youth to take up business.
- We must be very careful while issuing driving licenses. Licences must be issued only to those who are absolutely proficient in driving.
- Birth certificates should be issued only after proper verification. Birth certificate becomes an identity. This leads to influx. So the administration, concerned Secretary and officials must be careful about this.
- Local newspapers sometimes carry misleading news items. The concerned Department should immediately condemn such news items through the IPR Department. If we don’t refute a false claim then it might become a proof in the court. That is why we have to refute false allegations and charges.
- Government properties must not be abandoned. Departments must see how buildings, land and vehicles can be disposed off in a proper manner. You should auction items if it is needed. The Dalda factory now resembles a no man’s land.
- Money for midday meals, old age pensions, salaries of Muster Roll employees must be paid every month.
- We have received reports that the money has not been received as per the new rates. The new rate must be implemented immediately and the payments must be made.
- MDR, tuberculosis, drugs, HIV, AIDS have become a matter of grave concern. The Secretaries of Health Department and Social Welfare Department must take necessary steps to obviate these problems. We must fight against these problems. We must have both curative and preventive measures.
- We must not let things like drugs, rape and suicide increase in the State. We must start helplines.
- All the Acts passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly must be enforced. All Departments must pay attention to this. We have passed a lot of resolutions. These resolutions must be sent to the concerned Ministries.
- All the assets on the roadside must be transferred to the Tourism Department no matter under which Department they come.
- We need to further strengthen power decentralisation.  We have renamed BDO as Village Development Officer. We had to do this as we follow the two tier Panchayat system. The post of a BDO is suitable only in a three tier Panchayati system. From now onwards, ACF, AD or any other officials must oversee work of all sectors of the Department irrespective of which section he belong to. We must empower them in this manner. This kind of Governmental message must be given immediately. And this must be implemented at the earliest.
- All our officers must go for site visits.
- The Principal Secretary must visit the districts once in every two months. The Chief Secretary must visit the districts every six months. This will result in better monitoring of all the work and schemes.
- Secretaries must conduct meetings with their officers every month and give directions regarding the Government’s policies and programmes. They must also gather information on the work being done by the officers.
- Similarly, Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries must conduct meetings with Office Superintendents and the Office Superintendents must have meetings with LDCs and peons. I give this direction.
- Our office timings are 10am-4pm. We must ensure that every body works during this time. We will earn the curse of the people if we don’t work from 10am-4pm.
- Casual leave is only ten days in a year. But we get to hear that Casual Leave exceeds ten days. We must control this.
- Employees when transferred often give the excuse of not having chair/ table so that they don’t have to work. We have to do away with this. Secretaries must provide table. Chair, work and office to the officers and employees who go on transfer.
- Everyone must have information about the number of officers and staff in their respective Departments.
- No employee or officer should be transferred without first having a replacement.
- Employees must not go around Departments chasing their TA/ DA. All their dues should be paid and action should be taken if employees are found wandering without any purpose.
- It is necessary for every Department to do proper manpower planning. We hear that drivers and conductors are in excess in Transport Department. This is a result of the absence of manpower planning. We must keep a watch on employees who are alcoholics. If somebody is not in the condition to work, then he must be removed or given compulsory retirement. The Secretary of every Department must think on this. We must make a policy regarding this matter. You must send a concrete proposal for manpower planning. Scholl expansion is under HRD Department but not classrooms. The HRDD Secretary must prepare statistics of the number of students passing out and the number of students going to college and the number of lecturers required. Resource planning needs to be done for all these things.
- We must also have a proper figure of drop outs in the State.
- We must also have information on the number of unemployed youth in the State.
- We must impart employment-oriented training. The concerned Department must bring a suitable proposal for this.
- Books need to be written on tourism, environment, organic farming and social justice. All concerned Departments must prepare books on the subjects that concern their Departments.
- All Secretaries must prepare a data bank of their respective Departments.
- Somebody immediately takes over when the position of Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a king when it is vacated. Sometimes caretaker Government is also formed if the existing Government is toppled.  But in our State if a Lower Divisional Clerk goes on leave for a month then he/ she goes locking her working space. If any employee goes on leave then a replacement should be provided immediately. This should apply right from the level of the peon. People suffer when clerical staffs go on leave. This should not happen.
- We must pay attention to the problems of the people if we want to improve our administration. People should not go back disappointed. So we must all work with a human touch. Everyone on every level must pay attention to the solutions for problems. If this is done then problems will not come up to the higher level. We must not pass the buck but try to solve the problems wherever and whenever possible. Secretaries must give this kind of direction to their officers.
- The administration must be made active on all levels in order to solve the problems of the people. The administration has to me made lively and active.
- The administration should not exhibit fatigue syndrome. Officers must possess a feeling and a sense of responsibility.
- The local administration must find out and monitor the problems of the people. If the lower level employees and officers do not do the work of the people then the Secretary must intervene. Whatever I am saying to you is in the interest of Sikkim and the Sikkimese people. I am saying all these things so that the Government becomes people-oriented and result-oriented. We are mere facilitators. You are the one who does the work. Nothing is possible unless you take responsibilities. I give policies, dreams and programmes. You have to give the result. You have 99 percent of the responsibility. Please help. We have to prepare the BPL list at the earliest. We are thinking of giving rice at Rs. 2/kg. But it is getting delayed. I visited Hur Hurey Dara yesterday. I noticed a broken railing. A GCI sheet had covered the broken portion. I felt that such a petty work could have been done by engaging a Muster Roll carpenter. The Government has appointed 20,000 Muster Roll employees for such work. This shows that we lack the will to work. We lack the feeling of ownership of public properties. I was sad to see that broken railing.
We reached Ridge Park later. The water fountain was not functioning. We had given the message in the earlier meeting that all water fountains must always be kept working. There is a need for some space for emergency cases in STNM Hospital. A small shed could have been made in the premises for emergencies. We all must take whatever responsibilities we can from our individual levels.  
Thank you!

“I want Sikkimese people to Rule the World”

CM Speaks:-
Intro: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling inaugurated the Maghey Sankranti festival at Jorethang on 14 January, 2013. The address of the Chief Minister is given below:
People from Sikkim and other places have gathered here today. I welcome all of them. The newly elected representatives are also present here. I want to congratulate them on behalf of the Government and the party. I also take this opportunity to congratulate all the party-workers, MLAs, Ministers and well-wishers who worked relentlessly for the Panchayat election. It is because of your hard work that SDF Party won 95 percent seats in the Panchayat election. The remaining five seats were also more or less won by SDF. SDF won almost 99 percent of the seats.
This Panchayat election has been a historical one as fifty percent of the eats were reserved for women. No other State in the country has such a system. I congratulate all the elected women candidates. The reservation is a result of the principle of social justice that SDF Party is committed to. I request everyone to understand the principles and philosophy of the SDF Party.
Two women have been elected as Zilla Upadhyakshas this time. Please use your position to work for the welfare of the people of Sikkim. Zilla Panchayat members, Gram Panchayta members should work in coordination with each other. Everybody must go through the Panchayat manifesto. People must tell the Panchayats about the promises made in the manifesto and their fulfilment. This is the 21stcentury. People will not listen to you just because you are a Panchayat, MLA or an Officer. SDF Party has made people conscious and aware. You must visit the villages, assess the needs and demands of the people and accordingly make recommendation to theGovernment. Panchayats must recommend work that will make the people productive. Demands and schemes will not be taken up unless recommended by the Panchayat. I will meet only those who come with recommendation of the Panchayat. This will help us to identify which work is genuine. There is a huge demand for protective work. But the work has not been sanctioned in places where there is genuine need. We must help those who are in need.
The Panchayats must keep an eye on all the work being done in their areas to ensure that the quality of work is not compromised.  Sikkim Government is responsible for only the supply of LPG cylinders through STCS. We are not responsible for companies that have taken the franchise for distribution of LPG cylinders. We must investigate if these agencies indulge in discrepancies.
We have done a lot for the people. No other place has a Government which is so concerned about the people. Panchayats must do the work of the people and also take responsibility of the party. They must work in consultation with the people. You must see for yourself what Sikkim was and what it has become. You must accept the truth. We have to give development and benefits to the people before anything else. Sikkim is doing well. SDF Party has removed famine from Sikkim. We started free distribution of school uniforms and text-books. We have opened colleges and universities throughout the State. We have started sending our youth for IAS coaching to Delhi so that the children of the poor get equal opportunities. We sent 140youth in 2012. Parents should not tell their children to look for jobs on Ad hoc or Muster Roll. Our children are not born only to work on Ad hoc and Muster Roll. Our children must not undermine their abilities.
To be successful, these three things are necessary:
1. Proper utilisation of time.
2. Knowing one’s strengths and putting it to good use.
3. Focusing on what one wants to do.
A person can be successful if s/he implements these three things. The youth of Sikkim should spend their energies to be successful. We will always help you. We will send youth who are interested in NDA coaching. We have a Gurkha as a Lieutenant General. We will start sending youth for coaching in banking services too. We will soon have Sikkim Scouts Battalion. Fourteen hundred youth will get jobs.  The qualification would be class ten pass. If our youth want to be recruited, they should start exercising.
I am a person who wants to take Sikkim on the path of peace, security and success. It is difficult to walk on the good path but it is effortless to disrupt the path. It is easy to mislead and lie to people. Human civilisation has evolved from a wandering tendency to the agricultural age. The transition from agricultural age to the industrial age took place almost one thousand years ago but when we formed the Government, Sikkim was still in the agricultural age.  We took three giant leaps in agriculture, industries and service sectors. The Industrial age started from Europe. Service sector also started from there. Tourism also started from Europe. Italy was the first country to start tourism. But today the world has reached an age of innovative knowledge based industry. It has been only 10-15 years that we started tourism in Sikkim. People are yet to understand certain things.Our youth also think that they should get a job right after they finish their studies. But such perceptions do not work in today’s world.
Development has taken place in agriculture, service sector and industrial sector. Today, private sectors offer better salaries than Government jobs. People are competitive. Private sector has hire and fire policy. We must accept the truth. We have a lot of opportunities but we have not been able to make proper use of these opportunities. We have opened a Pharmacy College. The youth must explore all options.
Sikkim has peace and security. We need to keep it intact. We must not discriminate against anyone as far as development is concerned. You must not listen to people who oppose pro-Sikkim work that we do. They are anti-people.
They have raised the issue that Sikkim Subject was not asked for while issuing Aadhar cards. We have given protection to all the communities in the last 19 years. All Nepalis have been given OBC status. Bhutia-Lepcha seat has been protected. People must understand the truth. I am a leader who is your well-wisher. I will never betray the people. The Constitution safeguards Sikkim Subject.  There were more than 200 Central Acts enforced in Sikkim before we came to power. Direct tax had also been implemented in Sikkim.We are always honest.
Some people are spreading the rumour that the Registration of Companies Act will be nullified. But this Act is yet to be tabled inRajya Sabha. We are talking to legal experts on the issue. We have written to the Central Government saying that we do not require the Act. We want to make the people knowledgeable and capable.
Two Sikkimese heroes have become martyrs. We will name a school and a road after them. We will announce a scholarship in their memory and also make their statues. We are giving pension to unmarried women above 45 years of age. We will also sponsor children who are born in the third gender. We will give an allowance of Rs. 5000 for institutional deliveries. Taxi drivers should not charge excessive fares. This will hamper the image of Sikkim. Drivers should be appointed only after they take training under capacity building.
Ninety-six percent of the hotels in the State have been given on lease. Our people should get into hotel industry. To work for al livelihood is the mindset of a developed society. There is no dearth of jobs in Sikkim.
Health is the most invaluable asset of man. Man needs peace and a life of honour. We have guaranteed these things since the last eighteen years.
We enjoy a good image everywhere. We recently bagged the CNN IBN Diamond State Award. Sikkim was adjudged as the best State in the Small States category.
Sikkim is yours, Sikkim is ours. We all must have a sense of belonging. FDI has entered India but we will not allow FDI to come into Sikkim. We have started Co-operative Societies and they can take up work up to Rs. 3 crore. We will increase this limit to 10- 20 croreonce our people are adept. But the Co-operative Societies must notsell the work to others. We will make Development Committees at the Panchayat and ward levels. Panchayats must take full responsibilities and work.
I thank everyone who made this Maghey Mela successful. We feel encouraged when our good work is assessed.
I extend my heartiest greetings to everyone and I hope 2013 will be prosperous and progressive for Sikkim. I also wish everyone a very happy Maghey Sankranti.
Thank you.