Sikkim RTI Forum accuses IPR Deptt of unfair recruitment practices

GANGTOK, 30 Nov: Sikkim RTI Forum has levelled allegations of violation of rules of appointment in staff recruitment against the IPR Department on the basis of an RTI application it had filed.
A press release issued by the Forum’s general secretary, DK Chettri, informs that as per the reply of the IPR Department to an RTI query, 11 persons were appointed on ad-hoc basis by the State Public Service Commission [SPSC] and were later regularised by the department. On this Mr Chettri has alleged that the ad-hoc appointments were made by SPSC without any written examination or interview.
The Forum has questioned such recruitment practices and further accused the department of nepotism in recruiting staff.

ASESEUA and Sikkim RTI Forum denounce attack

GANGTOK, 08 Nov: All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA] has termed last night’s attack on the NOW! office as yet another attack on democracy by the Sikkim Democratic Front. The Association has stated that this is not the first time that the state has witnessed such an incident and alleged that every time the state administration and police have acted in a dissatisfactory manner.
Following the ruling party’s victory in the recent elections, there has been a total break down of law and order in the state, the release alleges. ASESEUA has further demanded that the Governor and the Union Government to immediately dissolve the state government and invoke Governor's rule “for proper functioning of the state at this present juncture”.
Also condemning the attack, Sikkim RTI Forum has stated in a press release that, “On 06th November the Governor of Sikkim said ‘Media is the light of Democracy’ and on 07 November, Sikkim NOW's office was attacked. We speak of democracy and we attack the wheel on which the very democracy moves”.
The Forum has stated that the attack on NOW office is not an attack on the "Press" but an attack on democracy itself. It has further stated that in order to create a healthy and informed society, a strong media is a necessity and under no circumstances will an attack on media be tolerated.

Sikkim RTI Forum alleges Lanco Energy of violating agreement

GANGTOK, 07 May: Sikkim RTI Forum has alleged that Lanco Energy Pvt. Ltd., a power project developer, is not adhering to the agreement signed with the State Government. A press release issued by the Forum states that, as per clause 4.30 of the agreement the power developers were supposed to adopt one village in the vicinity of the project site and provide facilities for the benefit of the villagers.
However, the release points out that according to the information obtained through RTI from the Energy & Power Department, Lanco Energy is yet to adopt a village which the release adds “clearly indicates that Lanco is not respecting the terms and conditions of the agreement”.
The Forum has requested the Chief Minister to look into the matter at the earliest and ensure that project developers work in accordance with the agreement.

SNT paid private construction company before completion of work, alleges Sikkim RTI Forum

GANGTOK, 02 May: The Sikkim RTI Forum has alleged that Sikkim National Transport [SNT] made full payment to Avery India Pvt Ltd for the construction of Electronic Weight Bridge at Rangpo Mining, East Sikkim and Melli Check Post, South Sikkim despite the work being incomplete.
A press release issued by the Forum’s general secretary, DK Chhetri states that according to information obtained through RTI, the work was awarded to Avery India by SNT at the cost of Rs 60 lakh and the payment has already been made. The said work was to be completed by April 2011 but is yet to be completed, the release alleges.
In an FIR lodged at Rangpo Police Station, the Forum has alleged that SNT officials responsible for the said work “favoured Avery India in bill payment violating the agreement of the said construction work”.
The release further claims that at Rangpo a sign board says that the Weight Bridge Construction work is an outcome of the Chief Minister's 100-day tour when actually the agreement with Avery India was signed in February 2011 by the Transport Department.

RTI Forum demands legal action against fake COI holders

GANGTOK, 10 April: Sikkim RTI Forum has warned that if the concerned authorities did not take appropriate legal action against the proven and cancelled 212 fake Certificate of Identification holders within one month, the Forum will file a joint FIR against these 212 fake COI holders.
The Forum revealed today that according to information furnished by the Land Revenue Department on an RTI application by it, the authorities have cancelled 212 COIs as fake till date. This cancellation, the Forum points out, proves that the concerned authority was aware that these COIs were obtained through illegal means. But cancellation is not enough, and since illegal means were used to procure such certificates, legal action needs to be taken against holders of such COI’s, the Forum argues.
Addressing a press conference today, general secretary DK Chettri and vice-president GR Rai of the Forum demanded that appropriate action be taken against government officials and employees involved in issuing these fake COIs.
The Forum has also demanded termination of services of those with fake COIs and that the government’s money spent on training students with fake COIs be redeemed as well.
Mr Chettri stated that if the authorities can file an FIR against a person for obtaining Residential Certificate by illegal means then the same should be the case for fake COI holders as well.
The Forum also released some documents of a fake COI holder which showed that the person, currently employed with the Forest Department, had his name in the voters’ lists of both Sikkim and West Bengal on the basis of fake Panchayat recommendation. According to the Forum the case of this officer is under investigation.
According to the Forum, amongst the 31,180 fake COI holders in the state, even if 30% of them are in government jobs, the system is depriving about 10,000 Sikkimese of their rights and if every two of 31,180 has one child, then there will be another 16,000 more fake COI holders in the making, resulting in a total of 47,000 outsiders enjoying the rights of a Sikkimese citizen.

Sikkim RTI Forum accuses SPDC of favoring hydel developers at the cost of State Exchequer

GANGTOK, 05 Jan: The Sikkim RTI Forum today alleged financial irregularity at the Energy & Power Department in the management of hydel projects. The group, at a press conference held here today, claimed that the State Exchequer has lost around Rs 2.72 crore because the Sikkim Power Department Corporation failed to raise the license processing fees due from the private hydel project developers.

RTI Forum suggests means to make relief transparent

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: In an open letter to the Chief Minister, the Sikkim RTI Forum has offered suggestions regarding the monitoring of relief funds and effective mechanism for its disbursement.
For every fund related matter, there should be an effective mechanism and 100% transparency to channelize it to the right person, the letter suggests.