CM begins state-wide tour of schools from Ravangla

ADDRESSES GATHERING OF STUDENTS AT VC GANJU LAMA SR SEC SCHOOL
NAMCHI, 25 July: “The future of Sikkim lies in the hands of our students” said the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as he exhorted students to lead the state towards development at VC Ganju Lama Senior Secondary School, Ravangla in South district today.
With this, the Chief Minister has begun the state-wide tour of schools as announced on the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti on 13 July. Addressing the gathering of students from in-and-around Ravangla, the CM urged them to achieve their full potential stressing that “imagination is more important than knowledge”.
“Our government wants each and every son and daughter of Sikkim studying in government schools to compete with the students studying in the best public schools”, said the CM. He urged the students to change their mindset from seeking certificate based education to knowledge based education.
Mentioning that Sikkim’s literacy rate is 82.2% the CM said that the government aims at taking this up to 100%. The development brought about till now should continue said the CM and added that those seeking to destroy the peace and security of the state should not be allowed to do so.
“The government’s biggest challenge in Sikkim right now is that our people have lost the will to work and we have to destroy this mindset with the wisdom of education”, expressed the CM. He also said that teachers in the state lack passion and serve only as government employees. On this, the CM urged the teachers to draw inspiration from Lord Brahma, a creator and a teacher, to immerse themselves in helping their students explore their full potential.
The Chief Minister also assured to fulfil all the demands placed by the schools and the general public of Ravangla.
The programme was also addressed by Minister HRDD, NK Pradhan and Secretary HRDD, CS Rao while it was also attended by the Ministers, MLAs, Zilla Panchayats and Officers.
A colorful cultural programme was also organised by the students where the Chief Minister awarded Rs 15,000 each to the schools for their beautiful performances. Earlier the CM was also felicitated by the VC Ganju Lama Senior Secondary School.

ASESEUA to begin state-wide tour on 05 July

GANGTOK, 03 July: All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA] will kick off its state-wide tour from 05 July to address issues pertaining to the state along with the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] party led governance.
Speaking to the media, ASESE&UA president, Nawin Kiran Pradhan, alleged that none of the promises made by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling while coming to power in the year 1994 have been kept.
He contended that under the SDF party’s 19 years in government, corruption has increased, law and order situation worsened and social divisions widened. People in the State feel insecure and are scared of raising their voice against the government, he alleged further.
On the economic front, the government has incurred huge debt and the state government alone has a direct loan amounting to more than Rs. 3,000 crore, alleged Mr Pradhan and called upon all individuals across the state to come together to oppose, what he sees as the injustice being done by the government.
Referring to the suspension of dissident Upper Burtuk MLA, PS Tamang, from the legislative assembly on the last day of the budget session, he said that a people’s representative being suspended for raising social issues is a first in the history of Sikkim and termed it as the ‘Black Day’ in the state’s history.
“When a member of the house is not allowed to speak or address issues of the common man in the house, then it is clear that democracy no longer exists in the state”, contended Mr Pradhan.
The ASESE&UA president further said that any obstruction or hindrance during the tour will not be accepted and action will be taken against any such incident.