SIRD hosts panchayats from Rajasthan on exposure visit to Sikkim

GANGTOK, 07 May: A team of 29, comprising of elected Zilla Pramukh, Panchayat members and officials from the Panchayati Raj Department of the Government of Rajasthan, is on an exposure tour to Sikkim to study water and sanitation initiatives here. The panchayats and officials from Rajasthan arrived here on 05 May and are scheduled be in Sikkim till the 11th, an SIRD press release informs.

CM meets Panchayats from his constituency, urges them to take initiative

NAMCHI, 20 Jan: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today met the new and ex panchayats of his constituency Poklok-Kamrang, South Sikkim. At a meeting held here at the Community Hall, the panchayats also placed their demands on behalf of the public of their respective areas.
The problems of drinking water supply and road conditions were the main topics of discussion during the meeting.
The Chief Minister in his address to the gathering of panchayat members said that there is a tradition in the state where the work of panchayat is limited to placing demands with the concerned area MLAs and the Chief Minister, but themselves deliver on the role shouldered on them by the Panchayati Raj Act.
Speaking on decentralization of power, he mentioned that the government has decentralized power to the panchayats which in fact is the decentralization of responsibilities and added that as the Union Government is responsible for the entire country and state governments at the state level, similarly the panchayat is responsible for their respective territories and wards.
Further stating that panchayats should not only be concerned about their rights but become more focussed on their responsibilities; the CM said that neglect of responsibilities by panchayats is a big irony and hurdle in the implementation of Panchayati Raj.
The Chief Minister urged the present panchayat members to be answerable to the people of their respective areas and work as per the vision of the State Government and as per Sikkim Panchayat Act.
Real development comes from the grassroots level up and not from the top, said the CM and added that without the development of villages the development of the state and nation is impossible. Wrong kind of leadership at the panchayat level can lead to the failure of the entire state and country as a whole, he stated.
Speaking on various community-based associations in the state, he said that although there are a number of such associations in the state, they have failed to guide the people of their respective communities on the right path.
He also informed that at present 600 posts as police constable, 200 posts as accounts clerk and LDC are vacant along with other vacancies for teachers and more than 1000 vacancies in Sikkim Scouts Battalion; altogether there are around 2000 employment opportunities at present as per the policies of the SDF Government.
Focusing on the panchayats again he said that the panchayats should be the real caretakers of the people of their areas and congratulated and thanked the former panchayat members for providing their service to the people of Sikkim. He added that he will be meeting all the ex-panchayats of the state soon.
The CM also stated that the SDF government aims to upgrade all the BPL families into APL within the next two years. He also interacted with the panchayat members and conveyed his New Year wishes to them.
The meeting was also attended by the Adakshya and Up-Adakshya South, Vice President of SDF party cum South District In-charge of SDF party, GM Gurung, along with area MLA of Namchi Singithang, Binod Rai, Chairman of various sectors and other members of the party.

Three-day refresher course for Zilla and Gram Panchayats begins at Namthang BAC

NAMCHI, 14 Mar: A 3-day refresher course for Zilla and Gram Panchayats cum Rural Development Functionaries under Namthang Block Administrative Center is being conducted here at BAC Conference Hall, Namthang, South Sikkim. The training course is organized by BAC Namthang with support from State Institute of Rural Development.
At the inaugural function today, Zilla Panchayat President, Devi Maya Baraily was present as the chief guest while the programme was also attended by BDO Namthang, Robin Sewa, AE Namthang BAC, Sumitra Chettri, APO Biwas Kheral and FF, KB Chettri.
Addressing the programme, BDO Namthang, Robin Sewa highlighting the importance of planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development work said that the state government had sanctioned many works and scheme but their implementation at the village level has not been up to the mark. He further said that panchayats had huge responsibility in ensuring better implementation of government schemes and programmes.
Appreciating the work and coordination of the Panchayats under BAC Namthang Mr Sewa congratulated all the panchayats for good implementation of MGNREGA work in the GPU. Mentioning that Namthang being a drought prone area has projects in water conservation for this year, he urged all the panchayats to cooperate with the BAC and come up with new ideas and plans for better results.
AE Namthang BAC, Sumita Chettri in her address informed about the Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission and its objectives to the participants and mentioned that Namthang BAC had 71 houses to be built under this scheme. She also gave technical information on the construction of the houses and urged all to ensure that they are built within the stipulated time maintaining quality and transparency in the work.
The programme was also addressed by APO, Biswas Kharel where he informed about MGNREGA work and its implementation. During the programme FF, KB Chettri informed that the participants will be taken on a field visit to Melli Dara GPU on 15 March to learn about the implementation of the different complete rural development work in their GPU. The participating panchayats will also be informed about Community Led Total Sanitation, TSC and Solid and liquid waste management.